Page 39 of Grimm County Wishes (Grimm County Lawmen #4)

“ O h, good, she’s moving. I thought she’d be out for hours.”

Jeannie heard a woman’s voice. It sounded familiar, but it was hard to tell. The sound was muffled, like she had cotton stuck in her ears.

“You’ve really got the dosing down, Uncle V.”

A man’s laughter filled the air, jolting Jeannie out of the fog.

“Experience, my dear. Don’t worry, you’ll get there one day,” he answered.

Fuck, was that Victor? Gah, she knew something was off with that old fart.

“Did you wire the money to my account?” The woman’s voice was clearer now. And Jeannie knew who she was. The same woman she’d befriended over the last several weeks.

“Did you do everything I asked?”

Iona huffed. “She’s here, isn’t she? I blew up her life in that small town, so she’s got nothing left there.

I may not have snagged the guy, but it doesn’t matter.

I planted enough doubt in her mind. But even if she’s so pathetic to want my sloppy seconds, it doesn’t matter. He proposed to that lawyer chick.”

“Excellent. The money will be in your account by morning. You can leave us.”

Iona laughed. “Daddy was right. You are one sick fuck. There are kinks, and then there are kinks . But hey, you do you! Have fun, and we’ll see you at Christmas.”

Jeannie listened to her footsteps leave, closing a door behind her. She fought the urge to shiver. Why was she so cold?

“You can open your eyes, little Jeannie. I know you’re awake.”

She took a deep breath. So much for playing dead. But this was fine. Being awake would play to her advantage. She was smart and had talked her way out of dozens of hairy situations in the past.

She slowly opened her eyes and gasped as she took in the room.

It reminded her of the inside of a circus tent.

Long strips of brightly colored fabric covered the walls.

They started in the center of the ceiling, then draped down.

The floor was littered with decorative pillows and poufs, almost giving the vibe of a —

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” she shouted, looking down at her barely there outfit.

She was wearing a light pink crop top with gold chains circling her chest and waist, with matching pink see-through harem pants with tiny little pink panties underneath.

Around her neck was a gold choker, attached to a long chain hooked to the floor. “You stuck me in a genie sex dungeon?”

Victor licked his lips. “Glad you understand the situation. You know, if anyone else had told me I couldn’t have Marina back, I would have ended them that night.

But there was something special about you.

She was just one person, one pretty little singer in a sea of pretty little singers.

But you, my dear, are a kingmaker. You make success out of nothing.

You make dreams come true. I knew I had to have you for my collection.

” He took off his suit jacket and set it on one of the poufs.

Then he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the first button on his shirt. “I’m ready to make my first wish.”

Holy Jesus. This guy was out of his mind.

Maybe she shouldn’t have laughed so hard at Al about his pube-stealing witch.

Damn karma. But it was fine. Al had taught her self-defense.

She might be on a leash, but her arms and legs were free.

She just needed to buy a little time, play his weird freaky game, and then, shazam! Karate chop his balls off .

She rubbed her hands together and nodded. “Yeah, okay sure. Let’s hear it. Wish number one.” Jeannie fought the urge to roll her eyes.

“I wish for you to fall in love with me.”

“Uh, good one.” Jeannie put her palms together and bowed her head. “Ping! Wish granted.” She shook her head, her high ponytail swaying back and forth. This guy was so stupid. “Ohh, Victor, you’re home! So good to see you. Did you have a nice day?”

She smiled brightly, drawing on years of experience to keep up the ruse. She was Southern and fake sincerity was encoded in her DNA. It was an unusual superpower, but it was hers, nonetheless.

“Oh genie, it was so stressful. Everyone expects so much from me, and it’s so hard to run a company.” He pouted, his bottom lip sticking out.

Jeannie smiled, an idea forming in her head. “Perhaps you’d like a massage, er, Master?” She patted her hand on the pouf in front of her.

Victor beamed, his face lighting up. “You are perfect.” He sat down and took off his shirt, leaving on his dingy white undershirt. “I’m eager to see what your hands can do.”

Jeannie’s nose scrunched. Gross. She walked to the small table that held an assortment of beautiful bottles. She had to hand it to him, he really had gone all out on the room. It’d make a great Airbnb, minus the kidnapping and creepy old man part.

Finding a small bottle of oil, she walked over to where he sat on the pouf, setting the extra slack from her leash next to her foot.

She stood behind him, her body shaking in revulsion. I can do this. During their training sessions, Al had always drilled into her the importance of putting herself first. She closed her eyes, thinking back to one of their sessions.

“Shady fuckers deserve a shady ending. Don’t feel bad if you have to gouge out an eyeball.

If they put you in the position where you would even consider sticking your finger in their eye socket and shoving out their eyeball, they’ve done some serious shit and deserve it.

” He’d stared into her eyes, brushing the hair from her face.

“You stay alive. No matter what occurs. I will find you.”

Or maybe that was Last of the Mohicans . Whatever. She stared at the length of chain, solidifying her plan. If it worked, she’d owe a lot to Marina’s sci-fi movie nights.