Page 29 of Prettiest Little Thief
“Hey, boys. I see you finally found her.” Charles came to stand behind his desk. His dark hair was slicked back, showing off the salt and pepper at his temples. He was clean shaven, with a crisp, white dress shirt tucked into dark slacks. The smug grin beneath his hooked nose widened when his dark gaze landed on me. “Roe, so nice to see you again.” He took a seat in his chair, the hinges protesting under his weight.
I rolled my lips, not sure what I should say. That I had been arrested? That didn’t even seem to work with his henchmen. That I would promise to get him the money as soon as I finished up theother job I was on? The necklace was still sitting heavily between my breasts, warm metal against my clammy skin. Charles would deem our arrangement as more important. Which it likely was, considering I didn’t think Lucas had it in him to murder me. Whereas… Charles and his goons would do it in a heartbeat.
“You going to tell me where the money is, Roe?” Charles asked, cocking his head to the side and lacing his fingers together on the table in front of him.
I swallowed hard, trying to stop my body’s persistent tremors “I… I can get it to you soon. I just need an extension.” Charles’s face didn’t change. He still glared at me with as much intensity as a panther stalking its prey. I felt the urge to ramble to fill the silence creeping up my throat. “I just… I got arrested and could go back to jail if I don’t finish what I need to do first. But I promise if you give me a chance, I will get the money to you as soon as I can.”
Charles slapped his hand on the table. I jumped at the sound and curled in on myself. A low chuckle came from him. “An extension?” Licking my lips, I hesitated but nodded. “Well why didn’t you say so?” His laugh became louder. More forced as his movements stiffened. He swiveled back and forth in his chair a few times before coming to a stop again.
“Please,” I croaked out. My throat as dry as a desert.
Charles stopped laughing. He took me in with his hard gaze. “Sweetheart, you could have just asked me.” The tension in my body relaxed a tad. “And I would have told you, that the Crimson Brotherhood doesn’t give extensions.”
Without a word of instruction, Evan and Rocco grabbed me by my arms and pulled me to my feet. I struggled, trying to pull myself free from their firm grip. “No! Please, Charles,” I begged. Tears swam in my eyes, and I was in flight or fight mode. “Please!” My screams went unanswered as the two men dragged me from the room. I kicked my feet and whipped my body back and forth violently. “No! Charles!” My shouts fell on deaf ears.
“Calm the fuck down and quit your damn screaming. Or I’ll make you fucking stop,” Rocco said. He grabbed a fistful of my hair, and I shrieked at the sharp burn that emanated through my scalp.
Tears of fear and anguish trickled their way down my cheeks, scalding against my skin. The fight was draining me, but I kept squirming with the hope I could break free. But then what? Even if I did manage to get away from Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, how the heck would I get off of the property without being thoroughly hunted? I couldn’t. The answer was plain as day.
I was going to end up tortured and murdered because of my own stupid deals. Who was dumb enough to get involved with the Crimsons? Me. That’s who. I had practically dug my own grave when I agreed to the loan with Charles.
My muscles burned from kicking and tugging, trying to free myself. I finally gave up, breathing heavily, with my hair sticking to my cheeks from the wetness, and my feet dragged along the floor. A sob came from me as the men pulled me into a luxurious glass elevator and pressed the button to the basement. Dread coursed through me all over again. They were going to lock me away where I would never be found.
“If you’re going to kill me, can you just get it over with now?” I asked. Being held captive and beaten bloody was so much worse than a quick death. At least, then, I could be with my mom.
The elevator moved down at a snail’s pace.
“No can do, princess. Charles wants you to learn your lesson,” Rocco purred with excitement.
“You know, we don’t typically have women in the chamber,” Evan said. “I think I can count on one hand how many we’ve had since I’ve been working with Charles.”
“I can’t wait,” Rocco said. I glanced up at him, and his grin was downright wicked. My stomach twisted.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened into a darkened hallway. There was a small amount of red light that penetrated the space from a few sconces on the wall. The men released my arms and shoved me forward, ripping my parka from my torso. I almost lost my balance.
“Move it,” Rocco barked.
I trudged through the hall with my arms wrapped tightly around me. The Tweedles followed closely behind, nearly stepping on the heels of my Converse. We came to a locked door, and Evan pulled a key from his pocket and opened it. Light filtered into the hall, and it took a moment for me to really understand what was in front of me. When my brain caught up with what I was taking in, I swallowed hard.
A room with brick walls and no windows. Cages hung from the ceiling, a variety of knives were on display, rusty saws, iron chains bolted to the wall. Dried blood was splattered along the floor.
I stepped back, ready to run for my life. Damn the Tweedles, I would kill them if I had to. But a bruising grip clutched around my bicep. “No. No!” I screamed. And screamed. Begged and begged. The two of them forced me forward and closed the door behind us with a slam.
Evan and Rocco worked together to restrain me, utilizing the chains linked to the wall to keep me prisoner. The chill of the onyx metal was icy against my wrists. The fight left me, and more tears cascaded down my face.
I wouldn’t be going anywhere for a long while.
Chapter Seventeen
Lucas
A door slammed, and the sound of running steps thumped in the hall.
What the fuck?
I strode across my bedroom and flung open the door, immediately hearing crying.
Sarah sat in a corner, curled up in a ball. Her yellow dress was swirled out around her slim frame, bare feet visible. My brows creased as my steps quickened to get to her.
