Page 152 of The Protégé

He reeked of alcohol. What was he doing here? My hands trembled as I turned down a street full of industrial warehouses and wooded areas.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“You’re going to pay for messing everything up!” He snarled. “Go into that lot!”

He seemed too erratic for any logic, but maybe my chatter would delay his plan to hurt me. Terror tightened my tummy, but I tried my best to stay calm.

“I’m not sure what you mean. I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“You’re going to be my ticket to two billion dollars and a new identity.”

I snorted, trying to sound calm. “No one will pay that price for me.”

“Your fucking boyfriend will.”

The video of Orion and Chantel flashed across my mind. “Sorry to inform you, but we’re no longer together.”

He looked at me.“You think I’m going to believe your lies?”

I drove into the parking lot empty of cars except for one black sedan and a silver truck.

“Get out. If you scream, I’ll shoot you in the leg.”

Even if I were to scream, would anyone hear me? The street was remote, and the buildings appeared more like storage units.

How had he gotten into my car?

“Was that couple with the flat tire part of your group?”

He laughed. “They’ve been watching you.”

“If you want money, I can give it to you.”

“You got billions for me?” He barked. “Besides, I want Orion to suffer. Then I’m going to kill him.”

The evil in his eyes confirmed it wasn’t a threat, but a firm statement.

My heart stopped as I tried to figure out a way to warn Orion. Even if he had hurt me, I didn’t want him killed. And I’d learned a lot about myself during my time with him.

“Why do you hate him?”

“He took what belonged to me and my family. Now shut up!”

Jasper nudged me to the black sedan. Fear escalated as he opened the trunk, took out duct tape, and used it to tie my hands and legs together. Then he pushed me into the trunk. My phone slid out from my pocket, and he took it.

“You’re wasting your time, Jasper. Orion won’t pay that much money for me!”

“He will.” He ripped off a piece of tape. “If you don’t shut up, you’ll die just like Kate!”

He killed Orion’s ex-fiancée?

Jasper needed me alive to get the money.

“Help me!” I shouted.

Jasper slapped a piece of tape over my mouth and slammed the trunk closed.

The piece of tape hung loosely on my mouth. Jasper was drunk, and I could die from a car accident or from him shooting me. I shifted my arms and nudged off the duct tape from my mouth. Jasper was talking to someone on the phone.

---