On the Edge of Love (Mama's Brood Book 1) by Shay Rucker Page A

to drive her as crazy as he was. He was literally going to make her lose her mind, and she needed her mind. She blinked and took a deep breath before facing Almaya. Zeus stood and hovered at her back like gold-colored demon wings.
    “This guy Kragen wants me, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “So why not give him what he wants.”
    Big Country rose and ambled toward the table, sitting down beside Terry. “He wants you , Sabrina.” Big Country said the words as if she had gone simple.
    “I know. That’s all I’ve heard since I regained consciousness. If he wants me, take me home and he’ll come for me.”
    “I don’t understand. You’ll let him beat, rape, and kill you, but you won’t let me fuck you? Doesn’t make sense,” Zeus said, frowning down at her.
    “He won’t get me unless you all screw up. Don’t screw up.” She turned back to Almaya. “You want justice, and I can help you get it. When he comes back for me, as you all keep saying he will, you’ll be there waiting. You take your justice, and I take my life back.”
    “No,” Zeus said.
    She didn’t pay him any mind. She watched Almaya look from Terry to Big Country. She could almost hear the other woman’s internal dialogue playing odds, weighing pros and cons, thinking logistics, factoring in contingency plans. Almaya’s gaze became focused again, and she smiled at Sabrina with regret. “I’m going to side with Zeus on this. I appreciate the offer, but we pulled you out of that warehouse to keep you out of Kragen’s hands. I can’t willingly place you there again.”
    “You people don’t seem to understand. I am going home. You can let me do it alone, or you can take advantage of an opportunity.”
    “How long will it take to bring the others back?” Terry asked Almaya.
    “We can have Bride and Lynx back within the next couple of hours. Coen and Price, no later than midnight if they do a turnaround,” Big Country answered.
    Almaya wasn’t happy, but she nodded. “Call them back home, then.”
    “Tomorrow is Sunday. We can have Sabrina back in her apartment this evening with full surveillance,” Terry said.
    “What about the police?” Big Country asked.
    “She goes to the police station. You’ll tell them everything that happened up to the point of waking in the warehouse. From there you escaped when the kidnappers went outside still thinking you were unconscious. You passed out in the brush along the road, and when you regained consciousness, you made your way to the main road. A Good Samaritan came along and picked you up, and took you to OPD,” Terry said.
    “We keep Bride and the boys on her night and day,” Almaya said, eyes brightening as she smiled at Terry. “When Kragen tries to have her snatched, we take down his men and turn them over to the police.”
    “In your report to the police, Sabrina, you say that when you were first kidnapped and pretending to be unconscious, you heard them talk about their boss coming for you. A man named Kragen.” Terry added. “Maybe then we can leak information about the other women. Women who look like you kidnapped and turning up dead. We can help them draw the same conclusions our man on the inside arrived at.”
    “No,” Zeus said again. They all waited to see what specifically he objected to, but he remained silent.
    Sabrina narrowed her eyes as she looked up at him. “Yes,” she said, ready to fight for Terry and Almaya’s plan. It was reasonable, and she could make the story sound believable. But the logic of the plan isn’t what Zeus has a problem with, she thought as she watched him. Zeus wasn’t complicated. He wanted her, and he didn’t want her being hurt; otherwise that would interfere with his ability to have her.
    Changing tactics, she pushed aside her anger and softened her demeanor. “This won’t work unless you play your part, Zeus.”
    “I won’t.”
    Stubborn idiot.
    “What part do you want him to play, Sabrina?” Terry asked, following the lead Zeus