Twisted Fate (7 page)

Taking my hand, he smiled. “Do you want to go back inside and have one more and then dance some more?”

“I really shouldn’t have any more to drink, but I guess one more won’t hurt. And yes, I’d love to dance. I’m feeling a little better since being outside.”

He grinned as he led me back inside and ordered me a drink. He kept my hand in his, checking his watch every few seconds. We gulped down our drinks, then headed to the dance floor.
 

When he pulled me into his arms, I sighed and rested my head on his chest. The alcohol settled over me, and after what had just happened with Kimberly, being in his arms was the only place I wanted to be.

Chapter 11

An hour later, I was back at my spot, waiting for Derek to come out and update me. The whole texting thing was getting old; I wanted to hear it face to face. Plus, if I was honest with myself, I wanted to get him away from the girl for a few minutes.
 

I’d made Eli go watch over Rico, to make sure the jackass didn’t disappear and do something stupid. He was completely useless, and of course diverted my attention from where it was supposed to be. Again, Roman was a fool to place him in such a high position.

“Derek’s on his way out,” Jose suddenly appeared. “He’s just walking her back to their table. He said she’s pretty drunk.”

Of course she was. Better to ply her with alcohol to dull her brain to what was going to happen.
Keep it up, sweetheart
, I told her silently in my head.

“He better hurry. We need to get this job moving.”

A few minutes later, Derek showed up, running his hands on the thighs of his jeans. “Why do you need us out here again?” he asked, clearly annoyed.

I was out of patience. I grabbed him by his collar and shoved him against the car next to us. His eyes bulged in surprise. “Because I said so, that’s why,” I sneered in his face.

He raised his hands in surrender, mine still twisted in his collar. “Okay, okay, chill out, Tag.”

I let him go and took a step back, running my hand down my face. “How soon can you get her out here? It’s time.”

Derek looked to Jose, then to me. “I can get her out here whenever I want.”

Cocky bastard.

“Well, then, execute the plan. I’ve got the chloroform and handkerchief in the car. As soon as you go back inside, I’ll head there and wait. I don’t know if Roman’s still here or not, so as usual, don’t screw this up.” I looked between him and Jose, so they’d know I was addressing them both.

“I’ve got this, Tag,” Derek stated. “I’ll have her out as soon as I can. I’m not going back in and just dragging her out. My plan is to get her another drink, then take her to dance some more. After a few songs, I’ll suggest we go outside for a few minutes, then walk her over to the car area. Sound good?”

I nodded, and watched him and Jose walk back to the club. This was finally going down. The whole job was a damn annoyance. I couldn’t wait to finally set my plan in motion so I wouldn’t have to be her damn babysitter, which was such a joke. And, if I was honest with myself, I’d finally stop thinking about her too.
 

As I turned to head to the car, a black limo pulled up out of nowhere, stopping beside me.

Roman.

The back window rolled down, and sure enough, there was my boss. He motioned for me to get in. Once I was inside, he told the driver to drive over to my car.

“It’s time this job happened, Tag,” he told me, turning to face me in his seat. “I’m tired of waiting for her to get on my yacht. Derek needs to bring her out, now.”

I ran my hand over my head. “I’ve just given him instructions, sir,” I replied. “He’s working on it as we speak.”

Roman nodded, his eyes wandering off in thought. At that moment, the opera playing in the background got louder, as if emphasizing what was to come. “Good,” he suddenly responded, looking back at me. “I’m going to head back to the yacht now and wait. It would be bad form for me to be seen when it goes down.”

We reached my car, and I knew he expected me to get out. Before I did, however, I asked him one more question. “Did you get my text about Rico?”

His eyes blazed for just a second, then went to passive. “I did, and I’ll handle him. You made the right decision to take him off the job.”

I just nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
 

I got out of the limo and watched the taillights disappear into the dark night. Roman had more going on than revenge for taking Penelope Santoro—I could feel it. Shrugging, I turned to the car to grab the chloroform, knowing she wouldn’t be on that yacht for very long.
 

When Derek hadn’t showed up thirty minutes later, I was pacing back and forth, my heart racing. I usually didn’t get so worked up over a job, but this one was different, unusual. Plus, I’d never felt an attraction for my victim before.
 

“Dammit,” I exclaimed, “where are they?”

Eli stepped out from the car, taking a drag from his cigarette. “Chill, dude, he’ll be here.”

