Page 56 of Filthy Hot

“Hiding from Talon,” I explain.

All their eyes widen at my use of my kidnapper’s name. It’s clear that they know him, and I have to assume they know him really well. Probably better than I ever could or would ever want to know him.

“Talon is inside?” one of them asks.

Her voice is all breathy, and I swear she starts to breathe heavier, almost like she’s excited about the fact that he’s so close. Maybe she’s into him. Maybe she likes whatever it is he’s got going on with them.

It’s creepy as fuck to me. But then again, whatever floats anyone else’s boat is their business. But that doesn’t mean I’m not curious, because I truly am just that.

“Do you like him?” I ask.

I’ve focused my attention on the girl who seems to be the ringleader. I don’t want anyone from that house, from Talon’s men, to find me out here, but I also don’t think I want another woman thinking that I like their man. Because I don’t. I want to run as far and fast away from Talon as humanly possible.

“I’ve always loved him,” she murmurs as she dips her chin. “But he doesn’t love me back.”

It’s clear that she doesn’t realize how fucked up this man is. Maybe to her, it’s normal. Maybe it’s that thing where she is in love with her captor. I wish I could ask her some really personal questions.

I want to know her tea. I want to hear it all.

But then again, do I really? Because this might be a more fucked-up situation than Xavier and I ever had.

“I’m sorry,” I exhale. “I know what bad relationships are like. I’m still running from mine.”

Thinking about Xavier, I want to cry, then scream, then cry some more. I cannot believe that I wasted so many years on him. That I allowed him to waste them as well. Because that’s what I did. I let it all happen. Over and over. I should have run on my eighteenth birthday and never,not ever, looked back.

There is a moment of silence before the van door flies open. I watch, my eyes wide as men jump inside, and as my eyes scan their clothes, I let out a sigh of relief that they are Rider’s friends, and we’re gone.

The van speeds away. Without hesitation, it flies down the road. Not a care in the world about traffic laws, the men behind the wheel are quiet as the van accelerates and rockets forward.

I don’t breathe until we hit the interstate.

I don’t even know where we are, where I was held, and I could go my whole life without finding out. I don’t want to know. I want to never see where I was locked away scared out of my brain for my life, not ever again.

Granted, it was for less than two full days, and maybe I’m overreacting a bit, but that was more than enough time to realize it was a no for me.

Being held captive is definitely not for me in any way whatsoever, not even when I’m the only person in the room. Ihated every second of being in that damn room. I can breathe now, just barely.

But beyond the fact that I was kidnapped, held captive, and it was horrible, it was also scary.

Really freaking terrifying.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

GNAW

This motherfuckerreally thinks he’s going to get my woman, get his foot into Sal’s bar, and take money from the club, all at the same time. He thinks he’s going to do all of this and continue breathing.

That’s going to be a hard fucking no. Will not be happening. Tilting my head to the side, I watch him while I smoke my cigarette. He doesn’t say anything, his attention on me, but it’s clear that he’s trying to figure out his next play.

Whatever that is—he will not win.

“You’re not getting Sal’s. We’re going to fight, so you may as well save your men’s lives, your women, too, and just go back to Louisiana. And stay there,” I say, making sure that my tone is not only calm, but almost too calm—bored sounding, even.

“And for whatever reason do you believe that I will not succeed?” Talon asks.

“We’ve already killed a houseful of your men and taken your skin. I think it’s safe to say that we’re ahead of you. So, either we squash all this right now, or we declare war.”

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