Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

He murmurs, “We’d be pleased to pay tribute to Maxim
any amount he feels fair to continue operations.”
“In arrears, as well.”
A muscle in Stavros’s jaw works. “Of course.”
I say, “Wonderful. Glad we’ve got that all worked out.
Please excuse me for a moment.”
I push back my chair and walk toward the restaurant’s
entrance, my cheeks burning hot and my pulse flying. I don’t
know exactly where I’m headed, only that I needed to get
away from that table.
I knew it.
I knew he was dangerous from the moment I set eyes on
him.
The question is, why didn’t I run away?
At the hostess’s stand, I make an abrupt right turn toward
the bathrooms. The corridor keeps going past the two doors,
ending in another door that I push through.
I find myself in an employee break room. A square table
surrounded by chairs sits in the middle of the room. There’s a
stack of metal lockers on one wall. A TV hangs from another.
Aside from me, it’s deserted.
Before I can collapse into the nearest chair, Kage bursts
through the door.
“Stop,” I say firmly, wagging my finger at him as he
approaches. “Stay right there. Don’t take another step.”
He ignores that and stalks closer.
“I’m serious, Kage! Or is it Kazimir? I don’t want to talk
to you right now!”
He growls, “I don’t want to talk to you, either,” and grabs
me.
My yelp of surprise is cut off by a hard, demanding kiss.
He drags my head back with a hand fisted in my hair and
ravages my mouth until I’m breathless. He’s got one of my