She refused to respond.

He looked at Bruce. “Escort our guest to one of the rooms. I would never accuse her of being overly bright so perhaps she needs time to realize that we own her.”

Bruce lifted her and spun toward the stairs. She clawed at his arms and he cursed. One hand gripped her throat and he leaned down enough to put his lips against her ear.

“You don’t want to piss me off, little girl. My plan was to find you after you f**ked that creature, beat you to a pulp and leave your destroyed body in that alley. They would have gotten the blame once that video was sent out. Gregory thinks you’re more useful as our press whore. Push me. Please. I had my heart set on making you into a punching bag.” He chuckled. “I love hearing screams.”

She stilled in his arms.

He chuckled and continued up the stairs. It was uncomfortable but she didn’t dare complain. Bruce was a sadistic bastard who terrified her and was probably a serial killer.

He carried her up to the third floor. It wasn’t a place she’d explored on her only visit. A guard waited up there and nodded at Bruce as he opened the door. The guy didn’t even glance her way or meet her frantic gaze. There was no hope that he’d help her. Bruce stepped inside the room and dropped her hard onto her feet. The parting push was just for meanness.

She stumbled and turned. Bruce grinned. “The walls have been soundproofed. Gregory brings prostitutes here and doesn’t want anyone to hear that he enjoys a little kink with his sex.”

She wasn’t surprised at anything Gregory Woods was capable of anymore. She’d thought he was kind of prudish but he was just evil.

“He was afraid reporters would breach the grounds so the windows have been sealed off. There is no escape. I’ll be posted at the door. You try anything and I’ll hang you from that ugly chandelier.” He fisted his hands and weaved around as if he were boxing. He stopped and smoothed down his jacket. “Understand? Nobody is going to care how bad I hurt you as long as whatever outfit Mable picks hides the bruises.”

He backed out and left Vanni staring after him. She finally jerked out of her horrified stupor and took a good look at the room. Other than a massive bed it was empty. The windows were closed off. He hadn’t lied about that. Thick boards had been nailed over them. She inspected them and knew no amount of prying was going to unseal them.

She glanced at the bed and shuddered. No way was she going near the place where Gregory had sex with his paid women, especially if it involved violence. She sat on the floor instead and hoped that Beth would call the police when she got home after her outing with her sister.

Beth is going to know something is wrong. She had to have faith in that. She’ll call the police and they’ll come here looking for me. I just have to keep it together until then.

Chapter Eight

Smiley had never had an issue with being called to Justice North’s office but a sense of dread clung to him. He entered and took a seat without being asked. Justice, Fury and Bestial were already present.

“What has happened now?” He glanced at all three males. “I know it isn’t good.”

“No.” Justice cleared his throat. “It’s not.”

“Is Vanni well?” Smiley couldn’t shake the fear that the drug may have harmed her.

Fury leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. “The Woods Church is holding a press conference this morning. Pastor Woods is accusing you of drugging and raping his son’s fiancé. He’s saying it happened in the human world so you should face human laws. He wants you charged and prosecuted in the human courts.”

Smiley hadn’t seen that coming. “I didn’t do it.”

“We know,” Bestial growled.

“We need to find Vanni and have her tell them we were both drugged.” Smiley stood. “She knows I wasn’t responsible.”

Justice stood. “She’s holding the press conference with them. I understand that you wished to believe she was innocent but it’s become clear she did drug you. They set you up and she was part of it.”

Jericho entered and paused by the door. “I’m sorry.”

Smiley turned his head and glared at him.

“You need to admit you were wrong about that female.” Sadness flashed in his red-hued eyes as Jericho took a deep breath and expelled it. “I was hopeful for you but she’s accusing you of a forced breeding. She plans to stand in front of cameras and tell them you drugged and harmed her.”

“There is good news,” Justice stated. “The video clip doesn’t support that. She was clearly the sexual aggressor.”

“They’ll use the drug to blame her behavior.” Fury sighed and shook his head. “This is a mess. Tim wants to send a team to grab her before the news conference.”

“I told him no. It will only make us appear as if we have something to hide.” Justice came around the desk and stopped in front of Smiley. “Regardless of how this plays out, you are safe. They don’t have the right to come here to demand we deliver you to their authorities. We will fight this and prove it was them. It just might take time.”

“Why would anyone believe I would need to drug a female to share sex?” Smiley’s temper flared.

“The Woods Church has always stated we must drug or pay females to make them agree to be mounted by us.” Jericho snorted. “Tell the news cameras to pan our gates and get shots of the females who show up here with signs asking us to take them as mates.”