Kraven Read online

  “Stay there, woman. I’ll put you back on your ass if you get up—and you keep those iron hands to yourself. What are you? A masseuse?” His chin lifted and he shot Drantos a dirty look. “The bitch has strong hands. I swear she injured my dick.”

  Bat ignored him, struggling to her feet. She glowered at the man, who gave her an angry look right back. “Why did you grab me like that? What the hell is your problem?”

  “I was protecting you. I’m Kraven. You can thank me later, by the way.”

  “Thank you?” She was outraged. “You’ll be lucky if I don’t have your ass arrested for sexual assault, battery, and…hell, bad hair! Move out of my way. I need to check on my sister.”

  He curled his full lips to sneer at her. Bat responded by shoving him. He stumbled back a foot, until he hit the side of one of the seats, and she tucked in her shirt that had pulled from the waist of her skirt. “Pervert,” she hissed.

  “Bitch,” he retorted when she glared at him.

  Her emotions all over the place, the urge to slap him made Bat’s fingers itch. Nobody calls me that—and he’s done it twice. She flipped him off. He softly growled. Damn animal, she thought. Overgrown idiot.

  She reached for the back of her head, suddenly noticing the throbbing sensation there, and hoped she wasn’t bleeding. Her hair pins were gone, the bun torn down into a tangled mass of a ponytail, and she found a painful lump on her head. She bit back a curse but was grateful it didn’t feel wet.

  She needed to check on Dusti. Bat tried to get around Kraven but he shot a hand out and pushed her back, hard enough to make her stumble, his palm squarely hitting her breast.

  His brother was talking but she didn’t hear the words; she was far too angry.

  Kraven gave a jerk of his head. “I have the women.”

  “Have this, you jerk,” Batina spat.

  She lifted her leg, tore off her shoe, and threw it as hard as she could at his face.

  Her aim ended up being off. The shoe struck his chest, then bounced to the ground. But he did stagger back with a stupefied look on his features, which gave her a little satisfaction. It also let her reach Dusti when he staggered back a step.

  Pure joy filled her at seeing her sister safe. She hugged her instantly, relieved. Worry came next. She frantically studied Dusti for injuries but didn’t see any visible ones.

  “It’s okay, Bat. I’m okay. Are you hurt?”

  Bat eased her hold on her a little. “Nothing a good drink won’t fix. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  Dusti nodded before turning away. Bat didn’t miss the way her sister’s delicate features twisted in horror, her skin changing from pale to absolute white before she swayed on her feet.

  Bat followed her gaze to witness the horrendous sight where the side of the plane used to be.

  The opposite wall had been torn open during the crash. A corpse with a missing arm remained strapped into his seat, soaked in bright red blood, and it made her knees weaken. She’d seen worse in photos from crime scenes, even in video evidence, but the real thing looked a hundred times more horrific.

  Dusti gagged and the sound jerked Bat out of her stupor. She latched on to her, spun her until their gazes locked, and prayed she could hold her sister together by appearing calm. She was far from it on the inside, but she’d become a pro at hiding her emotions.

  “Look at me and not that.”

  The tears that filled Dusti’s eyes broke Bat’s heart. She’d always tried to protect her sister, but nothing could shield her from reality at that moment.

  “Oh God,” Dusti moaned.

  “I know.” Bat nodded. “We survived though.” Give her a bright side; rally her to stay strong, she thought, caressing her cheek. “We’re Dawsons. We’re tough, remember?” Bat inhaled sharply. “ Just take deep breaths. In and out. Remain calm. It’ll be fine. We both made it. We’re okay.”

  “Sit down,” Kraven ordered, his tone irritated. “And I’ll spank you if you hit me with another shoe, you little hellion.”

  What an insufferable ass, she seethed. Bat was trying to help Dusti and this prick picks now to fuck with her again? She released her sister and spun, her middle finger going up. She was pissed enough to nearly make her see red. “Take a hint and get away from me, you perverted bastard. You should have picked another woman to molest.”

  He leaned closer, his anger clear. “I saved your life,” the jackass spat. “I covered your body with my own to protect you, Cat.”

  I’m going to kill him, Bat silently swore. No jury will convict me. I deal with guys who know where to hide a damn body. My clients owe me big time for keeping their vicious, murdering asses out of jail.

  “It’s Bat, you moron. B.A.T. Back off, asshole. I refuse to deal with you right now. Can’t you see my sister is freaked-out? I’m trying to calm her down.”

  “Crazy as a bat or bat-shit crazy. It fits.”

  She would have slapped the rude bastard but Dusti’s shaky, frightened voice stopped her cold.

  “Let it go. Let’s help the injured.”

  Right. Calm down. Dusti’s seen enough bloodshed. She shot a dirty look at Kraven, her furious gaze promising retribution later, before she pulled herself together enough to address her sister. “He’s irritating me and he felt me up!”

  “That’s the least of our worries.”

  Bat was chagrined. She needed to keep Dusti’s mind occupied to distract them both from the nightmare they were living at that moment, and being bitchy and combative wouldn’t help.

  “You’re right. I’ll ignore the big ape just for you this one time because I’m in shock too. I hope I’m not as pale as you look. You’re doing a hell of a ghost impression.” Bat cringed. “I shouldn’t have said that, considering the circumstances. Sorry.” She took a deep breath. “Let’s help out. People are hurt. Just breathe and focus on that, okay?”

  She released Dusti to smooth down her jacket and her fingers touched something small and hard. My cell phone! I can call for help! I can get us back home!

  Excitement at the idea made her heart race. She’d gotten her sister into this mess by using guilt to make her travel to Alaska to visit their grandfather, but now she would fix it. She pulled the phone out and inspected the slim case that fully enclosed it, which looked perfect. Her hands shook badly; she hesitated before checking the phone itself until she got her nerves under control.

  Dusti peered at her with a hopeful look. “Do you think you’re going to get a cell phone signal out here?”

  Bat knew there were cell towers all over most of the United States, but she didn’t know about Alaska. She hoped there’d be a signal. She didn’t even want to consider the alternative, because she needed to rescue her sister. She couldn’t live with the guilt otherwise. She’d taken enough from Dusti already when she’d put her career first.

  “I hope so.”

  Fumbling the case open, she got a glimpse inside—and the phone had been crushed into a mess despite the protective shell. The glass screen had cracked in too numerous fractures to count, and it didn’t even light up to indicate the battery worked.

  No! Bat silently screamed. This can’t be happening. I put her on this plane with me and I can’t let her down now.

  A snort from Kraven made her head slowly rise until she met his gaze. The bastard looked amused.

  Her grip on her tenuous control snapped. She knew it has happening, understood why, but the situation was too much. “You broke my phone with your gorilla-sized body!” She waved the phone in his face. As she did, the screen completely came apart, pieces of it falling to the floor.

  She froze inside and tried to say something, anything, when the implications of not being able to call for help slammed into her brain. “You owe me a new one! Give me yours.”

  Did I really just say that?

  I did, she acknowledged, wincing at how lame and petty she sounded, and took a calming breath. Get a grip, she ordered her brain.

  “It’s in my bag.” He po