Chapter 10
NATASHA
My jaw fell open as I listened to the conversation.
Anger filled my veins as I rushed back into my room.
My I.D. There was no way in hell he swiped that off me.
I had that shit in a small pocket of my flapper dress.
No way his hand fucking crept in there without me noticing.
I picked up the dress and stuffed my hand into it.
I rummaged around before checking the other one.
I picked up my bra and shook it out. I checked the breast pockets tucked in between the fabric of the bra and the cushion.
I made them in all my bras specifically for my job so I could store things without my pockets bulging with utter nonsense.
And holy shit, it wasn’t there.
“That son of a bitch,” I whispered.
I threw my dress to the ground. That man swiped my I.D.
off my body just before he tried kissing me and now this gang wanted me to cooperate!
? Hell no. Not a fucking chance. There was no way that was happening.
Not on my watch. I had to go back to the mafia.
I wouldn't get along with anyone here. I didn’t give a shit if half their crew was missing.
Their families weren’t my issue. I had bigger things to deal with.
Like staying away from Ivan. Getting back in touch with Phillip.
Using my curves and my smile to get back in good with the mafia.
Though, I knew I’d be demoted. Probably hoisted upstairs and stuffed in one of the rental rooms for men to have their way with me.
Just as punishment.
Just to reinforce that I was to never leave again.
Do you really want to do that though, Natasha?
I sighed. I thought rationally about things for a second.
If they really wanted to kill me tonight, then Toxin was right about one thing.
My place was off limits. They’d surely be patrolling it.
Watching out for when I came back. So, the money I kept stashed at my place was gone.
It was much too risky to pull money out of ATMs, too.
Because if they were watching my bank accounts, they’d have me flagged in a heartbeat.
How much would three thousand dollars stretch?
I had a chance to run away if I wanted.
I started gathering my things. I slipped the second set of clothes over my head, which gave me an extra set of pockets.
I stuffed my money all around me, so that if I got into a tousle with the guys, they couldn't possibly take it all off me. But I wasn’t staying here.
Even if I wanted to run away and assume another life somewhere, I sure as hell wasn’t staying here in order to do it.
Fuck the mafia.
Fuck Ivan.
If they found me, I’d run for my life again. Like I’d done on so many occasions.
I readied myself to leave before I crept back out into the hallway.
And the guys were practically laughing at one another.
I perched and listened. I heard their voices snickering as the one named Grave got them to all settle down.
What the hell had I missed? What the fuck happened while I was in that room.
“I’ll get her to talk, okay? Damn. And if all else fails, she can get close to someone here and I’ll let them know what questions we need to ask her. Either way, we’ll get that information from her. And she won’t be leaving until we do,” Toxin said.
Oh, hell no. The mafia’s better than all of this shit combined.
“Yeah, no. You all can go fuck yourselves,” I said.
I rushed through the room and headed straight for the front door.
With loose flats on my feet and socks creating a nice, cool barrier, I knew I looked like a hot mess.
But the pain in my feet had subsided, which let me stride with my long legs for the door.
I ripped it open and poured myself out into the night.
These assholes wouldn't know the first thing about protecting a woman. I wasn’t letting them control my life when I knew damn good and well they couldn't give me what I wanted in return.
“Natasha!”
Toxin’s voice barreled behind me, but I leapt off the porch.
My feet planted into the dry dirt, kicking up dust as I picked up the pace.
A fast walk, if you will. One that boogied me further and further away from the clubhouse.
I didn’t care if they all saw me. If they all thought I was a bitch.
If they all thought I was uncooperative or selfish or any of the other number of things they believed about me as a person.
The only thing I wanted was out of there.
Even if it put me back in the hands of the mafia.
“Natasha, will you cut it out!? Wait up!”
“Fuck off!” I yelled.
I flipped him off over my shoulder before I got to the main road.
I looked both ways before trotting across it, then slinked down a side road.
My stomach gurgled with hunger. I kept an eye out for a food place that would put me in the presence of someone other than these assholes.
Even if half the town was owned by Lars, maybe it would look good on me if they saw me fighting against someone.
Trying to get away. Calling out for help.
But there was nothing.
“Damn it, woman. Will you stop?” Toxin asked.
“Get the hell away from me,” I breathed.
He reached out for me, but I yanked away. I picked up my pace, going from a long stride to a soft trot. He matched me in stride, coming up to my side. So, I started running down a random alleyway.
And I heard him curse.
