Page 7 of Innocent Intentions

Chapter 4

Margot

I rush out of the café, determined to catch him. At first, I don’t see him, but then... there! About fifty feet away, turning down an alley.

I quicken my pace and follow him.

This alley looks sketchy as hell. What is a man like him doing sneaking around back here?

He takes another turn behind the building. I follow.

I’m about to shout his name. Should I call him Matthias or Mr. Montclair? But then I hear him talking.

He’s still on the phone. Maybe I should wait for him to finish. It must be important if he canceled his coffee order. It takes a lot for me to give up coffee… like doing a good deed…for a sexy man.

“Spare me the details of the torture. I trust your methods. Did he tell you what he was selling? New blow?” That smooth, sexy voice graces me again.

I’m getting goose bumps just hearing it. My body’s visceral reaction to this man is ridiculous. I haven’t even seen his face.For all I know, he could have a face only a mother could love.Doubtful. There’s no way this voice and ass belong to a man who isn’t attractive. I can hear his confidence in his voice. Only a sexy man sounds like that. I need to see the face that matches that voice.

Then his words register.

I freeze midstride.

Excuse me, what did he just say?

I don’t even have time to process it before he speaks again.

“What the fuck do you mean, ‘he doesn’t know’? He’s obviously lying. Threaten to cut his tongue out if he doesn’t start using it to tell the truth.”

My breath catches, and I start rethinking my decision to follow a stranger into a dark alleyway where no one from the street can hear or see us. The theme song for Dumb Ways to Die starts playing in my head.Not the time for this, Margot.

“Are you sure it’s not drugs? I don’t want that shit killing people in our city.”

Oh my God. This is bad. This is really bad.

Should I report this? What even is the protocol when you accidentally eavesdrop on crime? Not just any crime,torture.

I try to weigh my options. Do I stay and listen so I can file a report? Do I sneak away before I become the next cautionary tale?

I really like my tongue. I would very much like to keep it. I need it to talk. To narrate my audiobooks. To sing. Even though my voice is horrid, my shower concerts bring me great happiness. Losing my tongue would be a tragedy.

“Fuck. Are you going to kill him, or let him crawl back to Viktor with a message?”

My stomach plummets.

Is this premediated murder? Oh my God, I need to call the cops. They can save this guy, whoever he is, from this Roman guy’s torture… and intent to murder. Is that what it’s called? I don’t know the legal jargon!

“Fine. If any more come into our territory, we need to know if it’s shoot-on-sight or bring them in for questioning. Keep me updated.”

I back up. Slowly. Quietly. I don’t turn my back on this man. I want to be ready if he attacks me. Not that there’s much I could do against this god of a man. His suit can’t hide his muscular build–

CRASH!

Time slows.

It takes me a second too long to realizeIwas the one who made the noise.

Oh my God. I backed into a dumpster. Oh my actual God. Of all the fucking times to be clumsy.

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