Brawn - Laurann Dohner [43]
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Becca jerked awake when booted feet echoed in the room. She had fallen asleep in the corner, huddled in a ball, watching Brawn try to calm down. He’d kept his back to her, refused to even glance her way and exhaustion had finally taken its toll. She woke on the cot with a blanket covering her.
Brawn stood next to the cot, close enough for her to touch the back of his sweatpants, and watched whoever made those sounds. She turned her head in time to see Randy and a few of his goons stomp their way. Dread pitted in her stomach and she figured time was up. One glance in the direction of the other cages verified that, since 919’s cage wasn’t empty anymore. A male body could be seen on the cot behind the bars. He was either drugged or sleeping since he didn’t move as far as she could tell.
“Becca? We just have to survive.” Brawn summed up their situation softly. “Do as they ask.”
She peered up at him but he still refused to glance at her, his sole focus on the four goons who stopped outside the cage door. All of them withdrew their Taser guns, checked them and Randy was the one who spoke.
“It’s time.” He glared at Brawn. “You twitch and we’ll light your ass up and your girlfriend.” He tapped his weapon. “These have been altered by one of our guys and he removed the safety on the voltage. Do you know what that means? It will kill her. You fight and she’s going to die.”
“I don’t like this,” Dean hissed. “Let’s knock him out the way we have the others and when he wakes, he’ll be chained up. It’s too dangerous to open that damn door to move him into the room with him awake.”
“Doctor Elsa gives the orders.” Randy obviously wasn’t thrilled since he looked as if he’d sucked on a lemon. “She doesn’t want him fucked up unless we have to. She thinks it might dampen his mood.”
“Fuck,” Ray muttered. “Let’s get the Doc’s ass out here and she can move the big bastard if she’s so sure he’ll protect the bitch he’s screwing. I think he’ll try to kill us. They aren’t real smart.”
Randy stepped closer, his gaze focused on Brawn and his eyebrows shot up. “Did you piss your girlfriend off? It looks like she bit you.”
“No.” Brawn reached back, gripped Becca’s hip and gently maneuvered her behind his body when she climbed to her feet next to him. “I will comply. Don’t harm her. I understand you are willing to kill her if I lie.” He turned his head in Ray’s direction. “I am not stupid.”
“This is nuts,” the fourth guy added. “He’s going to go ape shit once that door opens and he’ll try to take out as many of us as he can. I lost three of my security crew to bastards like that one. He can leap at us, move super fast and watch those damn fingernails. They are rougher than ours and can tear open skin.”
“I know,” Randy admitted. “We have our orders though.” His voice rose. “Your girlfriend dies if you even make me think you’re going to attack one of us.”
“I won’t.” Brawn hesitated. “I will carry her. I can’t fight with her in my arms. Will that make you feel safer?”
Surprise flickered on the men’s faces and Randy nodded sharply. “Yeah. Do that. Carry her with both arms so if you drop her, she hits hard enough to crack her damn skull open on the hard floor.” He lifted a leg and stomped down. “It would fuck her up.”
Brawn slowly turned to meet Becca’s worried gaze. She had made him mad somehow but he was offering not to attempt to escape to ensure her safety. He bent his knees a little and opened his arms. “Put your arms around my neck.”
She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? This isn’t your fault. None of it is. Just do as they say and they won’t have a reason to try to harm you. I won’t fight them. Your safety comes first.”
“What are you saying to her?” Randy sounded pissed. “Come on and stop stalling.”
Brawn’s head whipped around and he growled low. “She’s frightened.” He stared at Becca again. “Hold on to me. I wasn’t angry with you. It was directed at me. Now is not the time to discuss it.”
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hooked one arm around her waist, lifted