4. Millie

4

MILLIE

Anxiously, I peek an eye open and see the men who are holding me against my will in a position of attack. Suddenly, the man who took me lunges forward and aims an insanely fast punch at Hayden. Hayden dodges it, and I can no longer physically keep up with the ensuing fight. All I hear is snarling and bodies hitting the floor, echoing against the room's corners.

I'm still on the ground, trying my hardest not to scream. Hopefully, they forget about me, so I can try to run for it. Loud music blasts outside the other wall where the door was previously opened, and I think this is my perfect chance to try and escape. I keep my broken wrist close to my chest to protect it and decide this is my moment. Snarling, glass breaking, and the sounds of the room being destroyed by these fanged monsters are causing me to panic. My chest heaves dangerously fast, and sweat forms all over my body.

Then I hear blood splatter across the wall, and it looks like a bucket of dark red paint has been thrown against it…

I'm going to be sick .

Who are these people? Why is my troubled mind thinking of Vampires? Well…it's the long teeth, vibrant, glowing eyes, strength, and speed. However, I try to put those thoughts aside. I need to concentrate on leaving. I quickly get to my feet and make a run towards the door. As soon as my hand touches the doorknob, my shoulder is squeezed, and it feels like I'm about to have a second broken bone.

I turn around to meet with the ice-blue-eyed man—the same one who took me from my parked car.

"You're not leaving!" he shouts as his nails dig into my chest, splitting my skin open. Before he can do more damage, he's cut off. Hayden throws him away from me. The blonde man flies in the air and lands across the other side of the wall, knocking over the bookshelves. As soon as I'm released from his grip, I open the door and bolt.

To my surprise, I really am in a nightclub. Loud music blasts and lights flash in bright colors—purple, pink, green, and blue. Those rays of light shine over a crowd of people dancing hypnotically. I run through the crowd of drunk people and spot someone I think would be sober. I run towards the bartender frantically, with convulsing gestures.

"Please help me! I've been taken against my will! I need you to call the police. Please. You have to get me out of here!" I plead as my voice shakes. I grip the bar top tight and swallow anxiously. I'm screaming at the poor guy, but it works because I have his attention. At first, he's annoyed and rolls his eyes like I'm someone talking nonsense, but then his gaze turns wicked. Another bartender appears and checks me out with him. I take one step back with knitted brows, confused by their demeanor.

Why aren't they helping me? Why aren't they concerned for me?

They nudge each other like I'm a joke to them. "Looks like someone's snack is trying to make a run for it." They both chuckle, and that's when I see those familiar sharp teeth. My heart sinks, and I shake my head vehemently.

This can't be happening!

I must be in a nightclub full of them .

I'm screwed.

I slowly back away from the bartenders, but their stares linger as if they're hungry. They whisper like they're conjuring a plan to take me for themselves.

I back up into what feels like a wall. I slowly pivot to a face I recognize. The red-eyed man, Hayden, Prince Drago .

For some odd reason, I feel safe with him. Something about my situation makes me feel like he's trying to help. Yet, I'm terrified of the unknown. I clench my broken wrist toward my chest again.

"She's with me." His deep voice towers over me, almost in a protective, possessive kind of way. He gives the bartenders a menacing warning with one depraved stare. The bartenders nod with no argument from them and scatter away as if they're afraid of Hayden.

He looks down at me and gives me half a smile like he's unsure of what to do. His red eyes are still bright, but his fangs return to normal-looking teeth.

"I don't know who you are, but please, sir, don't hurt me."

I don't realize I'm crying until Hayden looks at me with sympathy. He wipes away my tears with his thumb, his hand caressing my cheek carefully. He's cold, just like the other men. My eyes never leave his. With one hard blink, the once menacingly red shade transits into a beautiful bright blue. I can melt into this stranger's eyes if I stare any longer.

"If I'm going to get you out of here, we must go now." He leans down and whispers his determination into the shell of my ear. It sends chills throughout my body. The men that were with Hayden initially finally catch up to us. He grabs my hand, and I follow him as he leads me through more drunken vampires. He gestures for me to walk in front of him so he can watch me as I walk.

Soon, we're out of the nightclub's doors, and Hayden rushes me into an all-black Mercedes SUV. I don't know why I don't choose to run away, and my instincts are telling me I'm safer with Hayden than with the men who hurt me.

I take one step forward on the sidewalk and hesitate. Should I trust him?

I stare at the door as thunder explodes around us in the sky. Rain is about to pour down hard. Then, I look to Hayden for reassurance.

"I don't know what you are ...but please don't hurt me. Take me home." I'm begging him for mercy.

Hayden looks down at me like I've told him he's God's gift to mankind. It's like he's enjoying my pleas for remorse. He squeezes my shoulder gently.

"Get in the car, beautiful girl. We need to go now," he replies as he pushes me gently into the vehicle.

I nod and climb into it. I'm trusting this stranger with my life. Trembling, I try to click my seatbelt on. After three jittery attempts, I succeed. Hayden sits next to me. As soon as he closes the door, the driver presses on the gas hard and hauls out of there fast with screeching tires.