AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter16
Erick
Ikeep Hellie close as the car rolls through the Strip toward our neutral location. Wolfie sits behind the wheel with Ren in the passenger seat. The painting is stowed in the trunk wrapped in layers of padding. Nobody speaks, and I can tell Hellie’s nervous. She fidgets with her hair, shifts in her seat, stares anywhere but at me.
“This must be strange for you,” I say softly, leaning down so only she can hear. “Being out here again.”
“You mean since you kidnapped me?”
“You’re probably thinking to yourself, this is your best chance of getting rescued. Make enough noise and someone might come to help, right?”
Her jaw works. “Leave me alone.”
“I need you to understand that you’re wrong. If you make a scene, you’ll only make your own life harder. That beautiful art studio I built for you? You don’tneedthat to paint for me.”
“Are you trying to piss me off right now?” She meets my gaze. We’re inches apart. “I’m aware that my life is on the line right now.”
“Then make sure you behave.”
Her lip twitches. I can tell she’s pissed and barely holding it back. “You know, Erick, one of these days, you’re going to fuck up, and then I’ll be gone. I can’t wait to get away from you.”
I sit back, keeping my face neutral, but that hurt me more than it should have.
I’m not surprised she lashed out—I pushed her into it and practically begged her to come at me—only I didn’t expect that to hit me so hard.I can’t wait to get away from you.
It’s irrational, this feeling. She’s a prisoner, my captive, of course she wants to get away. But some part of me, some broken, needy, stupid part of me, hoped that she was beginning to understand.
There’s no escape from me.
Because she’s not trapped with me—I’m keepingthemfrom her.
That’s why I need to make sure, really damn sure, that she doesn’t do something stupid and give Frost and Gallo the opportunity they want.
They’ll snatch her away without hesitating and torture her until she begs for mercy, but none will come.
That’s why I’m pissing her off. That’s why I’m getting in her face and making sure she knows there’s no running.
Because she’s right—her life really does depend on it.
We reach the casino. Wolfie stays with the car while Ren, Hellie and I get out. Ren goes first, clearing a path, and I slip my hand into Hellie’s. She tried to yank away, but I hold on tight, pulling her closer. She’s wearing tight jeans and a creme blouse, her hair up in a messy bun, only a little bit of makeup around the eyes.
“What are you doing?” she hisses.
“Making sure you don’t escape.” I hold her hand tighter. “Don’t let go. If you do, I’ll tell Ren to carry you in.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I absolutely would. I don’t give a fuck what the crowds think. This is Vegas, remember? Hold my hand, devil girl, and don’t get any ideas.”
She glares. For a second, I think she’s about to defy me. But instead, she moves stiffly by my side as Ren holds the main doors and we make our way toward the conference room.
I know this isn’t real. I understand that I’m dragging her along against her will.
But there’s still some sick voice in the back of my mind that enjoys being this close to her, that likes having her by my side, like we’re actually together. I like being seen with her in the casino. I like the way her hand feels in mine.
I like so much about this girl.
Which is a goddamn problem, because every time I get close to something I like, it always ends up corrupted and ruined.
