“N-n-n-n-no,” I stammer. “L-let me g-go.”
Slowly he shakes his head, and to make things a million times worse, a grin tugs at his mouth. “Never.”
His eyes drift over me, and it feels like he’s mentally picturing all the ways he’s going to hurt me, then suddenly he pulls back and adjusts his jacket as he sits down.
“We can go, Little Ricky.”
As the SUV begins to move, I cautiously sit up and scoot away from the crazy man. My eyes touch on Mitchell’s Construction again, and I see Heather and Amanda laughing as they step out onto the sidewalk.
“Who are they?” Adriano asks.
Lowering my head, I mumble, “My ex-boss and the woman my ex-boyfriend cheated on me with.”
“Names,” he demands.
“Heather Mitchell and Amanda Flynn.”
Oh hell no, we’re not going to have a conversation as if he didn’t just manhandle me and act all insane!
Shooting him a glare, I snap, “I will go to the police! Stop the car and let me get out.”
My eyebrows fly up when Little Rickly lets out a burst of laughter.
While his lackey is taking pleasure in my… uh… predicament, Adriano gives me a highly annoyed look.
“Enough, Laurie.” His voice is nothing but a threatening rumble that causes shivers to creep from my head to my toes. “I paid you twenty thousand, and you agreed to do anything I want.”
“Yeah, I stupidly did, but it’s just words,” I mutter. “Twenty thousand has its limits, mister. You don’t get to toss me around and threaten me.”
The scary expression on his face eases a bit. “Don’t try to run and we won’t have any problems. I’ll have a contract drawn up which you’ll sign if you want to keep that twenty grand.”
Contract?
“Does that mean you won’t try anything else until we’ve made the deal official?” I ask, hope brimming in my voice.
“Yes.”
Relief pours through me, but then I think to add, “That contract better state that you’re not allowed to hurt me in any way. I’m not into kinky crap at all.”
Little Ricky bursts out laughing again, and I scowl at the back of his big head. “Oh, shut up!”
He instantly quiets and murmurs, “Yes, ma’am.”
This time Adriano chuckles, and when I level him with a glare, he quickly stops and glances out the window.
Jesus. What has become of my life, and what is this twilight zone I find myself in?
Chapter8
Laurie
Little Ricky brings the SUV to a stop outside the hotel, and I stare at the entrance, my brain struggling to process what I’m looking at.
The Mark.
I’ve never heard of it, but then again, I don’t really know much about hotels.
Valets come to open our doors, and I feel super awkward as I finally get to exit the SUV. When I step onto the sidewalk, my stomach twists.