If I didn't care about him, I would. Not to mention the fact that he'd probably act on his impulses and confront Ricardo directly. Those are risks I can't take. Not with him.
June, on the other hand...the more I think about it, the more I consider it my best option. She's secretive with me, but maybe if I confide in her, that will change things and we won't have this gigantic wall between us. I love her like a sister. I trust her like family. She's the person I shouldhavegone to from the start. I've been an idiot to wait this long when we could have been brainstorming ways for me to get the hell out of this nightmare. Especially now that Ricardo knows June and I are friends.Sheshould be aware of the threat if he suspects I've told her. I have no doubt that he doesn't already surmise that I have.
A man and a woman who are holding hands walk past me on the sidewalk, and I smilepolitelyat them on their way by. When no one is coming, Icrossthe street and hug my armstomy chest,breathingthe city into my lungs. I like it over here, where it's not too crowded but you can still feel the energy of people in the near distance. A car buzzes by a bit too close, and I gasp beforerealizingeverything is okay.
Only, everything isnotokay.
Not now, and not when another vehicle comesscreechingto a halt next to me. The doorburstsopen, and a large man jumps out. I don't have time to think, to move, to scream, to run. Instead, a cloth is put over my face and the next thing I know, my eyes grow heavy and everything turns black.
* * *
Iwake up sometime later in someone's house, on someone's couch. I blink through the fog of my vision and take in my surroundings. Nothing is familiar. And yet somehow, I know exactly where I am.
Ricardo's.
Who else wouldhavekidnapped me in broad daylight?
I rise to my feet, my heart pounding hard as I try to locate an exit. There's a window on the far side of the room and a door that's closed. Jumping out the window is always an option, but not knowing which level I’m on, I decide against it and advance toward the door, swallowing harshly.
My throat goes completely dry when I reach for the handle and it turns, Ricardo stepping through toward me.
"Pet," he murmurs with that familiar scent of foul breath and cigars lingering.
Cautiously, I walk backward to get away from him but he reaches forward fast and latches onto my arm, his fingers digging into my skin.
"You're hurting me," I tell him and try to pull away.
He tightens his grasp and glares down at me. "If you thinkthishurts then you're going to be in for a surprise once I get started with you."
My heart skips a beat, and despite my dry mouth, my whole body flushes with heat.
Ricardo releases me in a huff. "You're making it difficult to find you, pet." He brings his hand to his chin and taps it. "And to find out you're associated with Dominic's crew. Oh, how very interesting."
"I haven't told them anything," I blurt out.
Ricardo laughs. "As if that would do you any good. They can't save you." He shakes his head. "No one can." He clears his throat and walks across the room to pour himself a drink from a crystal decanter. "You underestimate me, pet. It's rather insulting."
I lean against the chair I woke up in and use it to keep me upright.
"Drink?" Ricardo holds his glass in the air toward me.
"No," I tell him.
He pours me one anyway and brings it over to me. "Drink it."
I clench my jaw and take the glass from him and down it in one swallow. The brown liquid burns on the way down and I can't quite tell what it is. Whiskey, maybe. Whatever it is, it's gross compared to the stuff my friend’s drink. But why would I ever assume Ricardo has decent taste in anything when he's such a piece of shit himself?
"You haven't been home lately," he says, as if I don’t know that.
"I was on my way there when youkidnappedme."
Ricardo grins but it doesn't quite reach his eyes, a sort of falseness to it. "Kidnapped is such a strong word. I'm simply checking on my investments."
I cross my arms over my chest. "I'm not your property yet."
Ricardo snarls and latches onto my chin, forcing my attention. "You are sorely mistaken, girl. You were mine from the very moment I set my sights on you. You'd bode well to accept this."
My stomach turns from the alcohol and his proximity, and I consider how pissed he would be if I threw up on his overpriced suit.
