Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
FUCK!
Shaking my head, I feel my shoulders droop. As I go to take my first step, I hear a soft click coming from the other side of the door. My heart kicks into gear as nervousness flutters through me. It could be anyone on the opposite side of the door. Hell, it could be the asshole responsible for the attacks on my life.
I try to figure out what the hell I’m going to say. Do I tell them my name and request a meeting with the dude in charge, or do I lie and tell them I’ve been hired for a few happy endings?
Time runs out as the door swings open before me, and a tall older man steps out. He’s handsome, in a suit that has me almost ready to call him Daddy, and familiar green eyes, but there’s something in them that has me shrinking away. He stares down at me, clearly knowing I’m not supposed to be here. “Can I help you?”
I nod. “My name is—”
“I am well aware of who you are, Miss Quinn,” he says, watching me through a narrowed gaze, his stare knowing and dark. “What I want to know is what you’re doing here?”
Trying to display a show of confidence, I raise my chin and look him dead in the eye. “I’ve come to get answers.”
“Answers,” he repeats.
“Yes,” I state. “If you are well aware of who I am, then I’m sure you’re also aware that over the past two weeks there have been multiple attempts on my life by the people of this organization. The guys who claim to want to protect me aren’t giving me the answers I’m looking for, so I’m taking matters into my own hands.”
“I see,” he says. “And these guys who are protecting you. Are they aware you’re here?”
My stomach clenches, torn over how to respond to this. If I say no, he becomes painfully aware of just how alone and vulnerable I am. But if I say yes, he might be reluctant to tell me anything in fear of this information getting back to them.
Taking my chances, I shake my head. “No, they don’t know I am here. But I suspect they will come looking soon.”
“I don’t doubt that,” he says, stepping out of the doorway and making space. “In any case, you better come in. You don’t know what kind of monsters lurk around these tunnels.”
He waves me through the door and my hands start to shake. I give him a curt nod and step past him, not comfortable with having this strange man at my back, but I’d be damned if I’m staying out there in the shadowy tunnels now.
Walking into the dimly lit corridor, he waves me toward the first set of stairs that lead down to the strange golden gate. I put one foot in front of the other, swallowing the feeling of dread that only gets worse with each step.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he leans around me and slips a old, brass key into the lock and pushes the gate open. “After you,” he tells me.
I nod, not trusting the look in his eyes. I hesitantly take a step out in front of him when a black bag is yanked down over my head and tightened around my neck. I scream, reaching out to grip the material as scuffles reverberate off the walls around me. Someone pulls my hands tightly behind my back, and while I blindly try to resist their strength, it’s no use. Something hard collides with the side of my head, knocking me to the ground and with a deafening ringing thundering through my ears, my world fades to black.
Chapter 26
OAKLEY
A burst of ice-cold water against my face rips me from unconsciousness, and my eyes spring open as I gasp in shock. Looking around the room wildly, the reality of my situation tears through me, and I struggle against my bound hands.
I’m in a hardback chair with my legs and wrists bound to the seat, and the man with familiar green eyes paces before me in the darkened room. My heart races, fear eating at me as I quickly realize this is the same dungeon where Zade brutally murdered the doorman from the ball.
My stomach clenches, and I keep my eyes on the man. I never should have come here. I should have trusted the boys, but instead, I’ve walked right into this man’s trap.
“You snake! What do you want with me?” I spit.
The man laughs. “Oh, I must admit, I am very sorry for all of this. I am not a callous person by nature, but you showing up here like this has put me at quite an advantage. One I simply cannot allow to slip through my fingers.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Goodness, girl,” he says, belittling me. “So many questions, so little time.”