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She rushed to the last door in the corner and slipped inside.
“Kezlin!” Paxton rushed to the bed where Kezlin was cuffed. Her head rolled listlessly to one side.
“About fucking time,” she said in a thick voice.
“Kez? I thought you were drugged?” Paxton looked around, frantically searching for something to pick the lock on the cuff. Wearing the tight dress limited which tools she could bring with her.
“I am but fooled them in believing the dose they gave me left me comatose. I suppose they didn’t want me completely out of it, so the guards decided not to give me another shot. Another hour or so and I’ll be back to my usual self.”
Paxton checked her eyes. She returned her look with an almost clear gaze. “I can fight my way out, Paxton. Just get me the fuck loose!”
“Jordan, it’s time. Link my comms up to the rest.”
“You’re good to go,” she said seconds later.
“Jared, if you can hear me, I found Kezlin.”
“Fuck.” Paxton winced as his angry voice grated in her ear.
“Something wrong, Daddy?”
Paxton stopped her search at the sound of a husky voice in the background.
“Apologies for interrupting your fun, Commander,” she snapped. It was one thing to acknowledge he was role-playing but quite another to think what he was doing at the moment that caused Mia Kuntz to sound all hot and bothered. “I’m with Kezlin. She’s at the top floor, last room to the left of the stairs. It’s time for your meal from the menu... in case you forgot that’s why you’re here. Tell her you choose Chloe and get here quickly. There are people heading up the stairs.”
“Paxton, hide! I don’t know where the fuck he came from but there’s a heat source heading your way.” Jordan’s strangled warning came urgently.
“Someone is coming,” she said to Kezlin. “I’m going to hide in the—”
“What are you doing here?”
Paxton went cold at the familiar voice cracking through the air. She plastered a smile on her lips before she turned to face Luca Boneiro. He stood inside the door watching her suspiciously.
“I’m inspecting the menu but so far I’m not impressed with what I see.” She cast a glance at Kezlin with her lips curled into a smirk. “I suppose the promise of what you offered earlier has trumped my desire for the usual morsel I’m after.”
“This floor is off limits.” He glowered at her. “The rules are explained to every new member upon arrival. Somehow I doubt you paid attention... or perhaps you’re not who you claim to be.” He was in front of her before she realized he’d moved. He caught her left wrist in a painful grip. “You’re not wearing the guest bracelet everyone receives upon entry.” He pushed his face into hers. “Who the fuck are you and how did you get inside?”
“I arrived late.” Paxton planted a forced look of fear on her face. Her voice turned breathless. “You’re hurting me. Let go.”
“You don’t know what hurt means, whore, but you soon will.” Luca turned his head sideways at the raised voices and shouts drifting through the closed door.
Paxton had blocked the sounds in her ear after Jared’s voice snapped the order, “GO!” to concentrate on holding Luca’s attention. She had to give Jared time to get to them.
“You fucking bitch,” Luca sneered. He growled as she blocked the hit he swung at her head, twisted in his hold, and rammed her elbow straight into his gut. He grunted but sidestepped the knee intended for his groin.
“Ah, I love a good fight, especially with a slut in a red dress,” he snarled. His hand fisted her hair. An angry growl crawled from his lips as she twisted loose and left him standing with the blonde wig in his hand. His eyes narrowed in recognition as she shook her auburn tresses loose. “Well, well. How quaint. Thank you, Mrs. Lee, for saving me money to have you eliminated. Since you’re here, I’ll just do it myself.”
Paxton was an expert in hand-to-hand combat but Luca learned to fight on the streets of San Francisco at a young age. The combination of street fighting and martial arts were lethal.
She couldn’t carry a gun without it being noticed under the tight dress but had strapped a knife to her thigh. If he thought he had the upper hand because he was bigger than her, he had a surprise coming.
“You’re welcome to try,” she scoffed as she unsheathed the ivory handled knife.
He smiled as he watched her hunch into a crouch. “Who would’ve thought I’d indulge in some additional sport tonight?” He circled her, completely at ease as he kept his eyes on her. “I have to admit, I was impressed by your CV, Mrs. Lee, but you made a mistake interfering in my business. You might be an ex-army ranger but this is the big league and you’re a small fish trying to swim among the sharks. What makes you think you stand a chance?”
“She can kick your ass with one hand behind her back, you fucking bastard,” Kezlin interjected.
Luca didn’t take his eyes from Paxton as he responded to her taunt. “Be patient, slut. I’ll attend to you soon. Suffice it to say, once I’m done, so will you be.” He snorted. “At least for the balance of the weekend.”