Coveted Read Online Free PDF Page B

are
you doing, Hugh?”
    Blood poured into the
man’s eyes, and a nasty cut gaped open over his brow. He turned at the sound of
his name, and stumbled a little too close to Aiden’s cell.
    Desperate not to lose
this chance, Aiden lunged forward and snatched up the rotund man through the
bars. The movement dislodged Shayla’s phone, and it landed with a plop, before
disappearing into the murky water. Then there was no more time to think. He looped
his arm around Hugh’s neck, pulling until the man was crushed against the bars.
Bones should’ve snapped like matchsticks, would have if Aiden had been at his
full strength. Now he was just too weak.
    “Jacob, he’s got me.
Shoot him,” Hugh shrieked.
    Jacob ignored his
lackey, squinting in Shayla’s direction as if he could see her despite the lack
of light. When he turned and lifted the cattle prod from the wall, there was a
peculiar gleam in his eyes, something malicious.
    Out of time.
    The man would kill
Shayla and enjoy it.
    Aiden couldn’t allow
that to happen.
    If he received a jolt
of electricity, they’d take him down and leave her vulnerable. To know that
she’d died because of him shriveled the last bit of his humanity. Aiden heaved
backwards, using his weight, ignoring the Hugh’s frantic scratching at his arm.
    “Hey, dickhead.” The
woman flew out of the shadows, landing on Jacob’s back and clung to him like a tenacious
monkey. Jacob lurched forward, the momentum nearly catapulting her over his
shoulder.
    Aiden went ballistic.
His teeth lengthened, fur burst out along his arms. He said a silent plea that
the darkness was thick enough to conceal the changes and tightened his hold. Hugh
squealed like a girl, but Aiden couldn’t take his attention away from the
fight.
    Jacob reached up, grabbed
the back of her shirt, and tossed her into the water. Instead of giving up, the
woman rolled to her feet. Then he couldn’t see her anymore as Jacob stalked down
the hall. He was controlled, took pleasure in the hunt, like the lord of the
castle.
    The man was twice her
weight.
    One blow and he’d
crush her.
    But he would be
careful, hurt her just enough to prolong the torture.
    Aiden growled in fury,
relishing in the satisfying crunch of bones when Hugh’s neck finally snapped.
He let the body drop and rushed toward the edge of his prion in time to see his
woman being slammed up against the wall.
    She slid down the rough
stones like a limp rag. Aiden could do nothing but watch, helplessness threatening
to choke him as she ineffectually slapped at Jacob’s chest. Then she turned
defiantly toward him, steely determination etched on her face.
    “Catch.”
    Aiden nearly missed
her toss.
    Cold metal smacked
his palms.
    When he opened his
fingers, he couldn’t believe what he saw.
    The key.
    Damned foolish woman.
Admiration for the female flared through him. With shaky fingers, he put the key
in the lock. “Hit her again, bastard, and I’ll rip your spine from your body
and beat you with it.”
    Jacob held the woman
off the ground, her feet swinging, unable to land any solid blows with her
sneakers. Jacob cocked back his arm, his fist ready to land a crushing blow
when he turned and saw Aiden with the key.
    He blanched, then his
gaze dropping to his partner. The man was nearly submerged, his eyes forever
open and staring at nothing.
    “You little bitch,
you did this.” Jacob slammed her against the wall hard enough to make her to go
limp, then tossed her still body into the water.
    Aiden roared, his
beast vibrating with rage, the tortured sound reverberating down the tunnel.
    Jacob strode toward
the exit, only a slight rush to his steps, leaving his fallen friend behind.
But he’d grown careless, believed himself invincible, and didn’t watch his
steps.
    An inch, but that was
all that Aiden needed
    He lunged.
    His claws scored across
the right side of Jacob’s face.
    Four long welts
appeared from temple to lips, marring the perfect visage. Jacob