Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) by Rina Kent

I’m still not comfortable with the dancing, however, so I shout over the music, “I’m going to grab a drink!”

“Hurry back!” Philippe calls out.

I nod, even though I actually intend to go back upstairs and watch them make fools out of themselves. But as soon as I get there, I regret it.

The place is empty except for two ballerinas who are making out in the back booth, groping each other’s breasts. But that’s not what makes me want to bolt.

It’s Ryan.

He’s waiting for me at the sofa where we were seated when we got here.

His eyes are wrong. I don’t know what is it about them, but I dislike what I see in there. I turn to go downstairs and rejoin Philippe and Stephanie, but he grabs me by the arm and pulls me back so hard, I slam against his chest.

“What the hell, Ryan?”

“I thought you didn’t want to dance, but you did it so well just now.”

I try to wiggle my wrist from his hold. “Let me go.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll scream.”

He covers my mouth with his palm and pulls me to him, rubbing his erection against my stomach as he forces me to move with him. “Now, you won’t.”

“Mfahhm…” I attempt to scream against his hand.

“It’s just a fucking dance, Lia. Stop being a goddamn snob and do it.”

I don’t want to do it, because the way he’s looking at me doesn’t seem like it’s just a dance. The feel of his hard-on is even more disturbing than earlier.

“You’re such a fucking cocktease. Did you know that?”

“Mmmfop!” He’s still keeping me from talking, so I try to kick him, but he pulls away at the last second and steps on my foot, the sole of his shoe nearly crushing my bones.

“Ahhhhh!” I scream into his palm. No, no, no…

“Do that again and I will break your fucking legs, Lia. You’ll be good, won’t you?”

I nod, tears of both desperation and pain clinging to my lids.

“You’re going to come with me, nice and easy.”

I’m about to nod, just so he’ll get off my foot. Anything to protect it.

But before I can do anything, a shadow appears behind Ryan. Strong fingers wrap around his face and neck.

Fingers that only appear in my dreams these days. Fingers I would recognize anywhere.

If not for the searing pain from Ryan’s shoe, I’d think this is another dream, but it’s far from it.

The blue lights cast a scary glow on his face as he rips Ryan from me.

Adrian.





11





Lia





Adrian is here.

That thought isn’t fully implemented in my mind when the reality of what’s happening slams into me.

I don’t even focus on the fact that my throbbing foot is free from Ryan’s shoe.

The view in front of me is more shocking. More demanding of my attention.

Adrian stands behind Ryan, wrapping both of his strong hands around his neck and jaw. His fingers are sure and confident with no show of any hesitation or second thoughts whatsoever. Under the blue light, his eyes are blank, emotionless, just like that day he shot that man in the head as if he were killing a fly.

“What is this?” Ryan struggles back against Adrian, trying to elbow him, but it’s no use. “Do you know who I am—”

His words are cut off when Adrian tightens his hold on his neck and speaks with a neutral Russian accent, “I’d shut up if I were you unless you want your neck snapped in the next second.”

Ryan’s face reddens as he struggles for breath. The wide look in his sleazy eyes is proof enough that he understands what type of clusterfuck he’s gotten himself into. I have no doubt in my mind that Adrian would break his neck or his jaw without a single blink.

As much as I hate Ryan and his behavior, I don’t wish him—or anyone—death. Especially not by the hands of a callous man like Adrian.

Ryan’s eyes meet mine, pleading, imploring. His lips are blue, and his thrashes and attempts to pry Adrian’s hold away are futile. If anything, the more he struggles, the faster his body loses oxygen.

“Adrian…” I whisper, trying to sound normal despite my escalating nerves. “Let him go.”

“It appears he put his hand on you.” Though his tone is calm, matching the blankness in his eyes, his actions are anything but. They’re ruthless with the intention of finishing a life. “In fact, he didn’t only put his hands on you, but also his feet and his cock, which I will cut off and feed to him.”

He hits the back of Ryan’s leg and I gasp as my dance partner falls to his knees in front of me, wheezing as if the air has been knocked out of his lungs.

“We’ll start with breaking the legs first.” Adrian steps on Ryan’s calves and an ugly, haunted sob leaves the dancer’s lips.

I’m wrenched back from my dizzy state as I rush to Adrian and grab his muscled arm, shaking my head frantically. “Don’t do that.”

He doesn’t pay attention to me as he yanks Ryan’s head back using his hands on his face. “He tried to crush your foot just now.”

“I’m not him. Adrian, please. You…you don’t understand what our legs mean to us.”