“How’s Rico?”

I’d insisted he get in the back of Jose’s car, which was parked next to mine. I didn’t want him in the same car as the girl once we got her in. He wouldn’t be anywhere near her as long as I had my way.

“He’s pissed, but he’s fine. I still don’t get why he’s here anyway.”

“You and me both,” I muttered under my breath.

Suddenly, Rico started screeching in the car, forcing me to run over. I hurried and opened the door, and was assaulted with the smell of urine. “What the hell, Rico?”

He started giggling, then put a bottle of Gin to his mouth and guzzled. “You said I had to stay put, asshole,” he slurred, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “When a man’s gotta go, he’s gotta go.” He started giggling loudly again, and I slammed the car door. Eli was right behind me, cursing up and down.

“That son of a bitch! He’s gonna pay for the cleaning of that. He couldn’t have at least opened the door and pissed on the cement?”

I walked back to my car, the stench still burning my nostrils. “He’s wasted and an asshole.”

Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
 

Showtime.

Chapter 12

The lights of the club were flashing and the beat of the bass was still heavy as he lowered his hands to my hips, pulling me closer. I could feel his erection against the small of my back, and in my drunken state, it turned me on like never before. I barely knew his name, but I wanted him nonetheless. Maybe I would go home with him after all.

“Come outside with me,” he spoke in my ear, his breath blowing across my face, making me dizzy. Without even thinking about it, I nodded.
 

“Good girl,” he told me as he grabbed my hand and started leading me out of the club.
 

I should find Kimberly and tell her we were going to get some fresh air, but his grip was tight and he was pulling me behind him so fast. Plus, I was still hurt from her being a bitch to me. My head was swimming even worse from all of the alcohol I’d consumed, the people around me starting to blend in together. Were the stars that were suddenly forming in my eyes from the spinning in my head, or all of the lights around us?

We finally got outside, and I took a deep breath of the cool night air. He led me across the parking lot as I adjusted my pink tank over my cleavage, having noticed it was lower than usual. We suddenly stopped by a few cars, and I felt his hand go to my cheek. I looked up at him, hoping he was finally going to kiss me.

Out of nowhere, another hand shot out and grabbed me from behind, making me yelp in surprise. Before I had a chance to react, something sweet smelling was placed over my face. I felt my eyes widen in fear, then everything went black.
 

Chapter 13

I saw them as soon as they exited the club. Knowing she was near, that it was really happening, had my heart beating even faster. I watched as Derek held her hand, leading her across the parking lot. My eyes went to her cleavage when she raised her hand to adjust something there.
 

Derek’s eyes looked to mine, and I nodded. I hid back, out of the lights, and doused the cloth in my hands with the chloroform as I waited, setting the bottle quietly on the ground. I watched closely as he stopped walking a few feet ahead, and put his hand to her cheek.

That was my signal.

I snuck up and grabbed her from behind, hearing her small cry. I raised the cloth to her nose, holding on tight. Seconds later, she collapsed in my arms, out cold.

I caught her before she hit the ground and turned her over in my arms.
 

Nothing could have prepared me for the electricity that ran through my entire body.

She was beautiful.

She was in my arms.

She felt good.

Too good. It felt like she should stay there.

As Derek and Jose opened the back doors of the car, I stood, carrying her in my arms. My eyes couldn’t leave her face as I walked, then gently set her in the backseat. She slumped to the side, and I immediately reached out and set her back up, climbing in the backseat with her.

I put my arm around her.
Just to support her
, I told myself.

“Change of plan,” I told Jose as I looked up at him. “You’re driving.”

He nodded as he shut the door, hopping in the driver’s seat. Eli and Derek got in the other car, and they quietly pulled out the back entrance. Jose followed them, having no idea what I was thinking.

Change of plan? Damn straight. I looked at her, sleeping against my shoulder. I could feel her breath on my arm. A new plan took root.
 

I was no longer in any hurry to set my old plan in motion. Now that I had her in my arms, I didn’t want to let her go. And thinking more rationally, it hit me she was completely vulnerable with Roman out to get her. If I watched over her, as originally planned, I could keep my eye on her, and keep her safe from him.
 

No way in hell was he getting anywhere near her
, I thought to myself as his yacht came into view.

Want to find out how Penny and Tag’s story ends? Keep reading to begin their tale of Twisted Desire…

Chapter 1