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“I’m good,” I murmured, but even I wasn’t convinced by myresponse.
“Are you sure? You seem like you got the itch. You remember, right?” Mike walked closer and dangled the baggy in front of myface.
There was a light knock on the door. “Hey, Drew? Are you in there?” Talia was silent amoment.
Mike pulled a knife from his pocket and held it to my throat. “Not a word. You hear me? You don’t utter one motherfuckingword.”
We stood there in silence while we waited to see what would happen next. The knocking had ceased and Talia hadn’t spokenagain.
Then my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out, but he slapped it away. “Why?” I swallowedhard.
“Because I can. Because I have an awesome customer retention rate. No one walks away from me. Youbuyor youdie. How the hell do you think I’ve managed to go so long without getting caught?” He chuckled threateningly. “No one would dare snitch onme.”
“I won’t snitch on you either.” I struggled to find the right words to reassure him while he pressed the knife harder against mythroat.
“Damn right you won’t.” Mike leaned in until we were nearly nose-to-nose. “So, what’d youpick?”
I frowned. “What do youmean?”
“Buy or die, asshole.” Hesneered.
“What if I pay you for your troubles, the time it took to get here, the gas, the stuff I didn’t purchase, and we’ll call it a day?” I was reaching and stalling and I had no idea why I’d decided on that tactic. After all, I was on my own. I kept glancing down at the hilt of the knife held to my throat. It wasn’t shiny and new. This was old and dull. I at least deserved a betterknife.
“I like my offer better.” He pressed the blade more menacingly against my skin and this time I could feel warm blooddripping.
I closed my eyes. This is how it ends. My life, over before it began, right when I was close to having everything I always wanted. I tried to imagine Talia’s face, with the amazing sooty lashes, and her warm dark eyes. Her skin seemed nearly porcelain compared to her hair. I would give anything for one chance to make my life work, to build a future with her. I swallowed, ready to give up and accept my fate, when the bathroom door burstopen.
Ty and Harry stood there, glaring at Mike. Beside them, Talia stood with both handsfisted.
“Hey, pussy cat, this is the men’s room. You shouldn’t be here,” Imurmured.
“I’m staying.” She narrowed her eyes at Mike. “He’sgoing.”
Mike laughed. “Not thistime.”
Harry stepped closer. “I told you to leave town three monthsago.”
“So?” He moved to angle me in front ofhim.
“Now I’m leverage?” Igroaned.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Mike began slowly. “I’m going to leave here and he’s coming with me, for safekeeping.Mysafekeeping.” He laughed as though he’d said something incrediblyclever.
Ty moved to block the door. “I don’t see that happening. See, I own the hotel and it sets a bad precedent if I let guests get kidnapped out from under my nose. The reputation of the hotel is at stake, not to mention the life of my bestfriend.”
“Thank you.” I winced as the knife dug in evenmore.
Mike continued to back us toward the door, while using me as a human shield. “Walk,” he growled at me when I stumbledslightly.
“You do realize I’m worthless if you kill me, right? Oh, and if the blood loss weakens me, I’m gonna be hell to carry.” I let my body weigh down a little more foremphasis.
“You do realize if you piss me off, I will literally cut and run, right?” He hissed in myear.
Talia’s eyes were wide with fear. Her hands were clasped under her chin as she moved toward me. “Drew…” She seemed at a loss for what todo.
“Pussy cat.” I smirked. “By the way, if I survive this, I want a petname.”
“Asshole,” shemuttered.
