Page 3 of Grimm

She tried to track down Megan and Steven, but she hadn’t been able to find them in time.

“That’s a problem,” Peter said. “But I don’t see how it’s ours.”

“I want to ask her something. Take off that gag,” the unknown man said, his voice deeper than the others.

Marcus sighed then untied the gag, pulled the material from between her lips. Daniella spat the balled-up fabric he’d shoved in her mouth before tying the gag and turned to her left.

“Mr. Titon, I swear that’s not what happened,” she shot out in rapid fire. “I don’t owe him anything. I don’t even know what he left at the apartment. It was Megan. My roommate. She’s gone, and I tried to find her. I did.” She sucked in a quick breath. “But I don’t know where she or Steven are!”

“You’re talking to the wrong guy.” The stranger she pleaded with chuckled. Heavy, warm hands gripped her shoulders and turned her a little more. “That’s Ash. But I’m asking the question.” He spun her halfway again until she was back to facing him; the woodsy scent of his aftershave filled the space between them.

“Please, just let me go. I want nothing to do with any of you, and I haven’t seen you, so I can’t describe you.” Everyone knew who Ashland Titon was, so she wouldn’t need to describe him. But straws were being grasped.

A little tug and the blindfold was yanked off. Light hit her, and she closed her eyes, slowly easing them open to adjust to the normal light of the room. Blinking, she focused her gaze before her.

“There. Now you’ve seen me. My name’s William Grimm,” the dark-haired, chiseled god before her said.

“I won’t tell anyone. I promise,” she pleaded.

“Did you take Marcus’s stuff?” he asked firmly. His glare unsettled her. So unyielding and dark.

“No. I swear.”

“Then where is it? If it was being stored at your place, it should still be there.” He shrugged as though it were just that simple.

“I have no idea!” she yelled. Why wouldn’t anyone listen? “I never touched whatever it was. I never even saw it. I let Marcus’s men into the apartment. I let them look.” She swallowed. “They took a knife to my bed!” She’d had enough of everything, and this man seemed to be playing the judge and executioner. “I tried to find Megan and Steve, but I’m a first-grade teacher! I don’t exactly have the resources.” She stomped her right foot.

His eyebrows shot up, wrinkling his forehead just below his thick black hairline.

“First grade teacher?” He posed the question to Marcus, who stood behind her. “How did you expect her to get your shit back? If your guy ran off with the stash and his girlfriend, this girl’s not going to find them.” William licked his thick lips. “Now you got this girl involved in shit she doesn’t know anything about.”

“She promised she’d either find my shit or she’d pay me back the money. Well, she didn’t find my shit,” Marcus snapped.

William turned his glare back on her. “Is that true?”

“He was going to kill Megan if he found her. I was just trying to find a way to protect her. I thought I’d find her in time,” Daniella explained, lowering her eyes.

“While this is fun and all, the fact remains I’m not buying her,” Ash interjected.

“Your father would hate what you’re doing here,” Marcus sneered.

“Well, then I guess it’s a good thing he’s dead.” Ashland’s hard tone didn’t suggest Marcus keep up with the subject.

At least he knew when to take some hints.

“Fine. I’ll keep her until I find a buyer.” Marcus grabbed her arm. “She can work in the clubs to earn her keep while I shop her out.”

“What? No!” Daniella cried out, trying to dig her heels into the floor when he started tugging again.

“Marcus.” William’s voice carried over hers. “Wait.”

“What?”

“I’ll buy her.”

Daniella stumbled backward when Marcus let go of her arm, the momentum dragging her body while her feet scrambled for purchase. In the end, she crashed straight into William’s chest.

“Woah, hold on, I haven’t paid the man yet.” He righted her onto her feet, then pulled out a wad of rolled-up bills from his pocket. “Fifty grand.” He tossed the bundle to Marcus.

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