I swiped my hair back from my face and left the bathroom. Thinking I should eat despite my lack of appetite, I headed for the kitchen.
A man stood in front of my sink. The guy who’d cut Brody to pieces. Austin’s friend.
Shocked, I halted, instinctively realizing he stood between me and my nearest gun.
“Hiya, Lindsey,” he said.
He brought his hand from his pocket, a dark object held within it. “Sorry, baby,” he went on. “I gotta take you.”
Spinning, I bolted for the door.
He fired.
Electrical voltage from his Taser shot through me. Excruciating pain lashed through my entire body. My mind scattered. My thoughts disconnected like wisps of cloud. I know I fell, but I had no knowledge of where my arms, legs, or my face were. Unable to move, to think, to fight, I knew he stepped toward me.
“Your boyfriend will give up the goods,” he commented, lifting me. “If he wants you back, that is.”
Chapter Ten
Brody
“I’m headed out, boss,” Sammy told me, only his head and not the rest of him, sticking through my office door. “Glad to have you back.”
I tossed him a quick grin. “Glad to be back. Thanks for covering for me.”
“Anytime. By the way, love the new look.”
Sammy, grinning, traced his finger across his cheek.
“Yeah, yeah. Buzz off before I give you one of your own.”
He vanished like a shut in jack-in-the-box.
Outside, the crews had gone home. Quitting time had arrived even though the sun still shone down brightly. I sighed, tried to not scratch at my healing wounds, and returned my attention to my work. Sammy hadn’t the authority to go through the work orders, the scheduling, the time sheets, the invoices.
They’d piled up fast while I was gone.
“Life’s a bitch, then you die,” I said to no one in particular, then got back at it.
Hours crawled by. Darkness fell outside my windows. My right hand cramped, making my injured arm ache in earnest as I scribbled on the papers. The deep healing itched so badly I yearned to rip my sutures out and indulge in an ultra-satisfying scratch.
I ignored the persistent itching as best I could.
My inbox grew smaller as my outbox enlarged exponentially. Hunger rumbled in my stomach, outpacing the itching as my first concern. I dropped my pen with gratitude and stretched my back. I thought of Lindsey and smiled to myself.I like that girl. Very much.
My office door swung open.
I glanced up and instantly scowled.
Austin grinned at me from the doorway. “Yo,” he exclaimed. “Bro.”
“Get the fuck out of here,” I snapped, standing. “Find the idiot who took your shit, then leave me alone.”
“Except you took it, my brother.” He shut the door and leaned against it, smiling kindly. “Give it back. Please.”
I rolled my eyes heavenward. “Gawd, you’re so dense. I didn’t take it. I’d no idea you’re in that business. Had I known, I still wouldn’t have stolen it. Dope isn’t my style.”
“Come on, man,” he pleaded. “Don’t make me get rough.”
