Page 67 of Wicked Oath
I arrive in the parking lot of the fight ring to see Owen’s car. He and James must be inside, already working on killing each other.
As I’m about to get out of the car, my phone rings from an incoming call from Lucy. I know I should ignore it since I have more pressing matters, but I can’t believe she told Owen and my dad before I could.
I quickly accept the call. “What?”
“Oh, Olivia, I’m so sorry.”
I roll my eyes. “Lucy, now’s not a good time.”
“It’s just … I know you said you were going to talk to James first, but it just slipped out. Owen came over to deliver something to my dad, and the minute I saw him, I knew he had a right to know, so I … told him everything. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. He’s probably on his way over to you. He looked pissed. But at least he actually looked at me when I talked to him. That’s a first.”
“And normally, I’d be happy for you, Lucy, but now’s really not a good time. I already know you told him. He stormed in with my dad, and now, he and James are in the middle of a death match. I need to go stop it.”
“Shit. Are you mad at me?”
“What do you think?” I ask calmly. My anger with Lucy is at a low simmer, and I have more important things on my mind than Lucy’s irrational actions.
“Right. You’re definitely mad at me. Ok. Go stop that fight. I don’t want Owen to die.”
“And I don’t want James to die, so bye, Lucy.” I hang up before she can respond. I’ll forgive her in time since she’s my best friend. She can be ditzy, but she means well.
But right now, I have a fight to stop.
I get out of my car and begin to walk toward the club doors, feeling my heartbeat pulsing so hard throughout me. I have no idea how I’m going to stop this, but I have to try.
But the minute my fingers touch the door handle, a couple of cars come whizzing into the parking lot. I jerk back, startled by the loud noise of revving engines and squealing tires.
A group of men get out of the cars and walk toward the entrance—and me—with purpose. Something in my gut tells me to hide, so I run around the side of the building, hoping they don’t see me.
How naïve of me.
“Grab her!” a guy shouts.
I look over my shoulder and see an intimidatingly large guy lumbering toward me. I pick up my speed until I’m full-on running. Of course, I’m running in the opposite direction of my car. Goddamnit. I should have run inside the building where James is, but I wasn’t thinking straight in my fear.
I scream as the man behind me catches up and pulls me roughly against him. “Got her!”
“Let go of me!” I struggle against his grip and kick back with my foot as James taught me. The man grunts but doesn’t let go. I claw at his arms and try to use another maneuver James showed me but to no avail. The man easily lifts me and carries me over to the group of men. He deposits me onto the ground. “What do you want? I just want to go back to my car.”
A smaller man steps forward, well,limpsforward. One of his legs is in a cast. The way he eyes me over makes me feel all itchy and dirty, like I’m both covered in mud and spiders. “You’re James’ wife.”
“Who?”
He chuckles. “Nice try. We know who you are, Olivia Donovan. We know the woman our boss is married to.”
I stand up taller. “Then what do you want with me? James is inside. If you need to speak to him, there he is.” I wave a hand toward the club.
“You see, James won’t come willingly once he learns what we know, so we need you.”
“Why?”
“So we can trade you for him, and he’ll come all nice and easy.”
I look around the group. “Are you mad at James for something?”
The easy smile on the man’s face morphs into anger. It happens so fast that it startles me. “Actually, yes. He fucking tricked us. He sent us on a mission to go after one of your father’s shipments. You see, your pretty boy husband is trying to fuck over your dad.”
“I already know that. You can’t hurt me by surprising me.”
