Free Darkfall by Denise A. Agnew

wouldn’t do.”
    The never-ending list. “Oh?”
    “You wouldn’t have sex with me. Why was that?”
    She wondered if her nose was growing from all the lies, but what was one more? “My loss.”
    “That’s not an answer.”
    “I was afraid. You’re big and intimidating.”
    He lifted the gun and placed it right over her private area. She winced in reaction. “Think so? Well, I am big, but you’ll have to wait to see it.”
    He licked his lips, and the idea of Frank’s mouth anywhere on her sent revulsion curling through her stomach.
    “Tell me what you’re going to do to make it up to me,” he said.
    He moved the gun beside her hip, within inches of her left elbow. Not that she could shoot worth a damn with her left hand even if she could reach it in time. He lifted off the bed and with a smooth movement straddled her waist. She stiffened. He’d never raped her, but the thought that he might made her throat tighten with disgust and fear. She sucked in a breath.
    “What are you doing?” she asked automatically.
    He slapped her across the face, and sharp pain rocketed through her already addled head. “You didn’t say what you’re going to do for me.”
    “I’ll be a wife to you. I’ll cook, clean, not talk back. Lose weight and stay home at your beck and call.” Every word of the lie almost burned. “Anything you desire.”
    “Yeah, you will.” He grinned widely. “And more than that. You’ll bed me when and if I want it. Where I want it.”
    A shadow fell over the doorway, and she started as a figure stepped into the room.
    “Get the fuck off of her,” came Ian’s deadly voice as he pointed his weapon at Frank.

Chapter 6
    Thank God. How long had Ian been there? Listening and waiting for the right time to enter? Ian looked no different than he had when he’d left her, and the relief was staggering. Penny wanted to cry again. Wanted to rage at him for being gone so long. Surprise registered on Frank’s face a half second, and she saw him glance at the gun near her hand.
    She didn’t know if Ian could see it, so she took a chance. “He’s got a gun, Ian. It’s by my left hand.”
    “Thanks, babe.” Ian’s voice was ragged with accent and anger. “But we won’t need weapons, will we Frank?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Frank’s smile echoed the sarcasm in his voice.
    “I think we should approach this like reasonable men, don’t you, Frank?” Ian asked.
    Frank glanced down at her. “Who is he?”
    “A friend,” she said.
    Frank threw a glance at Ian. “Just a friend?”
    She nodded. “Yes.”
    “Should I kill him?” Frank asked her.
    “No.” The word shot out of her. “No. There doesn’t need to be any killing.”
    “Get off her,” Ian said again. “ Now. We’ll take this downstairs. Better yet, we’ll take it out to the back yard. Fight like real men. The guy who wins gets the spoils. Deal?”
    Her heartbeat quickened at the idea of them fighting it out—she didn’t like this idea at all. Every muscle in her body felt drawn tight, ready to pop. Her breathing quickened, her heartbeat banging in her chest. “Ian, no.”
    “Trust me.” Ian’s voice quieted, but it still held a fine edge of anger. “Trust me.”
    Frank won’t go for this. Not when he has a gun right here. She could reach for it. Snatch it before Frank—
    “Okay,” Frank said as he shifted off of her and stood by the side of the bed with his back to her for a few seconds. “But she’s mine.”
    Ian moved into the room and kept his weapon pointed at Frank, but he didn’t take his gaze off the man. “Then you won’t mind hand-to-hand combat to see who owns her, will you?”
    Owns her. Such a statement should have pissed her off, but she knew why Ian said it. He needed to play this game with Frank. Keep Frank thinking that’s what it was really about. Ownership of the spoils.
    Frank brightened at the idea. “Most definitely. Sounds like fun.”
    Without looking at