Vengeance (SSU Trilogy Book 1) by Vanessa Kier Page B

ignored him. “Rape? Really?” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “I don’t care how rough you like your sex, girl, we don’t need negative attention like this. Who’s going to want to talk to me about your brother if the police are sniffing around…umph!”
    The base of Niko’s hand connected with Tonelli’s breastbone, knocking the bastard’s wind out of him and sending him to the ground. Niko pulled his hand back, skin tingling slightly from the blow, and watched in satisfaction as Tonelli picked himself off the floor.
    Jenna’s face had gone even whiter at Tonelli’s insult, but now she watched him with eyes gone flat and devoid of emotion.
    “Who the hell are you?” Tonelli snapped when he regained his feet. Something flashed in his eyes and Niko realized that underneath the pricey suit lay the viciousness of a street fighter.
    “Niko Andros.”
    Recognition flickered in Tonelli’s eyes. And the hint of a challenge.
    Niko adjusted his stance, ready to fight. For once he didn’t mind his dangerous reputation. Hell yeah , he thought. Bring it on. I’ve got plenty left over for you, Tonelli.
    But the man just shook his head and backed up.
    Jenna shivered, reminding Niko of his top priority.
    “I’m your backup from Ryker, but screw that. I’m taking over,” Niko told Tonelli. “Jenna is coming with me.”
    That got Tonelli’s attention. “Definitely not. Paterson is my mission. Jenna is my bait.”
    “Listen, asshole, you haven’t found jack on Paterson. All you’ve done is put Jenna in danger.” Niko gestured to the unconscious man. “Setting her up to be attacked by any drunken, sex-crazed idiot who could get her alone? Ryker’s gonna nail your ass when he finds out. I’m just doing what he’s going to order, anyway. Jenna comes with me. I can protect her better.”
    “Jenna? What do you say about this? You have no idea who this man is.” Tonelli shot Jenna such a look of resentment and anger, Niko saw her mouth tighten. Her chin came up again.
    That’s right, sweetheart. Don’t take Tonelli’s attitude.
    Her eyes moved from Tonelli to Niko and back again.
    “I’m staying with Niko,” she said.
    Niko felt a surge of satisfaction. Tonelli opened his mouth to protest, but the door opened again.
    This time it was the police.
    #
    Jenna pressed her cheek against Niko’s back as his motorcycle screamed through another tight turn. She hadn’t wanted to get on the bike. Didn’t want to have hard male muscles under her hands while her body hurt from another man’s blows. But her training kicked in, forcing her to set aside her fear and focus on survival. So she’d mounted the bike and done her best to keep space between her body and Niko’s.
    Impossible. The man drove like the hounds of hell were after him, weaving in and out of the thick evening traffic, zipping down alleys and using sidewalks like personal shortcuts. She’d almost slid off the bike during the first turn, and since then had clung to Niko like a barnacle.
    The bike leapt the curb and her arms clenched around the solid bulk of Niko’s chest. Her muscles trembled with the effort to hold on and she knew that if they didn’t reach their destination soon, there was a good chance she’d slip off the bike.
    After what seemed like hours of interrogation by the police, then a brusque examination by a doctor, she was beyond exhausted. All she wanted was to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head.
    Instead, she was stuck on the back of this bike. Her life in the hands of a stranger.
    A male stranger.
    No, not a stranger , she reminded herself, remembering the way Niko’s aura of lethal self-confidence had inspired awe and respect among not only the other SSU trainees, but the trainers as well. Still, despite Niko’s admirable reputation, her volatile mix of shame, fear, and anger would have driven her out into the Moscow streets alone if Mark hadn’t been so hard on her. She’d always been too impulsive.
    Now that