Page 17 of Room One Hundred and Six

“I’m not a magician, despite the rumors. Give me a minute.”

That gives me an idea. Between me and the door is an antique chest tucked against a metal support beam. I take the velvet bag out and slip it behind the heavy piece of furniture.

“Ivy, I seriously do not have a minute.”

As if it is meant to be, a man in a loincloth steps out of the door just as I reach his side.

“Hold that please.” No hello, no thank you. I jump through the crack. I don’t breathe again until it snicks closed with me on the other side.

I press my back against the cool metal and just stand there for a second letting my eyes adjust to the red neon light. On either side of a long hallway, are black doors with silver plaques.

I walk the line and read off the numbers engraved on the door. “Room one hundred and four. Room one hundred and five. One hundred and?—”

My heart gets closer to hitting the floor the deeper I walk down the hallway. It’s not the sex rooms that scare me, it’s the sudden realization that I’ve walked into a trap.

“There you are, jungle flower. You have something that belongs to us. We will need that back.”

I turn, caught in the wicked gaze of a beast on the hunt. And he just found his prey.

Seven

Luna

Gleaming marble reflects the red glow of the neon lights. Bathed in red, the black of the Ambrose brothers' eyes is heart-stopping. I can’t run. I can’t dodge around three men who take up every single inch of the hallway.

I take a step in reverse, earning me growls. Large shoulders roll and sway with their synced movements in my direction. Their muscular bodies bulge and flex as they lumber closer. Standing shoulder to shoulder they’ve effectively cut off my only exit, leaving me only one direction to run.

Is the door to my left to the bedroom or bathroom? Is there an escape from inside the rooms? Access to elevators? I chance a quick look over my shoulder. Oh. Now that is something. Room one hundred and six’s door stands ajar.

My hair fans over my shoulder, and it catches all three of their gazes.

They’re ready to catch their prey. Can I get up the last door before they catch me?

“Don’t.”

Jasper likes to take control of a situation.

“You three really do nothing alone, do you?”

Shayne takes a step toward me, sending me in reverse. He prowls yet another step closer and I do the same in the opposite direction. Come on, buddy. Just a few more feet…

“Look, there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Jasper’s low rumble of a laugh is humorless. “Has there been, sweet thing?”

He skewers me with a hard look. “Are you here on behalf of the buyers? Did they tell you to seduce us and then make off with our item? Making enemies out of us is not a smart move.”

“No doubt.”

My feet falter and I reach out for the wall so I don't fall on my ass. I never thought of that scenario. He’ll never believe me when I tell him I don’t know his buyers so I play into their accusations and grab onto the idea.

“They’ll come looking for me. You don’t want them to do that. They’ll kill me and you three.” I don't know how much they care about me getting hurt, but maybe they fear the buyers.

Voss shrugs, with a glint of wickedness in his eyes that says he’ll slay anyone who dares challenge them. “They can try, but they can’t have you.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

I can’t help but wonder why they are not asking me to hand the jacket over?

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