When we were standing in the trash strewn back alley, Ray glanced over my outfit dismissively. “Our customers are going to want to see you in something more revealing.”
Nausea swam towards my throat as I visualized the brothel they’d be taking to in order to repay my debt. No, I need to stay focused. I needed-
A door slammed against the brick wall, and I readied myself to take advantage of the distraction. But the voice that carried across the humid air froze me in place.
“What the fuck is going on?” Sebastian snarled.
How did he know I was out here? When my struggle inside had taken place, no one I’d recognized was in sight.
Ray’s men tensed, but didn’t break their circle around me. I could just make out Sebastian’s dark hair right above their heads.
“Move, or I’ll make you.” Sebastian’s voice was darker than I’d ever heard it.
Ray nodded at the man who’d grabbed me in the club. He stepped out from the circle.
“We’re having a private discussion,” the bulky man said while moving towards Sebastian, “Go back inside, or else-”
Crack. Thud.
The circle dissolved around me as the men threaded out to see what had happened. My jaw dropped open. Ray’s biggest man was laid out on the concrete, knocked out cold. I hoped he drowned in that puddle of blood slowly forming around his face.
Sebastian’s expression was so dark that I would’ve taken a step back if I wasn’t being held. My eyes dropped to Sebastian’s hands: blood trickled from his right fist.
“Let her go,” Sebastian said, stepping forward. Five of his own men formed a half circle behind him, and it clicked into place how he’d figured out where I was. He must’ve had men in the crowd, making sure he was safe.
Ray inclined his head towards the next biggest thug of his. “Joe get her out of here while I handle this.”
Joe nodded, and moved towards the man carrying me. I sized up his roided out muscles. Probably, I could take him and the twitchy guy about to hand me off, but it wouldn't be ideal since I couldn't catch them off guard.
Joe flicked open a switchblade, and once again I hated not having a weapon of my own.
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed at Joe. “Touch her, and you die.”
Joe rolled his eyes, and reached for me with his free hand.
Bang.Joe’s eyes widened before a glazed expression came over his veiny face. Blood poured out of his head at the same moment his lifeless body slumped to the ground.
For only a moment I gaped at Sebastian's smoking gun before the twitchy guy dropped me. I landed in a crouch, and darted away from the loan sharks. Sebastian's eyes softened when I stood next to him. He caressed a finger across my chin, and despite the dead man lying a few feet away from me, my body relaxed.
“I don’t think you-” Ray began.
“Shut the fuck up unless I speak to you,” Sebastian growled, all of the hardness returning to his face.
“Are these the loan sharks?” Sebastian asked me.
I nodded. What was the point in lying about it at this point?
“The ones whohurtyou?” Goosebumps ran up my back at Sebastian’s tone.
I said nothing, but he must have read it on my expression because his expression grew darker.
Sebastian snapped his fingers. Before Ray’s men could react, all of Sebastian’s men pointed guns at the loan sharks’ foreheads. Sebastian ran his hand down my arm absently, but I couldn’t keep the grimace off my face when he applied pressure near my elbow.
“Did they hurt you?” he asked, his expression murderous.
I shrugged. I could feel a bruise forming above my elbow, but I’d had worse.
“Who?” he growled.
