Page 88 of Out of the Shadow

Trevor’s warning runs down my spine like ice, but I don’t listen. I speed up instead. Running toward the front door, I realize I’m going to have to turn around so my hands can open the knob. He’s right behind me, laughing.

Not caring about anything but escape, I get to the front door and twist. My hands land on the doorknob. Trevor yanks me away and flings me to the floor. “Guess King likes them feisty. His taste always ran to the wild side.”

Kicking my legs on the marble floor, I push away from the man who’s towering over me. My efforts are in vain, though, as he grabs me by the arms and pulls me upright.

“Do you want to be sedated again? ’Cause I can arrange that.”

He half-drags me back into the living room. Away from the exit and safety. Throws me onto the sofa hard enough that the air gushes out of me. “Stay there, Angie. I don’t want to hurt you. I just want my money.”

Plan B. Get him talking. Maybe I can make him see reason? “Why do you need the money so badly, Tre-Trevor?” I hate myself for stammering.

Fixing his glazed stare on me, he replies, “Loan sharks don’t like it when a debt isn’t repaid on time.”

Shit. This is bad. He’s high right now. And, apparently, in debt up to his vacant eyeballs.Think, Angie.What would Leo and Francesco do?

Keep him talking.

“Have you tried giving them back a portion of what you owe?”

He nods. “We’re way past that now. King will come through. He always does.”

At the mention of King’s name, my entire body goes rigid. If I confess that I broke off our non-relationship, he’ll know that King will never pay his ransom. And then Trevor will have no recourse but to follow through on his threat and kill me. But just maybe he’ll reach out to my brothers. I need to keep him talking.

“You asked him for a lot of money, you know. King might not have access to that kind of cash.”

“You’d better hope he does.” Trevor stalks over to the couch and picks up my hair. I stiffen at his touch. “I’d hate to have to hurt you.” He leans in and sniffs me. “You smell nice. Maybe I should sample what’s gotten King’s boxers so tented.”

Trevor brings his face even with mine. This is bad. Really bad. My hands are tied behind my back, but at least my legs are free. He leans forward, and I turn my head away so that his lips land on my cheek.

“No! You won’t want to do this!”

His hand cups my breast and squeezes. “King and I share women all the time. Did you know that?”

I shake my head wildly.

He squeezes again, and I suck in my breath. “He’s a good lay. But I’m better.”

Trevor leans forward again, his mouth seeking mine. I refuse to let him do this to me. When his lips cover mine, I buck up, which only puts my body in closer contact with his gaunt frame. His tongue pushes against my lips and an idea forms. I let him enter my mouth, then bite down. Hard.

Trevor pulls away. “Bitch!” He slaps me so hard across the face that I see stars. “You’ll pay for that.” At least I think that’s what he’s saying, given that he’s forcing the words around his hurt tongue.

He stands and I jump to my feet, running again toward the front door. Off-balance because of the restraints on my wrists, I lose my footing for a moment. And then Trevor’s hand yanks my hair, snapping my head backward and stopping my forward progress.

He drags me by my hair through the living room and down the hall, my screams unnoticed. Throwing me into the bedroom I first woke up in, he pulls a needle out of his back pocket and tosses the plastic covering onto the floor.

“You’re not worth the hassle.”

As he approaches me with the needle, I scramble to run away, but he blocks my exit with his tall body. I scream, “Get away,” but he just grabs me by the shoulders and shakes.

“Anything you want me to say to King for you?”

That I love him. That I’m sorry for breaking up with him. That he’s too good for me.Where did those thoughts come from?Instead of responding verbally, I spit in his face.

“Nighty, night.” He shoves the needle into my neck, and the now-familiar bubbling sting revives. “Bitch.”

My last coherent thought is “I want King.”

King

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