Page 27 of Gray

The cashier scanned her items, and after Lena swiped her card, she was heading into the busy parking lot. Typically, she avoided the store on weekend afternoons. It was too crowded, crazy, and full of impatient drivers. There was already a long line at the main entrance, with traffic backed up at the stoplight.

She hurried through the parking lot, bracing against the dry, cold winter air. Upstate New York might be beautiful, but it was also bitterly cold this time of year. Sighing, she opened her trunk. It would’ve been more fun having Gray with her. Plus, he would’ve let her get inside the car to warm up while he loaded everything. He needed to get his errands done, too, so she could hardly fault him for being a responsible adult. Lena should probably think about making her own car appointment soon. She was overdue for an oil change herself.

Closing the trunk, she crossed the lot, her empty cart rattling loudly as she took it to the cart return. Her phone buzzed, and she saw a text from Jett.

Jett:Everything all set?

She quickly thumbed a response.

Lena: I just picked up the appetizers and cake. I’m on my way over right now.

Jett:Fantastic. And thanks for booking that maternity spa package for Anna. She was in heaven.

Shaking her head, she turned away from the cart return, walking back to her vehicle. Anna loved everything from Jett, and the fact that he loved bestowing presents on her was a thrill in and of itself. Lena didn’t mind shopping for Anna, although it was more than a little amusing now that she knew the woman she was picking out things for. His weekend fling with Anna had been one thing, but now she was Lena’s friend and Jett’s wife.

Clicking her key fob to unlock her doors, Lena slowed as she saw something hanging from the side mirror on the driver’s side. She didn’t think anything had been there a moment ago, although she’d also been busy loading the food into the trunk.

“It’s a breezy day, isn’t it?” the man climbing into the truck next to her said with a leering look. He shut the door and started the engine, driving off before she could respond.

What in the—

Lena stilled, her gaze landing on something on the ground beside her door. Had the man dropped it? It almost looked like—

Zip ties.

They were linked around her side mirror as well, strung together like some creepy zip tie chain.

Fear churned through her as she took a step back. She should call someone. Jett. Gray. The police. Turning away, she could see the truck that had been parked beside her exiting the lot in the back. It had avoided the main entrance where all the traffic was.

What did that guy mean by saying it was a breezy day?

Alarm washed over her as she remembered the zip ties in her driveway. She’d been talking with her neighbors about the windy day and how they must’ve just blown over to her yard.

But—

“Hello Lena.”

She froze, instantly trembling in place at the cold voice behind her. No. This couldn’t be happening. No. No. No.

Quiet footsteps approached from behind, and Lena heard her own heart thundering in her ears. She was paralyzed in place, wanting to scream, to fight, to run, but unable to do a damn thing.

“Don’t move, pretty girl,” he said, a hint of laughter in his voice. He could no doubt see that she was literally shaking. “My men are already here. Waiting. Wanting a turn with what’s mine.” Her eyes darted around the lot, and she noticed several men were already closing in on her.

Ivan stopped right behind her, and she could smell his heavy cologne, feel the heat from his beefy body, and practically taste the stench of alcohol on his breath. “But I’m not sharing. It’s time to finish what we started, beautiful,” he said, his meaty hands pulling her close. Covering her mouth as she whimpered. “Except this time,” he leered, grinding his erection against her ass as he held her in an iron-like grip, “you’ll never get away from me. Never.”

Chapter 15

Gray grabbed his keys from the clerk, muttering under his breath. He glanced at the clock on the wall, knowing he’d arrive late to the party. He didn’t know what the hell the holdup had been. At one point, he’d thought about bumming a ride to Ford and Clara’s, except then he’d be without his vehicle until Monday morning. The shop was closing soon and wasn’t open on Sundays.

He swiped the screen on his phone as he walked to the parking lot, calling Lena. It rang and rang, but he knew she was busy picking up the cake and platter. As soon as her voicemail kicked in, he left a brief message. “Hey. I’m on my way to the party right now, baby girl. I’ll see you soon. Call me back if you need help with the food. Bye.”

He climbed into his SUV, smiling as he saw Lena’s sweater in the backseat. He’d peeled it off her the other night and tossed it behind him, leaving her in her camisole as they made out in the parking lot. Silly as it sounded, the moment had been hot. Sometimes he felt like a damn teenager around her, his cock always at half-mast, his heart pounding madly. It wasn’t just their chemistry though. Lena made him smile, made him feel more alive than he had in years. They’d gone for a short walk around her neighborhood the other evening, and holding her hand, tugging her close in the cool winter air? It had felt fucking right.

Damn. Gray was a goner. He could see a million more evenings like that—dinners and walks with Lena, laughter, heated nights in each other’s arms. She even kept the ceiling fan on in her bedroom, temperature turned low, knowing Gray slept betterwith the feel of cool air washing over him. He had no trouble making sure she was warm enough, enjoying the feel of her curves pressed against him, their bodies skin to skin.

When he pulled onto Ford and Clara’s street ten minutes later, he frowned. While multiple vehicles were in their driveway and along the road, Lena’s wasn’t among them. Neatly parallel parking, he climbed out of his vehicle and slammed the car door shut. Jett and Anna were across from him, apparently also running late as they got out of their own vehicle. “You hear from Lena?” he called out, a frown on his face.

Jett nodded, one arm wrapping around his pregnant wife. “She’s on her way.”

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