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“Just like that?” Ryan laughs in disbelief.
“Yes.” My eyes flick between each man as they talk. He really is just going to pluck me out of my life and keep me locked up here. How long for? People will notice I’m missing—Simon, my parents. My boss!
“He won’t allow it,” Seth says with an undertone of meaning that I don't understand.
Who won’t? Parker?
“He will. Let’s discuss it later,” Jamieson responds, his nostrils flaring as he sees me hanging off their every word. He places a bowl of fruit and yogurt in front of me, and I wiggle my hands because I can’t eat without them.
“I didn’t think you'd still be coming?” Seth answers, surprised, looking from me to Jamieson. So he’s going to leave me alone again. I’m equally surprised when Seth spoons some food up and holds it out for me. My eyes scan the room to find them waiting for me to accept it. Perplexed, I open my mouth as they carry on like this is normal. Each man unperturbed by a tear-stained, handcuffed woman in their presence.
Who the hell are these people?
How do criminals become so rich? Something else is at play here, it has to be.
Seth holds up another spoon, and I take a mouthful, the yogurt coating my lips. Jamieson eyes me and walks around the island until he has replaced Seth and is staring down at me. He grips my chin and swipes his thumb over my lips as I swallow the food. Then he lifts that same thumb to his own mouth where he sucks off the creamy residue. Leaning closer, he hums in my ear.
“I’m hoping you taste as sweet.” My eyes slam shut, and I suck in a deep breath. “Do you”—his teeth nip my ear, making me snap up straight—“taste sweet?”
A large hand clamps around my thigh. I shake him off and turn my head away, panting loudly.
“You can’t say no to me forever.” He chuckles, causing the hair on my neck to stand up.
* * *
It’s been over an hour, and the men are discussing a merger. I’ve been silent for the most part, but worry is plaguing me. I can’t accept that my life is just over. My parents will be distraught, and after what happened with Jeff, they will worry it could be connected. Surely these men know that.
“I’d like to call my parents,” I say quietly, and the chatter dies down. “They’ve been on edge since Jeff’s murder. If I go missing, they will suspect it’s linked,” I say in a rush. “And they wouldn’t be wrong.” I try to sound calm, but my gaze is whipping between all three sets of eyes faster than the bullet that took Simon’s friend’s life.
“Thank you, but I think we can handle it.” Ryan scoffs, curling his lip, then thumbs at me over his shoulder, saying, who the fuck does this chick think she is. I blush, but find Jamieson’s forest green eyes locked on me. Before I can vocalise any further concern, there is a knock at the door. I stand with the intention to hide, but my hands are still cuffed, and I get tugged back into the surface with a thunk.
“Damn.” I wheeze.
“I’ll get it,” Ryan announces, leaving us all, and once more Jamieson moves around standing between me and whoever is at the door. He’s protecting me. Again.
It’s giving me serious whiplash. He threatened my life twenty-four hours ago and now he is placing himself between me and whatever threat is at the door.Two sets of footsteps sound as Ryan returns with Jamieson’s latest guest, and when I see the wide shoulders and shaggy hair of the person, I whimper and hide.
A dark, sinister laugh fills the room.
“Oh, this is just pure gold,” Parker Judd coos.
I press my face into the only thing blocking my view. Jamieson.
“You didn’t plan to have fun without me, did ya?” Parker says, drumming his fingers on the surface and leaning to look at me. “BOO!”
I choke back a scream, jostling the cuffs in an attempt to get free. I pull away from my captor, flicking cautious eyes at them all. This was the plan all along. Hand me over to Jeff’s killer.
My legs wobble and my vision blots. I’m going to pass out. I sway into Jamieson’s back. Fuck, I feel so sick.
Ryan steps in, placing a hand on Parker’s big chest, shaking his head.
“She’s off-limits, Judd,” Jamieson growls, his voice rumbling against my cheek.
“Is she—fuck.” I catch the glint of metal in Judd’s hand, and the next thing I know, Jamieson is across the room and disarming him with a roar of fury. With a heavy thud, my captor knocks him to the ground and is placing the gun into Parker’s temple. My heart has lost the ability to beat normally.
“I said. She’s. Off. Fucking. Limits!” Jamieson’s face contorts in rage as he leans in close to Parker’s ear. “Avery is my concern now.” Deep green eyes find mine and my stomach clenches.
“She’s a fucking witness!” Parker spits phlegm across the floor, and I pull back, bumping into someone. I jerk, looking backwards to find Seth standing closely behind me. He moves to replace Jamieson. Ryan has also adjusted his position to cover me. It dawns on me then that what Jamieson says goes. He’s in charge here. And my fear of Parker being the bad guy wasn’t warranted; he’s just the muscle.
