Page 84 of Beast

Suddenly heavy hands land on my shoulders, and I flinch. Only for the hood to be yanked off my head and blinding fluorescent lights handing overhead blind me. When the my eyes adjust, I see we’re in an empty warehouse and tall metal columns lining the perimeter.

A quick scan of the space shows no obvious exit routes or items I could use as a weapon in an escape attempt. Great. Three armed men stand around me with their faces obscured by black ski masks.

One steps closer, looming over me. I meet his gaze through the eye holes of his mask, acting confident.

“Who are you?” I demand, my voice echoing through the empty space. “And what do you want?”

He doesn’t speak, merely grabs my chin and jerks my head from side to side, as though he’s examining me. He releases me, turning away. And then he and the other men move to the other side of the warehouse conversing in hushed voices.

I test the restraints binding my wrists, but they don’t give at all. The men disappear out of a door, leaving me alone.

At least, that’s what I believed until I hear the echo of footsteps behind me. The sound reverberates off the cold concrete walls of this cavernous warehouse. I crane my neck trying to see who’s approaching, but my view is obstructed.

The footsteps grow louder, and I feel a presence right behind me. My heart pounds against my ribs. A large hand grips my shoulder, making me flinch.

“Well, well. We meet again, mi bonita.”

I freeze at the sound of that familiar voice. Pablo steps around and stands before me, an amused smile playing on his lips. The cartel leader who eyed me like a predator at the charity gala with Gaston. Just the sight of him sends a chill down my spine.

“What do you want?” I ask, keeping my voice steady.

“You shouldn’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.” His eyes are dark and cold as he stares at me.

I glare at him. “Why wouldn’t I want the answer?”

His eyes peruse my body slowly, making me feel sick. “I can think of many things I’d want from a beautiful gringa like you.”

“Dream all you want. That won’t be happening.”

Pablo raises an eyebrow, looking mildly impressed by my nerve. He leans in close, his breath hot against my cheek. “We’ll see about that, bonita,” he whispers. I recoil from him as much as my bindings will allow.

Pablo straightens up, regarding me with that predatory stare.

“Why did you take me?” I demand. “Is it some sort of revenge plot against Gaston?”

Pablo shrugs. “Something like that. See, your lover has something I want. I tried to negotiate, but he refused my offers. So you’re the perfect leverage against our friend Gaston.”

Shit. Agreeing to come to Mexico this weekend with Gaston has landed me in the middle of a war he’s waging with the cartel.

“For the first time in his pathetic life, Marques has someone to lose,” Pablo continues. “And I fully intend to exploit that weakness.”

“I think you overestimate how much he values me,” I lie, despite know Gaston will come for me. I’m sure of it. And that terrifies me more than anything else because he could die.

“I don’t think so, bonita.” He shakes his head.

Drawing a deep breath, I glare at him. “He’ll never submit to you.”

Pablo’s eyes flash. In an instant, he’s around the desk, grabbing me by the hair and wrenching my head back, making me yelp in pain because it feels like he’s trying to pull the follicles from my scalp.

“You’d better hope he does,” he hisses in my ear. “Because your life depends on it.” Pablo leans close, his fingers trailing along my jaw. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t get to know each other better in the meantime.”

I jerk my head away, shuddering with disgust because this guy is older than my father.

Pablo chuckles. “I’ll be back for you soon, Blake.” He says my name slowly, as if savoring it. “We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”

Leaving that sickening promise, he turns and walks away, his footsteps echoing through the warehouse. Am I asleep and having a ridiculously realistic nightmare?

It’s hard to believe that this happened to me twice. Something tells me this time is going to be far worse, unless Gaston finds a way to save me.

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