Alex grimaced against the pain in her head as she worked to understand. Gordan and this big jerk had kidnapped her and put her on his jet, but all the while, Cyrus has wanted out?
“Free of me?” Gordan laughed, releasing Alex’s arm so he could face his bodyguard directly. “Son, you won’t ever be free of me. Do you want to know why? Because I made you. You would have nothing if it wasn’t for me. You’dbenothing. Hell, I’m the only reason anyone in Los Angeles even knows your name. So be a good boy and go tell the pilot we’re ready to take off. Then I want you to sit your ass down and keep your mouth shut until I say otherwise. Are we clear?”
The intense standoff between Gordan and Cyrus felt like it lasted forever. As she stood there, watching the bizarre exchange, Alex scanned her immediate area for a way to escape.
Both men had become so distracted with each other, and their argument created the perfect chance. The only problem was, there was only one exit, and Gordan and Cyrus were blocking her way.
Looking as though he was chewing on nails, Cyrus drew a long breath in through his nose. Without a word, he spun around and disappeared into the cabin. As he did, Gordan’s attention returned to her.
“My apologies, Alexandria. It’s true what they say. Good help really is hard to find.”
“Gordan, please,” Alex started. “This is never going to work. I have a family. People who will miss me. My gallery?—”
“Is small and the location is hardly desirable. But don’t worry.” He put his smarmy hands on her shoulders and grinned. “I’ll build you a new one. One that’s bigger and much more suited for someone of your admirable talent.”
Dear God, this man is seriously deranged.
Alex had missed it before, but now it was so clearly seen. She should have listened to Colt that night at Gordan’s gallery in L.A. He’d tried to warn her. Did his best to convince her to leave before Gordan could see her.
Colt was right about everything, and her heart shattered knowing she may never see him again.
Don’t go there, Al. Thinking about Colt will only cloud your senses, and you have to stay sharp.
“You need to let me off this plane,” she tried again. “Now, before something happens that you can’t take back.”
“It’s too late.” He smiled. “Cyrus is in there right now, telling the pilot it’s time to take off. And just like him, you’ll come to learn I always get my way.”
“No.”
They both turned as Cyrus came out of the cockpit. Alex’s lungs froze when she saw the gun in his hand.
“Cyrus, what are you—” she tried asking, but he swung the pistol her way.
“Sit down,” he growled. “And keep your mouth shut.”
Under the threat of death, she did exactly as she wastold. With her eyes never leaving the weapon in the man’s beefy hand, Alex slid her body into the seat to her left. Her heart pounded harder than ever before, and the blood in her veins turned to ice.
“Put the gun down, Cyrus,” Gordan ordered his trusted sidekick.
Unlike last time, Cyrus refused to back down.
“No.” He shook his head “I’m done taking orders from you.”
“So you’re going to shoot me?” Gordan chuckled despite the weapon pointed at his head. “We both know that’s not going to happen. You shoot me, you’ll be left with nothing.”
“You’re wrong.” The other man turned his attention to Alex. With a sneer, he said, “I have her.”
Me?
Fear threatened to choke her. As twisted as it seemed, she somehow knew her chances of survival were much greater with Gordan in charge.
Gordan wanted her for himself. That much was clear. But Cyrus?
I don’t want to think about what he has planned for me.
“Alexandria’s mine,” Gordan challenged. “You want a woman, go find your own.”
The man in question looked back at Gordan. The weapon in his hand remained steady.
