Page 89 of Shadow of Doubt
Certain he would follow through, she slowly moved, the pain in her side like a hot poker, ripping through her skin. Her insides. Had he done internal damage? Maybe not, but she would surely bruise from it.
She staggered to her feet and clutched the wall to remain upright. At least mostly upright. She couldn’t fully straighten.
He took a step closer and shoved her. “Get some shoes on. We’re going out to move Sumo.”
So the cat had a name. Sumo. Fitting as she suspected he would wrestle for his life, and she remembered reading once that the speed and suddenness of an attack by a jaguar were almost as important as their weight and strength. Appropriate for the cat too.
“I said go.” He shoved her hard.
She stumbled but righted herself and moved toward the bedroom she’d been in. She sat on the hard bed. Luka followed and glowered at her. She wanted to rest until some of the pain subsided, but she had to keep moving or he would hurt her again. She reached down to get her shoes. Tears stung her eyes. She ignored them. Got her feet in the shoes and tied them.
Luka took a step closer to her, his gaze tight and threatening. “Get up and head for the hallway.”
She rose, pain sending bottomless waves of nausea roiling in her stomach. She took as deep of breaths as the pain would allow, hissing the air out silently to stop giving him any satisfaction for hurting her.
She entered the hallway.
“Stop by the last door,” he commanded.
She paused, leaning a hand against the wall and taking shallower breaths while he pushed the door open.
“Time to move the cat, Tarver.” Luka disappeared into the room.
Kane stepped out, his face bruised and cut. His lips and eyes swollen.
She gasped.
“What’s wrong?” Luka said from behind Kane. “Don’t like my handiwork displayed on your boyfriend?”
She didn’t bother correcting him on the boyfriend comment. “Hello, Kane.”
“I never expected someone to serve you up to me on a platter, but I guess I should thank Luka for that.” He laughed, a mixture of anxiety and pleasure.
She’d never heard this tenor in his laughter before. Had he just developed it, or had it been there all along, and he’d kept it under control? Or maybe she just didn’t notice it. Didn’t matter really. It was here now, revealing his true nature.
“Get moving, Brooklyn,” Luka said. “To the garage.”
She had to work double-time to get her feet moving, but she did and took the route through the house to the garage and opened the door. The jaguar ran to the metal bars and growled at her. “It’s okay, kitty. I won’t hurt you.”
Kane laughed. “Like he’s going to listen to you.”
She looked around. Rocco stood just outside the garage door. Someone had hooked the cage up to the pickup she’d ridden in last night.
“Get in the truck, and we’ll take Sumo to his new home,” Luka directed.
She moved around the cage, Sumo following along, slinking low to the ground and growling. She caught her foot on wood tucked under the tire and fell against the cage. She grabbed the bar. Sumo lunged at her hand. She snapped it back just in time.
He spit and hissed at her.
“C’mon, kitty, give me a break,” she whispered. “This wasn’t my idea.”
“Just shut up and get in the truck before I pick you up and shove you in there myself.” Luka eyed her. “And I won’t be gentle on your busted ribs.” His grin revealed his great pleasure in hurting her. “You too, Tarver. In the truck.”
“Or what?” Kane lifted his chin and pointed it at Luka. “You’ll break the only rib I likely have that’s still solid after you and your goon there railed on me?”
“Or your sweetheart here will become kitty food.”
Kane shrugged. “Go ahead and feed her to Sumo. That was my plan once I got her here.”
