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)
“We didn’t do anything to deserve this,” Paige pressed. “He’s trying to steal the club, and that’s fine. He can have it, but he has to let us go.”
Lars—if that was, in fact, his name—pushed off the wall, scowling. “So, what? You want me to cut you loose? Let you go? Say you got the drop on me?”
“I have money,” Paige answered frantically. “I can wire it anywhere you want. You can start over. Get out of this business. Wouldn’t you like that? Freedom?”
Lars’ lips twisted into a smile. “There’s no such thing.”
Paige started to object but stopped as the man lifted his shirt to reveal a long bandage that took up the better part of his right side. The white bandage was speckled with bright red drops of blood. He pulled back the side of the gauze to reveal a red laceration on his side that had barely begun to knit together.
“See, this is what happens when you don’t follow orders. Dalton gave me this three days ago after he found me falling asleep on my watch. He’s got some big shit going down right now, and I was supposed to be watching out to make sure no one was—well, you don’t need the details, though I doubt you’ll be around long enough to tell anyone a word I say anyway.”
He lowered his shirt and moved stiffly to the wall, wincing as he leaned back again. The cut was obviously deep. It would take a long time to heal and leave a permanent scar once he recovered.
Fear ripped through me again at the display of Richie’s boundless cruelty. He didn’t care who he hurt. Anyone who didn’t get in line was at risk of feeling his wrath. I felt Paige’s hands shaking, knocking into my own bound hands.
She didn’t ask him for help again.
The door opened a third time, and Paige and I jolted upright again. A short, dark-haired man walked into the room. He sneered at Paige and me before turning to Lars.
“Richie’s new playthings, huh?”
Lars shrugged but immediately winced as the gesture must have pulled on his wound. “They’re from Parkston’s.”
The second man’s eyes gleamed with a wicked lust as he strutted toward us. He stopped at Paige, reaching out to run his fingers over her face.
“You’re a pretty thing. I’ve always liked blondes with big tits. But then, who doesn’t? Eh, Lars?” He cast a grin over his shoulder.
“Go to hell,” Paige bit out.
The man pulled away. “Mouthy thing, isn’t she?”
Lars shifted his weight gingerly. “What are you doing, Vinnie? What do you want?”
Vinnie shrugged and pocketed his hands. “Just checking things out. Heard through the grapevine that Uncle Richie’s got some big shipment coming in tonight. You know anything about it?”
Lars eyed the man, not bothering to hide his contempt. “It doesn’t concern you. Does Richie even know you’re here, snooping around?”
“Yeah. He’s the one who told me to come to check out his new friends,” he said, casting another lecherous look at Paige before his eyes shifted to mine. I hurried to drop my gaze on my shoes.
“Wait a second,” he said. The man stalked back across the small room, bent at the waist to inspect me closer. My heart slammed violently against my ribs, and I worked my wrists together frantically enough that more blood trickled down from the cuts being reopened. The blood worked as a lubricant, and my eyes flew open wide as my thumb slid under the plastic cuff.
“I know this bitch!” He snapped to full standing height, his eyes shining with dark delight. “Go get Richie.”
Lars started to object, but Vinnie barked, “Go, now!”
Lars bolted from the room, and Vinnie stalked back over, pulling my hair back and getting within an inch of my face. “You’re that fucking bitch from Vegas—”
My hand slipped completely free of the cuff, and I lashed out, cracking the side of the man’s head just before he could finish his statement. Relief and terror surged together, overwhelming my senses as I bashed another punch against Vinnie’s head.
The second hit was more brutal and landed right at his temple. He slid to the floor, knocked out cold, and I silently marveled that I’d actually learned something in the self-defense classes I’d taken after moving to Vegas.
“Avery!” Paige hissed, keeping her voice low. “Oh my God!”
I bent over and tore my nails at the thick duct tape encircling my ankles. My nails slashed through the air, making me feel like a wild animal. Behind me, Paige struggled even harder to get free of her own zip tie cuffs. Finally, I got one leg free. Then the other. I kicked my heels off, launched to my feet, and jumped to help Paige break free.
“No!” Paige waved her fingers. “Go! Get out of here while you still can.”
“I’m not leaving you.”