Save Me: Seduced by Danger, #5

By Clara Bayard

"...Being brave doesn’t mean never being afraid. It means feeling the crippling fear and getting past it because love is stronger than fear. It’s the most powerful force in the world."

Stuck in the middle of a mess she can't escape and confused about who to trust as friends are revealed as enemies and those she fears turn into potential allies, Amanda could use the comfort and support of her big sister and Trey more than ever.

But when the danger becomes deadly and it's unclear if any of them will survive, Amanda is left to do something she never thought possible - save herself and the people she loves. On her own.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Clara Bayard presents the final installment of her steamy and thrilling new adult romantic suspense novella serial.

Books in this serial:

Help Me
Trust Me
Take Me
Make Me
Save Me

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rising Books
• Release date: Oct 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781941122075

Book preview

SAVE ME

By Clara Bayard

Copyright © 2014 by Clara Bayard

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www.ClaraBayard.com

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

About this book

...Being brave doesn’t mean never being afraid. It means feeling the crippling fear and getting past it because love is stronger than fear. It’s the most powerful force in the world. 

Stuck in the middle of a mess she can't escape and confused about who to trust as friends are revealed as enemies and those she fears turn into potential allies, Amanda could use the comfort and support of her big sister and Trey more than ever. 

But when the danger becomes deadly and it's unclear if any of them will survive, Amanda is left to do something she never thought possible - save herself and the people she loves. On her own.

One

I couldn’t hear anything over the blood rushing in my head and my breathing, ragged and loud. The tips of my toes touched the door and a moment of triumph turned to torture when a pair of strong arms grabbed me around the waist.

Where do you think you’re going? Peter asked me, his breath hot against my ear.

I sobbed and struggled. So close to freedom. Get off, get off me!

He laughed, but the sound was weak and labored. I hurt him when I hit him. I allowed myself a moment of pleasure from that before I begin to yell again.

God damn, girl. Shut up. He lifted me and switched our positions so his back was against the door, before setting me back down on my feet. I don’t want to gag you. I’m trying to help you.

Now I laughed. I looked up into his face. It was too dark to see any bruise or cut. However, there was blood running down from his cheek, dripping onto his neck and shirt. And the strangest thing was, he didn’t look angry at me for causing it. It must have been a trick. Some way to keep me off-balance. It was working.

I took a few steps back, eyeing him warily. Help me? By kidnapping me?

He shook his head. Idiot child. What kind of kidnapper would only take you out back? What use do you think I have for you? He swiped at the blood on his face. I have no ladies’ softball team to recruit for. If I did, you would be the first one drafted.

This I had no answer to. He was cracking jokes. What kind of lunatic was this man?

Peter held up his hands and leaned back against the door. Let’s try to speak calmly, you… What’s… slugger? Is that the word?

I nodded. What do you want? If you were trying to help me, you should let me go.

No. You’ve made that impossible. He crossed his arms in front of him and I noticed his clothing for the first time.

At the Eden Club he was always in a suit. And the time I saw him skulking up to the police station I hadn’t even noticed what he was wearing. But now, in jeans and a dark t-shirt, he looked younger, more handsome. Even bloody, his sharp features were striking. The amused smirk on his face reminded me of Trey, and my heart ached.

Please, just let me go. I won’t say anything.

He chuckled. Oh, you’ve said plenty already, girl. Running your little mouth, telling secrets to all the wrong people. And now I have to fix this. Like I don’t have more important shit to do than save stupid little girls from their own mistakes. I should have tossed you out on your cheap shoes the first day you walked into the club. I knew you didn’t belong. And now you’ve ruined everything I have worked for.

I swallowed a few times and licked my dry lips. Are… are you going to kill me?

I wish. He looked down at the floor. Look at this. My blood all over the place. I’ll have to clean that too. I should make you do it.

My eyes widened. You’re insane. Some kind of sociopath, right?

Perhaps. But tonight, girl, I’m your guardian angel.

Still half in shock, I didn’t think before I spoke again. That phrase doesn’t mean what you think it does, if this is how you treat me.

He snarls. How I treat you? Girl, you just tried to knock my head off. I could get a concussion or rabies from a dirty nail.

Tetanus, I muttered.

What?

Tetanus. You get tetanus from rusty nails. Not rabies. It occurred to me that I must have still been sleeping. Having the weirdest dream ever. That was the only sensible explanation for how my night had turned out.

Tetanus, rabies, whichever. You’re so smart about diseases, yes? But so stupid about life.

I frowned.

Oh, have I offended you? Well what do you call it? I found you fast asleep in that viper’s apartment. No one knew you were there. Anything could have happened. Having a nice little sleep while she plots and schemes for your death. He threw up his arms. "Asleep. Idiot!"

I shook my head. I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, Peter.

I am aware of that, idiot child. He sighed loudly. Tell me, where is Heller?

Trey? I don’t know.

Don’t lie to me.

I’m not. The last I saw him some of your guys were dragging him out of Veronica’s office.

He nodded. Ah, yes. I heard all about your little disagreement. Like I said, idiot child.

I am not an idiot. Stop calling me that. And it wasn’t a little disagreement. He betrayed me. Lied to me. He… he did a terrible thing.

Peter shrugged. We all do terrible things. What matters is if we do them for the right reasons.

I don’t believe that, I replied blankly. But his words pierced my heart. They were too much like what Trey had said to me.

Of course you do. Did you not enter that building over there? Did you not lie and pretend to be a whore?

I… Veronica told you?

Yes. She tells me everything. I’m her loyal servant. His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I began to pace the dingy shed. I don’t understand.

No, you don’t. I will explain everything. But we must get out of here. Now. Quietly.

I’m not going anywhere with you.

His face smoothed out to cold, granite blankness. Why do you say this as if you could stop me?

I froze in place. Don’t you touch me.

He sighed again. You are a real pain in the ass, do you know that?

Yeah, well you’re a kidnapping dickhead, so I guess that makes us even.

Peter’s mouth dropped open and then he laughed. Hard. Doubled over with hands on his knees. When he finally composed himself, he wiped at his face again and smiled. Okay, I’m starting to see why Heller took to you.

I don’t want to talk about him.

Fine. Let’s go and we can talk about anything you want.

No. I squared off against him as much as possible with my hands still bound behind my back. I told you, I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what this is all about. Why did you take me? Why did you tie me up?

"And I told you, there isn’t time."

Well, you’re going to have to make time or deal with me screaming my head off in about three seconds.

Don’t.

I will. I’ve had enough. Gulping down deep breaths, I let loose on him. Enough of this shit, damn it. The lies and the sneaking and the double-talk and the secrets and all of it. You tell me what the hell you want from me. Right now.

He rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. There is no

Reviews for Save Me

[Jorge · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Omg this series is awesome. When I start with the first book I can't stop. So intriguing, dangerous and with romance I love it