Page 75 of Owning Emma

Chapter 36

EMMA

Christmas time was alwaysa crazy never-ending rush at the bakery. No one ever wanted to make their pies and rolls these days and if it brought in business and helped us pay off our debt, who was I to complain? I didn’t worry about the debt my father owed Roman, although I was still working to pay that off. Except now, my work habits were slightly more relaxed. I knew that he would never harm my father. Despite the hard exterior, he’s actually almost as big of a softy as Shaw.

But Krank? The stories I’d heard, the threats I’d witnessed. Well, I was fearful and if we could just pay him off, if we could just get out from under his thumb, I knew that we would be okay. If . . . that was the real issue. The interest kept racking up and each day, no matter how much we paid, we kept getting pushed further and further into debt.

“It’s insanely busy out there,” Shaw said as he walked through the backroom where I was decorating the last of the holiday-themed cupcakes. His hair was a rumbled mess and he looked as exhausted as I felt.

“It’s holiday season,” I confirmed.

He smirked. “You don’t say? I wish I were as smart as you. I would have never figured that out on my own.”

“Someone has to be smart in this relationship.” I glanced over at my father, making sure he wasn’t listening in.

A slow grin spread over his face. “Smart and daring. I like it.”

His eyes wandered over the shelf and counter as he searched for the name for the order pickup. “Hey, so Roman is coming to switch out. I hope that’s okay.”

Today of all days? I let my shoulders visually slump and my head fall back, causing Shaw to laugh, the rich sound traveling down my body and making my stomach clench. I loved when the boys volunteered to help out during rushes and such, but Roman wasn’t nearly as capable and flawless at it as Shaw. He was more like a chicken with his head cut off, running and stumbling in all directions.

“It will be fine,” he reassured me, that damn smirk solidly in place.

An hour later I watched Shaw’s broad shoulders and perfect ass as he disappeared through the backdoor. Then after a few moments, the door opened again, Roman’s broody face coming into view. He asked if I needed help, and even though I knew he absolutely did not want to actually help, I appreciated he was here for me anyway. I directed him to the order pickup line, the one that Shaw had abandoned a few minutes before. Then, because I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to, I stole a kiss.

The tiniest of kisses.

But the slight brush of his lips against mine fueled me with enough energy to keep going, even when I was so bone-achingly exhausted that I was ready to call it a day hours ago. By the time all the rolls were sold, the last of the cupcakes were out, and all the pie orders were picked up, I was ready for a break. The bakery still had another thirty minutes before closing, so I began the clean-up process.

After the last of the dishes were ran through industrial dishwashing system, and the counters were wiped down, I went to the pantry in search of a broom. I opened the door, and froze. My eyes coming face to face with Krank, a gun casually in his hand.

I opened my mouth, ready to scream, when grimy fingers covered my mouth. The stench of unwashed hands filled my nostrils causing me to gag. The man whose fingers were wrapped around my mouth leaned in, his stale breath brushing against my ear. “If you scream now, that will only ruin the fun later.” That voice, so familiar that my body instantly shuttered. Jack. I struggled against his hold and he only wrapped an arm around me, pulling me tighter. “That’s right, sweetheart. The whole damn time I was watching your back, I was doing it for my damn gain.”

Krank twirled the gun a few times. “Guess you didn’t see that coming, did you?”

He pointed the gun to direct Jack to the corner. “Tie her to the chair, make sure you gag her. And you, I wouldn’t fight it. I would hate to mar that pretty skin of yours. I tend to get paid a lot less at the club when my girls are bruised. Although,” he ran a finger down my cheek, “I might just keep you for myself.”

Roman and Shaw would die before that happened, of this I was positive. I fought against the hold anyway, needing to alert Roman, but the noise from the front of the bakery was too loud for him or my father to hear. The dishrag went into my mouth first, and I had to breathe through my nose to get past the discomfort. When he was positive their gag was going nowhere, Jack yanked my hands behind my back, and tied them together with a nylon rope he pulled from his pocket.

Then we waited. We waited what felt like a lifetime as Krank proceeded to tell me all he was going to do to me, to Roman, to Shaw, while Jack sat back, without even blinking at the threats. They trusted Jack with their life, and he was lying about his commitment the entire time.

As if Jack could read my thoughts he added, “You know. When they are dead and you’re locked somewhere in one of Krank’s towers, everyone will believe I tried to save them, but was just too late. They are going to need a leader. You know none of those dumb fucks can handle leading themselves, and who are they going to look to? Me.”

They would never look to him. Never. If anything, Eric would be the next one in line. He was trustworthy, unlike Jack, and he wasn’t after power. I could do nothing but shake my head in dispute of Jack’s claim. The rejection caused him to sneer.

Jack’s head tilted to the side. “You still think he’s going to save you, don’t you?”

He let out a boisterous laugh, and Krank punched him in the stomach, causing him to double over and gasp in pain. “Quiet. How the fuck are we supposed to surprise the fucker if you can’t keep your fucking mouth shut?”

Jack’s hand fell to a shelf behind me as he struggled to keep himself upright. His voice lowered into a whisper as he tried to speak. “I’m going to enjoy watching the fire leave your eyes as his life is snuffed out, princess.”

The minutes dragged on as I waited, seeming like hours as my muscles ached from the uncomfortable position, and my nerves made my stomach quiver. I was afraid. Not because I didn’t think Roman could handle the two of them, but being caught off guard put him at a disadvantage. He was strong, quick, swift with his thoughts, but that didn’t mean he would always come out on top.

I heard my name being called, and I fought against the restraints, trying to free myself before they opened the door. I knew it was useless. The rope was too tight, the nylon already rubbing my wrists raw from the pull. But I couldn’t allow him to open the door. Not with Krank waiting on the other side, his gun already poised in the air.

I wanted to scream, but the sound was muffled by the gag between my lips. Krank’s eyes fell on me, his look hard as he glared and I stopped moving, the need for self-preservation outweighing the desire to struggle. I was horrible. I knew it. But I also knew Roman would want me to keep myself safe. This world wasn’t what I was used to. I wasn’t guns and knives. I was cupcakes and cookies. I had to trust that if there were a way to work this out, Roman would find it.

My name was called, closer than before, and I felt my pulse pick up. No. I wasn’t ready for him to open that door. As if my thoughts aligned with his, the handle jiggled, and there was a pause. I blew out a breath through my nose, relieved that he had second thoughts.

The door suddenly swung open, and I stared in horror as Krank’s arm went rigid, his gun pointed directly at Roman’s head as Jack stood behind him, smiling.

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