Page 16 of Caged

And holy shit, it’s like lightning sparking me to life.

SEVEN

MILA

I don’t expect the jolt that runs through me when our fingers touch.

Or the strength he uses as he rips me up off of the floor and pulls me close to his massive, hard body.

He cradles me against him while his other arm swings out and knocks one of the bikers backwards.

Nikolai picks up a chair and crashes it down on the prone body, then turns me away from the fight.

His wide palm braces against my stomach, pinning me against his thick thigh as he moves through the room.

He’s like a tank, moving methodically forward, fighting in every direction.

A beer bottle flies across the room directly towards me.

I see my chance.

Tossing my hand up, I slow the glass down before it collides with my head, jarring me enough to bring stars to my eyes.

“Oh, God,” I say, adding a touch of hysteria.

Well, shit. I might have let it hit a little too hard, blood tinges my fingers when I pull them away from where it clocked me.

Letting my knees go weak, I get a little thrill when his powerful grip tightens around my waist.

Men love to take charge, so I’ll give him a chance.

How he manages to scoop me up and hold me nestled against his chest, and then push us outside into the hot night is a mystery.

He drops me onto my feet and brings me to face him.

“Are you okay?” His Russian accent is fairly thick.

I’ve practiced my English for much longer, and can sound like an American easily.

Now’s my chance.

Summoning fat tears, I let them spill down my blood crusted cheeks. “I have to get away! Those men, they…they…they kept me! I was trapped! Please!” I clutch onto his thick forearms. “Don’t let them take me back!”

Throwing myself against him, I let the sobs shake me.

He stands still, unmoving except for his broad palm resting lightly between my shoulder blades.

A long exhale washes down over me as he shifts. Pulling his phone from his back pocket, he texts someone, then grunts.

“We have a safehouse. I can take you there.” He sounds reserved.

Or, maybe he’s just always serious.

I have to ramp this up.

Clinging to his shirt, I look up at him and blink rapidly. “I was in a safehouse when they took me. Nevermind. Thanks for saving me, I’ll be fine.” I try to give the best terrified look I can.

Widening my eyes, I let my lower lip tremble.