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Dutch’s explosion wasn’t what startled me, though. It was Atlas’s casual use of strength. I’d have bet money Dutch put everything he had into that punch, and Atlas caught it like the other man was a scrawny teenager having a tantrum.
“You get that one for free, Dutch. Take another swing at me, and I’ll retaliate.” Atlas still had my hand firmly in his, his body a shield between me and Dutch. I tried to let go, putting my other hand in the waistband of his jeans in case he had to fight the other man, but Atlas held tight. “You want to talk? We’ll talk. But I’m not putting my woman in danger to do it.”
Dutch jerked his head to the right, indicating a closed door. “Put her in there. You can lock it and keep the fuckin’ key.”
Atlas led me to the door in question. He removed the padlock hanging from the ring of the hasp lock that secured it closed. My heart pounded as he opened the door and shoved me gently inside.
He gave me a hard look. “Remember what I said. Not a sound.” His murmured command brooked no argument. There was no light, and as he shut the door, I couldn’t help the little whimper that escaped. It was near total darkness, and the only light came from under the door. I heard him sliding the lock into place and clicking it together.
The brief glimpse I’d had of my surroundings told me I was in some kind of a supply closet. I backed up until I felt the wall at my back. I felt out with my right hand to where I thought a broom or mop was propped. When my palm circled the cool wooden handle, I brought it close and gripped the handle in front of me in both hands. Then I slid down the wall, making myself as small as possible. I thought I was next to some large buckets but wasn’t sure if that was what they were. Either way, I scooted behind them for protection. If nothing else, maybe the brief seconds it took someone to locate me when they opened the door would give me enough time to either attack or run. Or both.
Never in my wildest nightmares had I imagined a scenario like this. If they’d known who my father was, maybe. They’d want to hold me for ransom or something. But out of the blue? Just because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time? No. Fucking figured, though. My car was likely long gone, my purse and any money I had gone with it. I needed to figure out a way to get Giovanni’s attention, but without a debit card or using any of the accounts I had access to, he had no way of finding me. Preferably before Dutch or anyone else in the club found my driver’s license and put two and two together. My only hope was that Atlas lived up to his promise to keep me safe. The way my luck was going, I couldn’t rely on him. Not for long, anyway.
In a word? I was fucked.
* * *
Atlas
It nearly gutted me to lock that girl in the closet, but I did it. I heard her whimper, but she held it together. At least for now. I turned and faced the group of men outside Dutch’s office. “Anyone even thinks about breakin’ that lock and makin’ a try for her, his death won’t be quick. Or clean.”
More than one of them raised his hands and backed off, but a couple of Dutch’s inner circle sneered at me. I stared them down until, one by one, they turned to leave.
“My, someone has it bad.” Dutch was observant, but even he didn’t realize the extent of what I’d do to protect Bellarose. I kept telling myself she was innocent in all these games, but it wasn’t that. At least, it wasn’t only that.
“She’s mine. End of discussion. Talk about something else.” I was losing my patience with the bastard.
“Fine.” He waved his arm to indicate I should go into his office. I waited, giving him a steely glare until he finally barked out a laugh and entered ahead of me. No way I was putting that fucking psycho at my back. I’d put myself in a position where he needed me more than I needed him, but Dutch didn’t really give a shit. If I proved too much for him to handle, he’d off me without a moment’s hesitation. Or try to. It was why I always kept my eye on him.
“So,” he said, seating himself at his desk and propping his feet up. “Tell me what brings your bitch into my territory.”
I shrugged. “I asked her to come to me. I intended to meet her at the end of the road, but she got here early. She didn’t realize she was in your territory, because I didn’t tell her. Since she had to wait, she tried to get off the main road so no one saw her and came to investigate.”
