Caught by Menace (4 page)

other women in their dust.

Impressed, Menace stretched his neck and glanced at

Impressed, Menace stretched his neck and glanced at

his watch. The women had three ful minutes of running

before the men could enter the race. His hand drifted to

his shirt pocket. He felt the raised outline of the white

bride’s colar tucked safely there. It was the generic

colar given to every man boarding a shuttle bound for

one of the Grabs.

“Hey, Gunner!”

Without tearing his gaze away from his intended target,

Menace answered to the nickname usualy given to his

rank and specialty. “Yes?”

“You have your woman picked out, sir?”

Menace nodded and pointed toward the two women

he’d been watching. Little Miss Mouthy and her

gorgeous sidekick were sprinting into the tree line now.

“The one in the red shirt is mine.”

“And the sexy one in gray?”

“You can have her.”
And good
riddance.

* * * * *

“We aren’t going to make it.”

Naya glanced at Jennie. There was no time for a

reassuring smile as they sprinted through the woods. “We

reassuring smile as they sprinted through the woods. “We

stick to the plan, Jennie.”

“It’s a long way, Naya.” Jennie wasn’t breathing hard

yet. Naya took that as a good sign.

“We have adrenaline working for us today.” She cast

another glance over her shoulder. The coast was stil

clear but soon they would have to evade the grabby

hands of those giant, tattooed men in their frightening

black uniforms and boots.

A shiver coursed down her spine. She couldn’t believe

he
was here. He had recognized her the same moment

she’d spotted him. The way he had looked at Jennie

unsettled her. He wanted Jennie. That much was clear.

No doubt he would be running their way soon.

She tried to ignore the frisson of unwanted jealousy

that stabbed her bely. The fact that he had skipped over

her so easily hurt her pride, but she would never admit

that aloud. It wasn’t easy to swalow that the man who

had starred in her dirtiest fantasies found her utterly

unattractive.

But this was so
not
the time to even think about that.

“Just keep running, Jennie. Josef is waiting for you.

That’s al that matters.” She shot Jennie a quick grin.

That’s al that matters.” She shot Jennie a quick grin.

“We’re going to make it.”

A loud war cry of a whoop shattered the stilness of

the woods. Naya’s heart leapt into her throat. The men

were loose and they were gaining ground.

“Is this where we split up?” Jennie asked, her voice

unnaturaly high and anxious.

“Yes. Remember the plan, Jennie. We’ve run this

route a dozen times. We’re going to make it.”

Jennie nodded and took off one way while Naya ran

the other. Even though she’d just given Jennie that pep

talk, her stomach pitched violently. This was nothing like

the dry runs. There were men hel-bent on capturing them

hot on their tails. One mistake and their plan was toast.

They
were toast.

The crackle of ground covering snapping under heavy

boots echoed in the forest. Naya gulped and pushed

herself to run even faster. She took a chance glancing

back and spotted one of the Harcos men a hundred

yards or so behind. He wasn’t as big as the man from the

market but he ran fast. Too fast, she realized and turned

her attention forward.

Her gaze jumped around the forest. She hooked a

quick right and ran straight for a tricky spot in the terrain

quick right and ran straight for a tricky spot in the terrain

that only the locals knew wel. A dry creek bed, some

falen logs and shifting, loose rocks were a disaster for

the uninitiated. The idea of causing an injury to the

monstrous man wasn’t one she relished but she wasn’t

about to be Grabbed by him. Hopefuly he’d be smart

enough to sense the danger and stay back.

Sure-footed as a rabbit, Naya hopped from log to

rock and crossed the dangerous creek bed with the

speed and efficiency of practice. The monstrous hulk in

his black uniform didn’t let the new obstacle slow him

down. Stupidly he leapt onto a log that quickly began to

rol. He fel forward and cracked his knee on a rock. His

roar of pain filed the air. Naya winced at the discomfort

he must have been feeling but didn’t stop to render aid.

She had to keep moving.

Cutting through the woods, Naya checked the forest

for signs to help her navigate. This tree, that rock

formation, the winding empty creek beds—al of them

helped her stay on course. She estimated she was less

than ten minutes from the safe zone and the spot they’d

chosen to rendezvous with Josef.

“Naya!” Jennie’s bloodcurdling shriek ripped through

the forest. Spurred into action, Naya sprinted even faster

the forest. Spurred into action, Naya sprinted even faster

in the direction of the scream. Her stomach clenched so

tightly she was sure she would heave her guts. Legs

burning and sides aching, she burst through some thick

underbrush into a clearing. The slap of the thorny

branches left her bare calves nastily scratched, but she

couldn’t think about that now.

Naya’s stomach dropped at the sight of Jennie trying

to evade the clutches of the sky warrior with the pale-

white hair and green eyes. Refusing to let him Grab her

best friend when they were this close to the safe zone,

Naya reacted without thinking. She raced across the tal

grass separating them and slammed into the man’s side,

wrapping both arms around his upper thighs and taking

him to the ground.

His shocked grunt ricocheted off the trees. Stunned

she’d been able to throw him off balance, Naya

scrambled to her feet before he could recover and

grabbed Jennie’s hand. She roughly tugged on her friend.

“Move.
Now!
”

They ran as if the flames of hel licked at their heels.

Naya ignored the pain accompanying every breath. She

was certain she hadn’t broken anything, but she’d

was certain she hadn’t broken anything, but she’d

definitely bruised her shoulder and right side tackling that

behemoth.

“Come back here!” he growled menacingly and

chased after them. “You won’t make it. Not both of

you!”

