Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
I need to get the fuck out of here.
Ricky responds to Vic with rapid-fire Russian, and somehow he seems even angrier than before. I don't want to make myself a target for that anger, but I can't help staring at Ricky during his tirade. His face is sunken in, and he has dark bags under his eyes. They don't look like the kind you get from lack of sleep though, more like the kind that come with age and alcohol.
Vic’s eyes bore into me. He ignores his boss and looks intently past both men at me. I can feel his hatred. Whatever happens, I cannot be left alone with him.
Kade and Ricky continue to argue and Kade takes a step forward, blocking Vic from my sight. I heave in a breath I didn’t know I was holding and try tugging uselessly on the zip ties binding my wrists. I wince as they bite into my skin.
It’s useless.
As the weight of my situation starts to suffocate me, I feel Kade's piercing stare. My body trembles, and I slowly move my eyes to meet his. Somehow I already knew they were on me.
I’m struck by his masculine beauty. To say he looks like a sex god and CEO wrapped into one would be an understatement. But there’s more. There’s an edge of danger that’s undeniable. His frame is domineering--tall, with broad shoulders and narrow hips. But it’s his expression that’s the most intimidating. My eyes sweep over him from his dark hair and piercing blue eyes, to his plush lips, slightly downturned with disapproval.
My eyes lift to meet his again, and I’m entrapped. As much as I want to look away, I'm forced to stare back.
My shoulders hunch inward with fear, and I feel like I can't breathe. It’s as though he’s choking me.
“And what of her?” Kade asks with his eyes still firmly on me. “His partner?” My eyes widen and I try to shake my head to deny it, but I can’t. I’m paralyzed.
“No, just a dumb bitch,” Ricky says scornfully. Kade whips his head around to face him. Kade takes a step forward and the two men cower slightly, shifting in their seats. Vic attempts to right himself, but it’s obvious he feels threatened. Ricky stands his ground, but I swear I see a flash of fear cross his eyes.
“Tell me you did a background check on her?” He speaks slowly, and with menace dripping from his voice. “'Just a dumb bitch' isn’t good enough.”
Ricky keeps his gaze on Kade and gestures behind him toward the two men in the corner. The younger one looks to Vic with worry evident on his pallid face. Vic starts to respond in his heavily-accented English, “It’s in--”
“Fucking get it!” Ricky snaps, causing the younger lackey to jump up and scurry from the room. Vic doesn’t move, but he averts his eyes from Ricky and stares fixedly at the door where the other man went through.
Ricky's sallow skin turns red with anger as his veins swell in his neck. As explosive as his anger is, Kade's the one that scares me more. I don't think Ricky would appreciate the comparison though.
“Doesn’t matter who she is.” Ricky looks at me with a crooked smile exposing his yellowed teeth. “We’re sending her with you.” He looks back at Kade with a wicked glint in his eyes.
If he's trying to get a rise out of Kade with that comment, it's not happening. I look to Kade to gauge his reaction, and he's completely expressionless. It's clear he's utterly disinterested.
My body shakes harder, and I open my mouth to speak. “I--” “I--” I try to speak, but my throat is so dry. It croaks, and I stutter. I shake my head. My blood seems to boil, and my breath falls short. Heat overwhelms me.
“You- you- you- what?!” Ricky yells, and I instinctively jolt back. I scoot backward on my ass, my hands awkwardly and painfully dragging on the dirty linoleum floor until I feel my back against the wall. A sharp pain shoots through my shoulders and ankles. I can barely move with the zip ties holding me hostage. My heart beats chaotically, and it’s only then that I realize I’m crying.
“She’s not even trained,” Kade sneers. I don't know what he means by that, but for some reason his disapproval of me hurts. My chest aches, and my face falls with sadness. Please, please don’t leave me here with them.
His anger may scare me, but I feel as though I’d be safer with Kade.
“That’s for you to do. You’re supposed to be an expert in this field, yet we’ve never seen your work,” Ricky says as he leans against the desk once again and crosses his arms. Kade shoots him one arrogant, icy look before he speaks.