Page 97 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

I jump to my feet. Glancing sideways at the other guy, I see he’s still sitting on the floor in the same spot as before—frozen. Scared is more like it.

Turning to go retrieve my weapon, I stop dead in my tracks when I see a third man standing in the doorway. This one has a nickel-plated .45 pointed at my head.

Before he speaks, I know he’s Mexican, which verifies the two Hispanic men I’ve already laid down must be too. Unlike them, he doesn’t need any introductions. I know exactly who he is.

Sebastian Diaz.

Criminal.

Dangerous.

Drug trafficker.

Wanted.

“Impressive.” His eyes roam down as if he’s admiring my body; it doesn’t come off sleazy like the other guy, but I still don’t like it. “Almost makes me regret what I have to do.”

He lowers the gun as he walks forward. He doesn’t put it away. It’s still in his hand with his finger on the trigger, making me very unnerved because gun safety one-oh-one states only have your finger on the trigger if you intend to shoot your target.

He doesn’t stop until he’s standing in front of me—too close for my own comfort—but I don’t back away. Something tells me that wouldn’t be a smart move.

He’s a few inches taller than I am. I’m not going to let that intimidate me, so I hold my chin higher and press my lips together.

He rewards me with a smile that sickens my stomach.

I don’t react when he grabs my ass with his free hand, either. Squeezing my cheek roughly, he pulls me flush with his front, pressing his semi-hard erection against my satin-covered center.

The pit of my stomach plummets, but I do everything within my power not to show it.

“After seeing this beautiful ass in action”—he squeezes to the point of pain, but I keep myself from reacting by biting the inside of my cheek—“I want to take you home and fuck it all night long. That badge was right about one thing. You certainly are one hot piece of ass.”

He pushes me backward, and I stumble thinking about what he has just said.

Badge? A cop? What the—

I don’t get a chance to analyze his words long because while I’m catching my balance the guy I choked out starts to come to, gaining consciousness. I glance down, as he’s only a few feet from me. When he looks up after shaking his head in quick jerks, his eyes scream murder. He’s pissed.

As he climbs to his feet, I inch over, stepping closer to the other brother who is still sitting on the floor. He’s unmoving and the least of my worries.

I see the hand coming at me, but he’s too quick—too determined maybe—for me to react in time. The back of the taller brother’s hand lands across my cheek. Something sharp tears through the skin of my lip as he backhands me. He was wearing a gold ring. I remember it now.

The blow knocks me off my feet. My hip and palms crash to the hardwood floor below. He doesn’t stop there.

Pain storms through my abdomen as he kicks me multiple times in the stomach. Some low, some high.

“Ahhhhh,” I let out the first sound of weakness I’ve shown since they entered my home. Even I can only take so much.

“Enough!” Sebastian’s voice booms. “Find the kid.”

“NO!” My yell is croaky at best.

Using the glass surface of the coffee table, I force myself to my feet, pushing the pain to the back of my mind.

Without thinking, I leap for the man Sebastian has ordered to find Gabriel, but I’m met with a palm I didn’t see coming as it clasps around my neck, then he shoves me as hard as he can.

Had I been focused more like the cop I’m supposed to be rather than let fear seep into my head, I might have been able to counter his move and get around him.

Instead, my ass lands down on the glass coffee table.

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