Page 84 of Montana Heat

When we walked inside, she squealed and ran to him, her arms wide open. “Alan!”

Even though he stood hugging Jada to his side, his eyes were locked on me and promising retribution.

I was definitely not leaving this place alive if he had anything to say about it.

I wasn’t going to wait around to see if my theory was true.

I turned to run, willing to take my chances in my slippers and with my hands tied, but I stopped when I spotted two men standing by the door, blocking it.

Both of them looked me over from head to toe, demented smiles finding their faces but not reaching their cold, dead eyes. I had no doubt Alan had brought these two particular men here for a reason. They both fairly oozed a hunger for violence.

Jada was too wrapped up in kissing all over Alan to have even noticed them yet.

Or to have even noticed that Alan’s attention was more on me than her.

Ignoring the pain, I continued to work on the zip tie that bound my hands, trying my best not to draw any attention to my motions. My raw skin was bloody now, but I didn’t care. If I hadany hope of making it out of here alive, I was going to need my hands. And I was quite certain bloody wrists were about to become the least of my worries.

“See, baby?” Jada finally pulled back from kissing Alan. “I brought her just like I said I would.”

She turned, her bright smile fading when she saw the two men by the door. “What’s going on, Alan? Who are these guys?”

“I just wanted to make sure we were safe, so I brought a few guys with me.”

A few. I could be wrong, but that might mean there were more of his goons outside.

Jada laughed nervously. “I don’t think that was necessary. I mean, what is she going to do? Plus, I’m not comfortable with them just staring at us. Can’t you send them home?”

Alan looked down at Jada and gave her an indulgent smile. “How about if I send them outside?”

She obviously didn’t like that as much, but she nodded. “Okay.”

Alan gestured toward the door with his head, and the two men left without a word. He crossed his arms over his chest, giving me a once-over before locking his eyes on mine.

“Now you can say whatever you need to get off your chest.” Jada followed, patting him on the back in support. “You can tell her goodbye. Good riddance. Whatever has been bugging you?—”

He shook off her hand and walked forward until he got right up in my face. “We meet again, Mackenzie.”

God, in light of all the other shitty things he’d done, I’d totally forgotten his penchant for calling me by my full name, even though nobody else—not even my own parents—ever had.

So pretentious. So Alan.

What a dick.

I remained perfectly still, not that there was much I could do to ward off a blow if it was coming. But I wouldn’t givehim the satisfaction of knowing how scared I was, despite the anger and hatred pulsing from him like a living, breathing thing.

“Do you know what I lost because of you?”

I refused to reply. I knew he didn’t really want me to. He wanted to remind me that he was the one with the power. That he was the one calling the shots.

“I’ve dreamed of this day.” Each word was more forceful than the last.

“Of course you have!” Jada rushed up to us. She was still trying to hold on to her chipper attitude, but I could see the hesitation, the worry in her eyes she tried to hide. “We’ve been counting down to your release day for so long. And now that it’s here, we can start the rest of our lives together.”

Alan didn’t acknowledge her words or reply. But he did pull out a knife and wave it in front of my face before thrusting it under my chin. I winced as the tip drew blood.

“I’ve waited a long time to give you what you deserve for putting me behind bars, you bitch.”

“Alan?” Jada’s eyes went wide at the sight of the knife in my face, and her voice shook with fear. “No. Alan, no! What are you doing?”

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