Page 50 of The Santas Who Stole Me

She gives me a small nod of acknowledgment when she sees me.

I force my legs to move out of the car. This was my idea, so why does it feel so dangerous? Am I that head over heels for the guys that doing this without them feels wrong? I already know the answer: I’m all in. Resisting the urge to put my hand on my belly to protect what I’m sure is a nonexistent baby, the door whips open to my side.

“Oh, sweetheart, how I missed you.”

My veins turn to ice, and I freeze at that voice, the one that haunts me.

Useless.

Ugly.

Idiot.

His presence poisons the air wrapping around my throat and restricts my breathing. I can’t move, and he knows it. His hazel eyes light up, sensing my fear, and he stands in front of me like he is in complete control. I glance away from him, quickly searching through the window for the agent. For anyone to fucking help me move my lead legs.

“Oh, you found her.” The feminine voice cuts through the tension, and I see Agent Fisher smiling up at Chad like he hung the moon.

“Agent Fisher?” My voice breaks in confusion.

“She isn’t an agent. You are so easy to fool, sweetheart. It’s pathetic really.” Chad’s clean-shaven chin slides across my jaw, sending chills straight to my brain.

“I can’t wait to hear you scream for me again. I have that same spot all ready for you. You know your favorite one in my room. I made some additions to it. As much as I love chasing you, I won’t let it happen again.”

Images of that dark closet, the door click, my thoughts bouncing around, wanting to die … All of it floods my brain.

“No,” I say, backing away, finding myself trying to run.

Of course it’s useless. Chad’s arm squeezes my bicep, and he drags me to him. A sharp pain hits my side, and I look down, seeing his gun digging into Marge’s coat. “Oh, come on, let’s go for a drive.” Chad’s hand digs into my pocket, grabs the car key, and hands it to Agent Fisher. “Drive us.”

She bobs her head like this is normal, and I have no idea what is happening between the two of them.

Chad pulls the backdoor open and holds his hand out as if he is a true gentleman waiting for me to slide in. I scan the parking lot, which remains empty, desperate for any type of help. Chad notices my failed attempt to find a way out of this situation and slams my kidney with the butt of the gun. I bite my lip so hard it bleeds, and I scoot inside the car. I’m going to jump out the second I get a chance.

Somehow reading my mind, he scoffs. “I wouldn’t think about it, sweetheart. Honestly, you could get hurt. But more than that I would hate for the agency to get wind of who you have been spending time with. Ties to the Vega Cartel with the bitch that owns the diner, the FBI is constantly swarming that family. And those men, well. He pauses, eyeing my reaction.

I remain stoic and try to give him nothing.

He exhales loudly with disappointment. “Typical. When we are apart you make the worst decisions. It will be better now that we are together, you’ll see.” He pats my leg with his gun, and my gut churns.

He knows about the guys.

I don’t know what he’s talking about with the Vega Cartel, but maybe they work together. I never really got the details. Naive and stupid, I know.

My fingers tremble at my sides, and I watch Agent Fisher pull us out of the parking lot.

“Who are you?” I ask her, and she smiles at me in the mirror.

“No one, just a coworker,” Chad answers my question, and I can’t help but notice the pain in her eyes from his words.

Great, psychos just flock to my ass everywhere I go. “Where are we going? Chad, people will notice I’m gone this time. It will be easier if you let me go now. I promise we don’t have to ever see each other. I will give you the drive.” My rambling plea is stopped when he pulls out his phone with a glare that makes my stomach twist. I know that look, I’ve disappointed him again somehow.

“Sir, Agent Porter here, go ahead and move on the diner on South, the intel came quicker than expected. I’ll see you there in a bit.” He’s sending the FBI to the diner. Chad smiles at me and guilt consumes me.

Everything I wanted to avoid is happening to the guys and Marge.

“No, Chad, the guys and the diner don’t have anything to do with this. I’ll go with you.”

“Of course you will, sweetheart. There are no other men for you, and honestly your taste in friends is terrible. They will all be eliminated. It isn’t your fault; I know they took you. They will pay.”