Chapter 6

• How far away was airport? She had plenty of cash on her, courtesy of her job. She also had a few acquaintances in Boston, maybe she could contact one and see about accommodations. Maybe even a job until she could move somewhere else.
• Kathryn might be able to just lay low until Daniel lost interest, which would probably be soon.
• A twinge of guilt pricked at her stomach as she tossed her uniform into her locker, slamming the door closed.
• How much trouble would this cause the Guardians when she fled in the night like a coward?
• Kathryn shook her head, angry with herself for caring so much about the hell the MC would face when she left. Maybe since they'd already agreed to sell her off like cattle, Daniel wouldn't hold them responsible when she ran away.
• Not allowing herself another minute to question her decision, Kathryn booked it out the back entrance that led to the alleyway, breathing a sigh of relief when no one was lurking just outside the door.
• Some nights, if a client enjoyed the performances a little too much, they would linger just outside, hoping to 'entice' a dancer to spend the night with them. It would work better if they just paid, nearly every dancer here did a little side hustle every now and then, but guys like that assumed they could get with a dancer off of charm alone.
• Kathryn side-stepped a puddle as she turned a corner, not wanting to ruin her thin shoes, and slammed directly into someone.
• Strong hands grabbed her biceps, steadying her as she swayed on her feet from the impact. She stiffened as she caught the delectable scent that was now practically engraved in her mind.
• "Going somewhere, princess?" The words were like heated velvet as Daniel's voice wrapped around her, and Kathryn hung her head.
• Son of a gun.
• Daniel scarcely kept his grip from tightening over her bare arms, hating how soft and smooth her skin was under his fingertips.
• He'd caught himself wondering how her skin would feel earlier, when he'd caressed her face and then taken her with his fingers, but for some reason he hadn't expected her to feel like silk beneath his palms.
• "Get your hands off of me," Kathryn said, jerking in his hold.
• But it was useless, and they both knew it. She gave up after a moment, glaring at him. She thought she hated him now, but she truly had no idea how far this would go.
• What she felt now would pale in comparison to what he had planned for her in the upcoming months.
• "That's no way to talk to your master, Kathryn."
• She shivered, and despite his intention to tighten his grip to the point of pain, he slid his palms up and down her arms, helping fend off the cool night air.
• "I take it you were scheming to make a daring escape in the hopes you'd lose me, at what? A bus station? The airport?"
• "No," she answered immediately. "I would never do something like that."
• Daniel smirked, leaning down until his nose brushed hers. "What did I say would happen if you lied to me?"
• "Can you prove I'm lying?" she asked haughtily, turning her head to the side so he was nuzzling her cheek. He nipped her in reprimand and she jumped, hissing out a startled breath.
• Daniel stood to his full height. "For the sake of your little friends within the MC, you should hope not."
• Her mouth popped open in shock. "If I was trying to leave, which I wasn't, how is it their problem? You bought me, remember? They have no responsibility over me anymore."
• Ah, so she'd thought them safe from his wrath if she'd managed to make it out of Chicago.
• Daniel shook his head. "I would have killed them just to prove a point."
• "How about you leave them out of this?" she asked him, a bite in her voice that made his blood pump faster.
• "Why would I do that? I can't expect your obedience if I don't have leverage over you, and your friend Rain seems like the perfect piece of meat to dangle over your head."
• Kathryn shoved at his shoulders, but he didn't even sway on his feet before she let out a small huff of frustration. She settled for poking him angrily in the chest, her nail leaving an indent in the material of his shirt.
• He could honestly say no one had ever done that before, and the action startled him.
• "I'm here, aren't I? I didn't run off. So leave Rain alone."
• A flare of irritation filled him at how blatantly she was ready to defend someone who'd fed her to the wolves.
• "You're only here because I caught you trying to flee within minutes of becoming my property, Kathryn. If you try something like that again, I can't guarantee that I won't take your rebellion out on someone you care about."
• Like that little prick she'd been clinging to for protection.
• "Mr. Ford," his driver called from the street, interrupting the exchange of wills between Daniel and his prey. "Your ride is here."
• Daniel grabbed Kathryn by the elbow, turning and steering her toward the vehicle. "Excellent, Stefan. To the penthouse, if you please."
• "That sounds great," Kathryn said cheerily, dragging her feet as he ushered her forward. "If you'll just unhand me, I'll leave you to it. I'm going home."
• Daniel didn't even spare her a glance as he all but dragged her to the SUV, grabbing her around the waist and depositing her through the open door.
• He followed in after her, unbuttoning his suit jacket as Stefan closed the door behind him.
• "I said I was going home," Kathryn spat, sitting up in her seat with an aggrieved sigh. They didn't acknowledge Stefan as he got behind the wheel, starting the vehicle up and taking off into the night.