Page 13 of King of Ruin
“He knows I’m here,” I whisper again, my hands climbing up to Roman’s neck. The strong cords of it help calm my racing heart.
“He also knows you were in the doorway when his brother shot two people.”
Excellent point.
“Maddie,” Vigo bangs again. “You forgot your phone in Vinnie’s car.”
I gasp. Did I? I remember giving it to Kate. And then we got distracted by the car in front of my house. “Hide in my bedroom,” I say to Roman as I start to pull up from his lap.
His hands slide to my waist, holding me in his lap. “Don’t. It’s better to ignore him. Vigo is not a man to underestimate.”
I shake my head as I slowly push up. As far as Vigo knows, I believed him about the fireworks. He really could be here just to return my phone. “If I don’t answer, he’ll know I know.”
With a low curse, Roman rises too and does as I ask, making his way down the narrow hall.
With trembling hands, I fully stand. “Coming,” I say loud enough for Vigo to hear.
“About time,” he rumbles. “I thought you might be deaf too.”
Asshole.
I smooth my skirts as I make my way to the door, slowly turning the lock and then I open the door.
Vigo is standing on my top step, his arms crossed. Even his outline exudes the sort of power that has me shrinkingback. I clear my throat. “Sorry it took me a minute. I had just undressed.”
I hear him rumble his annoyance before he grabs my arm and pulls it toward him. I gasp out my surprise until the cold plastic of my phone case touches my palm.
I wrap my fingers around it and pull back, eager to get this over as quickly as possible.
But Vigo doesn’t let go. In fact, he uses his grip on my wrist to pull me closer as he steps into my house. “Need help getting that dress back off?”
“I...” I swallow down a lump, the idea of his hands on me makes my skin crawl. “It’s late and I’m really tired.”
But he still holds my wrist in one hand, his other pressing my phone to my palm. His forearm is the only thing keeping our bodies apart as it presses against my right breast. “I dropped off Vincent and Kate.”
He doesn’t further explain as he starts pushing me backwards into the house as I try to make my brain work. “Vigo, if you want to go out again…”
“Nah,” he says as he makes his way inside. “I’d rather just stay now.”
I squeak out a protest. “Oh. But…” I plant my feet, which only means that Vigo’s chest pushes against mine. He finally lets go of my phone to wrap his arm around my back. But that just means that my hand with my phone is trapped between our bodies.
“Hear any more fireworks?” he asks, as he slides the hand on my arm up over my shoulder to grasp my neck. His hold doesn’t hurt but I’m not able to move…at all.
I’m trapped just like one of my broken animals, no place to go, completely unable to defend myself. “No. Why? Was it one of the casinos?”
The tension in his hand lessons and I let out a long breath. Did I lie convincingly enough that he’ll leave?
“Not sure,” he answers, and then he leans in, his lips so close to mine, I can feel the heat of his breath on my lips, and they curl in distaste.
I don’t like his smell, it’s wrong, and I turn my face to the side, still in his arms. That’s what prey does when it’s cornered. It freezes.
“Listen, Vigo, tonight was fun. But I…”
“You listen, Maddie,” I can hear the way he’s talking through gritted teeth. “I meant what I said about you being gorgeous. You’re a looker. But you’ve also got something I want. Now…if you don’t want to end up like Kate?—”
“What?” The single word is out before I can hold back. “Where’s Kate?” Fear washes over me and I jolt in his arms. He tightens his grip again.
“You’re going to let me willingly into your bed, or better yet, I’m going to take you to mine, and then you’re going to sign the papers I tell you to sign.”