Page 16 of Stolen

“Good,” I said, rising back up to my full height. “Lucky for you, I may still have some fun with her yet.”

I walked out of the room, leaving Jared in his curled-up mess while I headed down to see my head of security. I wanted to see how this tiny thing had managed to escape three guards while nearly killing one of them.

I found Scott in the security room intensely glaring at one of his numerous computer screens, no doubt observing the same show I was interested in. The desk he sat at was even bigger than mine to accommodate the ten monitors required for all the cameras we had set up in the warehouse for his design.

Scott was my second in command and head of all things security. With a skill set like his, I’d be stupid to waste his resourcefulness. After nearly a decade of loyal service to the US military as a Navy SEAL, it ended in a dishonorable discharge after allegedly torturing and killing some nobody who was wanted on charges of terrorism. The US government might not be a fan of his methods of persuasion, but I certainly was.

“You need a fucking haircut,” I commented, noticing his usual cropped black hair was now falling over his dark eyes.

“And you likely need a new fucking belt, I bet,” he countered, leaning back in his chair. The damn thing looked like it was on its last life as it creaked under the weight of his heavy ass. Scott was built much like I was and just as tall, so when working together, we made quite the intimidating pair, much to our advantage.

“Did you see her escape?” I asked as I came around to view the monitors.

“How could I not?” he replied, pulling up the video clips and pressing play.

We both watched as that slip of a girl managed to not only disarm Jared, but stab him, disorientate the two guards standing outside, and make it down the hall alone. Until she came around the corner.

“Damn!” Scott laughed as he turned to me. “She almost fucking made it.”

“She did not,” I added, rolling my eyes as I moved away from the desk.

“That was the best attempt I’ve ever witnessed,” he added. “I almost hope she tries it again. It would be worth the entertainment.”

“You’ll most likely get your wish,” I said, shaking my head at the thought.

Scott raised a brow at me. “You didn’t put the fear of God in her just now?”

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the desk. “It won’t be God she fears next time,” I said, thoughtful of the silent rage she had displayed earlier. “But she may need another reminder from time to time.”

Scott had the guts to actually chuckle. “You sound hopeful of that.”

I shrugged as I moved off the desk, pulling Jaden’s driver’s license from my pocket and tossing it onto the desk.

“I want everything you can find on her,” I said.

Scott picked the license up with his calloused meaty hand and examined it. “Why am I not surprised?” he said with a smart-ass smirk on his face.

“Just do it,” I said and headed for the door.

He stayed silent for a moment, a smirk hiding in the corner of his mouth.

“I’ll have it to you by tomorrow,” he replied before turning back to the monitors.

“Good.” Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

5

Little Star

* * *

The sound of something slamming against metal jerked me awake, the noise piercing my ears, creating an immediate headache.

“Wake up, bitch!” a guard above me yelled. I cracked my eyes and staggered to move, but my body felt like an eighteen-wheeler had crushed it.

“You have five seconds to get up before I drag you out of there by your skull.”

Looking up at the guard, I realized he was the one I had hook-kicked in the eye. He had a pretty nice shiner where my heel had made contact, and I felt a twinge of pride surge through me as I focused on the black puffiness I had created. No wonder he was being such a pushy asshole.

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