Page 17 of Gilded Touches

three beeps sound off over the ear piece. “You are really making popcorn? For fucks sake, woman!”

“What? Sue me. I was getting comfy for what I hoped would be a long night. Now, back on topic. Diamonds, you say?”

I knew she would see it my way. Money always speaks the loudest, no matter what form it comes in. “Yep. White gold. Ice. The fucking mother load.” I jingle the black velvet bag. Not that she can see or hear the delicate tinkle, but I can and it’s a mix of elation and fear that grips my insides with an iron fist.

“Get to the roof. There’s a helipad to the right of the rooftop lounge. I have a friend who owes me a favor. I need ten minutes.”

I’m already shaking my head. “Oh, no. Nope. I don’t know if I have that long. No. I KNOW I don’t have ten minutes to get out of here.” My heart is jacking into my ribcage so hard I’m seeing stars. My body still hums from the aftermath of their touches, too. It’s hard to think straight.

“You do or you will have to use the elevator. Your call.”

“Okay, but make it five because it won’t be long before I have three very pissed off men on my?—”

Metal crashes against a cement wall one floor down. I am stupid enough to look over the rail and catch the black eyes of those three would-be-lovers turn into the devil’s assassins.

I white-knuckle the railing.

“Shit!”

The heat of their anger slams into me and wow. Shit, again. Yeah, okay. So that is what a murderous gaze looks like. Duly noted.

I haul ass up a flight and then another before I break through the exit door and back into the middle of sex-drenched party.

I look back at the door and send up a thank you that the doors didn’t have alarms.

Cold air grips my nipples and this time, the pinch is not as pleasurable as before.

Trying to keep the sides of my jacket closed while I step over writhing bodies is harder than it sounds. “Excuse me.” I stumble and knock into a man with a burly body and a face made of pure sin. Bratva, my danger radar calls out in my head. “Sorry. Oops. Here you go.” I pass a double-headed alien green dragon dildo I knock out of the mafia man’s hand and keep moving.

Don’t look back. Just keep moving. I can add that brief encounter to my list of shit I never thought I would do in my life.

I go down one hallway and to the other. I tuck behind a wall of leaves and yeah, I don’t listen to my own advice. I dare a look over my shoulder and it is instant regret. Sure enough all threemen I just stole from crash through the same door I just stepped through.

Keeping to the shadows and out of sight is hard when the walls are made of glass. Five paces in front of me is another door. One made of metal with a plaque on the front that I can't read in the low light. I don’t know where it goes, but at least it is something solid between me and them.

The only problem is, there is a keypad. “How are we doing on the exit strategy?” I hug the nearest wall and stumble my way through palm fronds and fat leaves I don’t know the name of.

“I’m not a magician, despite the rumors. Give me a minute.”

That gives me an idea. Between me and the door is an antique chest tucked against a metal support beam. I take the velvet bag out and slip it behind the heavy piece of furniture.

“Ivy, I seriously do not have a minute.”

As if it is meant to be, a man in a loincloth steps out of the door just as I reach his side.

“Hold that please.” No hello, no thank you. I jump through the crack. I don’t breathe again until it snicks closed with me on the other side.

I press my back against the cool metal and just stand there for a second letting my eyes adjust to the red neon light. On either side of a long hallway, are black doors with silver plaques.

I walk the line and read off the numbers engraved on the door. “Room one hundred and four. Room one hundred and five. One hundred and?—”

My heart gets closer to hitting the floor the deeper I walk down the hallway. It’s not the sex rooms that scare me, it’s the sudden realization that I’ve walked into a trap.

“There you are, jungle flower. You have something that belongs to us. We will need that back.”

I turn, caught in the wicked gaze of a beast on the hunt. And he just found his prey.

Seven

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