Heat billows through my body. Every cell hums, an all-parts choir pushing me toward the crescendo as the breeze tickles my exposed breasts. Breasts he’s touching. Breasts that want more. I will kill him. Fucking bastard. I’m sitting here in the middle of this huge fucking hall . . . on Viper’s lap. Ick! Covered in welts and bruises. Wearing a scrap of cloth barely large enough to be called an apron.

The cologne he’s wearing reminds me of ES’s favorite. Major ick! I wrinkle my nose and look over the twenty or so large, hairy, smelly men in the room. The mixture of sweat and cheap cologne makes me gag. The men gaze back, hunger and lust rolling off them in waves. Presumably, Kat and I are their appetizers. Or main course. No fear there for me. Viper made it plain I’m his entree.

I don’t know what the fuck Viper gave me, but I will do almost anything to get laid right this minute. My skin burns with an intensity only touch will soothe. Hell, even Viper’s touch is exciting, and I hate him. I pull on every inner resource I possess to fight the desire. I will not succumb.

Viper’s cell rings and all hell breaks loose. He shoves me off his lap as he issues orders to his men. My heart races with excitement. Jaden is here. But I know that. I can feel his essence coming from the thick draperies in the corner. He hasn’t rescued us. Why not? Who the hell cares? I want to jump his bones.

I know better than to react. Thoughts whirl through my head like wisps of smoke weaving around the loosely woven tapestry of my fucked up emotions and the threads of Jaden’s feelings. I want him to fuck me. The thought consumes me. The spots where Viper beat me sing for more. I should be afraid. Instead, I want to open my legs. It’s the drug. Fight, goddammit. I straighten my spine, ready for battle.

Viper’s got his shorts in a knot. One of his pigs says Connor and Jaden are sneaking in a back way. Jaden’s not here? Bolts of adrenaline bolts through me as panic tries to ensnare me. He’s here, you know he’s here. I will my pulse back to jogging rate.

About half of the guys leave. Viper stays. He sits with a grunt and waves his hand toward the first guy on his left. “Don’t keep Slick waiting.”

I pick up the bread and follow Kat around the table. Steel blue eyes watch me intently as I present the breadboard to the guy named Slick. He slides his hand up the back of my thigh, slowly, almost lethargically. I pull on the boxing gloves, ready to fight the need surging through me. I refuse to let some drug get the better of me. Give in. It’s easier.

Pure rage shoots out from behind the curtain, startling me straight. Jaden’s jealous. I hide a tiny bubble of happiness. Let’s face it; I’m fifty shades of fucked up. I should be thinking about my reduced life expectancy. Instead, I’m getting all warm and fuzzy thinking about Jaden.

Viper slams his knife into the table. My pulse jumps into hyper gear. Gawd, I sure wish he’d stop doing that. Freaks me right out. Everyone jumps the proverbial mile. He frowns my way. “Hands where I can see them. Face only.”

Slick grunts and removes his hand. Too bad. His touch calms the tumult coursing through my veins. His vibe isn’t nasty, just lusty. He gently cups my cheeks and licks my lips. He drops a tender kiss on each edge of my mouth. His kisses are bolts of lust flying through my libido, knocking out all my defenses. His breath smells like coffee and caramel, and I drink him in. Suddenly, his lips are on mine, tongue probing mine. I match him move for move. It feels that damned good. Jaden’s fury is my security blanket. He will keep me safe.

You hardly know him. I shove the bitch goddess and her logic to the moon and deepen the kiss. Viper laughs uproariously. “Enough, Slick. Give someone else a turn.”

With a grunt, Slick sets me on my feet.

I pick up the bread and start toward the guy with the scraggy black beard. I shudder. The thought of his beard on my face makes me squirrely. Some of those bastards who banged me had beards they insisted on rubbing in my face. I detest beards, and I can’t stand the feel of hair brushing my face. I take tiny steps, trying to prolong the inevitable when the guy jumps up and runs from the room.

“Where the fuck are you two going?” Viper’s roar rings through the hall.

“Can.” One of the guys clutches his stomach.

“Oh for Christ’s sake. You.” Viper points at Kat. “Get my caesar. Move it, bitch.”

Kat gives me the eye. We scurry over to the sideboard and gather up bowls of salad. Kat glides over to Viper, seemingly unconcerned about the weird goings-on. I head for a small Asian man called Slim who seems totally out of place in his button-down shirt and dress pants. He licks his lips and looks at me with glittering dark eyes. Like he’s about to devour a gourmet meal. I grimace. At least he’s shaven. I put the salad in front of him.

A snake writhes on Slim’s neck, red tongue flicking in search of a victim. I jump back in shock. He laughs and pulls me onto his lap. I struggle to break free; my morbid fear of snakes obliterates everything else around me.

“Stop,” he commands. He grabs my wrists and holds me firmly. I twist and kick as manic fear settles its grip on me. He holds both sides of my face and twists it toward him.

“Look.” He sits perfectly still, and the snake stops moving long enough for me to see it’s one of those 3D tattoos. He takes my hand and guides it toward the tattoo. I jerk it back. He laughs again as he pulls me into his arms. He flicks a long, pointed tongue at me before licking around my ear and neck. His tongue is rough like sandpaper. The sensation disgusts me and jolts up the horny meter.

Not long now. Jaden’s words drop into my head. I tip my head back, allowing Slim greater access as he grooms my neck and ears. I sink into the sensation as his rough, dry tongue sends tendrils of heat straight through my core.

“My turn.” Viper’s loud voice bellows, making both of us jump. Slim sets me upright just before I hit the floor. “Thank you,” he whispers before releasing me. As if he worships me.

“That would be now, bitch.”

I stub my bare toes into the floor to slow my pace. Viper strides over to me and grabs my arm. “Ouch.” I wrench it free. Pain shoots up my back as Viper slams me against the solid marble table.

“Good thing you got an ass, cause you ain’t got nothing else. He twists a clamp then sucks . . . hard.

Exquisite pain knifes through my swollen and cracked nipple. This bastard is not going to get the best of me. I latch onto the pain and use it to channel sexual desire into a funnel cloud of rage. I kick Viper’s balls.

“Bitch.” Viper stabs a knife into my leg and bends double, breathing hard.

“No!” Jaden’s roar centers me as the room erupts into a cacophony of punches, shouts, and groans.

I pull the knife from my leg and jab the tip into Viper’s crotch. “Back up, you bastard.” I hiss, bearing down on the pain. Wet gushes down my leg.

“Rayne, I’ve got him. Tourniquet your leg.” The knife-edge in Jaden’s voice leaves no room for discussion. I rip off the apron, using the strings to tie off my leg. Kat bends down and puts her finger on the knot. Blood soaks through the cloth, but we tie a tight knot. The shakes set in. I grab Kat’s hand. “Jaden . . .”

“They’re taking care of Viper and his gang.”

“But . . .”

“Shhh. You’re losing a lot of blood. We’ve got to get you to a hospital. Can you walk?”

Of course I can walk. “I think so.” I try to stand and immediately collapse.

Goddammit. I struggle as Kat forces my shoulders back. The room spins. Blackness crawls around the edges of my vision. Jaden’s panic helps me push it away. “Not again!”

“I’ve got to help. He can’t . . .” I can barely think through the nausea. I pull back from the brink and grab Kat’s apron.

She leans over me. “Shhh, hon. Keep still. Everything’s going to be okay.”

I acknowledge the falseness of her statement. I’m dying. It’s not so bad, really. I thought it would be a lot more painful. I muster up my remaining strength. “Tell Jaden it’s not his fault.”

I fall back onto the floor. The world goes dark.