Whatever Iron paid for me, I’ll pay that too. I can get it, whatever it is. Just don’t let him take me.”

Mira heard booted feet approaching behind her from the lift area. She turned her head to see Iron storming toward her. She was shocked when she saw the intense rage on his face. The fact that his hair was unbraided and the flaming-red, wavy hair flowed down his body was another shocking sight. She turned her head back to stare up at Flint, instinctively knowing Iron was going to drag her away from him when he reached her.

Chapter Ten

Without thinking, Mira moved. She threw herself at Flint. He backed up a step and she stumbled. She hit the floor on her knees instead of being able to grab his waist. She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his thigh. She clung to him tightly, pressing her body against his leg, firmly wrapping both arms tighter, clinging to him.

“Please, Flint. I will plead if that’s what it takes. Don’t do this. I’ll do anything you want. Just don’t let him take me. Don’t sell me to him. I swear to God, I’ll never run again. You tell me what you want and I’ll do it. I swear on my life.”

She was aware that Flint tensed since she was wrapped around his thigh and her face was against his inner leg. She hugged him tighter, using every bit of her strength. She heard him take a deep breath. He wasn’t tossing her away from him.

“Please! I’m begging you, Flint. Anything. You told me you wouldn’t hurt me. He will.”

Rough hands grabbed her shoulders as she was forcibly torn away from Flint. Flint stumbled a little from how tightly her hold on him had been. Iron forced her to her feet, his hands bit painfully into her arms, making her gasp in pain. She was spun around to face the angry cyborg . Iron lowered his face to glare at her.

“I told you not to run.” He released one arm and raised his hand. “I see you need a heavy hand to learn to obey your master.”

He was going to hit her. Mira whimpered and would have collapsed if he wasn’t holding her other arm so tightly. He kept her on her feet against his body, facing him. The hand swung. He didn’t aim for her face. He swung for her ass. She tensed, waiting for his large palm to make contact with her body. At the last second his hand stopped. She turned her head. Flint gripped Iron’s wrist.

Flint shook his head at Iron. “Do not.”

Iron’s eyes narrowed. “You sold her to me.”

Fury tightened Flint’s mouth. “I said I would sell her to you if you did not abuse her.”

“She needs a good spanking. Maybe if you’d put her over your knee she wouldn’t have run.”

Flint looked furious. “The sale isn’t final until Doc releases her from Med. He didn’t do that. Unhand her now.”

She saw surprise cross Iron’s features but he released Mira grudgingly. Flint wrapped his arm around Mira’s waist, jerking her back against his body. He held her. Flint sighed. “Leave us. I’ll return her to Med after I’ve talked to her.”

Iron didn’t move but glared at Flint instead. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

Flint gave a sharp nod of his head. “I’ll return her to Med after we’ve settled this. Our discussion is not forgotten.”

Iron nodded, his eyes narrowed as he glared down at Mira. “I’ll deal with you tomorrow.”

It was a threat. Mira turned in Flint’s loose hold to wrap her arms around him. He’d stopped Iron from hitting her. She curled tightly into his body. Hot tears filled her eyes and she didn’t try to stop them. She figured Flint could feel her tears soaking through his clothes because he wasn’t in uniform. He was wearing pants and matching shirt made from some kind of soft gray material. She’d seen some of the men working out wearing outfits like the one he wore.

Flint let her hold him for approximately thirty seconds before he gripped her arms. “Release me. We are going in my quarters to talk.”

She let him go but she didn’t want to. Flint closed the distance to his doorway to run his palm over the lock pad. The doors opened instantly. He paused and looked at her.

“Get inside.”

Mira almost ran into the quarters she’d shared with Flint. She noted that nothing had changed. At the sound of the doors closing, she turned to