Page 116 of Direct Action

“Jesus fuck,” Aiden growled as he stalked into the room. “Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me. Gonna get you down from there, sweetheart.”

I was very aware I was naked.

Very aware that he’d have to touch me to cut my wrists free.

My gaze went back to Ryan, and I watched as he plunged his knife into the throat of the man, Zack, who’d called me his pretty pet.

I felt my lips curl up into a smile.

“Where’s Dex?” I asked.

“Don’t know which one he is, but if he’s in there, likely dead.”

“Six,” I told Aiden. “Seven, including Dex.”

I heard a growl roll out of Aiden that sounded like it’d emanated straight from hell.

“They didn’t rape me,” I quickly told him.

“Okay, Chloe, I’m gonna do this as quick as possible,” he told me from behind me. “I’m gonna cut you free, but when you, fall I’m gonna need—”

“Just do it.”

“Chloe—”

“Cut me free, Aiden.”

My wrists were freed. I cried out in pain as they fell to my sides. My muscles screamed in agony.

“Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me,” Aiden chanted. “Can you stand?”

He loosened his hold around my middle while I tested my balance. “Yeah.”

As soon as the word came out of my mouth, I felt a whoosh of air on my bare back, then he stepped around me and methodically, if not remotely, while staring into my eyes, put me in his shirt.

Once it fell into place, he swooped me up and started running. I had approximately one second to take in the carnage before we were out the door and Aiden was running to a black SUV.

Before I could get my bearings, Aiden had us on the road.

“What are you doing? You’re leaving Ryan.”

“Gavin and Jack are on their way to pick him up.”

“No! Go back.”

“Chloe, he wants you far away and safe.”

Panic set in. The kind that violently shook my insides.

Ryan wants me far away and safe.

Wants me safe.

“I need him,” I whispered.

“Know you do, Chloe. He’ll come to you as soon as he can.”

Wants me safe.