Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Shit!
Paige and I both went ramrod straight. We’d turned slightly in our efforts to get to the wall and could both see as Richie stepped into the light, slithering from the shadows like the snake he was.
He chuckled. “Going somewhere?” he asked, his tone twisted with cruel amusement.
Paige spit on the floor. “You might as well leave, Dalton. We’re not in the mood to chat.”
My hands trembled, knocking together as I went back to trying to loosen the ties around them.
Richie entered the room, and two large men—the ones from the club—followed. They were his constant shadows. Neither of them looked particularly evil, but they were on Richie’s payroll, which meant they would carry out whatever his sick little mind cooked up without question. There was no way Paige or I could take even one of them on. And Richie knew it.
“I just called your doting husband. Unfortunately, he didn’t answer my call.” Richie shrugged. “So, I left him a little message. Do you want to know what I told him?”
Neither Paige nor I answered.
Richie continued anyway, “I told him that I have his precious little wife and that the only way he can get her back is if he signs the contract I gave him a week ago. If that comes over, signed, not a T uncrossed, or an I undotted, I’ll release you.”
“Why do you even want the club?” Paige asked. Her voice was tight and strong, but the slight tapping of her fingers on the back of her chair vibrated through to my own, revealing her fear. “You have more than enough money. That much is obvious. Why do you need to own a club? You could build your own with the snap of your fingers.”
“What can I say,” Richie said, his hollow eyes drifting to mine. “I like things that I can’t have.”
My stomach turned inside out. If there was anything more than water inside, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind it would have gone all over the floor. The look in Dalton’s eyes was sick. Dripping with cruel lust.
His smile deepened at my shudder, but then his eyes returned to Paige just as quickly. “See, I’m not who you think I am, Mrs. Parkston. I don’t know what your darling husband has told you, but I’m not a high-end art dealer on an extended stay in the city.”
That much seemed obvious. I knew who Richie was, but it hit me like a sucker punch that Paige still didn’t know. She had no idea what kind of filth walked the halls of her beloved club. And I couldn’t be the one to tell her without blowing my own backstory.
“I work for a very powerful establishment. The Sanderson Family. You’ve likely heard of them?”
Paige didn’t answer.
“Anyway, they want the club. And my job is to make that happen. So, here I am. After months of working my way closer and closer, I made my very generous offer and was promptly shot down. Well, that’s unacceptable. I will take Parkston’s On the Hill. One way or another.”
I shook my head, still trying to figure out what they wanted with the club. But, whatever the reason, Richie wouldn’t give it up.
“Now, to show you that I play fair, I’ve given Reed one hour. If he calls the cops, you’re both dead. If he stalls or tries to argue with me, I’ll be forced to send him a stronger message to press the severity of the situation.” He strode forward. Both of us flinched back. He reached out and stroked his fingers over the side of Paige’s face. “It would be a shame to mess up such a pretty face.…”
Paige huffed out a shaky breath as Richie released her. “If it’s just me you need, then let Avery go. She has no part in this, Mr. Dalton.”
“Paige, no—” I breathed. As much as I wanted to be anywhere else, I couldn’t leave her. Alone. I’d never be able to live with myself if I was let go and she was harmed. Not that there was much I could do to help her. Somehow, leaving her would be too cruel. Whatever happened next, we were going to face it together.
Richie chuckled, the sound menacing as it rumbled through the small room. He turned his attention toward me. “Nah, I like Red. She and I are going to have a really good time tonight.”
Richie ran his fingers over my cheek, dragging them over my neck and across my chest. I snapped out at him, trying to bite his arm. He immediately jerked away from me and gestured to one of his guards. The bulky man stepped forward in one powerful stride and backhanded me. Stars floated in my eyes as the pain rang through my face.
Richie made a clicking sound with his tongue. “Now, now, Red, let’s play nice. Otherwise, I’ll have to put a gag on you.” He leaned in, so close I could smell his breath as he added, “And that would be a real shame because I want to hear you scream my name.”