Series: The Circle of Monsters Series by Sam Crescent
Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
“I’ve yet to figure him out,” Galen said. “He could go either way depending on his mood. You’ve seen his face, his office, but he also bores easily. If we lay low, he may forget all about this shitshow and move onto something more exciting and lucrative.”
“I hope so.”
It still didn’t make sense how all these powerful men were worried about her. She was nobody, small and insignificant. Skye just wanted to live in peace, not create drama by running to the police. She’d finally found a man she loved and may not even live to enjoy her happily ever after.
“Pack some essentials.” Galen slipped off the bed, his chiseled body a thing of beauty. Even when he flicked on the light, he looked just as appealing, all his dark ink on display. She felt her pussy throb again but pushed those desires away. Right now, they needed to get to a safe place, far from Petrov’s reach.
Skye kept watching him as he pulled on some jogging pants and grabbed a duffel bag out of the closet. He moved around the bedroom, shoving in this and that. She hadn’t attempted to get out of bed yet. The afterglow still surrounded her, and she reveled in it.
“How far is your safe house?”
“Couple hours’ drive. You can sleep on the way,” he said.
“And we’ll be safe there?”
She was babbling but her nerves were at an all-time high. It seemed everyone wanted her dead.
“Should be. If we have trouble, I can call in a few favors.”
She frowned. “I thought you didn’t trust anyone.”
He stopped, looking right at her. “I don’t. The Circle of Monsters isn’t made up of men I trust with my life, but they follow Viko’s orders, and we help each other if we can. Usually for something in return.”
“Let’s hope Viko doesn’t still want me dead then.”
“It’s not about loyalty, not really. It’s fear. Viko is barely human.”
She cringed. The last thing she wanted was to be on his hit list. He probably tortured people just for kicks. How did a person end up that evil?
Skye rolled to her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows. “Have you ever been in love?”
There were so many unanswered questions in her head and that was the one to pop out first. This time he didn’t stop and stare but walked into the en suite to pack some toiletries. The door was open so they could still hear each other.
“No,” he said.
“Never?”
“Never.”
She wanted to ask if he felt differently now, but kept her mouth shut in fear of the answer. In such a short time, she was falling hard for her captor. He had a quiet strength about him and a sadness she couldn’t understand.
He came back into the bedroom, dropped the duffel bag next to her, and zipped it up.
“Not bringing anything?”
“I am,” she said. “Guess I was hoping this was all a bad dream.”
Galen sat next to her, the mattress dipping. She rolled to her side, pulling the sheet up to cover herself a bit. He ran his hand through her hair. She couldn’t help but close her eyes to savor the affection.
“This is nothing, baby. A walk in the park.”
“I’m just going to follow you wherever you lead,” she said.
“That’s where you belong. Right by my side.”
There was a repeating chime coming from downstairs. Galen shot up straight, then moved to the door in a few quick strides.
“Hurry up and pack. We’re leaving in two minutes.”
He was bare-chested in just those joggers. Galen slipped on an elaborate black body holster over his head. It held two guns and a bunch of ammo.
“What’s wrong?”
“One of my security alarms was tripped. Stay here until I get back.”
Then he left, closing the bedroom door behind him.
Had Petrov or his henchmen found them? Was it too late to escape to the safe house? They should have left when they had the chance. They were going to die because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
Skye jumped out of bed and rooted in the closet for another bag. She didn’t have much here, but she packed all her essentials and several changes of clothing. She got dressed and even put on her socks and running shoes, tying them tight. If he came back upstairs and told her to haul ass, she’d be ready.
She paced the room, back and forth, her nerves on edge. What if they killed Galen? She’d be easy to murder without his protection. Hopefully it was quick. She didn’t think she could handle being raped or tortured.
He was gone for so long. She listened at the door, trying to hear voices or the sound of a scuffle—there was nothing but silence and more silence.
When she heard heavy footfalls running up the stairs, she nearly fell as she backed away from the door. There was nowhere to hide. She was paralyzed with fear and a complete clumsy mess.