Page 94 of Out of the Shadows

“Who are you?”

Again, he ignored her question. Instead, he fiddled with his phone one-handed. She took a moment to commit his figure to memory. Though he wore a ski mask, she saw enough of his skin to know he was white and had dark-blond hair poking out of the bottom edge of the mask. He was taller than her—which didn’t say much—but he was a few inches shorter than Gavin’s six-two. The guy was deceptively strong and had a lean runner’s build.

She narrowed her eyes when he glanced up, pointed his phone at her, and chuckled. “Say hi to the camera,” he said in that stupid singsong voice.

The fucker.

With another guffaw, he tapped his screen and grinned, pointing the gun at his phone. He must have switched the camera to selfie mode. “As you can see, asshole, I have your girlfriend. I’ll be calling you in twenty minutes, so you better be ready with the money. Ten million. Chop-chop, or else I’ll chop chop your lady friend.” He ended the video and sent her a smile that had chills racing up her spine.

There was no way she’d heard that right. “You’re ransoming me for tenmilliondollars?”

His smile grew wider. His teeth were glaringly white against the black ski mask.

Holy shit, this guy is psychotic.

“Oh, I’ll push for more, but ten mil will be fine for now.” He texted something, the video presumably, and then pocketed his phone.

As she continued to work the binding on her wrists, Bean’s mind whirled, trying to place him. He didn’t have an accent and spoke with a pompous air. Sheknewshe should know who he was, but his voice wasn’t familiar. If she could get him to talk more, maybe he’d say something to jog her brain.

Minutes passed before she spoke. “Look, mister, I don’t know who you think I am, but trust me, I’m not who you’re looking for.No oneis going to pay ten million for me.”

He scoffed. “Oh, so you’re not Gavin Frazier’s girlfriend?”

Her heart stopped, but she managed to keep her face neutral. Or at least she’d hoped so.Think, Bean!

“Everyone’s always underestimating me,” he said, slowly pacing in front of her and waving his gun as he spoke. “They think I’m a fuckup. But you know what? I’m a fuckinggenius. A genius who’s going to have an extra ten million in twenty minutes care of Gavin fucking Frazier. That asshole owes me.”

The man stalked back and forth like a caged animal. Minutes ticked by in silence as her eyes tracked his every movement. The binding on her wrists was nearly undone, and a plan formed in her mind. It was half-assed and certainly risky, but it was all she had.

There was no way in hell this guy knew what kind of relationship she and Gavin had.Shebarely knew. The onlypeople who’d seen them together romantically were people she trusted with her life.

“Look, I’m telling you, Gavin isn’t going to pay ten million for me. He’s not serious about me. We fuck. That’s it. He’s not going to shell out that kind of money. Aside from fucking, he and I barely know each other.”

Even though everything she said was a lie, the words she spoke still turned her stomach. Because she and Gavin weren’t just fucking. Somewhere along the line, she’d fallen in love with the man. And she knew he felt the same way about her. Though he hadn’t said the words out loud, she’d seen it in each and every one of his actions. Every damn thing he’d done, his every touch, his every gesture had showed her how much he loved her. There was no doubt in her mind that he’d pay any amount to get her back. Just like she’d do the same for him.

It pissed her off that this asshole was trying to take that away from her. She wasn’t sure if Gavin and her teammates were going to be able to find her, so it was up to her to try and save herself.

The man shook his head, making a disgusted sound. “Please. I was there when you two were all over each other. And he confirmed it two days ago. I heard it with my own ears. You two are more than just a booty call.”

The puzzle pieces were all there, but they weren’t fitting together...

“Then you saw and heard wrong. Gavin and I aren’t an exclusive couple.”

“Sorry, but I’m not buying it. You see, no man can resist my lover, but he did. Twice. That’s how I know the two of you are serious. Ten million serious.” He laughed as if he’d made a joke and tucked his gun into the front of his pants.

Glaring at him, she hoped he’d accidently shoot his own dick off.Who the hell is this assho?—

It clicked.

All the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place.

Branson. Fucking. Whitcomb.

And Constance—hislover.

Bean didn’t bother holding back her cringe. Yet another reason to hate that word.Stay on task, dammit!

She eyed him up and down, putting every ounce of disgust in her gaze, which wasn’t hard. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re wrong yet again. Gavin fucks plenty of other women. Maybe he was able to resist your lover because he didn’t want to dip his dick into some dirty, used puss?—”

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