Page 40 of Wild Night

He shifts the car intoDriveand pulls away from the curb wordlessly, heading straight for the winery. I know that’s where he’s going. Not only because I drove this route every single day, to and from, for years but also because it’s the only thing in this direction.

The winery is surrounded by nothingness. It’s a beautiful oasis near the beach, surrounded by coastal foothills and rocks… so many rocks in three directions. The fourth is the ocean itself.

The entire drive, I not only hope but pray that someone is either able to stop him from whatever it is he has planned or that I have a moment to run. I know that winery like the back of my hand, and if I get the chance, I’m out of there. I would rather die in the foothills than by this asshole’s hands.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

POSEY

The winery is suspiciouslyempty as the car careens down the dirt drive. I’m not sure why I expect him to drive up to the tasting room. He doesn’t. He makes his way toward the wine cellar. I’ve only been down there a few times. It wasn’t really part of my job to frequent the large space.

When he stops at the small entrance, Lucian doesn’t even look over at me. Instead, he opens the car door, unfolds from his fancy sedan, then jogs around the front of the car, his gaze pinned on mine and never leaving.

There is no running from him here, and at the same time, I’m afraid that if I go down into that cellar, I will never see the light of day again. When he opens the door, I reluctantly step out of the car, my entire body trembling as my face aches. I honestly don’t think I have ever been this terrified in my life.

What the hell did I get myself into?

Lucian grabs my arm again, no doubt leaving a new set of bruises before he drags me behind him. He’s holding on tootightly for me to get away. I know I won’t be able to break free, not unless he gets distracted.

Without speaking, he wrenches the cellar door open. It’s a heavy, solid antique mahogany double door that I was able to snag for the winery for twenty-four thousand dollars. It’s absolutely stunning and fits the style of the rustic yet elegant venue.

Now I am cursing that door because there is no way in fuck I’m going to be able to break out of here unheard—even if I could sneak away unseen.

Lucian pushes me down the stone steps, and my legs start moving so quickly that I almost lose my balance completely and fall. It might be a blessing if I died falling down these steps, but I catch myself by gripping the solid mahogany handrailing.

There are voices in the distance, and I can only hope that one of those voices is going to save me instead of sacrifice me. We move closer and closer and only stop when Lucian curls his fingers in the back of my hair, wrenching me backward.

Closing my eyes, I fight the urge to cry out in pain. I don’t want to give this asshole any satisfaction. Then, as I’m trying to keep from making a noise, I feel him lean closer to me, his lips on the shell of my ear.

“I should have fucked you one more time before I killed you. I have to admit, your cunt was always good.”

Clenching my teeth, I gnash them together, closing my eyes and holding on to my composure by just a single fucking thread.What an asshole. A complete fucking asshole.

“What the fuck?” a familiar voice barks.

When I open my eyes, I come face to face with the owner of the winery. His name is Montague Castellan, but everyone who works for him affectionately calls him Monty. I don’t know him well. I’ve only really seen him in passing. He’s a busy manwith things to do… apparently, things that include whatever it is Lucian is involved in.

“I was going to just kill the bitch, but something told me an audience for that would be better,” Lucian says, his last words ending in a sneer.

God, what a complete asshole.

Monty widens his stance, crossing his arms over his chest as he tips his chin slightly and looks down at Lucian. He doesn’t look at me, although I can feel he is very aware of exactly where I am and that Lucian has a tight grip on me.

“What do you want?” Monty asks.

“Everything,” Lucian hisses. “I want it all, or I’m going to the Feds with everything I know.”

Monty snorts as if he finds this boring and hilarious at the same time. I don’t know how to describe it, but I do know that whatever he’s showing, it’s only surface level. His head is working behind those eyes of his, and he is not going to do anything that this man wants.

Which I hope means good things for me.

Because I don’t want Lucian to do anything to me, especially not what he wants to do… in any way whatsoever. In fact, I hope that after today, I’ll never have to see him again… ever.

Except I prefer to be breathing and never see him again, not dead the way he wants. Because I’m with Monty. He’s not getting what he wants from me.

“And you’ll tell the Feds what?” Monty asks, sounding rather cocky, which makes me nervous because Lucian’s grip on my hair tightens at the nonchalant tone Monty puts forth.

Lucian growls, then lets out a chuckle behind me before he speaks. “I’m going to tell them about your whole operation. And they’ll believe me because I’m one of them. I’ve been undercover for four years.”

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