Page 8 of Awakening the Beast
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” he growls into my ear.
“I have business to take care of,” I assert, tugging at the door handle, but he pushes it shut again. I side-eye him, frustration clear in my voice. “I’m leaving this house whether you like it or not, Arlo.”
“Not without me at this time of night, you’re fucking not,” he snarls as he presses his lips roughly against me, his patience visibly wearing thin.
I roll my eyes, trying to maintain my confidence. “I’ve done just fine without you so far. I don’t need your fucking assistance.”
In a swift movement, he grabs my wrist, spinning me to face him. His snatch on my face is forceful as he slams my head back against the door, reminding me exactly who the fuck he is.
My entire body tenses under his touch as he pinches my cheeks with a furious hiss against my lips. “You may be carrying my daughter, and I may love you to fucking death, but don’t fuck with me, Wren,” he warns, his eyes blazing with intensity.
“I’m fucking coming with you,” he insists.
Annoyance makes my teeth clench, but I know better than to push him when he’s like this.
“Fine,” I snap, glaring at him.
He searches my eyes before his gaze drops to my lips, causing me to draw a sharp breath, thinking he might kiss me again. When his eyes lock with mine once more, he nods slightly and steps back, releasing my face.
“Wait in the fucking car; I’ll be a couple of minutes,” he commands, leaving no room for question.
As he jogs up the stairs, I watch his strong back muscles flex, melting against the door and when he is out of sight, I straighten myself out, turn around and exit the mansion.
In the rear of the car, I sit alone with my thoughts, waiting for Arlo to join me. My mind races about his return to the Elite World. What if there’s still people in New York who wanted him dead? The idea that he might die in front of me all over again tonight is almost too much to stomach.
As my anxiety starts to consume me, I see Arlo finally exit the mansion. He rounds the car and opens the door beside me, causing the vehicle to dip slightly as he gets in. I cast a sideways glance at him as he adjusts his pristine suit before I turn my attention to Joe, who looks puzzled. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know who Arlo is.
I let out a defeated sigh, not bothering to explain before shifting my focus back to the window. “To the spot, Joe,” I command.
Without hesitation, he pulls away, and soon we're driving through the city towards Izzy. The car is plunged in a horrible silence, with only the occasional rustle of movement from Arlo as he glances my way now and then. I remain fixated on the passing streetlights and the nightlife of New York, trying to find solace in the city's lights.
“Where the fuck are we?” Arlo asks as soon as we pull up.
I don’t answer him right away as I unclip my seatbelt and pull the pistol from my bag, the clink of the metal against my ring catching his attention.
“I moved spots when you died, Arlo,” I reply, keeping my voice steady as I cock the weapon.
He raises an eyebrow when I glance at him, but before he can say anything more, I open the door and calmly step out into the chilly night air. My eyes scan the dark and eerie space as I slam the door behind me. Walking over the rocky gravel in my heels, I hear Arlo’s heavy footsteps following close behind. His presence feels like a deathly shadow—both intimidating and oddly comforting.
We step into what looks like an abandoned building and I keep my gun close as I spot Dominic standing by the door that keeps Izzy locked up inside at the end of the hallway. When he sees Arlo behind me, his face turns pale and as we stop in front of him, he’s so fixated on Arlo that he ignores me.
I give Arlo a side-long glance. “Stay here,” I say firmly, and he scoffs at my audacity as I grab the handle and push it down.
Inside, I hide the gun behind my back and lean against the door, closing it with a soft click. Izzy is a wreck—bloody and battered in the middle of the room. Seeing her like this, I feel no sympathy, even if Arlo is back. She’s hiding something from me, and I’m determined to find out what. Her loyalty to Savannah is clear, which annoys the hell out of me because it’s about to get her killed.
I take a few steps toward her, noting the five men scattered around the room, shadowed in the corners and every single one has been working hard to get information out of her.
“Izzy, you have one last chance to tell me where the fuck Savannah is, or I’ll have to let you go.” I demand, my gaze taking in her swollen features.
Her eyes light up with a glimmer of hope when she sees me and hears the words, but I just shake my head slightly. “I meant, I’ll blow your fucking brains out right here and now, Izzy. You’re wasting my time and patience.”
Her face falls as the realization sinks in until suddenly, the door behind me creaks open, and I close my eyes for a moment, sensing it’s him even before he’s fully in view. I open my eyes again and focus on Izzy, hearing his shoes clicking along the damp, cold floor until he halts beside me.
I glance sideways at him, and he stands tall and intimidating. Then I hear the familiar flick of his blade. My gaze returns to Izzy, who is now staring at him in utter shock, the same way I felt just hours ago. She’s panting heavily, clearly more frightened of Arlo than she is of me. Arlo takes a small step forward, lifts hispants, and calmly crouches in front of her, his blade pointing in her direction.
“Well, well, well. Look who we have here,” he taunts, the metal of his knife gleaming in the light.
She shakes her head before looking directly into my eyes. “He’s alive, or am I imagining things?”
