Page 55 of Finish Line
“Are you ready?” he asks.
I nod my head in response and stand from the bed. I walk out of the room and Julio closes the door behind me before we make our way to the elevator. The other guy must have given Julio his own keycard. We step into the elevator and Julio enters his card, pressing the necessary buttons and the doors close. We only go down one floor.
The elevator opens to an intimate entryway with two doors. The door directly in front of us is a set of French doors. There’s another door to the left that I would guess is a closet.
Julio nudges me and I stumble my way out of the elevator. I’m not used to walking in high heels. I have to focus on each step, so I don’t twist my ankle. Julio walks ahead of me and opens one of the doors. It leads to a giant dining room. There’s a table right in the middle that seats at least twenty people. I’ve never seen a table so big.
Kevin is standing at the end of the table as if he were anticipating my arrival. At the opposite end of the table are three men. I’m assuming the one at the head of the table is thisEl Jefeeveryone keeps talking about.
“There she is,” Kevin says with a menacing smile. “Come, we have some business to discuss.”
I cautiously walk toward him. Kevin grabs my arm and guides me to the other end of the table.
“So, this is the woman you were telling me about?” The man at the head of the table asks. His eyes fall down my body before he lazily picks them back up.
“Yes, she’d make a fine addition, don’t you think?” Kevin replies.
A fine addition? A fine addition to what?
“She’s no longer of any use to me and I’ll die before I let her live a happy life with that fucking biker gang,” Kevin adds.
The man says something to the others in Spanish. He lifts his head to Kevin. “How old did you say she is?”
“She’s thirty-three,” Kevin tells him. “Would any of you like a preview of the goods?”
“That won’t be necessary,”El Jefesays. He looks between his two men and they each nod. “She looks very good for thirty-three. I’m sure she would be quite popular. She will make a very fine addition to our new venue. I’m sure that’s where you’d like her since you’ll be assisting there.”
“That would be perfect.” Kevin grins. “And our agreement still stands?”
“Yes, a forty percent cut and two nights a month with her,”El Jefesays.
What in the actual hell are they talking about? Is this some kind of escort business? This is what he had planned for me?
“The Chicago building will be done by the end of the week. The two of you are welcome to stay here until then,”El Jefetells him. “Maria can help get our new friend here prepared for her new job.”
“Thank you, Miguel. I appreciate that,” Kevin says.
“You may leave now,” Miguel,El Jefe, replies.
Kevin grabs my arm, pushing me toward the doors. I stumble over my feet more than once from him making me walk so fast. Once we’re through the doors and back in the elevator, he finally lets go of my arm. Julio isn’t in the entry way which means he was more than likely sent back to his room. No need to watch over me if I’m with Kevin.
“You’re lucky he is putting your tainted ass to work. Had he refused to use you in either of the clubs, I would have had to kill you,” Kevin hisses out at me. He doesn’t say another word to me until we’re back in the room.
He kicks off his shoes and sits on the edge of the bed, eyeing me like a starved animal. I suppress a shudder, not wanting Kevin to see how much he disgusts me.
“Take off the dress, leave the heels on,” he demands. “Tonight, I’ll make up for all those months you were gone.”
I close my eyes, going to a happier place in my mind and do as he says. I can’t let this man get to me. Whatever he does to me, karmawillcome for him tenfold.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Bull
As everyone arrives back at the clubhouse, they file into Church, one at a time. I sit in my chair at the head of the table, thinkin’ about how this conversation is gonna go. We need to find Athena before they do somethin’ to her. Who knows what Kevin has planned for her? As the last brother saunters in closin’ the door behind himself, I bang my gavel to get everyone’s attention. Tech is typin’ away at his computer, diggin’ for more information on the next two locations.
“Alright, so the first location was clearly a bust,” I announce. “For all we know, these cartel assholes have us on some kind of wild goose chase and the next two locations could be traps too. Which is why I think we should send some guys to scope the place out before we all go.”
“I second that,” Ranger says.
