Page 34 of Playing For Keeps
“That’s not how this goes.” His blue eyes roam over my face. “If you want me to help you, start talking.”
“It sounds to me like you already have plenty of information about me.”
“I only know what the two women said while we were in our meeting.”
“Remind me of what that is. The drugs they gave me have my mind fuzzy.”
He tugs on my chains, bringing me closer to him. “Your name is Dori, and your brother is an FBI agent. Any other details about you were left out of the conversation.”
The bathroom door forcefully swings inward. We both freeze. Mort stalks in and gets right next to us.
He glares at Xander. “What’s the problem in here?”
“She won’t take a piss. I was getting ready to ‘encourage’ her a little.” Xander’s thick accent is back.
Mort tips his head and takes the chains from Xander. He turns to me, and one side of his lips curls up in an evil smile.
He pulls the restraints, and I stumble into his chest. “Do you need us to show you who’s boss, pretty little thing?”
I try to step away, but he has his hand in my hair before I can and yanks back. His stale, hot breath skims my cheeks as he dives in and tries to take me in a kiss.
Adrenaline shoots through me. I jerk my knee up and miss contact with his balls. Instead, I hit him in the thigh.
He smacks my face with the back of his hand, the sound cracking in the air.
Fuck, that hurt.
He pulls my hair back harder. “You stupid bitch! They warned me about?—”
“Mort, stop.” Xander pushes Mort away from me. “She can’t be bruised and swollen.”
He growls and glares at me like he wants to torture me slowly and meticulously. “Finish up with her and take her back to her room.”
He storms out the bathroom door, cussing as he leaves. I run my thumb over the corner of my mouth, wiping away a trickle of blood.
Xander spins to me, his eyes wild and dark. “Are you asking to get killed?”
“No, but I wasn’t going to let him kiss me.” I shudder, and my stomach rolls.
“Attacking him is only going to create bigger problems.”
“Then he can kill me. It would be better than having his hands all over me.”
“Fuck if you aren’t a defiant little firecracker.” Xander’s eyes twinkle in satisfaction even though his tone is full of annoyance. “Watch yourself, Red. I can only help you so much.”
“I can’t promise anything. If he gets near me again, I’ll try to gouge his eyes out.”
Xander rolls his eyes and releases a breath of exasperation. “You’re pushing it. I can’t be with you every time he’s around, so stop before you get hurt.”
“I’ve never been one to do as I’m told. At least not when I can get away with it.” My heart bottoms out with my words. “That's why I’m here. I’m in this situation because I don’t listen to people when I should.”
“What does that mean?”
I deflate into myself. “My boyfriend told me not to do anything that could put me in danger. I thought he was being overprotective or missing me, so I dismissed his warning.”
“Why would he tell you that?”
I peer into Xander’s eyes.Can I trust him?Something like kindness circles in his gaze, telling me I can.
