Page 55 of Wretched Choices

“I’m not letting you go in there alone.”

I huff. “I’ll be fine. I’m used to this part of my job.”

His jaw ticks, and he narrows his eyes at me. “No. I’m coming with you. You can deal with it, or I can drag you back to the car. Then I will drive us back to the hotel and lock you up in that suite until you come to your senses.”

“This is not my first rodeo, Salvatore.”

“Don’t I know it. But in there,” he nods to the building, “I don’t think you can seduce anyone with your looks.”

The shock of his accusation hits hard, making me speechless. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, you’re excused. Gabriel was sure you planned our little encounter in my office. At first, I thought the same, but after I found out who you are, I was sure you didn’t.”

I take two steps in his direction, angry at his assumptions. I stop only when I’m toe to toe with him.

I point a finger at his chest. “You know nothing about me other than what you learned during your background check on me. What I feel, what I want, and who I am here.” I point to my chest. “You don’t know, so before you judge me and say things you will regret, think again.”

He grabs my wrist and pulls me into his chest. “I would advise you not to threaten me, Bella. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”

I try to pull my hand free. “By insulting me?” His grip on my wrist is iron-clad. Without a second thought, I clench my fist and punch him on the side of his nose. Things I learned in my self-defense course.

“See, I can use my body for everything.” I make a mocking sound and leave him behind me, clutching his nose.

I make a beeline around the factory, where I find a side door that’s been ripped off and replaced with cloth. Before I can enter, Salvatore catches up with me. He places his hand in front of me, not letting me enter, but this time, he isn’t touching me.

“Let me go first.” He doesn’t wait for an answer before he moves the cloth and enters. He holds it for me so I can come through.

At the entrance, there are a lot of displaced things. However, as we walk inside, the place is clean. The old storehouse has been filled with old furniture. We walk farther inside to the far end,where there are some rooms. One is the kitchen and looks well-equipped. We walk down until we reach the room where voices can be heard. Two girls sit on a makeshift bed on the floor. One is blond with short pixie-cut hair, and the other has wild long red curls. They both startle as they see us.

One of them reaches for something under the pillow, but before they can do anything, Salvatore pulls his gun, pointing at them.

“Put it down. We’re only here to talk,” he says.

“I’m looking for Hope.” I jump in before the situation worsens.

They both look at each other. “Why?” the blond asks.

“I have some questions regarding her mother, Kelly.”

The other girl stands and looks Salvatore dead in the eye. “You can put the gun down.” She raises her hands. “We don’t have any weapons.”

Salvatore looks from her to the other girl before he puts it back behind his back. However, he stays alert by my side.

She takes a step toward me. She is just an inch shorter than me. “Kelly is dead. Has been for years. Why are you interested in her?”

“I’m interested in a story.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you a journalist?”

“Yes, I am.” I raise my chin.

She looks at me, then at Salvatore. “He isn’t.”

“No, he isn’t.”

What I thought would be a scared teenager is a strong young woman who isn’t scared to stand up for herself.

After a minute or two of a staring competition between us, a smile tugs on her lips.

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