Page 50 of Recaptured by the Crime Lord

“Good.” He smacked her ass. “Now that you forced me to come to this, first we circulate, then we’re going home to spend all weekend in bed.”

Lyla ignored the guards’ lecherous grins and Blade’s smirk when they walked out. She went to the mirror to make sure she looked presentable and that no one could see inside. Lyla saw herself, lazy-eyed, lipstick smeared and hair mussed, but otherwise perfectly presentable for a nightclub. Her eyes glittered through the slits in the mask.

Gavin collected her and they circulated to the VIP tables where Gavin caught up with acquaintances, asked about their accommodations and got feedback on the club. Some of the celebrities asked outright about Manny and his murder. Gavin told the truth—that whoever did it hadn’t been apprehended and that they were still on the loose. Gavin introduced Lyla as his wife. People looked between them curiously or with a knowing smirk as if they knew that they just fucked. Gavin’s hands were constantly moving over her ass, bare back or belly. Kody Singer was the only one stupid enough to try to draw her away from Gavin, probably to ask about Carmen. Gavin had him in a headlock before Kody could say two words to her.

“You don’t touch or talk to my wife,” Gavin ordered.

There were flashes from the paparazzi as they honed in on the commotion. When Gavin showed no signs of releasing Kody, Lyla punched him in the shoulder.

“I know him, Gavin!” Lyla shouted.

Gavin turned to her, wrenching poor Kody’s neck. “How the fuck do you know him?”

She heard Kody choking and punched Gavin again. “I know him because of Carmen. Let him go!”

Gavin released Kody as Janice appeared. Janice looked from the gagging movie star to the paparazzi and then Gavin who was as composed as ever.

“What happened?” Janice demanded while she tried to shoo away the paparazzi.

“Misunderstanding,” Gavin said as he hauled Kody to his feet and clapped him on the back. “You’re okay, right?”

Kody looked terrified until he saw the paparazzi. He was an A list movie actor for a reason. His face smoothed into a world-class smile and the paparazzi lowered their cameras, clearly disappointed. As soon as Janice shooed the paparazzi away, Kody jerked away from Gavin as though he were a serial killer. Lyla tried to make amends, but Kody backed away as if she had a contagious disease.

“He’s my husband,” Lyla told Kody in an apologetic tone.

“We’re leaving,” Gavin decreed and dragged her out of the club.

“God, you’re such a psycho,” Lyla grumbled while Blade followed, chuckling. “You can’t kill someone for talking to me.”

“Did that assholenotsee my hands on you? My ring on your finger?” Gavin growled.

“He wanted to talk to me to get info on Carmen.”

Gavin boosted her into the back of the SUV and got in beside her.

“First Marcus and now that asshole. What the fuck? Carmen just lost her husband. Maybe it’s the way she’s dressed,” Gavin said sourly.

“What about Marcus? He’s interested in her?”

“I don’t know what he is. I told him to lay off and he told me to butt out of it.”

“He told you that?” Go, Marcus, she thought.

Gavin ran a hand through his hair. “The freaking world is tilting sideways. Shit.”

CHAPTER TEN

Lyla

“You’re so beautiful.”

A man in a black suit and white mask hovered over her. He brushed his gloved thumb, slick with some warm liquid over her lips. The iron tang of blood touched her tongue. Lyla tried to spit it out, but the man clamped a hand over her mouth. Lyla gagged as Manny’s blood slid down her throat. Fathomless black eyes stared at her through the slits in the mask.

“It’s a shame I have to do this to you. You’re at the wrong place at the wrong time, baby.”

She saw the glint of metal out of the corner of her eye and knew what was coming. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t defend herself. Pain ripped through her abdomen as the knife sliced through skin and muscle. She felt a gush of blood and then her attacker slashed down again and again and again. There was no reprieve.

***

---