Page 5 of Unchained

I was so fucking blind back then. Here I was a twenty-year-old kid thinking I was working for some billionaire badass who owned a ton of warehouses and businesses. I looked up to the man, wanted to learn everything so I could get off the streets and have his life. Little did I know he was a dealer. And not just any dealer, but the fucking king of the industry. Diego is the one who revealed the truth. He told me to keep my eyes and ears open or I was liable to find myself in the slammer, and boy, was he fucking right.

“Hey, kiddo. You finally woke up?”

My sister’s voice pulls me from my rambling mind. I turn and see Kai walking into the kitchen. At least he got a good night’s sleep. I was worried he’d be waking up with nightmares, but he slept a good eight hours. It’s already noon.

“Do you want a granola b…” My sister’s voice trails off as the sound of a car door closing hits my ears. My shoulders tense and I give Shay a look, holding my finger up to my mouth and gesturing for her and Kai to quietly move toward the pantry. She takes him and grabs her bag before tiptoeing to the closet door. Meanwhile, I take my gun out and go to peek through the curtain. I need to know who we’re up against. I’m guessing it’s the owner or maybe a neighbor, but I need to be certain it’s not the cops looking for me.

When I see it’s a petite female, dressed in a skirt suit and heels, a different set of nerves tense. It’s been a long-ass time since I’ve seen a woman. Not to mention one so beautiful. Her dark brown hair is tied up in a high ponytail, allowing me to see every inch of her face. And man, is it perfection.

She has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, almost the same color of the sky. Her cheeks are painted in a dusting of light freckles. Her lips are tinted pin-up red. Then to add to her spectacular face is a curvy body. It’s petite and sexy as hell. Every part of her hourglass shape is hugged by her black skirt. And the set of pearls wrapped around her neck makes my cock want to give her a set of its own.

Fuck me, she’s too damn pretty.

She starts making her way up the creaky porch steps, heading to the door, and my mind finally snaps out of it. I start to move toward the pantry, when a loud bang comes from within. Shit. That was loud enough the woman probably heard it too.

CHAPTER 5

Emberly

Well, it looks like Mike wasn’t such a self-centered ass after all. The door is locked. But it’s a good thing I stopped by, because the “For Sale” sign blew down in the storm yesterday and I need to put it back up. Not that it’s going to attract anyone. This place looks even worse now with all the debris everywhere. The entire front porch is covered in leaves and twigs, and the yard looks like a swamp.

Right as I turn to go put the sign back up, a loud crashing sound comes from within and has me jumping in my heels. Shit. That is so not a good sign. I’m guessing some kind of animal has made its way inside the place. And if I don’t go in and do something about it, the next time this place is shown to an interested buyer, it’s going to be covered in poop, which definitely won’t help this place sell. People aren’t interested in buying a rodent-infested run-down house for a million dollars.

I turn the key, slowly opening the door. “Hello!” I call out, shaking my head at myself. It’s not like a raccoon or a rat is going to answer me. But maybe if it hears my voice, it’ll scurry off and then I’ll know where it’s hiding. I’m seriously not a fan of critters. Although, who is?

When I hear a creak of the old wooden floor coming from the kitchen, I slowly tiptoe my way in there, letting out a loud scream when I come face-to-face with a man.

It’s him. The one from the TV. The man who haunted my dreams last night. His eyes were chasing me down in my sleep. His rugged face had me waking up in a sweat. The convict is here. And—he has a gun in his hands.

“It’s you.” The gasp slips from my mouth as my mind scrambles in panic.

His head cocks to the side, his eyes intensely watching me like he’s waiting for me to run or scream for help, which no one other than him will hear. His stare feels almost intrusive, like he’s undressing me with his eyes, and a shiver runs down my spine. There’s a sound from the side, and my attention snaps toward the pantry. A woman’s huddled inside the closet with a boy. Oh my God. He’s taken hostages. What the hell am I supposed to do? The one time I didn’t bring my freaking mace is the one time I need it. God, Bryson would be so pissed at me.

“How di-did you get in here?” The stupid question comes stuttering out of my mouth, but I need to buy myself time to think. My phone is in my hand, but I turned the emergency call setting off. I used to call 911 so much on accident and would feel so embarrassed having to tell the operator that I butt-dialed the emergency number, that I turned the setting off. But now, when I need to press the button for help, I can’t. Although, if I can get my screen unlocked, I could probably dial my brother. I just need to ask Siri to do so.

“The door was unlocked.” The deep voice rolls right down my shoulders. And now I know that Mike did forget to lock the place up. And look what freaking happened. A killer has gotten in and is holding hostages in the pantry.

“You need to leave. People are coming for a showing,” I lie, hoping he’ll panic, but when he doesn’t budge, I’m the only one panicking. His jaw clenches tighter. The fierceness in his eyes is terrifying, and he’s still not moving.

“Please don’t call the cops on us,” the woman speaks, getting up and moving toward me with a desperate look in her eyes, or I should say eye because one of her eyes is swollen shut and black and blue. “They’ll lock me up and take my son away from me. Please, I’m begging you.”

My mind is working on overdrive. I don’t understand. She’s not a hostage. She’s here on her own free will. Which means she’s probably his girlfriend or wife, and the boy is their child. I look toward the kid, but he doesn’t look like the man.

“Please,” she pleads again. “Please just let us go.”

“But he hurt you.” The whisper falls from my lips. I don’t understand why she wants to stay with him if he hurt her.

“No.” She shakes her head, looking toward the wanted convict. “He didn’t do this to me. He saved me. Please.”

So someone else did that to her?

“She won’t be calling the cops.” He steps forward then suddenly grabs my phone from my hand. “Now, we’re going to text those clients of yours and tell them you can’t show them the property because there’s a rabid raccoon that’s gotten in and you have Animal Control on the way.”

I swallow down my nerves, looking toward the boy who’s tucking himself close to his mom. Tears are starting to silently roll down his cheeks.

“Hey, Kai.” The huge felon turns toward the boy, his voice and face softening, making him look almost kind. “It’s going to be okay, buddy. I always keep my promises. And I promise you’re safe now. No one is ever going to hurt you again.”

Again? Someone hurt the boy, too?