Page 30 of Fire

I’ve been looking around for anything that I might use as a weapon, but there’s nothing. Even if there was, I doubt I could do much. There’s a barrel of a gun pressing against my side by one of Benny’s henchmen. We’re in a freaking limo and I’m forced to look at the monster I was once married to. If I ever wanted to have my past thrown into my face, this is definitely it. My grandmother was completely right. She used to tell me constantly that I’m stupid. It’s definitely clear that I am. I’m also nothing but bad luck. I’m bringing the devil himself to Joe’s door. A man who has never been anything but kind to me. I can feel myself wanting to cry, but I push the emotions back. I willnot let Benny see me cry. I swore to myself I’d never allow that again, and I meant it.

“You look like shit. I thought I told you to put makeup on,” Benny growls, looking at me in disgust.

“I did. It’s hard to hide when your asshole ex-husband beats you half to death.”

I should learn when to shut my mouth, but I guess I never will. It will probably get me killed, but I’d rather die than to live with Benny in my life. The only thing I need to make sure of first is that my son is taken care of. I can’t allow Benny to ever get his hands on my son. I have to protect him at all costs.

“You’ll pay for that later,” he warns, his face tight. I ignore him. The driver opens his door, and he steps out. I’m pushed over and forced to get out to stand beside Benny. The guy that has been holding the gun on me still is, but he’s behind me and I’m sure keeping it hidden. I have to be very careful. I can’t let Joe or Sarah get hurt because of me.”

“One wrong moveand your friends won’t be breathing when we leave,” Benny warns unnecessarily as he knocks on the door.

Joe answers the door, his sharp gaze going to my face. I almost flinch under the fury I see simmering in his eyes. My hand comes up and touches my cheek where the worst of my bruises are on instinct. Benny has an arm around me, and his fingers bite hard into my hip. I bite my lip to keep from whimpering in pain.

“Grace? I thought Ford said you’d be out of town for a few days. We had Tracy sub for you at the diner.”

“Hey, Joe. I got back a little earlier than planned, so I thought I’d pick up Asher.”

Joe frowns at me, still studying my face. “Honey, Ford picked him up a couple of days ago. He said you were called out of town on a family emergency. Is everything okay?”

I try to calm my nerves. I don’t miss the way Joe is looking at Benny while talking to me. The vein in Joe’s cheek that always twitches when he’s mad is definitely present, too. I need to hurry and get out of here. I can’t risk Joe getting hurt. I couldn’t live with myself if that happened.I just couldn’t.

“I’m fine, Joe. Better than fine, actually. My husband, Benny, and I have decided to make things work between us. We’re going to move back to Virginia. I didn’t mean to bother you. We’ll just go pick up Asher from Ford. Please don’t worry.”

Joe steps away from the front door and it’s all I can do to keep from screaming for him to turn around and go back into the house. “I don’t think you ought to leave, Grace. Why don’t you go inside and talk with Sarah and let me talk to yourex-husband for a minute?”

From the corner of my eye, I can see Benny start to raise his hand to give the man behind me a signal. I quickly reach out and grab Benny’s hand, stopping him. “Please, Joe. Stop worrying. Asher is mine and Benny’s son. This is my business, not yours. I’m a grown woman and I’m happy. While we’re on the subject, I, of course, won’t be coming back to work. Benny is going to take care of me and Asher.” I keep a death grip on Benny’s hand, but it seems to work because he hasn’t moved. He just smiles at Joe like a fucking lunatic.

“Grace—”

“Goodbye, Joe.” I call as Benny turns us around, leading us back to the vehicle. He bends down, whispering in my ear. “What a great actress you are. Bravo. You’re going to tell me everything about this Ford and why some man you’re spreading your legs for has the authority to pickmyson up and take him anywhere,” he growls.

I get in the limo quickly. I’m shaking from head to toe. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me now, but I do know I have to get this man as far away from Joe and Sarah as I possibly can. Benny settles in across from me and the guy with the gun is once again at my side.

“Benny—”

I barely get his name out before he slaps me across the face. “I always knew you were a whore, Grace. You acted like you didn’t want to spread your legs for Korslova, but I knew you would enjoy it. But don’t worry, I’m going to turn you into the highest demanded slut in town. You’ll be the star pussy in my stable. I’ve got over a hundred women working for me now. You’ll be the best of them by the time I’m done. You always were great at sucking dick. You were made for this job. Now, tell me about this Ford asshole and I’m warning you, you better not leave anything out.”

As we pull away, I look back at Joe’s home. I want to run away, but I know I can’t. I have to protect Asher.

Somehow.

23

FORD

“Everyone’s in place,” Grunt whispers next to me. We got here at the safe house about an hour ago. We waited until morning. I didn’t know what type of security the place had and didn’t want to risk tripping a wire and losing men. I wanted to be able to see everything around us and be as fully aware of our surroundings as we could be.

I probably waited too long, though, because my woman wasn’t here. For that matter, Benny and most of his henchmen were gone, too. There were only three men left guarding the place. We quietly took one and worked him over for information. He didn’t know much, but he let us know Martelli was coming back after he collected his son.

After talking with my men, we decided to keep the other two alive, but lined up through the scope of a rifle. They will be the first two we take out. We don’t want to alert Martelli until the last minute. I need to do this quietly so I can make sure Grace is as safe as possible.

Me and Grunt are inside the small house. I looked through it briefly. There are two bedrooms. It didn’t escape my attention that the smallest of the two bedrooms had ropes tied to the bedand blood on the sheets and the floor. Just seeing it made my blood run cold. I’m going to enjoy killing that motherfucker. We’re currently hiding in the bathroom. Grunt is against a wall that will hide him when the door opens. I’m behind a shower curtain, my gun pointed at the door, silencer in place. I have a com in my ear, and T’s voice comes through it, telling us that the limo is entering the graveled road that leads to the house. I take a deep breath, knowing that the action is about to start. I hope like hell I can protect Grace.

It's not long before we hear the door slam against the wall as someone thrusts it open. “Take the bitch and tie her back up on the bed. I’ll deal with her in a minute. Oro! I want you using that fucking computer you are always on and finding out every damn thing there is to find on this Ford asshole!”

“Boss, I have to have more info than just the name Ford. The only information the whore gave me was that he was living here and was a cop.”

“Didn’t you say she was fucking some detective? What is it with her and cops?”

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