Page 24 of Unholy Cross

Cross looked around the studio apartment.He led her over to the couch and pushed her until she draped chest-down on the cushions.Then he used his weight to keep her in place as he unplugged the lamp on the end table and jerked the cord out of the side.Then he tied her hands with it.

“Asshole!”she raged.“Let me go, you dick-for-brains!”

He pulled her onto her feet.“You’re loud.”

“Fuck off.”

“Where’s your dad?”

“Like I’m going to tell you,” she sneered.

“You know your father owes money to a loan shark, right?He needs to pay that back, so you either tell me where he is or...”

“Or what?”she taunted.“Going to rough up a girl?”

“You think I haven’t done that before?”

She blinked, suddenly looking a little unsure.Then her chin went up defiantly.

“Collateral it is,” he murmured, suddenly realizing he could deliver this little hellcat to Jeremiah.He grinned.This was going to be hilarious.“Now, I gotta find some duct tape.”

Chapter Eleven

The elevator door openedand Cross pulled Willa out, her dragging feet not slowing them down at all.Low-pitched growls punctuated every reluctant step.He punched in the door code and greeted Evren as he entered.His stepbrother looked from him to the girl and back, and amusement lit up his face.

“Jeremiah, Aera is back,” he called out.Then he lowered his voice.“He’s gonna kill you.”

“A little payback never hurt anyone.”

Evren looked at him with pity.“Nah, it’s going to hurt.”

Cross shrugged just as Jeremiah rounded the foyer.He halted and mimicked Evren, playing tennis as he looked back and forth.

“Who the fuck is this?”Jeremiah demanded.

“Collateral.”

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