Page 78 of Auctioned Surrender

“Sorry, Dereck, that’s not part of the plan, and I can’t let you derail me this time.”

I disconnect and get the guys behind me on the line. “Go around me and get in front of her, Liam. It looks like we’re going to do this the hard way. They step on the gas and move into the far left lane, gunning it around another car before darting across the highway to slide in between her and the car in front of her.

“Hold it steady, right there while I nudge her over,” I say, sliding closer to the line.

Layla glances up briefly, and her grip tightens on the wheel, but she has nowhere to go except to stay where she is or pull off at the exit that’s coming up fast.

I nudge over again, hovering on the line, crossing over it, just enough to get my point across. Layla hits the steering wheel with an open palm, having invaded her space in the right-hand lane.

I call her back, and she answers on the first ring. “What don’t you understand? I need to do this!”

“Perhaps, but you’re not doing it this way. Pull over, princess, or you’ll force me to do it for you,” I say, inching over even more as Liam slows down in front of her just as we almost reach the exit.

“Fine!” she yells, easing off the gas to prevent hitting the car in front of her and turning her wheel to the right to avoid me.

“We’ve talked about the consequence of using the word fine, and I don’t go back on my promises, princess.”

Chapter 19

Layla

I veer off the highway and onto the exit, hitting the steering wheel with the palm of my hand. Once again, Dereck’s thwarted my plans and left me no goddamn choice in the matter. I drive down the two-lane ramp, pull off onto the shoulder, and glance at Bernatelli, who’s still passed out from the drugs I injected him with, and probably will be for quite some time.

I glance in the side mirror, watching as Dereck unfolds his body from the car and stalks toward my vehicle like a panther about to pounce on his prey. Every muscle in that lithe body of his ripples in his jeans and snug-fitting tee. As much as I try to shake it off, having this fine specimen of a man chase me down and catch me is flipping my girlie switch to the point of pure and utter distraction until he yanks open the car door and scowls down at me.

“I knew you were going to try to get their attention, but this? I told you we would put a plan together and get your sister back, yet you take off to do it on your own. You don’t talk to me about it, instead decide to disappear, cause me to worry, and then kidnap the kingpin of Chicago? To do what, Layla?”

I don’t know what to say, and he doesn’t give me a minute to reply. “You know what? Don’t even answer that because Iwouldn’t want you to get yourself into any more trouble than you’re already in,” Dereck says, still scowling down at me

“I told you that I need to finish this! I need to find her, Dereck, and this is the way. I’ve tried every other thing I know!”

“Not this way, princess. You’re going to be no part of getting the truth from this slimebag. I can assure you of that. Now, be a good girl and get out of the car nicely.”

I glare at him. “Oh, I don’t think so, papi. I have to finish what I started!”

Dereck ignores my anger. “This time I won’t say it as nicely. Get out of the car, Layla, or I will pick you up and haul you back to my car. Walking there yourself would look so much more dignified, don’t you agree?”

I toss my hair over my shoulder. “You wouldn’t dare, and besides, your men know jack about my sister or what even to ask!”

“We’ll continue this conversation in my car,” Dereck says, clearly undissuaded as he reaches down to unbuckle me from the seat belt.

He leans in, and all I can smell is Dereck. That masculine scent that makes my center wet with him this near. Damn this man and his sexiness, always trying to throw me off my game. “I’m not going!”

“You’re going alright,” he says, sliding his hands under my legs and around my back. “I’m taking the reins from here. Don’t fight me, princess,” he whispers next to my ear, sending a shiver down the length of my spine.

My hands are free, and I could put up a fight, try valiantly to push him away, but instead, I give up, knowing that I’m going with him wherever he takes me because he’s here and hasn’t given up on me, time after time after time.

“Can you take it from here, Trent? I’ll bring Murph up to speed if you get Bernatelli to the warehouse,” he says to the tall man who’s waiting to take my place at the wheel.

“Come on, princess. I’m not going to allow you to do something you’ll regret or have to live with forever,” Dereck says. Trent lowers himself into my spot, sliding the power seat way back to accommodate his length, before strapping himself in and driving away.

Dereck cradles me in his arms and carries me to his car, placing me in the passenger seat and buckling me in. I sit resignedly, watching the taillights of the car driving away with the man who has the key to my sister’s whereabouts in its passenger seat grow farther and farther away.

Dereck gets in on the other side and hits the overhead. “Hey, Murph. Let the guys know we’re back on schedule, but about thirty minutes behind. Trent’s on his way with the package. ETA twenty minutes.”

“Roger that, Dereck. Great work, my friend.”

“Thanks for the help, Murph. Talk to you later,” Dereck says, disconnecting before taking the next exit.

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