Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“You have plans for that mouth.”
“I do.”
“And then?”
“My business,” I repeated. “She’s mine, and I’ll deal with her as I see fit. This isn’t up for discussion, Orson.”
His laugh was cruel-sounding. “She may wish you had shot her.”
Knowing Rex was watching my reaction, I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“We need to meet.”
“Tomorrow. I’ll call you.” With a flick of my finger, I disconnected the call.
“You need to learn respect,” Rex hissed, his voice thick as cement.
A smile tugged on my lips as I thought about saying that to Skylar and her reaction.
“I don’t work for Orson. This is just a job to me.” I glanced sideways at him. “Keep your fucking opinions to yourself.”
The rest of the trip was silent. I heaved a sigh of relief when he exited the car. I made sure he was long gone before I started driving again.
Carefully, I sat Skylar’s shaking form on the only chair in the room I had carried her to. After a lot of thought, I’d decided it was the safest place for her. It had a small bathroom attached, and the room itself contained only two small windows. Both were higher up, and one housed a room air conditioner, while the other had bars on it, so she couldn’t get out. The door locked from the outside, so she couldn’t get out that way either. My room was across the hall and Sean next door—this way, she was protected, although she had no idea she would be.
“I’m going to untie you. Don’t try anything, Skylar. I’ve got my gun, and you know I’m not shy about using it.” I arched an eyebrow at her. “A slug in the kneecap hurts like a bitch, trust me. And you’d still be stuck here, except with a bullet hole. So, behave—you understand?”
I waited until she nodded. All the fight seemed to have gone out of her, but I had a feeling it would come back.
She didn’t move as I undid the ropes. When I got to her mouth, I grimaced. “I’ll do this fast. It’s gonna sting.” Then I gripped the edge of the tape and pulled it off quickly. She gasped but didn’t say a word. Without thinking, I pushed my hand against the red skin, pressing down to ease the pain. She grunted, frowning, and I pulled my hand away. I liked the way her mouth felt under my palm, though.
I stood, unsure what to do next. “Stay here,” I instructed and hurried to my room. When I returned, she was in the exact same position.
“Look at that—you can follow orders.”
She lifted her gaze to me, her red-rimmed, dark eyes shooting daggers, but said nothing.
I opened the bathroom door. “There’s a shower. I brought you some clean clothes—I know they’re too big, but they’ll have to do. Get cleaned up, and I’ll get you something to eat.” I started to walk away, but her voice stopped me.
“No.”
I swung around. “What?”
Her little chin lifted defiantly. “I said no.”
And Ms. Mouth was back.
“Get cleaned up, Skylar.”
She shook her head. “If you’re going to do what I think you are, I’m not helping.”
I ran a hand through my hair and stepped closer. “I’m not going to do anything to you, Skylar, except make you something to eat and let you go to sleep.”
She snorted. “Right. I heard what you said in the car.”
“You heard what I needed you to hear. What I needed other people to hear. You’re safe here. I promise.”
“I don’t trust the promises of murderers.”
“Get in the shower.”
She crossed her arms. “Go fuck yourself.”
In two strides, I was in front of her, dragging her to her feet. I flung her over my shoulder and carried her into the bathroom, ignoring her struggles and pitiful attempts to hurt me as she pounded on my back with her tiny fists. It was like being pelted with snowballs—annoying but useless. “Let me go, you asshole!”
“Stop fighting me.”
“No!”
Cranking on the water, I deposited her on the shower floor, laughing at her gasp as the water hit her in the face. “Use the soap, Skylar.” I grinned at her. “You stink.”
I laughed all the way to the door at the horrified look on her face.
I walked into the kitchen a short while later, toweling off my hair. Sean was there, busy making sandwiches.
“Is it done?”
He nodded.
“As we planned?”
“Yep.”
“Are we clear?”
He glanced at me. “Yes.”
I exhaled deeply. “How is he?”
He grinned as he sliced the sandwiches in half. “He said to tell you there was no need to squeeze his leg so hard. He’s gonna return the favor. He also thought the second bullet was a little dramatic.”
I chuckled. “I felt like being dramatic. Orson likes a good show—I have no doubt Rex gave him a great play-by-play.”
He looked up at me. “You’re fucking lucky he was able to stay still that long and not blow it.”