Chapter 1
No Fair Play
Samuel Foster
It’s all my fault! God help me, it’s all my freaking fault!I’m sprinting out of the house before the sound of Buford’s heckling laughter has stopped ringing in my ears. My heart is racing, my head whirling as I bound down the stairs to my car. Buford’s words are still burning through my brain.
“Bring me my diamond, motherfucker. Or me – and my men – are gonna find out whether your little piece of ass is a real redhead.”
He knows about Arielle. How could he know?
Because he’s been watching you, you idiot!Jesus, how could I have been so stupid? My little cat and mouse game always seemed slightly edgy, but I’ve been like that all my life. Living on the edge. And getting bolder and more brazen with every damn heist. It’s been inevitable that someone would catch me. Nabbing Buford’s diamond right under his nose was like putting a bullseye on my back and begging someone to take aim.
But Arielle...
Fuck!
Of course he would find her. Men like Gregory Buford don’t play fair...don’t play by the rules. His goons knew where I lived before I even realized he was onto me. He could have had them watching me right from the start. And after the day when they were here in my house, ransacking the place – just hours after their veiled threats, I led her right past them. I brough her and Austin into my home and had them stay over for the night.
Oh, God, that night.The night we made love. I can still remember the moonlight on her naked body, the silkiness of her skin…the scent of her…
And it was the night Munchkin died. As if the universe was sending me some vast, cosmic sign to move on. I moved on, alright. I found the woman of my dreams and paraded her before a group of men who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt her. Who’d use her as a pawn to teach me a lesson. I practically made her a target.
Like a fucking idiot!
They would have followed her, watched her; there’s no doubt in my mind. And now...and now... He knows where she lives!
“Fuck!” I scream. What the fuck is wrong with me? It’s one thing to have a death wish of my own, but now I’ve dragged her into it. Sweet Arielle...all she wanted to do was help. First with my little Munchkin, and then with me. She’s got the biggest heart in the world...and now I’ve put her at risk.
I’m at my car, reaching for the door, when I pause. I pat my pockets.
“Keys! Fucking car keys!” I’m spinning on my heel, racing back up the stairs into the house to the kitchen where
I’m certain that I left them.
Wasting time. Wasting fucking precious time!
I pull my phone out of my pocket, annoyed with myself for not thinking of this before. I hit the number I have for her on speed dial.
“Pick up. Please pick up!” I plead, then exhale as the call is answered. “Arielle, it’s—”
Hi. You’ve reached Arielle. I can’t take your call right now, but if you leave a message at the tone, I’ll get right back to you.
“No!” I scream, then realize I’m probably being recorded. “Arielle, it’s Sam. You’re in danger! Call the cops!”
I’m still running as I leave my breathless message, snatching the keys off the counter where I left them.Thank fuck!
I spin back to the front entrance and leap down the entire flight of stairs in one bound, thankful that I manage to land on my feet. I hit dial again, just in case I can get through to her.
Hi. You’ve reached Arielle—
“Goddammit!” I shout, swiping the screen to end the call. I have to take a second to clear my head enough for rational thought. It’s a second in which my phone begins to vibrate in my hand.Thank God.I take the call without looking down. “Arielle!” I answer, about to tell her to run.
Buford’s gritty chuckle comes back in response. “Tick tock, motherfucker. Tick tock.” Raucous laughter joins his voice, and I know his men are enjoying his ugly little game.
Then the line goes dead.
Chapter 2
