Page 108 of Direct Action

Fuck, yeah, I understood.

I stared into Dex’s eyes, thinking he was a dead man. When Ryan heard about this, he was going to tear his head off.

I reached for the hem of my blouse and tore it over my head and dropped it onto the floor.

“Hurry up,” Dex demanded.

I unbuttoned my slacks, my eyes locked on Dex’s cold, dead eyes, and shimmied out of them, kicking my heels off before the waist fell to my feet.

I did this wondering where Beck was. If he’d find Poppy in time. If he’d come running into the staff house before something happened that would scar me for the rest of my life. I could take this, standing in my bra and panties in front of these two assholes, and get over it. But I wasn’t sure I’d live through what I was afraid came next.

“Take off your jewelry.”

Shit.

I couldn’t take it off. Ryan told me not to take any of it off no matter what.

Dex lifted the gun. “I’m losing patience, Chloe, and trust me, you don’t want to find out what happens if you piss me off.”

Fuck you! I screamed in my head.

I started with the watch. Next the ring. But when I reached for the necklace, I asked, “Please let me keep this. It was my grandmother’s. It’s special. The only thing I have left.”

Dex wasn’t moved by my impassioned plea. Suddenly he was in front of me, the gold chain with the diamond pendant in his hand. With a vicious tug, he ripped it off and carelessly tossed it away.

Dex look at Sterling and asked, “Is everything ready?”

“Yes.”

Dex’s bland, uninterested gaze roamed my body. I wasn’t sure what that meant—if I should feel relief at his indifference, or if it should scare the shit out of me. When his eyes hit my face, I knew what I should feel. Fear. So much fear my body shivered with it.

I’d been right the first time I laid eyes on him. He had no soul.

“Earrings.”

My last hope.

I reached up, unscrewed the back of one, and dropped it.

Dex’s attention went back to Sterling. “Muriel’s become a problem.”

“I know.”

“You have a week to handle that situation.”

“It’s being done as we speak,” Sterling said.

Dex dipped his chin. I had the second earring in my hand. Before Dex turned back to me, I quickly put it in my mouth, dropping the backing on the pile of my clothes.

“I don’t care what’s done with the girl,” Dex went on. “But I’ll expect my cut.”

“You’ll get it.”

I couldn’t throw up. If I did, I’d lose the earring safely tucked in my cheek.

Dex’s hand wrapped around my upper arm, and he announced, “Time to go.”

I yanked to the side, tripping over my clothes still at my feet. I didn’t go down, but only because Dex had held on tight.