Page 17 of Savage Bosses

Seconds later the front door slams leaving me feeling like crap. I glance at the heels on my floor and shake my head. I no longer feel like celebrating tonight. However, I’d feel bad if I let Nico’s reservations go to waste. I guess I have to go.

CHAPTER 7

Taken

Tiffany

L

a Cherie was absolutely delicious, and Mira did a great job of cheering me up during dinner. However, when I got home around ten last night, Marcus wasn’t there. He crawled into bed beside me around one this morning. If something didn’t change soon, he and I weren’t going to make it much longer.

My phone rings as I step out of the coffee shop the next morning.

“Hello,” I answer it as I hold it between my shoulder and ear.

“How was La Cherie?” His deep smooth voice brings a smile to my face.

“It was everything the reviews said it would be. Thanks again for that.”

The sound of his chuckle has me pausing in route to my car and clenching my thighs together. Good lord this man.

“No problem. Did Marcus enjoy it as well?”

I once again falter in my steps toward my car. “Uh, he didn’t go. I went with Mira.”

He’s quiet on the other end. I would give anything to know what was going through his mind at the time. It’s not hard to see the writing on the wall. I mean, I did spend my birthday with my best friend when my man was very capable of joining me.

“That is unfortunate,” Nico replies.

I continue to my car, balancing my cup of coffee in one hand while I grab my keys out my purse with the other.

“Isn’t it nighttime in Tokyo?”

I never get to hear his reply. Suddenly, strong arms grab me from behind. I have enough time to let out one scream before a cloth covers my mouth. I drop everything I’m holding in order to claw at the hand pressed to my face. Eventually, I start to feel woozy and then everything goes black.

Rolling to my side, I come awake suddenly. I open my eyes and the room spins forcing me to shut them again.

“Take it slow,” a deep voice says behind me.

I quickly spring up from the bed. Sitting in a chair beside me is a man I’ve never met before. He has short brown hair that’s long up top and short on the sides. His blue eyes are gentle, but sharp. His nose is wide and a bit too large for his face.

“Who are you?”

He smiles and fine lines carve a timeframe through his features aging him. “Some call me Ghost. Others call me their nightmare. I’ve even been called Death a time or two. However, who I am is not as important as why you’re here.”

I swallow, my mouth dry as a desert. “Why am I here?”

Glancing around at my surroundings, I can tell I’m inside a house. It looks dated, from its peeling wallpaper to the antique four-poster bed I’m lying on, to the faded yellowed black and white portraits on the walls. Even the faint smell of mildew in the air belays the age of this house.

“It seems your boyfriend owes my boss some money.”

My attention swings back to the man sitting beside me. “How much?” I wasn’t rich by far, but after working three months with Nico, I’ve made a significant amount. I have close to ten thousand in my personal savings.

“Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

What the actual fuck, Marcus? Who the hell let’s someone run up that type of gambling debt?

I have to blink a few times to grasp what he said.

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