Page 17 of Tangled Lies
That was all I said as I took a deep breath, shivering when a feathery touch traced the top of the dress that was no doubt riding up and showing far more of my body than I’d planned to show yet.
I didn’t have a clue what was really happening. My pulse was thundering away and I was breathless. The guy that had carried me down shifted even closer, and the guy behind me released my neck just enough that I met the eyes of the devil I was starting to crave.
“Little bird, it’s not which one is, but rather which devil do you want?”
Which one did I want?
Was it really a choice?
“Which one of you isn’t going to send me back to my uncle?”
The SUV was silent. Of course it was. I crossed my arms over my chest blocking anyone else’s touch and I wasn’t sure who the punishment was for.
“You guys talk a whole lot until it’s something I actually want to know the answer to.”
They were still quiet.
“Do you guys all share a brain or something and only one of you can think at a time?”
Finally someone laughed.
“Pretty girl, we just don’t have anything you need to hear right now. Besides,” he said and shifted in his seat. “This wasn’t exactly the plan. The night is full of options. Will you return to your uncle? Who knows. Will you get to call my name at some point tonight? Again, who knows.”
I rolled my eyes and doubted he could see. Or at least I hoped he couldn’t see, because something about the way they were acting told me that I should be more afraid than I was.
“So, do you kidnap wait staff often, boys?”
The big and obviously tattooed one spoke.
“Angel, you offered up your pussy. You were also dumb enough to not leave when the other staff left. In fact,” he paused and turned to glare. “I remember quite clearly your lack of give a shit when you sat at our table.”
Lack of give a shit?
“I lack a lot of give a shit thank you very much. You would to if the only thing you could look forward to was dreaming of how to hang your uncle with your crochet. The city never changes. The lights never dim. The abuse? Well, it’s just more creative these days.”
The car was quiet again.
“Yeah. Buzz kill, I know. Don’t you wish you would have taken me up on my v-card at the hotel?”
No one answered. It was just me, myself, and I apparently.
“Where are we going? Should I be concerned that you’re planning to murder me? I should warn you that no one will come looking. Uncle wants me to marry for political gain, but I doubt that’s all that important.”
The guy, the one calling me pretty girl scooted closer.
“We don’t kill the innocent, pretty girl. Just the ones who deserve it.”
That should have sounded more like a threat or at least a clear sign of crazy. Instead I just felt warm inside. The ache that seemed to be the one constant in my life? It seemed to be lessened, just enough that I could breathe for one single moment.
“Who are you?”
No one answered, but I suppose I was getting used to that.
“Fine. I’m not dying tonight. That’s good news. Want to drop me off at Reina’s? Maybe I can tell her all about my amazing fiancée and the masked slut. That’s a bedtime story if I ever heard one.”
An arm snaked around me unexpectedly.
“Nah. It’s a slumber party at our place, princess. At least until we figure out what we want to do with you.”
