Bogs chuckled and held his hands out in surrender. “Whoa, pretty girl, with the accusations. This is no kidnapping. Damn, girl that’s illegal. Babe, ya got in my truck willingly, did you not?”
She did. She never told him no, but her only other option was to stay in the office with the others. He was right. She went with him without a fight.
“Okay, you’re right but now I wanna go home.” She shifted in her seat. “And if you don’t bring me back to my apartment, then it is a kidnapping. I know the law, and if you refuse to take me home, you’re breaking it.”
He watched her as his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Alright, law girl, I’ll take you home.” He nodded. He started the truck and rested his arm on the back of the seat, his hand only inches from her head. He began to reverse.
“You got any protection?”
What?Her face flashed a warm glow across her cheeks. Was he offering her sex before he took her home? This night had just taken a stranger turn than she could have imagined. Even more weird, she was wondering what he’d be like in bed. It wasn’t the first time. The thought of Bogs in her bed had crossed her mind quite a few times but he had never been in front of her, offering himself on a platter. She had been onbirth control since she was seventeen due to her heavy periods but most likely they’d need condoms. She didn’t make a habit of carrying them around in her bag but she might have one back at the house.
Oh. My. God. Snap out of it! She blinked quickly. The truck suddenly stopped and he was eyeing her suspiciously.
A small smile curved on his lips as he leaned forward. “Protection as in a weapon. Gun or knife?”
“Oh.” She gasped. This was completely mortifying. She needed to backtrack. She snorted, hoping to convince him with her lie. “Right, I mean, I knew that.”
“You sure?”
“Of course, what else would I be thinking?”Wrong answer. She knew it by the look on his face.
“You want me to take a guess at what you were thinking, naughty girl?”
“I wasn’t thinking that!” she blurted, allowing her embarrassment to out her.
Bogs burst out laughing and moved in closer. “It’s alright, naughty girls are hot.”
Her embarrassment shifted to irritation. He was purposely goading her now, and every time that word passed through his lips, she felt the heat burn her body. What was it with that word that made it so dirty, yet exciting at the same time?
“Can you please stop saying that word?” She folded her arms and faced forward. She felt him move in closer but she didn’t look over. If she had, they’d be face to face, inches apart, separated only by a breath. She didn’t trust herself with this man.
“No need to get all upset, sweet girl. I’ll stop saying it.” His breath fanned over her hair seeping through to her ear. “No morenaughtytalk.”
He pulled away and she lifted her gaze around the truck to everywhere but him.
“Now back to my original question, and I’ll be specificso there’s no misunderstanding. You got something you can protect yourself with? I suggest a gun, but only if you’re familiar with using one. Otherwise, you might wind up shooting yourself in the foot. Knives are good, but you gotta get close and they’re easily taken away.” Kenzie’s heart beat fast.What the hell was he talking about?She opened her mouth to ask but he kept on talking. “Mace will give you time to flee but ya gotta get him in the eyes, and if there’s more than one guy, your odds won’t be so good.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Well, now, Kenzie, sweetheart, you do realize that you made it onto Dante’s ‘Most Wanted’ list. You stole from him, he’s gonna want that money back. And a guy like him, he’s gonna need to make an example outta ya. Needs to show everyone that no one takes what’s his and gets away with it.” Bogs shook his head. “He’s probably got a few guys at your place now, just waiting.” He stared at her and his voice lowered. “Waiting for you to come home. Alone.”
“I didn’t steal the money.”
Bogs smirked.“Technicality.”
“But how does he even know it was me? I mean, I never even met him. Taylor never introduced us.”
“He knew who you were the second you walked through the door. Facial recognition camera above the front door told him everything he needs to know about you. And you may not have actually taken the money, but you knew what Taylor was doing. You played your part, can’t deny it, pretty girl. And even if you didn’t have anything to do with it, and Dante believed you, which is a long fucking shot? He’d use you as leverage to get to Taylor.”
All the blood slowly drained from her face as she sunk deeper into the seat. She was utterly and completely fucked. She sat still as a heated burn ripped through. She knew this feeling. Most times it was precededby drinking heavily, getting trashed on tequila shots. Her mouth started to salivate uncontrollably.
“Oh God.” She breathed heavily.
“Fuck, hold on. One second.” His voice seemed distant but there was no mistaking the panic in his tone.
Her head throbbed and she squeezed her eyes shut. She gagged once and suddenly a wave of cool air hit her face. She opened her eyes to see Bogs reaching for her and she instinctively wrapped her hand around his neck. It was all a blur. She was lifted out of the truck and lowered to the ground. Kenzie stepped back and bent over. She lunged and vomited all over the pavement. Her body surged forward and she was inches from falling and landing in her own puke but his arm wrapped around her stomach.
“Shhh….it’s alright.” His voice was soft and his hand weaved around her neck gripping her hair loosely. She took deep even breaths. She gagged again before unleashing everything she had eaten that day, maybe even the day before. Her skin prickled with heat as the tears streaked down her face. She heaved again. This was humiliating.
