Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“Maybe she got lost on her way to a party,” Prince suggests. “Unless this is the sort of thing women wear while visiting warehouses here in the States.”
“Is that it?” I ask, grinning down at her. “Do your warehouses have dress codes?”
Her eyes are as wide as saucers, and her dark brown hair flows like a soft curtain with every move she makes. And every time that curtain sways, I catch the scent of her perfume. It’s intoxicating, reaching my cock in an instant and causing it to twitch in anticipation. I want her. Now. Hard and fast.
“Please,” she whispers. “Don’t hurt me.”
She couldn’t have chosen anything sweeter to say. Now my cock threatens to go hard at the recognition of her fear. I hold this girl’s life in my hands. Even if killing her is off the menu, thanks to her connection to Alvarez, she doesn’t know that. Not if the rapid fluttering of the pulse in her throat is any indication.
“Why shouldn’t I?” I counter, thrilling at the tiny breath she sucks in when my fingers press into her arms. “You’re the one we discovered sneaking around the location of an important meeting. Did they send you as a first wave of sorts?”
I release one of her arms in favor of pressing my hand to her lower back, pulling her tight against my growing erection. “Or are you the first course? A way for my friend and me to loosen up before we do business?”
“No!” she squeals, which makes me laugh. I’d hate to see her reaction if I told her how much I get off on her fear.
The sound of it leaves her trembling, and yes, that’s good. I like that. She’s falling apart in my arms, and I want nothing more than to savor it because nobody fucks with me and gets away with it. Every ounce of indignation and rage I’ve experienced tonight will be visited upon her tenfold.
“What gives you the idea you have any say in this?”
She whimpers at my question, shaking her head, her chin quivering. I could stand here like this all night, playing with her, soaking in her delicious reactions. The image of a puppet dancing on strings flashes before in my mind. I’m the puppet master. She’ll do as I say, whatever I say, for however long I want her to.
“What was the plan?” I growl, dropping the playful act. “To listen in and take info back to your old man? Was this his way of gaining an edge over us?”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She tries to pull away, and her oversized bag bangs into my hip. Not that the sensation registers much when I’m more interested in her tits rubbing against me. Who allows their daughter out of the house in a dress like this?
“I’m sure you don’t. I’m sure you’re nothing but an innocent bystander.” I exchange a glance with Prince over the top of her head before he leans back to look in both directions near the rear of the warehouse. We aren’t far from the loading dock, and the car we picked up at the airport is just beyond it.
“Coast looks clear,” he announces. “We’d better get out of here.”
“Right.” I look down at her again and almost experience a twinge of sympathy that never quite crystalizes. “I’m really sorry about this.”
She doesn’t have the chance to ask what I mean before Prince strikes her across the back of the head with the butt of his Glock.
5
ALICIA
Three thoughts slam into me after I wake, startled and in total darkness.
One, judging by how I’m rocking back and forth and the nauseating stench of exhaust, I’m in the trunk of a car.
Two, Elena never mentioned this part.
Three, my head is pounding like someone bashed me with a shovel. Which wouldn’t be far-fetched given what I’ve found myself a part of.
This can’t be the plan, can it? No way. Elena would have told me. Wouldn’t she? We aren’t exactly best friends or anything like that, but this isn’t the kind of situation you throw somebody into unless they’re your mortal enemy. I don’t think I qualify.
My head pounds the harder I try to think. What if the problem is the fact that I’m not her? I was already worried about that, wasn’t I? That it was easy for her to say this is a no-brainer, totally safe, and all that because she’s part of the family. Recognized and trusted. I’m none of those things.
Dammit, why didn’t I think of that before when it could have made a difference? No, I was too busy being excited over the idea of making a quick twenty grand and kissing all my problems goodbye. Haven’t I learned by now things are never that easy?
And now, I might end up paying for it with my life. Because men capable of knocking a strange, unarmed girl unconscious and throwing her in the trunk of a car probably wouldn’t hesitate to commit murder at the drop of a hat.