Page 9 of Her Billionaire Protector

Evie leads. Vance closes the door behind him. No facial expression on either, but his cheeks are flushed. So are Evie’s.

Mia and I are a problem yelling can’t solve.

“Keep the vehicle, use the apartment. You’ve still got total access to our arsenal.” Evie’s words are careful and clipped. “We’ll pass on all the intel we get. Stay in touch for as long as you’re in town. But the contract’s null.Bothcontracts. Line 13’s off from now on.”

“Did you find her?” I try to sound bored like they do but my voice betrays me. If Mia dies while I listen to some fucking legal disclaimer I will raze this whole city.

She nods.

Vance’s mouth is a grim set line. “You’re on your own.” He holds out a piece of paper.

I yank it from his hand and I keep going until I’m out the door.

“She’s alive for now,” Vance calls.

“But be quick.” Evie’s voice echoes after me down the hallway.

I break into a run.

seven

. . .

Mia

I open my eyes,it’s still dark. I’m in the fetal position, my body screaming. I stretch out my arm and hit a stiff panel covered in carpet. Above, metal.

The whole structure bounces and I go airborne. I come down hard, the breath knocked out of my lungs.

Car trunk.

We’re moving. Fast. I grope around for the release handle.

There isn’t one. Either it’s been removed or the car’s too old.

I brace myself to kick through the car seats, but my movements turn slow and thick. My head spins. After effects of the taser.

I fight to recall basic details of the attacker or the car. Nothing.

The crook of my arm twinges, raw and angry. I swipe at it, and I knock a syringe out of my arm.

Fuck.

I feel around in the darkness until my fingers find it and trace its outline.

It’s been plunged. Whatever was inside the needle is inside me.

I wake up getting dragged, my bare heels scraping across asphalt, carpet, cold concrete, the smell of sulphur so strong it burns my nostrils. I struggle to open my eyes. When I finally blink them open, a strong backhand cracks me in the face. My head contacts the surface behind, there’s a warm trickle down my neck, and the darkness takes me.

I wake up to the feel of leather and cold steel around my wrists and ankles.

Restraints and chains.

What Ican’tfeel is my hands and feet. I’m upright, sagged hard against the restraints. I don’t move, and I keep my eyes closed. I’ve got to get it together before they know I’m conscious again. I have to decide what my line is, how to act depending on who’s got me.

But the fog of whatever they’ve dosed me with is too strong. I don’t hurt enough for all they’ve done to me, and I’m slipping under. My breaths are short and shallow.

I force my eyes open. I can’t lose consciousness again. I’ve got to fight through whatever grimy drugs I’m on, or I might not wake up at all.