Page 83 of Viper

“Walk.” He ground out the sharp demand.

She took a cautious step forward and made it onto the boat.

The sliding glass door opened, and a wall of air conditioning hit her sweaty cheeks. He steered her to the left, then clamped his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to the couch. Her damp, messy hair covered her eyes.

Craig’s fingers touched her forehead, brushing her hair out of the way almost gently.

He sat on the coffee table in front of her. His usual dapper clothing had been replaced with a T-shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals. He also wore a wide-brimmed hat, which he removed and then dropped on the couch next to her.

“I’m so glad to see you, starfish. I went to a lot of trouble to get you here.” His eyes sparked with unveiled excitement.

He ran his thumb over her bottom lip, then licked his. “I’ve been watching you with that asshole. Who is he?”

She swallowed. Indecision was as rough as gravel in her throat. Part of her wanted to tell him exactly who Troy “Viper” Evans was. That he’d come for her. That no matter how far Craig ran, Troy would find and annihilate him. The other part of her wanted to see his face twist with fear when Troy got here.

Craig pouted. “Come on. Don’t be shy.”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

Craig guffawed. “You told me you didn’t have a boyfriend. Or did this unfold after he snuck onto my boat?”

She lifted her chin defiantly. “None of your business.”

He leaned close and his hot, pervasive breath stole her space. “It is my business. You’re mine, starfish, and I’m going to burn every inch of you he touched.”

His words came out through bared teeth. Menacing and evil.

“You’re going to get caught. The police are looking for you.”

He laughed and rubbed his fingers over his knuckles. “I’m not worried about the police, starfish.”

She matched his smug grin. “I know about your stepbrother, Spencer, and how you used Don Hedley’s vehicle to scare me.”

The arrogance vanished from his eyes and his stupid smile fell. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She lifted a shoulder. “You’ll see soon enough.”

He lunged for her and wrapped both hands around her neck. “How do you know about Spencer?” His fingers closed on her windpipe.

She thrashed her shoulders and legs, trying desperately to throw him off her. The urge to grab his arms or claw his cheeks made her tear harder on the restraints on her wrists, sandwiched between the couch and her back.

Blood rushed to her face. Every inhale hit a stone wall. Her eyes bugged open painfully and tiny gasps burned her nose.

He brought his mouth to hers and kissed and sucked her bottom lip while her consciousness turned off and on.

“I won’t give you up,” he murmured. “Not yet. You’re lucky I want you. Your screams give me life, starfish.”

His words churned inside her head, mingling with the memory of Troy’s voice—the voice she’d do anything to replace with this monster’s.

An image of Troy blocked out Craig’s senseless verbal assault. The pain wanted to keep her on this earthly plane, but her heart wanted her to fall into the illusion of Troy’s vibrant blue eyes.

Her muscles loosened and her lids closed. She was falling. Falling into⁠—

Craig’s grip went slack. A shuddering breath expanded her lungs, sending a burning, tingling sensation through her chest. Her eyes snapped open and she rolled to her side and inhaled more greedy breaths than her body could handle.

Craig’s fingers traced her cheek. “Do you like that, starfish? I can take you to death and back over and over. Tell me what they know about my brother.”

A whine escaped her lips. “S-Stop. Just let me go.”