Fourteen #3
I looked over my shoulder at him.
“You’ve got a lot of balls. Other guys’ve pissed their pants when I did that to them.”
I scowled at him. “Why would you do that to anyone?”
“People don’t know what they’re capable of until they’re tested. Guys who say they’d never suck dick or take it up the ass change their minds fast sometimes.”
“So you see a guy in your club, any guy, and if you think he could work for you, you drag him off somewhere and see what he will or won’t do?”
“Something like that.”
“So that’s what you are? You’re a pimp?”
“I’m a businessman.”
I nodded. “You just got boys?”
“Yep.”
I stared at him. “You have a lot of boys working for you?”
He nodded slowly. “Jory what?”
“Keyes,” I said, giving him my old name without a second thought. He looked at me for a long minute. “And you’re Rego James.”
“Yes, I am.”
I tipped my head toward the dance floor. “Are we gonna dance or not?”
“No.” He shook his head, hand going to the back of my neck. “Come sit with me.”
I let him steer me through the club back to the couch, and he tugged me down beside him.
“What do you want to drink?”
“Bottle of water.” I grinned at him.
“Smart choice,” he assured me, sliding a hand up the back of my neck into my hair.
“Natural blond, huh, even with the brown eyes.”
“Yep.”
“Even your eyebrows are gold,” he said, sliding his fingers across my left one.
“I’m gold all over,” I told him.
“I bet.” He nodded, taking a deep breath. “Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“I dunno.”
But it made sense that I would be staring. His profile, the long, straight nose, chiseled features, the way his hair fell across his forehead, and the absolutely gorgeous eyes… The man was stunning on the outside, but inside he was a beast. It was mind-boggling.
“May I ask a question?”
“Course.”
“Anybody ever brought you up on rape charges?”
“I’ve never been charged with anything.”
“How come?”
“No one ever makes it to trial.”
“That’s convenient.” I chuckled, and the men around us looked at me like I was crazy. I was guessing laughter didn’t go hand in hand with this group.
“You’re a smartass.” He smiled at me. “And a big goddamn tease.”
But I knew how far to take it, since I was playing with fire. I needed him to let Zach and Billy leave with me, and whatever promises had to be made, I would make.
“And you smell really good.”
I tilted my head to the side so he could reach my neck and inhale me deeply.
“James, I need to dance with your boy,” somebody said.
“No,” he said coolly, hand on my thigh. “He’s just here for decoration, not to touch.”
Minutes later, Zach and Billy rejoined us.
“Rego, me and Billy gotta take Jory to see a friend—is it okay if we catch up with you in a couple hours? We’ll meet you at your place.”
“Sounds good.” He turned to look at me as he spoke to them. “Bring Jory with you.”
“Sure thing.”
The backs of his fingers slid down my throat. “I wanna see you, so you better show.”
I said nothing, because I didn’t want to lie.
“I want a number where I can reach you…and an address.”
“Gimme a pen,” I said quickly, without hesitation.
I gave him my burner number and the address of my favorite Chinese restaurant in Oak Park.
“I want to see you in two hours, you understand?”
What I understood was that I got to take Zach and Billy with me. It was all that mattered.
Outside, Billy grabbed my arm before I could reach the curb to get us a cab.
“What?”
“Did you fuck him while I was sucking that guy off?”
I shook my head.
“I’ve never seen him wait.”
“I’ve never seen him have to.” Zach shrugged. “We both fucked him when we met him.”
“I’ll give you both a hundred if we can just go now.” I sighed heavily. “Please.”
All argument instantly ceased, and I was thrilled that we didn’t have to talk about Rego James anymore.
The cab ride to Oak Lawn took forty-five minutes, but as I stood with Billy and Zach in the parking lot of the strip mall, I felt like something had been accomplished.
They had stolen the car from point B; I just needed to find point A.
I needed a car to get around in, and I had to get back and pick up my stuff from the hotel. It was time for the hard work to begin.
I was surprised by how into the detective work Zach and Billy got, and on the ride back, they asked me all kinds of questions that I got to answer honestly, since I really didn’t have any idea who had kidnapped me.
Back at the hotel, Billy gave me the address of Rego’s place and warned me not to blow the man off.
If I valued my life, I would show up. I pretended to take it all very seriously and watched them cross the street back to the liquor store to buy their drugs.
I ducked into the hotel, gathered up all my things, returned the key, and walked out without the manager knowing anything about me at all.
I made sure that Zach and Billy were nowhere to be seen when I caught a cab to the airport to rent a car.
I had to get back to the strip mall as soon as I could and start looking for the man who had kidnapped me.