Chapter 8
Damon
As soon as I step outside my office, I know she’s gone.
I don’t know how to fucking explain it, but this strange sensation overtakes me.
I should’ve been more focused on her instead of getting my cock sucked.
But it was either get my cock sucked, or have her do it, and something told me she wasn’t going to do it.
Keira is like a kitten—if you hold her down, she will scratch and bite you until you release her, and I kind of like that about her. What I don’t like is she can’t follow the damn rules—even if they are to protect her.
I stomp down the hall, out to the packed bar and dance floor. Music blasts through the speakers as girls dance on stage. Money flies through the air, and men call out to the women, begging them to fuck them. All is running as it should...and I guess that’s one less thing for me to worry about.
I spot Candy working the bar. I feel calm, relaxed even, as I make my way to her—until the realization hits me: little fucking Keira escaped again.
I’m done with her not obeying my orders.
I’ve let this slide too many times. This time, I will show her a lesson, one she will never forget.
I will have to hurt her to prove my point.
Leaning over the bar top, I motion for Candy to come over. She eyes me cautiously, almost as if she’s afraid, and she has reason to be. She’s been working here long enough to know when I’m in an explosive mood.
“Have you seen Kiera?”
“She was walking around here a while ago just looking around, eyeing the back doors. I haven't seen her for a while. I thought she went back to your office.”
Motherfucking fuck. Of course she slipped through the cracks. She might stick out like a sore thumb, but she could make herself invisible if need be.
“Did anybody leave their positions, even for a moment?” I crack my neck, ready to beat someone’s ass.
Candy doesn't say anything, but I see her eyes flash to where Diego is standing. I turn around, heading straight for him. As soon as he sees me coming, his face goes pale. He is a big guy, but I’m bigger…not that it matters. He wouldn’t dare retaliate, not if he values his life.
I don’t even stop to ask questions. I swing and hit him square in the jaw. His head snaps back, but—props to him—he doesn't pass out. Which is good. I still need him to man the door.
“What the fuck is more important than doing your job?”
“Nothing, boss.”
Clenching my fist, I pull it back before slamming it into his nose. He grunts, but remains standing. Blood trickles down his nose and over his lips, but he doesn’t dare make a move to wipe it away.
I grip Diego by his shirt and lean into his face. “Lie to me again, and I’ll cut out your fucking tongue. I trusted you to guard this door. You know the rules, and I expect better from you.”
Diego swallows and nods his head as if he understands. Well, maybe if his head wasn’t in the fucking clouds, I wouldn’t have to go searching for Keira.
Without another word, I march back to my office, feeling eyes on me.
Slamming the door shut behind me, I get out my laptop and pull the surveillance tapes up.
As I comb through four different screens, I spot her.
Her silky brown locks and perfect body. I watch as she walks around the floor, eyeing the doors for a weak spot.
Diego leaves post, and the light bulb inside her head turns on.
She slips out the door and appears on another screen, an outside camera.
As I stare at the screen, I realize she’s not alone.
Who the fuck is the girl she’s with?
They talk like they know each other, which makes me wonder if Keira called her. Then I realize who is standing behind them. Gunner.
He’s one of my bookies for the college, and now he’s got something in his possession that is fucking mine. Clenching my teeth, I watch them get into Gunner’s car and drive off.
I take a calming breath, trying to get my temper under control.
If I don’t, I’ll seriously hurt Keira when I get my hands on her, and that’s the last thing I want to do.
If anything, I just want her to listen to me.
Her brother sent her to me for a reason.
She doesn’t have to like it, but she has to follow my rules—and if she doesn’t want to, maybe I should just wrap her up in a tight little bow and send her off to my brother.
My stomach lurches at the thought. Yeah, that’s not going to fucking happen.
While I’m already on my laptop, I pull up Gunner’s address from my files and punch it into my phone. If Gunner knows she belongs to me and took her anyway, I’ll have no choice but to put a bullet in his brain.
I slam my laptop shut, lock up my office, then head out back and get into my Cadillac.
The faint smell of strawberries enters my nostrils.
My car smells like her...my fucking car.
Is there anything this girl isn’t going to take over?
It feels like she’s under my skin, inside my head.
