Sins Of The Hunted

Locked Down

I’m sprawled on a dusty couch in this shithole safehouse, somewhere in bumfuck Illinois, my torn red dress sticking to my thighs, Luca’s blood still crusting my hands. The cabin’s all creaky boards and dim light, the kind of place you’d hide a body, not a person. My heart’s a f*****g wreck, Luca’s goofy grin haunting me, but I’m fighting to keep it together, my sass the only thing holding me up. Danny Kane’s across the room, all muscle and cold eyes, setting up a laptop like he’s not fazed by the bloodbath we just escaped. At 28, he’s hotter than I remember—sharper jaw, broader shoulders—but those eyes still cut like they did when I was 18 and he blew me off like I was nothing.

Back then, I was a kid with a crush, trailing Luca to some sketchy bar where Danny was his PI buddy. I’d worn my tightest jeans, tossed my curls, tried to flirt, but he’d smirked, said I was “too young to play,” and walked away. Fucker broke my heart, and now here he is, my lifeline, acting like he doesn’t remember. My carefree attitude’s dialed up, not just to bury the grief but to mess with him, make him squirm like he made me. If I’m stuck with him, I’m gonna have some fun.

“You gonna stand there all day, Kane, or you got a plan?” I snap, my voice sharp, leaning back to let my dress ride up, my legs crossed slow. My n*****s are hard under the fabric, and I know he sees it. f**k, my libido’s a traitor, but I’m leaning into it, daring him to look.

He glances over, his dark eyes flicking to my thighs, then away, his jaw tight. “Plan’s to keep you alive, Russo,” he says, his voice low, gravelly. “You keep flashing like that, you’re making it harder.”

I laugh, loud and reckless, tossing my curls. “Oh, poor Danny, can’t handle a little skin?” My tone’s all flirty taunt, but my heart’s pounding, Luca’s last words—trust him—mixing with that old sting of rejection. I’m pushing him, partly because I’m pissed, partly because I want to see him crack, that cold control gone.

He steps closer, his boots heavy on the floor, and f**k, he’s towering, all leather and sweat, his scent hitting me like a drug. “You stole that USB,” he says, his eyes locking on mine, intense enough to make my p***y throb. “Marco’s got this city on a leash. You wanna live? Stop playing games.”

“Games?” I stand, getting in his face, my chest brushing his, my breath fast. “You’re the one who played me, Kane. Five years ago, you acted like I was some dumb kid. Now you’re stuck with me, so deal.” My voice is sharp, my old crush burning through, mixing with grief and rage. I’m not just flirting—I’m throwing that rejection back at him.

His eyes narrow, a flicker of recognition, and for a second, I think he remembers. “You were a kid,” he says, his voice low, dangerous. “Still are, running your mouth when Marco’s hunting you.” His hands grab my shoulders, not gentle, his fingers digging in, and I’m tingling everywhere, my body screaming for more.

I tilt my chin, smirking, my lips inches from his. “You gonna shut me up, Danny? Or you still too chickenshit to try?” My sass is full-on, my heart racing, and f**k, I want him to snap, to grab me, to do something. My p***y’s wet, my n*****s aching, and I’m hating how much I want him when Luca’s blood’s still on me.

He lets go, stepping back, cursing under his breath. “Sit your ass down,” he snaps, turning to the laptop, his movements sharp. “The USB Gimme it.”

I flop back on the couch, crossing my legs slow, letting my dress ride higher. “Wouldn’t kill you to say please, tough guy,” I taunt before tossing the USB at him, my fingers brushing his. The spark’s electric, my skin buzzing, and I catch his eyes on my curves, quick, before he looks away.

He plugs the USB in, his face all focus, but I’m watching his hands, strong, steady, and I’m imagining them on me, rough, everywhere. “It’s encrypted,” he says, typing fast. “Bank records, maybe. Marco’s dirty money. I send these over to my contact, Mia, I’m sure she’d be able to crack it.”

“Mia, huh?” I say, my voice dripping with mock jealousy, leaning forward, my dress dipping low. “She your girlfriend, Kane? Or you still too cold for that?” I’m pushing, my old crush making me reckless, my grief making me bold. Luca’s gone, and I’m clinging to this game to keep from breaking.

He glares, his jaw ticking, and I swear he’s gonna snap. “Keep talking, Isabella, and I’ll lock you in the closet,” he growls, but his eyes are on my lips, my chest, and I know he’s feeling it too, that heat between us.

I laugh, stretching out, my body on display. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” My voice is all flirty challenge, but inside, I’m raw—Luca’s goofy wink, his blood on my hands, tearing me apart. f*****g with Danny’s the only thing keeping me from falling into that hole.

He’s about to fire back when the laptop pings, a news alert flashing—my face, my f*****g face, on every channel. “Wanted: Isabella Russo, suspect in grand theft from Vitale Enterprises.” My heart stops, my sass freezing. Marco’s framing me, painting me as the bad guy.

“What the f**k?” I’m up, leaning over Danny, my hand on his shoulder, his muscles hard under my touch. “That bastard’s setting me up!” My voice is shaking, rage and fear crashing together, but my body’s still buzzing, too close to Danny, his heat pulling me in.

“You did technically steal from him ,” Danny says, his voice low, his eyes meeting mine, too close. My breath catches, my p***y tingling despite the panic, and I hate how my body’s screaming for him when my world’s burning. “ He’s trying to net you no allies, no cops— so it’d just be a matte of time .”

I grip his shoulder harder, my nails digging in, and he doesn’t flinch, just stares, like he’s daring me to break. The air’s thick, my heart pounding, and I’m about to say something, maybe climb into his lap just to f**k with him, when headlights sweep through the window, slow, hunting.

“f**k,” Danny mutters, slamming the laptop shut, his gun out fast. “Get down, Isabella. Now.”

I smirk, my defiance flaring, my lips brushing his ear as I whisper, “Make me, Kane.” My body’s screaming for trouble.