Under Pressure (Body Armor #1)(102)

The hard buckle connected with her ribs and pain exploded. She couldn’t help but cry out as she curled in on herself. Oh God, oh God, oh God.

“I wish you wouldn’t make me hurt you. But if you do, understand that I won’t hesitate.” Now he gently stroked her hip, adding frightful revulsion to the pain. “Webb was always too lenient with you. For your own good, I won’t be. No, I won’t bruise your pretty face. But your body... Sometimes a few bruises make things more interesting.”

Carefully, staying in the cowed position, Cat dragged in an uneven breath. That punch had hurt so badly, she wasn’t sure she was brave enough to provoke him toward further violence.

Then again, she definitely wasn’t brave enough to let him strip her naked.

“Come now, Kitten.” He stood over her. “Stop hiding from me.”

Terrified of more retribution, Cat uncurled enough to see him. Tears pricked her eyes and the ache from that strike continued to radiate to every nerve ending.

Tesh smiled at her. “Good. Now you will get up and you will strip away every single article of your clothing.”

Each small breath hurt, but Cat didn’t fight him as he took her arm and yanked her upright. Her ribs protested. Had he cracked a few?

She kept her arms wrapped around herself, her feet braced against the jostling of the van. Glancing up at him, she showed him all the fear he craved.

His gaze, devoid of sympathy, moved over her features and then down her body. “Webb tried, I’ll give him that. But you were always so goddamned feral.” He loosened his hold and his firm voice softened to a croon. “I will soon have you purring. That’s a promise.”

She tried a tremulous smile, confusing him, deluding him. He seemed stunned but pleased, already amped up from the violence, his expression raw with lust.

He yanked her against him.

Though any movement hurt like hell, Cat reacted by bringing up her knee as hard and fast as she could, striking him in the groin with stunning accuracy.

Blank shock cleared Tesh’s expression just before he moaned and doubled over.

For good measure, Cat ignored her own pain and shoved him hard. As he fell to the hard corrugated floor of the van, a guttural groan bubbled from his throat.

Please, please, please, Cat whispered to herself. She grabbed the latch on the back door. At first it didn’t give, and as the driver cursed and swerved, slowing the van, she tried again, gripping it with all her might.

She cried out as pain ripped through her bruised midsection, then the door swung open, dragging her out. Her toes barely stayed inside the van and she balanced over the pavement racing beneath her.

The van kept going, but so what? Better to die from the fall to the road than be tortured to death by Tesh.

In the distance behind the van, she saw headlights. If she did survive, perhaps the passengers would call for help.

“Cat, no.” Sounding truly alarmed, Tesh stretched a hand out to her.

Ignoring him, Cat considered her odds of surviving the fall.

“Stop, damn you!” Tesh barked.

Cat thought he spoke to her until he added, “She’ll die!”

The driver slowed, pulling to the side of the road.

Knowing it was now or never, Cat jumped toward the piles of snow on the berm. She hit hard and, against her will, her body rolled uncontrollably, tumbling fast.

Tires screeched.

Tesh would come after her. God help her, he’d almost sounded horrified by her probable death, which only made him more insane. He wanted to keep her, to sexually torture her, to enslave her as his own—for the rest of her life.

What kind of life would that be?

She had to get up. She had to run. Her hands dug into the snow, frozen mud and gravel. Her hip now hurt as bad as her ribs. Panting, she got one knee beneath her—

“Cat!”

Terror played tricks on her, because that outraged voice sounded entirely too much like Leese.

She heard the running footsteps, then the screech of police sirens and finally a gunshot. Without understanding, she cringed, covered her head and—

“Cat. Baby, it’s okay now. Just be still. Where are you hurt?”

Her racing heartbeat slowed. That was definitely Leese.

Peeking up, she found him kneeling by her in the snow. He didn’t wear a coat. He was dressed exactly the same as he had been at the party—meaning...what? That he’d learned of her kidnapping and run after her without a second thought?

It appeared so. “Leese?” Confusion and hope squeezed her lungs. “How are you here?”

“I’m so sorry.” He touched her gently, with fear and so much more. “Paramedics are on the way. Just stay still.”

To hell with that. “I’m okay.” She sat up, gasped in pain and quickly looked around.

Tesh lay facedown on the ground, the headlights of a police car showing the pool of blood around him. Another officer pulled the driver from the van, already locking his hands behind him.

It appeared everything had changed in a heartbeat.

“What hurts?” Leese carefully brushed snow and ice from her hair. “You have to talk to me, honey. Let me know you’re okay.”

Her heart started thumping. In a whisper, she said, “You have to trust me now, Leese. Please.” When he started to question her, she put her fingers to his mouth. “Trust me.”