Page 7 of Kiss the Dawn
Hemlock pocketed his coin and raked his hair back with a sigh. “If the consortium have her under their wing, then…I wish I could go with you.”
“Why can’t you?” Holly asked.
“Strict law and red tape,” Lorenzo answered for him.
No, there was more to it than that, but the look on Hemlock’s face and Lorenzo’s tone warned me not to push the issue. I’d have to find out from him later. Because I had no doubt that if he could come with me, he would and damn the red tape. Lorenzo would have found a way to cut through that.
“We should eat,” Merry said. “I’ll save some for Padma and Edwin.”
I glanced at the clock. It was just past six. Two hours and Crush would be descending on Shay and his minions. I hoped he broke the fucker’s face.
Chapter 3
PADMA
My mouth tastes like mothballs, and my head feels like someone’s filled it with cotton wool. Whatever drug the bastard Shay used on us is potent. Even my vision is slightly blurry.
Edwin is still passed out on his side, his bandaged arm facing the ceiling. I’m tempted to wake him, but I’ll give him a few more minutes of blissful oblivion. It’s not like he can do much even if he does wake.
We’re in a bare room of a warehouse perhaps. Abandoned, obviously, because where else would you keep your kidnap victims? The floor is dusty and looks rotten in places, and the windows are boarded up so only bars of moonlight can get through. It smells of mildew and damp. There’s only oneexit, which is open, letting in enough light to dispel the gathering shadows. Shay knows we can’t make a break for it with our hands tied behind our backs and feet bound. It took me almost twenty minutes to get myself into a sitting position when I woke. Thank goodness for strong core muscles.
My arm throbs beneath the bandage. What did he do to us?
As if summoned by my thoughts, Shay enters the room carrying a takeout cup of coffee and eating a donut.
“Oh, good, you’re awake. I was starting to worry.”
“What the fuck are you playing at, Shay?”
“Just trying to get a job done. I need your friend Orina, and you’re my bait.”
“A job? What job involves assaulting a woman and kidnapping her friends?”
“Look, I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I will do whatever it takes to claim my bounty.”
“Orina has a bounty on her head?”
“Oh yes. And it’s a big one.” He takes a bite of his donut and jam dribbles out, but he catches it with his tongue and licks his lips clean of the sugary mess before continuing. “One that’s worth killing for.” He winks.
Killing for? “You’re crazy.”
“No, just resourceful.”
“She’s not just going to walk into your trap because you claim to have us.”
“Oh, I know, which is why I sent her proof.” He points at my arm. “A little skin with your tattoo on it.” He cants his head. “Cute, by the way, that you got matching ones.”
My cheeks heat, and my lungs grow tight with rage. “You desecrated my blessing?”
“Your what?”
“That mark is a blessing from the white wings, you bastard!”
He winces. “Sorry.”
“You could have just taken a fucking photo of us and sent that.”
He makes an ‘o’ with his mouth. “Shit. Didn’t think of that one.”
