“No.”
His eyes narrowed, accompanied by a smile. “That word has never sounded so sexy until now. I’m gonna enjoy this far more than I should.” He stuck his gun into the back of his jeans then came for me.
The glass on the top of the shelving unit was broken, so I grabbed the pistol sitting there then pointed it at his face.
But he was too quick, knocking it from my hand before he grabbed me by the throat and lifted me from the floor.
I gripped his wrists as I struggled to breathe, the pain excruciating as my entire body weight hung from the top of my frame.
“Baby, no one says no to me.” He set me on the floor and kept his arm around my neck, dragging me across the floor to the door.
I gasped for air, my windpipe finally open again.
He dragged me forward—like a fucking dog.
“Catalina.” Heath’s terrified voice echoed through the house, sounding different than he ever had before, sounding like a man with a thousand bullet wounds.
“Bedroom—”
The man shook me hard, making me silent. “The man of the hour. I’m glad you took time from your schedule to show up.” He positioned me in the doorway, his arm around my neck as he held me close.
Heath stood with his pistol at his side, breathing hard, like every breath was painful for him. He looked unarmed—but so defeated. His face was tinted with rage, but his eyes were heartbroken, like he’d rather die than have to watch this.
“Step aside, Heath.” The man pushed me forward slightly, using my body to protect his.
He raised his pistol.
“Go ahead.” He forced my head to block most of his face. “Hope you’ve got a good aim.”
Heath’s hand shook as he held the gun, furious that there was nothing he could do. He had all the power in the world, but none at the moment.
“Step aside. I’m taking your girl with me.” He forced me forward, squeezing my neck tight so I could barely breathe. “You know what I’m going to do with her, Heath? I’m a kinky guy, so use your imagination.”
Heath was so angry that his eyes started to coat with moisture. “What do you want, Vox? You want me?” He raised his hands in the air. “Take me. She’s not the one you want.” He tapped his chest with his hand. “I am.”
“And I have you, more than I would if I were touching you.” He pushed me forward again. “Tell your men to back down. Or I could snap her neck right now. How do you want this to play out?” He kicked my knee from underneath me and forced me down, moving his hand to the roots of my hair, dragging me across the floor.
I tried not to scream, but a chunk of my hair flew out.
Vox stopped again. “Move.”
I looked up from the floor, seeing the ceiling, no longer able to see Heath’s face. But I noticed the gun in the back of Vox’s waistband, his shirt slightly tucked into his jeans because the fabric had caught as he’d shoved it there.
“Let her go,” Heath said. “And I’ll shoot myself in the head.”
Vox was quiet, as if he hadn’t expected that kind of offer.
“That’s what you want more than her. Let her go, and I’ll do it.”
“Hmm…that’s tempting, but—”
I pushed up and groaned as he tugged on my scalp, but I got the gun in my grasp. I clicked the safety like second nature then pointed it into his body, not even seeing where I was aiming. I pulled the trigger.
He stumbled as the bullet went into his back, his hand releasing my hair.
I shot him again.
He fell to the floor.
I crawled to him and pointed the gun at his face, pulling the trigger over and over, spilling blood, flesh, and brains all over the place. I kept pulling the trigger even when the barrel was empty, the gun clicking because it was out of ammo. “You fucking asshole!” I slammed my hands down onto his chest, slammed the gun into his already destroyed face. “Who the fuck do you think I am?” Tears poured from my eyes because I was so angry, so crazy.
“Baby.” Heath came up behind me, his hands gripping my arms to steady me, to pull me into his chest. “Baby, shh…” He pulled me against him, his heartbeat strong against my back. “He’s gone.”
I collapsed against him, kicking away the corpse at my feet. I sobbed, my arms crossing over my chest as I gave in to the fear, the terror, the relief.
Heath held me, his lips pressed against the top of my head.
Footsteps sounded as someone ran to the top of the stairs. “Is she okay?” His voice was identical to Heath’s, so I knew it was Balto.
Heath raised his hand, as if he was silencing his brother.