“What the hell are you—get back here,” I grumbled.
But she slipped in front of me and held her arms out, as if her five-foot-six stature could somehow hide my mounting six-foot-two stature.
Carlos grinned. “Now, we’re getting somewhere. Hello, beautiful. My name is Carlos Bande—”
“I know who you are,” Chloe said flatly.
He clasped his hands in front of his body. “And you must be Chloe. Best friend to Lexi. Auntie to Natasha. Discarded by Dean…or do you call him ‘Frost’ now…once he reunited his family.”
Chloe stuck to her guns, though. “You won’t get the information from us that you seek. That much has already been proven. So, you can either take us out or take us back. Those are your only two options.”
The smile that crawled across that man’s face was disgusting. “Wow, you really are a spitfire, aren’t you?”
And to my shock, Chloe sucked back the biggest wad of snot I’d ever heard, worked it to the front of her mouth, and spat it at the man’s feet.
Before anger washed over Carlos’ face. “You do know these shoes are new, right?”
I watched in horror as he removed a handkerchief from his pocket and bent down to wipe off his suede shoes. The mark from Chloe’s spit sat there, glaring like a deer in fucking headlights. While he was distracted, I slowly reached for the shard of glass she had slid against my skin. I knew this man was about to come after her. I knew he was about to double down and pull some bullshit.
And when Carlos rose back up, he focused his glare on Chloe. “That really isn’t the way a lady should act. Especially one as beautiful as yourself.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, well, my foster parents weren’t exactly accommodating.”
His eyes worked their way down her body, inch by inch. “So, no one would miss you. That’s a plus as well. Boys, what do you think? You think she’d be fit for Mr. Nurembacher? Because I think she’s right up his alley. He’s been looking for a new business venture. He might be willing to invest in her.”
I gripped the glass and softly pulled it out. I kept my movement as small as possible so as to not startle the men who had us one-upped with guns strapped to every part of their body. If they were going to kill us, I’d take a couple of them down with me. But the second Carlos started analyzing Chloe like that, I knew what his plan was.
He wanted to kill me and sell her into the flesh-buying business.
“Some men would pay large amounts of money for a woman like you,” Carlos glowered.
And that was when he turned his attention back to me. “Thank you for bringing such a valuable asset to me. I’ll make sure your death is quick because of it.”
Then, he turned on the balls of his feet and walked back toward the front door. Leaving us alone in our unrestrained state. He snapped his fingers as he stood in the doorway of the open front door and his men rushed up beside him. He peeked over his shoulder and tossed us a playful wink. The mere fact that he hadn’t tied us up again told me that he had reinforcements for blocks should we have wanted to escape.
The knot of worry in my stomach grew bigger, infiltrating my chest as my heart rate skyrocketed into the heavens. And the second Carlos closed the door behind him, I swallowed hard.
Before I whipped around and cupped her cheek with my free hand.
“We have to get out of here, Chloe, and we have to do it now. Follow my lead, don’t ask questions, and whatever you do… don’t deviate from the plan. It’ll get you killed otherwise.”
Twenty
Chloe
I shook my head as he cupped my cheek, but the second he did his warmth made me nuzzle against his skin. I was afraid that I’d never feel his touch again. That I’d never have his body seated against mine in pleasurable silence. I cupped the back of his hand, keeping it there for a few more seconds as his words dawned upon my mind.
And when they did, my gaze found his. “How the hell are we going to get out of here? What’s your plan?”
He grinned. “Let’s test just how valuable you are to them. Can you fake passing out?”
I blinked. “I can certainly do my best. You still have that piece of glass?”
He kissed my forehead. “Get one for yourself and store it away somewhere safe. Somewhere that it won’t hurt you when you collapse. And once you do, I’ll yell for them. All right?”
“Why didn’t they tie us back up? Is that something I should be worried about?”
His gaze searched my own. “One step at a time, okay?”
