Page 12

Chapter 12

Raven

I step out of my room to grab a glass of water and decide to turn in for the night. I’ve been dying to read more of Chokehold by Harleigh Beck and Leigh Rivers, anyway. The moment I found out it’s a male/male stepbrother romance and it involves masks, I was hooked. There’s just something about the taboo anonymity that turns me on so much and intrigues me all at the same time. Plus, it’s been days since I last opened up my Kindle, and I’m already upset that my three-year streak is broken with no way to fix it.

I grab my Kindle from the counter and my cup and head to bed. It’s time to feel my silk sheets against my bare skin while I get lost in this story. I walk back to the bedroom, immediately flicking off the lights and settling into bed. The moment my sensitive and sore body meets that wonderful mattress covered in pure heaven, I sigh with relief that maybe I can actually heal from all of this and get some sleep. After all, I will get my revenge once I’m feeling top-notch.

Turning on my little friend, it opens right up to where I left off, and I burrow into the thick blankets and pillows surrounding me, flipping through page after page. This fucking book is so goddamn good I don’t want to put it down. But when I look at my alarm clock across the room, hours have passed since I started reading, and it’s now midnight.

“Fuck me,” I say aloud, mentally berating myself for losing track of time so much. It’s going to be a long fucking day at work tomorrow unless I get to sleep like an hour ago. Why do I always do this to myself?

“Did someone ask to be fucked in here?” I hear suddenly come from my doorway.

The sound of that gravelly voice shocks me so much that I’m frozen in my spot. I’m fucking naked in my bed, and I sure in the hell don’t have a weapon in here.

“Who’s there? I have a knife!” I scream out.

Why did I say that last part? I have no fucking clue. It’s pretty obvious I don’t have a damn knife in my bed, but who knows. Maybe they’ll believe me and go away.

“Now, what kind of man would I be if I let that perfect little pussy go without. Especially after that beautiful invitation,” the man says again.

My eyes are finally adjusting to the darkness in the room, and I can see a large man still standing just inside my room. There’s no way I’ll be able to fight off someone of his size when I’m in peak condition, let alone this weak bullshit I’m left with after the other night.

“Just leave me alone,” I beg, pulling the blankets higher up my body.

I don’t know what to do.

“Stop fucking around, Malachi. Just grab her already and let’s get the fuck out of here. We’ve wasted enough time and need to get our asses moving,” another voice says from the hallway.

I wasn’t aware there was another man, and the moment he said the name, Malachi, I knew I was fucked. And not in a good way.

I scramble out of my bed and dart for the window. Maybe I can get it unlocked in time to crawl through and make it to the neighbor's house. He always said if I needed anything, I could just knock, and he would be there for me.

“Not so fast, little death angel. You’re coming with us,” Dorian says, way too close for comfort.

My hands land on the cool window, and that’s when I see something written on the glass. It’s hard to see, but it’s there.

Better run.

It’s written clear as day and has me backpedaling against my will. I don’t even realize that I’ve moved back until I slam into what I can only describe as a fucking brick wall. One with arms that wrap around me like a vice grip. Enclosing me and holding me so tight, there is no getting away. My arms are trapped against my breasts, and I’m being squeezed so tight I can barely breathe.

“Why?” I squeak out.

“Because you’re ours to play with now, little one. I hope you’re ready to run,” he whispers in my ear.

Then I feel a wet cloth press against my face, covering my mouth and nose. It smells sickly sweet, and before I know it, there’s nothing.

Oh fuck.