Naya refused to even consider that possibility. They

were so close to making their escape. She couldn’t give

up hope now.

“Jennie!” Josef appeared at the tree line. He sucked in

ragged breaths, his sweat-soaked shirt clinging to his lean

frame. “Jennie! Hurry!”

Relieved by the sight of Josef, Naya shoved her friend

forward. “Move, Jennie. Move! We have to—
aargh
!”

“Got you!”

Naya lurched forward and then snapped back as a

massive hand gripped the back of her shirt. She heard

fabric tearing as her momentum was cruely arrested. As

if in slow motion, she fel backward, her shoes sliding on

the dewy grass and her hands snatching at empty air.

“No!”

Jennie grabbed her hand and jerked but she wasn’t

strong enough. “Naya! Naya!”

“Leave her,” Josef shouted as he rushed toward them.

“Leave her,” Josef shouted as he rushed toward them.

He franticaly forced Jennie’s fingers open and hauled her

up into his arms. Eyes glistening and chest heaving, he

sobbed, “I’m sorry, Naya. I’m so sorry.”

Panicked and overcome with dread, Naya screamed

for help. “Jennie!
Jennie!
”

But Josef didn’t stop. He ran. He ran with the woman

he loved tucked safely in his arms. Yet again Naya had

been left behind.

Naya shuddered in revulsion as the warrior tried to flip

her over. She baled up her fist and whacked him on the

jaw as he finaly succeeded in forcing her onto her back.

He hissed in pain but didn’t strike back. Instead he

captured her smaler hand in his and restrained her arm

overhead. Shockingly he didn’t try to hurt her.

“Enough,” he whispered harshly. “It’s done. You’re

caught.”

“Please,” she sobbed, her emotions overwhelming her.

“Please let me go. My friends—”

“They left you. They’re long gone.” The briefest flash

of sadness crossed his face. “You’re mine now.”

Naya dragged a slow, shaky breath into her lungs. She

hated herself for crying in front of him. Showing a man—

hated herself for crying in front of him. Showing a man—

especialy one as dangerous as this—weakness was a

terrible mistake. “You’re going to regret Grabbing me.”

“Probably,” he agreed with a sharp laugh. “The same

way you’l regret coming to the aid of your friend. You

could have been halfway to space by now if you’d just

kept running.”

“I wil never regret saving Jennie from you. She loves

Josef. She belongs with Josef.”

“And now you belong to me,” he reminded her.

“Not for long,” she warned.

He laughed again, the sound so cruel. “You aren’t the

first bride to threaten that and you won’t be the last.” His

fingertips trailed her cheek. “It won’t work. It never

does.”

She choked back the sob that threatened to escape

her lips. As if curious, he lowered his face until their

noses nearly touched. Eyes closed, he inhaled deeply,

drawing her scent into his lungs. When his eyes opened

again, he tilted his head. “I’m Menace. What’s your

name?”

“Naya,” she whispered. Menace? What the hel kind

of name was that? She studied his face but it was

of name was that? She studied his face but it was

pointless. Try as she might, she couldn’t read this man.

The unsettling feeling of being completely at his mercy

made her stomach lurch.

“Naya,” he repeated slowly. His fingertips moved

down her jaw and along the side of her neck. “I like that.

It’s different.”

Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers glided

across her colarbone and down the center of her chest.

Her ripped shirt displayed too much flesh. Menace took

advantage and swept his fingertips across her bare bely.

His touch, so intimate and possessive, caused goose

bumps to blossom on her hot skin.

Pinned beneath his powerful frame, Naya could barely

move. Trapped and terrified, she tried to slow her

panicked breaths. She fought the claustrophobia gripping

her chest.

Menace must have read the fear in her face. Caressing

her arm, he urged, “Easy, Naya. Deep breaths. You’re

safe with me.”

Despite his surprisingly kind voice, she chortled

sarcasticaly. “Safe? With you?”

His jaw tightened. “Your people may think we’re al

monsters, but it isn’t true. I’ve never harmed a woman in

monsters, but it isn’t true. I’ve never harmed a woman in

my life. I won’t alow you to be harmed either. Do you

understand? You are mine now.
Mine.
”

The possessive word rang in her ears. Her new reality

washed over her like cold water, chiling her right to the

bone. Unlike many women in her world, she’d been able

to live a fairly independent existence. Even as a

homeless, orphaned teenager, she’d found a way to

escape the clutches of men who wanted to make her

their own. To now be owned by someone—by this

stranger—left her feeling il.

“I don’t want to be yours.”

His lips settled into a grim line. “It’s too late for that.

I’ve Grabbed you. It’s done.”

Putting an end to the discussion, he reached into the

front pocket of his black uniform shirt and withdrew a

thin white colar. Squeezing her eyes shut, Naya cursed

the tears that dripped from her lashes onto her cheeks.

The colar was slipped around her throat and fastened,

not too tightly, but snug enough to remind her that she

was this man’s property now.

“Don’t,” he rasped and wiped the wetness from her

face. “I gave you my word, Naya. I’l take care of you.”

face. “I gave you my word, Naya. I’l take care of you.”

“Take care of me?” She laughed causticaly. “If

stealing me away from my planet and forcing me to be

your sex slave is your idea of taking care of me, I’l

pass.”

“Luckily for me, I’m not giving you the option.” He

rose to his ful height, reached down and swept her up off

the ground. His pale eyes fixed her with a warning stare.

“Don’t even think about trying to kick or hit me or run