Page 4 of Jared's Redemption

“I’ll call Aden and we can figure out a back-up plan. Maybe Steffen will panic and flee. Scared people make sloppy mistakes.” Alec says, nodding to me. “We are going to get him, Jared. Don’t beat yourself up.”

Chapter 3- Luna

The little plastic card in my hand reflects the sun as I stare at the face on the front of the identification. Like his well-maintained beard, his short blond hair is graying in a way that brings illicit thoughts to mind. Jared’s handsome face was emotionless in the image, staring back at me while my fingertips skim over my lips as the thought of our kiss flits through my head. His taste is just a memory, but I couldn’t stop fantasizing about it. I hastily tuck the card back into the wallet, holding it tightly as I jog to keep up with Jared’s long strides.

Stealing his wallet was mostly to find out his name and where he lives, but I enjoy looking at his handsome face every chance I get. After nearly losing my mind from thinking about him nonstop, I caved. I had his address, so I parked down the street and waited patiently for him to leave.

After following him for less than ten minutes, he pulled over and parked on a side street in front of a café. I stayed out of sight while he got his coffee, but the moment he stepped out of the shop, I was just far enough behind him to stay out of sight.

Considering he is the right-hand man of the Barone family, he was too easy to follow. From what I could find out about Jared, he was supposedly one of the best at what he does.

Shit.

My sneakers scuff through the slush that still covers the side streets as realization dawns on me and I look around. We have gone in a loop because he knows he has a tail. I turn on my heel just as a hand skates over the top of my head and swats my beanie off my head.

“Get your ass back here.” Jared snarls. Lurching away from him, I pick up my pace, full on sprinting through the slippery streets while holding up my middle finger.

“Come catch me, big guy.” My voice wavers as I nearly slip and curse myself under my breath. While the idea of him chasing me sends a rush of heat between my thighs, I have too much at stake to be caught. I’ve been digging for days and was no closer to getting information on Steffen.

“Damn it, stop running.” He demands, making my eyes bulge when he latches onto my jacket and jerks me off my feet. I kick and scrabble as he pulls my back against his chest, gripping both of my wrists in one of his massive hands while wrapping the other around my throat. My traitorous body melts from his touch as his hot breath fans over my shoulder.

“Why are you following me?” He hisses in my ear. Jared’s mouth brushes against my sensitive skin and I let a moan slip from my lips, catching him off guard. A satisfying hard length presses against my ass as I shamelessly grind against him.

“You don’t recognize me? I’m crushed.” I taunt him. Jared tenses behind me as he curses under his breath, recognizing my voice. I drop his wallet and he relaxes his grip long enough to look down in confusion.

“You little fucking thief.” He snarls, “You’re going to come with me.” I take advantage of his distraction and kick him between his legs with my right foot.

“Fuck.” He wheezes, his weight pressing into me as he folds us both over. I duck out of his grip and run as fast as I can out into the road, narrowly missing being struck by a car. I glance over my shoulder to see Jared watching me with a red face full of rage and blow him a kiss before taking a sharp turn down the street.

He let me get away, and that thought still annoys me to no end as I stare down at my phone. The screen flashes as I send the incoming call to voicemail, rolling my eyes at my father’s name. I should just be glad I got away, but part of me wanted more of the thrill I felt running from him.

As I walk up to my car, I hesitate with my key in my hand. Jared was a distraction, somebody who impeded my original plan, but I have to finish this job. Something pinches my arm. Swatting at it, I attempt to turn my head to look, but my body feels as if it’s made of concrete. The world spins as I fall over, unable to do anything but sink into the darkness.

My head hurts and I don’t want to open my eyes, but it’s cold and I can’t find my fuzzy blanket. I pry my eyes open, blinking away the dizziness that makes my vision swim when I try to sit up.

“There’s water on the table.” A deep voice rumbles, startling me as I twist my head towards the sound. Jared sits across the room, his arms crossed as he leans back in a wooden chair while watching me. I look around and quickly realize I don’t know where I am. There is a small window at the top of the cement wall to my left and the air has a musky chill on it.

“Locked me in your basement? How unoriginal, Jare-bear.” I tsk, keeping my voice calm while my heart pounds in my chest. I try to look around the room for the exit casually, but Jared is sitting in front of the only door, which appears to be a heavy metal one.

“You’re not getting out of here until you tell me who you are.” He catches me looking for an escape and is staring at me with so much intensity that it makes me press my thighs together. I swing my legs over the bed, but a chain links my ankle to the frame and I roll my eyes at him.

“Doesn’t this seem like overkill?” I ask, pointing to my foot. He just shrugs and continues staring at me.

“Taking my gun and wallet wasn’t overkill?”

I open and close my mouth as the argument dies on my tongue. He has a point, but I’m not going to admit that.

“I searched your pockets, and you didn’t have any identification on you. But we can crack into your phone. So, you have until we finish doing that to spit out who you belong to, stray.” He spits the words and I bite my cheek to keep from telling him off.

“Frisking a woman while she is unconscious is vulgar. But lucky for you, I am into some kinky shit.” I say, giving him a serious look. Jared shakes his head and gets up, walking towards the door.

“Wait, you can’t just leave me here.” I huff. He doesn’t listen and opens the door, slamming it shut behind him. A lock clicks into place and seals me in with nothing but my thoughts and the buzz of fluorescent lights above my head.

For what seems like hours, but can only be a few minutes, I alternate between sitting and pacing as far as my chain allows me while listening for any sound. Soon they would realize I bugged my phone and the moment they tried to crack into it the entire thing would wipe itself.

A slamming door followed by thundering footsteps sounds in the hall outside my door. I sit on the bed, grinning at Jared when he storms in.

“I’m tired of your games.” He says, walking right up to stand between my legs, forcing me backwards when he leans down into my face. Jared’s hands press into the mattress on each side of my hips while my breath catches in my throat. I lick my dry lips, and his eyes follow the motion before snapping back to my face.

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