Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“Right. Like you’re really going to let me walk away when this is over. Fuck you.”
“If I fuck you, will you hug me afterwards?” He laughed. “No cooperation, huh?”
“None. Zilch.”
“Okay. Suit yourself.” He threw up his hands. “I tried to keep this nice and easy, just between the two of us, but it looks like I’ll have to bring in some reinforcement.” He slipped his phone out of his boxer pocket and dialed Billy.
“Archer.”
“Hey, I’ve been dealing with a situation, and it’s come to a point where I need you to pay a visit….” He filled him in on every necessary detail—from the photos to the hotel, to his hostile guest, then ordered him to swing by with Lou and Tone. When he ended the call, he found Honey’s eyes searching him, her ears perked. He could see her shift from anger to worry… just as he intended. He placed his phone back in his pocket.
“You’ve forced my hand. Lou and Tone are far less understanding than me. Plus,” he shrugged, “you kinda made them look bad, so they’ll have an axe to grind.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They didn’t see you at the compound. It’s their job to be the eyes and ears at the warehouse. Everyone is going to know they fucked up. They’ll want to take it out on you because, well, I’m going to punish them. Harshly. They will direct their anger towards you, and Billy, my right hand, will let them do it.”
“Do what? Hey! I’m talking to you! DO WHAT?!”
Without a word, he opened the door to leave, and she screamed out to him, cursing him out and demanding answers as he secured the locks and journeyed back down the hall, to the elevators…
CHAPTER SIX
When she came to, three men stood in front of her. None of them were James.
Relief filled her. James Wilde was a quiet storm—a man who never showed his hand, and yet, instilled fear without lifting a finger. It had taken all that she had within her to keep a poker face in his presence, for she knew if he saw even an ounce of weakness within her, he’d exploit it and she’d be doomed. The three men stood there ogling her. She remained silent while also sizing them up. Based on James’s conversation when he’d called someone named Billy and relayed his concerns, making it clear that he was going to punish several people, she could safely assume that this small crew was his back-up.
The one on the far left had blood dripping from his nose and mouth. His shirt was torn and he looked pissed. The one in the middle was broad-shouldered and wide-legged, and stood twirling a bullwhip. The third one was tall and lanky with a brown leather jacket, and salt and pepper thinning hair. His nose was long and crooked, his eyes a tad sleepy. All of them carried guns in their holsters.
She wanted to rub her throbbing head. She felt as if she’d been drugged. Looking down at herself, she realized she was now clad only in a tank top and panties. The strange clothing she’d been wearing earlier was neatly folded on the cot. Her heart quickened as she strained to recall the splotchy details… Had she been beaten? Sexually assaulted? It didn’t feel that way and yet, blank spaces occupied her memories.
“Where am I?” she asked, trying to see who would answer first, and just maybe she could garner information that James Wilde himself would not supply.
“Mr. Wilde’s already discussed that with you,” the one in the middle stated gruffly. He must be Billy. He looks like he’s in charge. She glanced at the other two men. They were beaten black and blue, while the one she believed to be Billy looked unscathed.
“Who are you?”
“Doesn’t matter who we are. Are you going to take Mr. Wilde’s offer?”
“I don’t even know what the offer is!”
“He explained to you that he wants you to do what you do best, only on his behalf. That’s all that you need to know. So again, will you take the offer?”
“How can I accept something I don’t understand? Are you stupid? What you said was incredibly vague. I need… AHHH!” Her throat burned as the bastard doing all the talking barreled towards her like a rocket and gripped her chin so tight in his grimy, gloved hand, she was certain her jaw would crack.
His slanted dark brown eyes hooked onto hers and when he spoke, his breath was laden with booze. “You lis’en here, lil’ bitch,” he stated between gritted teeth. “You’ve caused all sorts of bullshit! Archer demoted two of my best men!” He hitched his finger in their direction. “He beat my guy over here so badly, he passed out!” He pointed to the one on his left. “No one wants to be on the receivin’ end of Archer’s fucking fist, and nobody wants to be on his bad side, either. Now you accept his offer, you snobbish, stuck-up piece of L.A. shit, or I’m going to break your little womanly bones, then stomp on ’em to make dust.”