Page 70 of The Torturer's Target

She was none of those people. It’d be a waste of her time. She didn’t expect to live a long life. Not that she would go looking for death—not yet anyway—but she wouldn’t run from it if it found her.

She’d made an appointment with Big Cat’s doctor to get a pack of the pills that helped her sleep at night because she was determined that last night would never happen again.

That kiss…

It was all she could do not to jump him in that office. He was so fucking handsome in that tailored suit.

In the light of the day, she wondered if their kiss had really felt that good or if it was just her mind playing tricks on her. The latter made more sense because a kiss could never feel as good as that did. A kiss would never make her desire the high she thought she’d felt.

But it was best to keep things professional between them. No matter how attractive he was, Maximilian Kingston was a complication she didn’t need in her life.

So why the hell did she feel like going back to that office, locking the door, and kissing those intoxicating lips of his over and over again? Why the hell did she feel she needed his damn tongue buried in her throat until neither of them could breathe?

Tesiera’s leather jacket creaked as she as she reached the door of the surveillance room. Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

“What’s up?” she asked as she answered Big Cat’s call, her voice devoid of any emotion.

“Tesiera, we’ve got everything we need on Jacob Blake,” Big Cat said, his voice oozing with satisfaction. “We know where he lives, where he hangs out, who he talks to, and his entire pattern of life. Come to the house and let’s review this material.”

Tesiera felt a flicker of excitement ignite within her. She turned away from the surveillance room and toward the entrance of the mansion.

“I’m on my way,” she replied, her voice steady, but she could feel the adrenaline pump into her system. She ended the call and immediately dialed her own private investigator and gave him some instructions as she made her way to the exit.

She gave a security guard Max's message for Bose and Clinton, and then she texted Max before walking out of the mansion’s gates.

My next job came earlier than expected. I’ll be back.

CHAPTER 28. PERCHED ON THE HEART

Three weeks later.

The room was thick with the heavy scent of alcohol, cigarette smoke, and the sounds of men playing a board game while watching the scene at the other end of the room.

The only female present lay motionless on the bed, her body aching and bruised, her mind clouded by the drugs they gave her. Despite her disorientation, the young woman was aware of the man thrusting into her mercilessly, inflicting pain that made her cry out in agony.

“S-stop, please,” she cried in a thin, shaky voice that could barely be heard above the grunts of pleasure and the jeering laughter of the three men playing poker.

As the man slammed into her repeatedly, handling her body so roughly, she could only cry and plead with him to have mercy on her, even though she knew it a fruitless effort.

A fifty-year-old man dressed in a black tailored suit, his long, salt and pepper hair held stylishly behind his back.

The three men rose to their feet as their boss strode by. Jacob Blake sighed in exasperation, as he took in the scene on the bed.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to fuck with new goods? Askin, we got that merchandise two days ago, right?” the boss asked.

Askin paused mid-thrust and glanced at his boss. “Yeah, boss, but I figured our client wouldn’t mind since everyone here had already taken their share with her.” He let out a deep sigh. “I’ll stop.”

“Nah, don’t stop on my behalf,” Blake responded with a dismissive wave of his hands. “Finish what you started. We have time before we deliver her to Dragon.” Even he recognized that the new merchandise had a pretty good ass on her, so he understood his men. Plus, he was a generous boss that way.

“Thank you, boss.” Askin grinned, and continued the task at hand, ignoring the girl whose tiny cries never abated.

Blake’s men resumed their game, as he watched Askin rape, then beat the girl. After Askin was satisfied, he sat beside the boss, smiling like a satisfied cat. The girl rose on shaky legs, but Blake ordered her to get back on the bed. He stood and unbuckled his belt as he approached her.

An hour later, Blake and his men were on their way to meet of one of their drug suppliers.

“Boss, I don’t know if I should tell you this…” he began hesitantly.

“What is it, Ian?” Jacob Blake asked, his tone sharp, irritated with the hesitance.

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