Dungeon Games (Masters and Mercenaries #6.5)(60)

His mouth firmed stubbornly as he started undoing the ropes. “You’re going.”

“Hey, this was all consensual, officer.” Terry had put his hands up. “My girl here is into some heavy bondage. We just came to a friend’s house to play a little.”

The detective who had followed Derek in was already pulling Terry’s hands behind his back and slipping the cuffs on him.

Derek’s eyes narrowed. “You should be very happy I don’t shoot your balls off here and now.”

The arresting officer had Terry firmly in hand. Fisher, if she recalled. He was a young detective under Derek’s command. They had moved fast. “If you want, I can always turn my back. You know the SWAT guys love a good castration.” He started to pull Terry along. “I don’t think anyone’s buying what you’re selling, buddy. Do you want to make this official, Lieutenant?”

Derek shook his head. “I want to take care of her. You handle the trash, Fisher.”

“I would take care of her, too.” Fisher winked her way. “You’re looking good, Mills. What the f*ck was this idiot thinking coming after you? No one takes Karina out. Moron.”

“Eyes to yourself, man. She’s the victim, damn it. Get me something for her to wear. And you read him his Miranda rights.” Derek started untangling the ropes, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was studying the pattern, figuring out the fastest way to get her out, looking anywhere but her eyes.

“Derek?”

“I’ll have you out in a minute and you are going to the hospital. Take a deep breath. When the feeling starts to come back, this is going to hurt.” His words were tight as though he was forcing himself to speak.

“I’ve brought some clothes for our lovely piece of bait.” Liam smiled down at her, dropping a bag on the floor. “One of the female officers had her gym clothes in her squad car. I knew you’d make it, darlin’. Damn. What did you do to your head? Did you head butt the f*cker? Nice move.”

Derek frowned at Li. “Could you go and wait for the ambulance? And make sure my people know she’s not talking tonight. They can take statements in the morning. Fisher and I both saw him trying to kill her. With that and Starr’s statement, we’ll be able to hold him no problem, but she doesn’t need to go anywhere but the hospital and home for tonight.”

He was being a little dramatic. Yes, it had been traumatic and she’d been scared, but she could handle it. Her job alone had taught her to be cool under pressure. He should know that. “Derek, I’m fine. I have a bump on my head and my arms hurt like hell, but I can certainly talk. Where’s Daley?”

She wouldn’t call him Master Will where anyone could hear. That was not for vanilla ears. He’d done nothing wrong except get caught in her drama. She would try to mitigate the damage for him in any way she could.

Derek helped her sit up as he unwrapped her breasts. Terry must have studied up because he’d done a fairly decent job of imitating Shibari. “He’s on his way to the hospital, too. He seems to have put up a hell of a fight before they took him down. I have no idea what they gave him. Something worse than you.”

“I think it was a sedative they gave me. The way Terry talked they gave Will some drugs. They wanted them in his system when you found us here.” She managed to not scream as the blood rushed back into her arms.

Derek noticed anyway. “Fucker. If he damaged nerves, I’ll kill him.”

He wouldn’t because he was one of the good guys, but he seemed to regret it at this point. “Won’t you please hold me?”

He stopped. “Karina…”

Her heart dropped. The case was over. He didn’t want anyone to see him touching her in anything but a helpful capacity. It was over.

She hadn’t expected that. She’d told herself she had, but she hadn’t. Somewhere in the back of her head, she’d thought that he would come around. He would see that she was right for him.

He didn’t.

She could hear a siren now. The ambulance.

More cops walked in, including the Rangers, and suddenly there was no more private talk. She was hauled up and given time to change. She found herself in Will Daley’s rather opulent bathroom.

Karina stared at herself in the mirror. She could see the marks on her face and rope burns on her body.

But the hole in her damn heart hurt far worse.





Chapter Twelve



“Is there anything I can do for you?” Avery sat down on the bed and reached for her hand.

Karina shook her head. “You should be at home with Aidan.”

Her son was only weeks old. Karina had no idea why Liam had called her. She was fine. After numerous scans and a horrific amount of blood work, the doctor had even said she was fine. She was going to be released as soon as the paperwork was done.

To go home to her empty place. She wondered if Derek had already had someone go and pick up his things or if he would offer her a ride home. Perhaps that was why there were so many of her friends up here. Li had probably called in the troops because he knew how hard this would be on her. She had no doubt she could lie about her feelings for Brighton, but it wouldn’t do her any good. Li probably knew.

That was just one more embarrassment to face.

Avery squeezed her hand. “Aidan is fine. He’s happily asleep at Ashley’s. I’ve been told that Jill and Ryan are babysitting as much as they can trying to figure out if they’re ready.”