Page 72 of Dealing Dirty
He blocks every blow as I weakly elbow his chest, quickly losing my adrenaline high.
“You son of a bitch!” I sob. “How could you do this to me?”
What little energy I had left to fight is now expended. I blink back hot tears, refusing to give him the satisfaction of breaking me. “We had a deal.”
“Calm down,” he shushes me.
Fire explodes behind my sternum. “You’ve got some nerve telling a woman you’re physically restraining to calm down.”
“Listen to me, sweetness. You’re in real danger here.”
Rough laughter pushes past the knot in my throat. “What was your first clue? Being held prisoner in a basement or the fact thatyouset this whole thing up? You’re nothing but a filthy liar.”
Skin blazing, I twist in his hold, but I’m met with an unexpected sincerity in those slate gray eyes.
“I had nothing to do with this, Juliana, I assure you.”
“Like I’m going to believe a word that comes out of your mouth,” I snarl.
An eerie silence settles as Jackie’s heart pounds between my shoulder blades. “Where am I?”
“My home,” he says plainly.
“Love what you’ve done with the place. Your secret torture chambers are a real nice touch,” I quip as another set of footsteps sounds from the stairs.
Panic spreads when Jackie crushes me against him, whispering against my ear, “It’s Bruce.”
Short, tired breaths inch closer and closer to where Jackie and I stand. His smooth hands wrap around my thin forearms in a punishing hold, and I thrash anew, snapping my gaze toward the opening door.
The man who stars in my nightmares strides into the room, crooking a lone brow.
Bruce tsks, trailing angry eyes over the two of us.
“Jackie, come now.” His drawl is laced with a touch of humor. “You’ve got your pick of gorgeous, willing women upstairs, yet you sniff out the only one who’s off-limits?”
My hand twitches to slap that seedy smile off his face.
“Juliana,” Bruce greets me with a simple slide of his gaze. The barest hint of emotion flickers before it’s snuffed out. No love, no remorse, just a heartless black void.
“Diablo. I see your kidnapping routine precedes you.”
His broad shoulders bounce with a chuckle as he snaps his fingers. Jackie quickly releases me.
“Somehow, you’ve gotten caught in the crossfire, my dear.”
Surely, by now he’s figured out that Ethan brought me along in hopes of keeping his prize.
“What do you want with the girl?” I ask.
Jackie’s body heat swathes me, but he doesn’t utter a word.
Bruce stuffs his hands in the pockets of his navy blue suit, scuffing his shoe against the ground in thought. How could the person standing here now be the same saint who’s repeatedly saved me from the idiotic mistakes of my youth? He’s given me money, advice, and for better or worse… love.
“She’s my ticket to keepin’ those mangy mutts off my back while I rebuild The Pound to my liking. Who knew their leader had a ripe young thing like her running around? She would have been enough to hold them, but it seems Lady Luck has dropped another opportunity in my lap.”
He addresses me but glances at Jackie. “Maybe I’ll even put you to work.”
Bruce’s eyes convey to Jackie what he doesn’t care to share in front of me.
