Page 6 of Traitorous Lies (Prey Security: Charlie Team #6)

“If you don’t want to die tonight, then you better stop shooting,” a voice called out when the banging temporarily stopped.

Banging … shooting?

And that voice, it didn't belong to Jaxon.

Someone else was there.

Someone had … run them off the road?

The memory tickled the back of her mind, making her squirm as pain spiked behind her closed lids.

Forcing it away, Monique made herself think. If someone was shooting at them, then she had to be sure, had to remember what had happened. But the harder she tried to find the memories, the more they shimmered out of reach.

“Jaxon,” she whimpered. Why did she need him so badly? It didn't make sense. They’d only just met and yet he felt like he was … important .

“We have you surrounded,” the other voice called out.

Surrounded?

That meant there was more than one of them.

Against only her and Jaxon.

It wasn't like she was going to be any help, and what could Jaxon possibly know about men shooting at him? After all, he was one of those rich, boring, stuffy men who always attended those charity galas.

Yet …

That didn't feel like it was true. Jaxon felt capable and confident.

“If you stop shooting back at us, then no one has to die. Don’t be stupid now,” the other voice cautioned, and it took a few seconds for those words to sink in.

Shooting.

At them.

Someone had been shooting at these people, and since it wasn't her that meant it had to be Jaxon.

“I'm sorry, princess,” he whispered, so softly she almost didn't hear him. He sounded so guilty, and yet this was her fault.

Had to be.

Being the only next heir of a family with more wealth than most people could comprehend meant there was always a risk of being kidnapped and used for ransom.

That had to be what was happening now.

Which meant this was all her fault.

She should never have said yes when Jaxon asked her to leave with him, she should have told him they would stay and talk at the ball.

That way they both would have been safe, because now they were going to be kidnapped.

The voice had said that neither of them had to die, but she wasn't so sure they meant that.

If she was the target of this abduction, then that made Jaxon expendable.

Whimpering, she reached blindly for Jaxon, and the next thing she knew, she was in his arms. His lips touched the top of her head as he tucked her close.

Something went thud on the ground close by, and then she heard Jaxon’s reluctant voice speaking. “I’ve put my weapon down, we’re both unarmed and injured.”

Another whimper tumbled from her lips as she felt a rush of people approaching. Too many people. Her head pounded, her body ached, and she was so scared she could hardly breathe. The last thing she wanted was to cause Jaxon pain, and yet that was exactly what she was doing.

Wanting to apologize to him, before she could make the words come out of her mouth, Monique felt hands on her, ripping her away from her only safe place.

“Careful with her, she’s hurt,” Jaxon snarled, and she was surprised at the ferocity in his words.

There was something else there, too, something that said he wasn't as scared as he should be, as she was.

It didn't make sense, and Monique chalked it up to the disorientation she felt, making her hear things that weren't there.

Without Jaxon close to her, she needed to see him.

Prying open her eyes, she winced when the light from the flashlights the people around her were holding stabbed through her eyes, making the pain so much worse.

There were six other people besides herself and Jaxon. One was standing behind her, holding her with an arm wrapped around her chest, probably the only thing keeping her standing.

Another two were standing beside Jaxon, who had been forced down to his knees, and were holding weapons on him. Pointed directly at his head.

She didn't think, she just tried to get to him, protect him, and help him.

“Don’t hurt him,” she cried out, fighting weakly against the man holding her.

Surprise flared in Jaxon’s dark eyes as his head snapped up and their gazes clashed.

Monique was positive he was trying to tell her something with that look, but she had no idea what it was.

Even if she didn't feel like she’d been run over by a truck, she didn't know this man well enough to be able to read in his expressions what he was saying.

“It’s okay, princess,” he said calmly, far too calmly for her liking .

“No, it’s not. Don’t hurt him, please. I’ll … I’ll do anything,” she begged, fully prepared to follow through with that offer.

It wouldn't be the first time she’d sold her body to survive hell.

“She won't,” Jaxon roared, moving to fling his body toward hers when the men standing beside him grabbed him and held him still. “She won't. Kill me if you have to, just don’t hurt her.”

“No!” Killing Jaxon was not an option. She wouldn't survive knowing his death was on her shoulders. “Anything you want, I’ll do. I don’t care, just don’t hurt him, please.”

“Monique, don’t. Take it back,” Jaxon hissed, anger in his tone.

“I won't. If it saves your life, I'm prepared to do anything.”

“I'm not worth it.”

Ignoring the pain in her head, she stuck her chin out, not allowing his words to pass by without very clearly refuting them. “You are. Everybody is. And if I can save your life, I will, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“Want to bet?” Jaxon got this crazy look in his eyes, like he was going to do something stupid, and for one terrifying second, Monique was sure he would get himself killed despite her offers to give these men her body in exchange for his life.

But then the man who had been speaking earlier stepped in. “Enough,” he growled. “Take them both and throw them in the back of the van, then clean up down here. I don’t want any evidence left behind that we were here.”

Apparently, this man was in charge because immediately the two men standing beside Jaxon yanked him to his feet, and the one holding her lifted her so she was thrown over his shoulder. Both of them were taken back up the hill the car had careened down, and the rest of her memories slid into place.

They’d been run off the road, and now these men were kidnapping them. She had no idea who they were or if they were going to take her up on her offer and spare Jaxon’s life, but at least for now they were both breathing.

Back up on the road there was a white van, and the man carrying her balanced her, yanked the door open, and tossed her inside.

Landing with a bone-shuddering thud, Monique cried out as her already battered body protested, and she barely managed to keep from throwing up.

The only thing helping to keep the bile down was the knowledge that if she didn't, they’d be locked up in there with that smell.

Jaxon’s body landed beside her, and there was no hesitation on her part. She immediately crawled to him, climbing onto his lap as the van doors slammed shut, sealing them in darkness which actually managed to slightly soothe the pain in her head.

“You shouldn’t have done that, princess,” Jaxon grumbled, but his arms locked around her, and she could have sworn his face pressed to the top of her head and he breathed in her scent.

“If I can save your life, Jaxon, I absolutely will,” she said defiantly.

“Jax.”

“What?”

“Everyone calls me Jax.”

“Jax,” she repeated, liking it. It suited him better than Jaxon.

Resting her cheek on his chest, right above his heart, she snuggled closer, savoring the feel of being in his arms. “If I can stop them from killing you, I will. Don’t ask me not to.

I can handle anything if it means we both live long enough for my father to pay the ransom.

I survived once, and I can do it again.”

She hoped.

Because she wasn't letting Jax die because of her, which meant she’d already sold her body to the devil.