Page 37 of The Dragon's Dream Mate (Savage Shifters Special Ops 3)

“My name is Michelle. We are selling candy to raise money to buy new cheerleading outfits. Our old ones are plum worn out,” I said, sticking my bottom lip out.

The creepy man asked as he stared at my boobs, “What kind of candy do you have?”

“I have all kinds. I have chocolates as well as other kinds. It’s a dollar a bar or bag. We get to keep half,” I said, sounding very perky.

The creepy man took out a wad of cash and asked me how much candy I had. I counted it out and found out I had twenty-six pieces. He handed me forty dollars and told me to keep the rest for the outfits.

“Thanks, Mister. I really appreciate it,” I said, turning as though I were going to leave the ship.

“Hold on a minute,” the other man said, grabbing my arm. “I might like to donate, too.”

“That would be so terrific,” I said.

“What do you have that you could sell me?”

“Nothing right now, but I could bring you back some candy,” I told him.

“How about a kiss?” he said. “I pay well for kisses.”

“Sir, I don’t think you have the right person for that. I don’t do that sort of thing,” I replied as I turned to leave.

He grabbed my face and tried to kiss me. I head-butted him. He yowled in pain as my head caught the bridge of his nose, and blood started spurting out of his face.

Just then, two men in business suits came on deck.

“What is going on here?” one of them demanded.

“Michelle was selling candy to raise money for a new cheerleading outfit. Jimmy wanted a kiss instead of candy. Apparently, she didn’t want to give him one,” the first creepy guy said, grinning.

“You idiots. Why did you let her come on board?”

“Sir, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any harm. I just wanted to sell candy,” I called up to him and turned to go, and this time the other suited man grabbed my arm.

“I don’t think so. How old are you?”, he asked me.

“Seventeen. I have to get home in time to change for work. I need to get going,” I said.

I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go of my arm.

Using my other hand, I grabbed his pinky finger and pulled it back until he let go of me and dropped the candy onto the deck.

“You little…” He didn’t get a chance to finish what he was saying, as a large tiger and wolf bounded onto the deck.

Before any of them had the opportunity to react, they all had multiple holes in them from animal bites, and they were thrown overboard, soaking in the salty water.

As Jared and Damian tossed the four men around like rag dolls, I headed down the stairs as we had planned.

On my way down, I passed a guy who was heading up the stairs. I gave him a huge push, and he fell backward, taking the guy behind him down with him.

I kicked their guns away from them, pulled handcuffs from my purse, and handcuffed them to a pipe. Then, I headed deeper toward the hold.

There was a room with a padlock on it, which I guessed held the precious cargo I was after.

All of the guards must have been upstairs engaging in battle because there was a tremendous amount of thudding and thumping going on overhead.

The lock picking skills I’d learned from Lucian at an early age came in handy, and I had the padlock undone in a matter of seconds.

I took a deep breath, then flung open the door, holding my pistol at the ready in the event there were some of the henchmen inside.

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