Page 66 of Demon’s Temptation

Brent had to fight not to react. Lazarus had not only rescued him; the knights had freed the others being held. Garrett and a few others had already made a run for it. Brent had hunted and taken down every one—every one except the male Victor spoke so fondly of.

Victor sat forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I have nothing left. I’m rich, but money means nothing when you don’t have the one you love to share it with. But now I have you, Brent, his favorite. We can go to him together and he’ll take us back. He’ll take me back.”

Love. The bastard was insane. “It was you, wasn’t it, who sent the pictures, the video? Not him.”

Victor smirked. “Yes. The master knew of my skill with a camera and utilized it. I knew where they were kept and went back for them after the knights raided the building. Everyone left so fast. They were locked away and missed.”

Brent ground his teeth. “You’re Garrett Industries?”

He nodded.

“Is Garrett even his name?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. Garrett Industries dissolved after we were released. I created my own business under the same name, a way of sending him a message. To let him know I wanted him to come for me.” He tilted his head to the side. “Then you started coming after anything with Garrett Industries attached and you led me straight to you. I knew then how to get the master to come for me—you…his favorite.”

“But he hasn’t, though, has he, Victor? Not for either of us. He doesn’t want you, not anymore.”

Victor flushed red with rage. “He will. It’s only a matter of time.”

Brent stared the male in the eyes, trying to get through. “You’re wrong. You know you are. It’s been four years.”

Victor shook his head furiously. “I’m not and we can help him, you and I, to take this city. It’s the master, I can feel him. He’s behind it, the unrest. His power is so much stronger. He needs us.”

Jesus. He’d lost it completely. The male was seriously unhinged. He needed to get Chaya away from him.

“I told you I’ll go with you. I’ll go willingly. I’ll even help you find him, but only if you release Chaya.”

His eyes narrowed, mouth twisting with displeasure. “Do you love her?”

He shook his head, lying. “She’s an employee. I look out for the people in my club, that’s all.” Behind Victor, he saw Chaya move. Let her be okay.

Victor stood and made a tsking sound. “Now you’re lying to me. I don’t like liars.”

He strode across the room, crouched down, and grabbed a hunk of Chay’s dark hair, wrenching her head back.

That dead, lost stare caught and locked onto Brent’s. He bit his tongue. Any show of distress would only prove him right.

“Chaya told me all about your relationship. She told me she has feelings for you, that she believed you felt the same way. You came for her, you rushed to her side. I think maybe she was right.” Victor’s grip tightened, and she winced, lucidity creeping back. “I’ve been watching you for a while, waiting for the right time.” He glanced down at Chaya. “The right motivation to get you to see things my way. I’ve seen the way you look at her, the way you watch her.”

Brent yanked on the cuffs, making them clatter in the quiet room. “No. You’re wrong.”

Victor looked down at her, a sneer covering his face, then back at Brent. “Now I’ve explained everything, you know, you understand. I know you want this, too. But how can we start our new life with the master with this uncertainty hanging over our heads?” He shook his head. “No, I won’t have it. The master won’t like it. There’s only one way for me to be sure you won’t run from us, run back to her, and hurt him again. That’s to make sure she won’t be a problem.” He lifted the gun and pressed it against her temple.

“No.” Brent yanked harder on the cuffs, now slick with his blood. “Don’t—”

Pain shot through Chaya’s head as Victor yanked harder on her hair, pulling her from the emotional agony surrounding her. Brent’s agony. His humiliation, confusion, pain, and lust had become her own and she struggled to break free. It was suffocating.

But that bite of pain brought her back, pulled her from the darkness.

What Brent lived with daily, Jesus, she couldn’t stand it.

That’s when she became aware of him. He was here. In her apartment. He was yelling, but she couldn’t hear his words because every one of her senses had zeroed in on the cold hard steel pressed against her temple.

A gun.

And if she didn’t act, she was going to die. She knew it with one hundred percent certainty. She would not let this asshole take her away from Brent.

Summoning all the strength she could muster, she jerked her head to the side, and Victor immediately wrapped his fingers around her throat to hold her in place.