Page 144 of Illicit

Besides his face that ages him well beyond his years, he looks fit. Even healthy.

Must be the lack of drugs in prison.

He’s struggling to get out because of Teagan.

I take a step forward before I stop myself. He’s dragging her out of the car. She struggles as he twists her arm to fucking manhandle her.

She cries out in pain when she tumbles from the car to the pavement. Even through the shrouded darkness, I can see that she’s wearing the same thing she was when I kissed her goodbye at her parents’ house this morning, but she’s not wearing shoes. And since she came from the mall, I know it’s not her own doing.

Her hair is a mess, and she looks exhausted.

Exhausted, but relieved the moment my gaze locks on her.

My father yanks her to his side like she’s a ragdoll and not the woman I plan on making my wife as soon as fucking possible.

She whimpers.

My heart shatters.

He focuses his evil stare on me. It doesn’t feel any different than it ever has. “Ricky, we’re reunited. And what do you know … you turned out … fucking normal.”

I want to tell him that he turned out to be the biggest ass on the planet, but I don’t take the time. Instead, I tilt my head to Teagan, never taking my eyes off him. “Let her go.”

He shrugs as he gives Teagan a jerk in his tight grip. “What? After all this time, that’s it? You don’t want to catch up?”

“The only thing I want is her.” I hold up the duffle. “Come get your money.”

He narrows his eyes. “Unzip it. I want to see.”

I turn my gaze to Teagan as I unzip the bag and rip it open. He studies the contents for the short time I allow. Instead of waiting for him to ask me to count it for him, I zip the bag and give it a short toss. It lands closer to me than him when I demand, “Let her go.”

He doesn’t.

He proves he’s just as much of a jackass as ever and will never go away on his own.

When he reaches behind his back, I tense. He pulls out a gun and loses what little control he pretended to maintain.

I need to get her away from him long enough for them to take a shot.

He aims the weapon straight at me. “You think I turned into an idiot in lockup?”

What he doesn’t know is I thrive when I’m trying to be the exact opposite of him. My tone is calm and even. I take three steps toward them, putting the money closer to me. “I don’t have to think anything. Here’s what I know … I’m a federal agent. I worked for Miami PD for three years. You just kidnapped the daughter of a respected, well-liked, and well-known agent.”

Teagan trembles and doesn’t take her eyes off the gun.

My father’s anxious eyes dart between me and the money.

I close the distance between us by another slow and steady step and keep talking. “If you think I came here by myself, then who’s the idiot now? Put the fucking gun down.”

His face turns red, and even in the darkness, I see a vein pop on his temple. He screams, “I’m your fucking father! You put me away for fifteen years!”

I take another step and ignore his words. My only focus is her. “Let her go.”

Teagan screams in pain from where he squeezes her.

He tightens his grasp on the gun. Even through the shadows, I see his finger flirt with the trigger. “I’ll kill you, boy. I’ll fucking take you down for what you did to me.”

“No!” Teagan screams.

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