Page 154 of Wicked Minds
Her eyes gleam while I fight back the urge to wrinkle my nose. “You can be as rough as you want with me.” Leaning in until her lips are inches from my cheek, she whispers, “I like it.”
Bleugh. Someone bring me a bucket, quick.
With monumental effort, I force my features into a smirk as I pull slightly back, grateful for the modicum of distance as I get down to business. “Before we get carried away, we should discuss business. Why don’t you tell me what you’re after?”
For a brief second, that look of desire twists into suspicion before she smooths it out. “A girl needs her secrets, Mr. Ruthless.”
Bringing my face down, my breath fans over her ear as I drop my voice, “How can I know how best to help you if I don’t know what specifically you’re looking for?”
Watching her, I can see the uncertainty in her eyes as she drags her siren-red lower lip into her mouth and hating myself for every minute of this, I reach out and trace her jaw with my fingers. “A gorgeous woman like yourself,” I say, putting on my best seductive tone and disgusted that I’m using it on this bitch. “Could easily end up in a sticky situation if she doesn’t know what she’s doing. There’s a lot of depraved people out there.” I drop my gaze down her body. “People who would be more than happy to take advantage of a pretty little thing like you.”
With that lip still trapped between her teeth, a smirk appears on her face. “How do I know you’re not one of those people?”
My focus drifts to thoughts of Riley in my arms, how it felt finally being inside of her, having her wrapped around me in the most intimate of ways. My gaze grows heated, the bitch in front of me ignorant of the fact my desire isnotfor her, but for herdaughter. “There’s only one thing I want to take advantage of when it comes to you,” I state with a cocky smirk, deliberately dropping my gaze to her obviously fake tits spilling out of her too-tight dress.
Placing her hand high on my thigh—as if she has any fucking right to touch me—she emits this stupid girly giggle that has my entire body wanting to recoil. “Alright.” Shifting so her leg presses against mine, she lowers her voice to a near whisper. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s worried about someone in the hall possibly overhearing or if it’s an excuse to get closer. “I’m looking to sell something rather… sensitive.”
My hackles instantly rise, and my fingers fold into my palm to restrain myself from demandingwhatshe is looking to sell. That sort of outburst would only raise her suspicions, which is the very last thing I need to do.
However, her admission gives me a bit more of an idea of what she’s expecting from this meeting: someone to help her get onto the black market, or a similar platform.
Told you it would be something highly illegal!
Instead of strangling the information out of her like I want to, I force my lips into a small, easy smile. “There are many controversial items for sale if you know where to look—drugs, antiquities, humans, organs. You looking to sell an organ, gorgeous?”
Her face scrunches. “Definitely not.”
“If you help me narrow it down,” I say lowly, “I’ll know who to put you in touch with.”
Staring up at me, she pushes her lips out in a pout. “What if you think less of me?”
I see her question for what it is—distrust, still.
“Baby, whatever it is, I’ve seen worse. You have no idea of the depravity of the world I live in. The twisted shit I’ve seen and participated in. Everything from underground fighting—which, trust me, is nothing like the MMA shit you see on TV—to participating in auctions of all sorts: rare artwork, weapons, even humans.” I force my lips up. “Ever fancied getting yourself a male sex toy?”
Another manicured finger is scraped along my bicep, this time followed up by her other hand sliding around to the inside of my thigh, precariously close to myveryflaccid dick. “I’d much rather have your company,” she flirts, buttering me up.
I give her another fake as fuck cocky smirk. “All I’m saying, gorgeous, is that I can meetallyour needs.”
“Mmm, I don’t doubt that.”
I allow her to paw at me for a moment. She’s on the fence, I can tell. Not sure whether she can trust me or not.
“Look, sweetheart, trust goes both ways,” I state, sliding out of the booth. “No hard feelings if you’ve changed your mind, but if that’s the case”—I thumb the doorway—“I have other work I need to get to.”
I barely make it a single step toward the door before she reaches across the table, her talons digging into my arm. “No.” I pause, staring down at her as she anxiously flicks her tongue out. “I’m looking… to sell a… person—a child, to be exact.”
Everything in me locks up. I swear, even the blood is frozen in my veins.Thisis the confirmation I needed. The confirmation of what I’d already presumed. I think I suspected it the second I saw that post. It’s why I couldn’t let it go. Why I blindly agreed to tonight’s meeting.
I’m sure my grin is garish, all teeth as I place my hand flat on the table and lean down. “Then I’m exactly the person to help you do that.”
Sliding back into the booth, I tolerate every second of her hands on me, because now I know what the stakes are. I’ll tolerate anything to ensure she trusts me. Trusts me enough tohand over Aurora and let me walk away with her, no questions asked.
“Tell me about the child. Buyers and auctioneers will want basic details—height, weight, hair, and eye color. A photo is best if you have it.”
“Oh, uh, no. I don’t have one, but, erm, I can get one.”
I nod, listening silently as she describes Aurora to a T, utterly oblivious of the storm brewing inside me with each bitter word she spews. Thankfully, I can pretend to be focused on the job instead of her, as my face is a blank mask to contain the fury coursing through my body. Any flirty looks would portray how close I am to snapping her neck.
