My mouth opens and closes, unsure what to say. I feel like I’m making the decision of who I would rather have kill me. Get caught betraying Koen and he’ll kill me outright, or possibly get trafficked by Gio if I refuse…
“Listen Bella, I’m going to level with you here. You saw something you shouldn’t have. It’s a problem, but logistics—they’re working out in your favor. So, you either take the deal, or you face the auction block. And Bella, trust me when I say that neither of us wants to see you up there.” He eyes me. “Seeyour daughterup there.”
Horror cuts through me like a knife.
There’s a gleam in Gio’s eyes. “Remi, right?”
My hands are trembling and I feel like I’m going to pass out.
He leans forward over the desk. “Don’t look at me like that, Bella. You know I like you. You went and caught the Devil’s eye. I don’t know that there is much I could do to save you. But I am a capitalist, and can’t help but seize this opportunity that’s presented itself. You go with the Irish, Bella. I’ll be in touch. And if you even think of breathing a word of this to them…” The look he gives me is threat enough.
Seemingly satisfied, he pushes a button on his office phone for the intercom. “Tell the Irish they can pick up their package at the back door. She’s ready for them.”
37
I’D HAVE TWO NICKELS, WHICH ISN’T A LOT, BUT…
KOEN
Now
My little ballerina is silent as I escort her out the back of Wonderland and into Liam’s waiting SUV.
I keep a firm grip on her arm, seeing how her eyes dart around the dark alley behind the club, desperate for a way out.
I open the back door and thrust her through it, far too forcefully to be considered gentle. I’m being too rough with her because there are cameras back here, and because I’m not willing to take a chance on her bolting on me.
Again.
Inside the SUV, she turns to face me, and wordlessly, I motion for her to slide over, climbing in to sit in the seat beside her.
Her lip curls and she slides as far away from me as possible, pressing herself into the other side of the SUV, stiffening when she notices both Alex and Liam staring over their shoulders at her from the front seat.
“Hi.” Liam smiles at her, and she stares back at him like he’s crazy.
“Just drive,” I order. Sinking down into my seat, I keep my gaze fixed outside and away from Rose—Briar,as I try and work through the chaos playing out inside my mind.
We make it nearly two blocks before a small click draws my attention, and I’m momentarily confused when the interior lights of the SUV turn on. But just as I put two and two together… I lock eyes with Briar just as she shoves open her passenger door, evading my hand and diving out of the moving vehicle.
A string of curses erupts out of my mouth when Briar disappears from view. The car door slams shut in my face before I can follow, and I’m grappling for the door handle.
“Fuck, Liam. You didn’t child-lock the doors?”
My brother slams his foot on the brake, and my face hits the back of the front seat hard, causing me to let out a grunt.
“No, I didn’t. This wasn’t exactly theplan,was it? How the hell was I supposed to know you were going to kidnap a stripper?” He looks to Alex for backup. “Honestly, if I had a nickel for every time…”
I don’t hear the rest of it, finally getting the door open and launching myself out of the car to hunt Briar down. She’s not getting away from me again that easily.
I look back down the street, sure I’ll find her still curled up on the ground. She would have hit hard; she’ll be lucky if she didn’t break anything hitting the asphalt like that. Liam was going at least thirty miles per hour when she dove out of the car. But to my surprise, Briar’s already halfway down the street by the time I catch a glimpse of her, sprinting like her life depends on it.
I take off after her. I’m fast, and with far longer legs than her, I easily close the distance. Briar never looks back, but she must hear me closing in because, just as I’ve about caught up to her, she darts down a narrow side street before quickly turningdown another, nearly losing her footing on the loose gravel in her attempts to shake me.
I smile to myself, knowing it’ll be over soon.
But that smile quickly turns to a frown when I notice how she’s favoring her left leg. Probably injured it jumping out of the fucking car. She’s still got a bit of a lead on me, so I increase my speed, having had enough of these shenanigans.
I lose sight of Briar when she takes another tight turn down yet another narrow side street but, when I make the turn, she’s nowhere in sight.
