Page 58 of Absolution

“Soon, Leo will quake in fear too.”

“You seem awfully certain he’s coming.”

“Oh, he is.”

Hope flared at his confident tone. “How do you know?”

Gideon’s smile was snide.

“Come on out,” he called over his shoulder.

My eyes traveled past him, and I sucked in a breath when I saw the dirty-blond giant step out of the adjoining room.

“Pierce?” I whispered.

Gideon chuckled and my gaze darted between him and Jacob’s bodyguard.

“That’s right, you two already know each other.”

Hatred poured from my eyes as I spat. “Jacob is going to kill you, you fucking traitor.”

“Not if I kill him first.”

“How could you?” I cried out. “He’s your friend.”

Pierce shrugged. “I’m an employee, not a friend. When I’m not being paid enough for the services I render, it’s time to find a new employer.”

“I take it then that Gideon here is your new employer.” I shook my head in disgust. “I hope you enjoy your short employment period, because you’re going to be a dead man soon, you traitorous piece of shit.”

He merely smiled, completely unbothered by my insult.

“You’re awfully mouthy for a woman in your position. Do you remember what I told you would happen if you didn’t watch your fucking mouth?” Gideon reached for his belt buckle. Bile rose in my throat at the thought of what these two men would do to me.

Pierce cleared his throat. “Boss, they should be here soon.”

He stayed his movement before dropping his hands to his side.

“You’re right. It’s not time yet.”

They? They who? Did he mean Leo?

I didn’t see Gideon move until he stood right in front of me.

“I need you to be ready for when Leo arrives, Gina.”

I blinked wondering what he meant when he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. I began to struggle and fight when he gripped my jaw and pried my mouth open. Pure terror raced through me, and silently screaming, I frantically tried to shake my head back and forth when I saw the pills in Gideon’s hand.

Before my next breath, he shoved them inside and forced my lips to close around them. Tears poured down my cheeks, but there was nothing I could do but swallow. The already dissolving pills tasted bitter on my tongue. When Gideon was satisfied that they weren’t coming back up, he released his hold on me. I stared at him with pure hatred burning deep inside my soul.

He nonchalantly sat in the chair across from me, while Pierce stood unobtrusively in the corner with an expression I couldn’t read. My gaze darted back to Gideon who relaxed in the chair with his crossed an ankle for his knee.

“Now, we wait.”

Chapter 37

Leo

It had takenCarlos an hour to cave and give up Gideon’s location, which was where we were headed now. Jacob turned his Hummer onto path with grass growing over the barely visible tire tracks. Overgrown trees and brush on either side made it nearly impossible to navigate, but he continued creeping along. I had no idea where we were, but this was where Jacob’s man, Pierce, had discovered Gideon was holed up. My adrenaline was pumping in high gear. I needed to get Gina away from that son of a bitch.

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