Page 54 of Killian's Vengeance

Chapter 23

Willa

We sped out of the South Loop neighborhood where The Red Room was located, and I squinted into the early morning sun like a vampire as my eyes watered and struggled to adjust to the light. God, it felt like I hadn’t been outside in months.

That basement had been like a little cocoon, a short-term suspension of reality where I’d played out some crazy kidnap fantasy with Killian. A fantasy my body still craved. The exposing rays of the sun beat down on me harshly, as if shining the cold light of reality on my illusions and mocking me for my foolishness.

“A Mercedes S class? I didn’t know working at a sex club paid so well.” I’d been shocked when Martin walked me to his car. I didn’t know much about cars, but I knew this one cost a mint.

“I deserve the finer things in life. Logan pays me what I’m worth. In fact, I’ll be buying something much better than this soon enough.”

Jesus, what did Logan pay? If things weren’t so weird over there because of Killian, I might go in and apply for a job. My fingers kept reaching out to touch all the buttons and gadgets on the dashboard, curious about the seemingly hundreds of functions.

“Stop playing with those. You’re smudging my screen,” Martin sniped, sounding ridiculously uptight and prissy.

I pulled my hands away, then opened the glove compartment in search of a napkin to clean his precious screen. I didn’t find a napkin, but the car’s registration fell out.

Owner: Cara Blanchard. Cara? Cara from the club?

“What are you doing? Close that!” Martin bellowed and I quickly shoved the paperwork back in the glove compartment.

“Sorry, I was looking for a napkin to wipe off your screen,” I quickly babbled.

Martin’s jaw ticked in annoyance and we fell into an uncomfortable silence until my curiosity forced me to speak.

“So, this car is Cara’s? Cara from the club?”

“It’s not Cara’s, it’s mine. I bought it from her.”

My brows puckered. “Her name is still on the paperwork.”

“I haven’t filled out the paperwork yet.”

“Is that why it was hard to fire her? Because she gave you a good deal on the car?”

“It’s time for you to mind your business, Willa.” His harsh tone had me sinking in my seat.

Jesus, when were we getting to Vanessa’s? I glanced outside and was stunned to realize we were going in the wrong direction. Great. More awkward time spent with Martin.

“Hey, Martin, you’re headed the wrong way. My friend lives down by UIC.”

“You’re not going to your friend’s place.”

My head swung toward, little butterflies of anxiety fluttering in my stomach. “What? Why? Where am I going?”

Martin pulled into the back of an industrial building and turned to me. “You have something I want and I plan to provide the adequate persuasion to give it to me.”

My eyes bulged. “What the hell could I possibly have that you want?”

He shook his head and made a tsking noise, as if I was being a stubborn child. “I knew you’d be this way. That’s why I brought you here.”

I reached for the door, but his hand was suddenly wrapped around my throat, his fingers pushing against the side of my neck. I blinked up into his terrifying, entirely too close face, dizziness washing over me.

He was choking me—killing me? My hands reached up to dislodge his tightening grasp, but he was too strong, and I was growing weaker by the second.

“Good night, Willa,” he said and then there was nothing but blackness.

Chapter 24

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