Page 86 of Extracted

He sucked back a swig of beer then watched her with small eyes. His charming air and boyish smile long gone.

Thank goodness she hadn’t left her drink alone with him.

“So, who you waiting on?”

Crap. There was a chance Cole would want to speak to her when he arrived, so she couldn’t pretend it was another woman. Besides, maybe if he knew a male friend was meeting her, he’d back off. “My friend’s brother. He just landed about twenty minutes ago.”

Cory cocked his head to the side. “Interesting. What would bring him to Ibarra?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Something work related.” She flicked her wrist then zeroed in on him. “What brings you to Ecuador? You’re American?”

“Correct. I’m here on a guys’ trip, actually. Everyone was sick from partying last night so I came out alone.”

“A guys’ trip? Why not Vegas or something?” She brought the glass of water to her lips and sipped.

“One of the guys in our group is from here, so he’s giving us the full experience.”

She nodded slowly as anticipation made the hair on the back of her neck stand to attention. Charlene’s man had a finger on the trigger, Dallas was locked in an office with a brutal killer, and she was at the bar sipping water and stringing along a douchebag.

“Excuse me one sec.” She sunk her hand into her purse. “He might have trouble finding the place.” She glanced at her phone.

No new messages or missed calls.

And it’d been exactly five minutes since the call with Charlene. She couldn’t wait much longer.

“Well?”

She looked at Cory and made a face. “Not yet.”

“Then let’s go. You can always come back when we’re done.”

It took all her self-control not to knock her forehead on the bar. Was he legit out of his mind? Did she really look that stupid?

“Yeah, I need to stay. But thanks. Have a good rest of your night.” She stood.

Cory’s cold, stiff hand locked on her forearm. “That’s it? You wasted my time.”

Her eyebrows crawled up her forehead. Who did this asshole think he was? “I don’t owe you a damn thing, Cory. Now let me go before I make a scene.”

Only she couldn’t make a scene. Because doing so would bring all the attention to her face.

Cory stood. “I don’t think so, you little fucking tease.” He yanked her arm, drawing her closer to his body. The scent of sweat mixed with booze leaked from his pores.

Her body vibrated with anger, but a tremor of fear prickled her spine. “I’m going to ask one more time, Cory. Let me go.”

“Not a chance.”

A hand clamped down on Cory’s shoulder and whirled him around.

“What the—” he squeaked.

Gemma staggered backward into the barstool as her gaze flew to the hulking man standing in front of Cory.

The stranger’s eyes were the color of shiny slate and thick dark scruff covered his sharp jaw, which was the exact same shape as Dallas’s.

Cole.

She sucked in a breath as she stared at the meaner-looking, more terrifying version of Dallas. He wore a light-gray T-shirt that clung to his biceps and chest. Nearly every inch of his exposed skin was covered in tattoos . . . his arms, hands, neck. All but his face bore ink.

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