I grip the steering wheel hard, turning the ignition on and throwing it into drive.
As I follow the directions to Gunner’s place, I’m already thinking of ways to make her pay for leaving again.
I hate that she’s pushing me like this, forcing my hand.
After tonight, she won’t leave again. I’ll make sure of it.
The punishment will fit the crime.
I pull up to the curb, parking directly in front of his place. I stare out the window at the house, wondering if I’m in the right place. There’s a white picket fence and flowers out front. The lawn is well-manicured, and I’d bet anything there is a BMW and 2.5 kids inside.
This place looks more like a single-family home than a college student’s.
I exit the car, my jaw clenched, anger burning through me. I walk up to the door, trying to rein in my anger, but I know I’m too far gone.
I feel this overpowering urge to punch something or someone. I clench and unclench my fists, attempting to overcome the urge to kick down the front door.
Ringing the doorbell, I wait patiently…well, as patiently as I can, my fingers gripping the doorjamb.
The door opens moments later, and Gunner’s surprised face appears behind it.
Before he can mutter a single syllable, I push the door open all the way and force entry into the house.
I don’t give a fuck who owns this place.
I take a couple steps forward, and as soon as I come around the corner, I see her.
Sitting on the couch is the other girl from the video—the one I don’t know. She and Kiera look to be deep in conversation.
That’s going to fucking end—right now.
Keira’s eyes go impossibly wide when she spots me.
She jumps up from the couch, and yells, “I was going to come back.”
Ha, sure you were.
I smirk, shake my head, then pull my gun from the back of my pants and hold it to my side. I don’t want to point it at her, but I need her and Gunner to know I mean fucking business.
Gunner moves past me and positions himself between me and the other girl.
Is he protecting this other girl?
I don’t fucking know. My mind is whirling; my only thoughts are on getting Keira back.
“Damon, boss, we...I mean...I…I didn’t know she was with you.”
Looking into his eyes, I know he’s telling the truth. He had no idea.
“And that’s the only reason there isn’t a bullet in your brain right now. But if I ever find out otherwise, if I find her again, with either of you, you and the girl hiding behind you—you are dead.” I look into the girl’s eyes, making sure she gets the message as well.
“On second thought, she looks innocent as fuck, so I might just kill you and auction your girl off to the highest bidder.” Gunner’s entire body tenses. He wants to say or do something, but he knows better. He knows to keep his mouth shut when his boss is fucking talking, unlike someone…
I’m about to order Keira to get out, but she is already moving toward me, looking like she is about to attack me. Then she does—and I almost laugh.
I mean, I guess if you can call hitting my chest with her palms attacking me. She’s weak, and her slaps do nothing but feed the burning inferno inside me.
She’s never seen me angry, not like I am tonight. Tonight, she’ll be wishing she would’ve stayed at the fucking club. I tuck my gun back while Keira keeps hitting me.
“I fucking hate you!” Her voice cracks at the end.
“Good, because your hate for me is only going to grow as the night goes on.” I bend down and grab her by the waist, tossing her over my shoulder like she weighs nothing, and she doesn’t—not really.
Gunner’s girlfriend looks like she is about to come for me too.
At least she seems to be a loyal friend—I’ll give her that.
Gunner stops her in her tracks, making her visibly angry.
He leans down and whispers something in her ear, and I’m sure he’s warning her, telling her the consequences of fucking with me.
Of course, Keira makes a scene and continues yelling at me while hitting my back with her tiny-ass hands. Her attack is futile. I’m not letting her go, and I’m not putting her down until we get to the car. When we get to the house, I’ll tie her to the bed, making certain she can never escape.
“Goodbye, Gunner,” I holler, then walk right out the front door, bouncing Keira against my shoulder, listening as the air leaves her lungs every time she falls back down.
She can’t talk if she can’t breathe, right?
“Put me down. It’s not like you care anyway. You were getting a blowjob. You wouldn’t have even known if someone came and got me.”
I can hear the anguish in her voice. Is she jealous because Hayley gave me a blowjob, or afraid I won’t protect her?
It sounds like she’s jealous, and that makes me smile. If she’s jealous, that means she might take me up on my offer. Then again, she probably won’t. She’s a fighter. A kitten with claws.