“You’re a fucking piece of work, you know that?” he hissed.
“I’m not yours to control. Leave me the hell alone!” I exclaimed.
I picked up a rock and threw it at him. I picked up another one and followed the same motions. I pummeled him with the stuff, trying to slow him down long enough to get out of sight. He kept up with me, though. Batting the rocks away and shielding his face from my assault.
With determination in his eyes.
“You’re not getting away,” he said.
“Fuck you, I’m not,” I said.
“You’re not safe out here. We need to go back to the clubhouse.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you, you shithead.”
“We can protect you.”
“You can’t even protect yourselves! I heard you admit it. I heard you say so your fucking self.”
“And where are you gonna go, huh? With what money?”
I snickered. “Clearly, you don’t know what kind of tips I get with these legs.”
I picked up one last rock and hurled it at him.
One that slammed straight into his chest. He bent over and cursed, and it gave me enough time to burst into a run again.
I whipped around a corner. I panted for air.
I saw another darkened opening for an alleyway and darted down it, shrouding myself in black.
I pressed myself against a wall. I kept my eyes trained on the entryway I’d just come down.
I held my breath, trying to steady it as I drew silent breaths through my nose.
Then, I heard a gun cock.
“Don’t move,” Toxin said.
I drew in a shuddered breath as the barrel of his gun pressed into my side.
“So, you’re going to shoot your only lead?” I asked.
“Not if you don’t make me,” he said.
“You’re pathetic. You and your entire group.”
“Maybe so, but we have good intentions. They all have families to protect. People they love. They just want to get back to their homes, but we can’t do that until we recover someone your boss has taken.”
I paused. “You don’t have a family?”
“I left my family back in New Mexico on the compound where I was raised.”
I blinked. “You mean, like a cult?”
He shoved the barrel deeper into my skin. “You’re coming back with me. You don’t have to like me; you don’t have to talk to me. But you’re coming back with me. End of story.”
“If you don’t have a family to protect, then why use me? That just get you off?”
“I might not have a family, but the club’s my family. And right now? Their families are in disrepair. So, I’m helping out the only family I know.”
His words tugged at my heart. “And if I don’t go with you?”
“I’ll drag you back to Lars’ office myself and see what he wants to do with you.”
My jaw tensed. “You wouldn't.”
He snickered. “Try me. I have nothing to lose at this point.”
“Fine. Fine. I’ll go back. I’ll go back with you.”
“Without a fight?”
“I’m known for my fight.”
“You fight, you get tossed over my shoulder again.”
I grinned. “Don’t threaten me with a good time now.”
However, when I looked over at him, he wasn’t smiling.
“Or not,” I said flatly.
“Come on. Let’s go,” he said.
He holstered his gun and gripped me by my arm.
And even though I tried to wrench away, he wouldn't let me go.
I jammed my hand into my phone and started toggling with the screen.
I pulled it out and peeked down at it to see if it was possible to call Phillip.
Maybe not talk to him, but at least get him on the phone. So he could hear what was taking place.
So he could hear I was being restrained against my will with these dickweeds.
“Put the phone up,” he said curtly.
“Or what?” I asked.
“Or I’ll take it and demolish it.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
He slammed me against the wall, quick as lightning. He pinned my wrist above my head and pressed his knee between my thighs. My chest panted for air as he worked my phone away from my grip. And as he stared in my eyes, I felt his breath on my lips again.
Forcing electricity to sizzle down my spine.
He peeked at my phone. “No service. It’s useless to you right now anyway.”
I blinked. “What?”
He let me go and shoved the phone into my chest. “You have no service right now. And you won’t once you get back to the clubhouse, either.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I’m sure Grave’s about to activate the signal jammers we have stationed around the damn place.”
I scoffed. “And why the fuck would he do something like that?”
“Because it’s precautionary to keep the families and ourselves in there safe. So, stop fighting and maybe you won’t make shit so hard on everyone else around you.”
“Fuck you.”
“Nice to know I found your mantra in life. Come on. Let’s go.”
Then, he fisted my arm again and away we went.
Walking back down the alleyways until the clubhouse came into view.
Until we crossed the street. Until we walked back up the steps and he practically tossed me into the clubhouse.
I scrambled to my feet as the guys eyed Toxin.
Hard. With fire in their eyes and anger in their fists.
“Let’s treat her with a little more respect than that, yes?”
And as I looked over at a tall, massive man sitting at a laptop, I snickered.
“I’m going to bed. Night, assholes,” I murmured.