Page 101 of Taken By the Convicts
Someone blindsided Jayce with a very solid punch, one that left blood oozing from his nose and mouth as his head struck the ground. Two men hauled him to his feet, quickly binding his hands behind him.
Hawke, the man who was as big as Crusher and as mean as, well, Hawke, stood in front of Jayce with a sneer that told Jayce he wasn’t getting out of this one alive.
“Matthews wanted me to say ‘hi’ for him,” Hawke said. “Remember him? The man you screwed on a deal four months back.”
“That’s a strong take on what happened. I delivered the extra serilium he needed, and he screwed me over.”
“He says you took the blaster and only delivered half of the serilium.”
“I was one ounce short out of ten pounds. The scales hadn’t been calibrated.”
“Kind of sucks for you. Great for me, though. You have something that belongs to me, and I can save you from Matthews. Or I can have a little fun with you,” Hawke said as he whipped out his knife and started slicing his own arm, each line precisely spaced. The sick fuck actually sighed as he sliced, as if heenjoyedthe pain.
Hawke held the knife near Jayce’s left eye. Jayce remained very still, watching Hawke’s black eyes shine with excitement. “No. I have a better idea. Flynn, get me the hatchet. Hold his arm down, guys.”
Three men held Jayce down on the ground, the arm with his prison tatt stretched out against the ground. Hawke sharpened the edge of the hatchet with a whetstone.
“Hawke, I’ll do whatever you want! I’ll get you into anything.”
“I don’t need you, just your tatt. I’ll get into the med-center and take her myself.”
“It won’t work! My access has been stripped. Take me there and you’ll see. If you cut my arm off, I’ll die and that won’t benefit you at all. I’m worth more alive, you know that. I can arrange any deal you want.”
“Get me the woman.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
MELINA
“Stop fidgeting,” Melina said as she rolled up Ivan’s sleeve.
“I don’t like shots.”
She laughed, and the more he glared, the harder she laughed. “I’m so sorry, but the idea that you’re afraid of a shot is funny.”
“I didn’t say I’m afraid. I just don’t like them.”
“I’ve seen kids sit still better than you. How about we make a deal?”
“I don’t think I like the effect Jayce is having on you.”
Had Jayce affected her? This flirting and speaking her mind and not worrying about everything she said and did around her men wasn’t because of Jayce, was it?
“Melina?” Ivan called, his hand stroking her arm. “Are you okay?”
“Just lost in thought. Good thoughts.” Ivan was right. Shehadchanged, but for the better. She was no longer scared that everything she said or did would get her killed or worse.
“I will have to defer to Jayce when it comes to crafting deals. The best I can think of is that you let me give you the shot, and two more spread out over the next week, and I’ll let you. . . but that’s where I got stuck. I pictured being naked, but couldn’t figure out the rest.”
“Deal,” Ivan said quickly, shoving his sleeve up. “And don’t worry. I’ll fill in the blanks just fine. I’ll fill in all of you just fine. More than fine.”
She wanted to melt into a puddle right then because the thought of being with Ivan, feeling his strong arms around her as he took her, already had her pussy clenching. The needle sank into his arm. The man didn’t even flinch.
“You played me,” she said, as she caught his grin.
“You’re not the only one who’s learned from Jayce. And I’ve known him a lot longer than you have.”
With that large hand of his, he gripped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. That thrumming returned, the need to get naked and open herself to Ivan overwhelming.
