Page 32

CHAPTER 32

Camila

I t was so dark out here. We really were in the middle of nowhere and I was starting to get worried that Ashley was just going to kill me and dump my body where it wouldn’t be found. I sat up a little straighter as lights came into view. It was hard to say I was relieved though, because I wasn’t sure what was going on. There were vehicles parked on and near the little dirt road, doors open, lights shining, but no one was around. “Where are we?”

Ashley didn’t answer. He got out of the car, came around to my side and yanked open the door. There was no avoiding him as he pulled me out of the car and started dragging me toward the vehicles. “Kruzman!” he bellowed into the night.

My heart sank just hearing that name. It was like the darkness was pressing in around us. My chest was constricted as I struggled against his hold. I didn’t want to go willingly to my own death. I leaned forward and sank my teeth into Ashley’s forearm. At least he wasn’t coming out of this kidnapping without his own damn scars.

Pain exploded in my face as he backhanded me with his free hand. Then the world spun as he tossed me like a rag doll. I skidded to a stop in a pool of lights.

“There! Proof enough that I’ve got her?”

Looking over my shoulder, I followed Ashely's gaze and my heart clenched inside my chest.

Kruzman stepped out of the shadows, though he kept to the outer rim of the head lights so he wasn’t in full view. Kruzman’s eyes narrowed on me. He was exactly as I remembered him from that night. Dark hair slicked back with too much gel, high quality suit—though it looked a little worse for wear now—and a grim expression on his face that bordered on manic. Some would say he was a handsome man, in a severe sort of way, but those people probably hadn’t had family killed by him. And they weren’t at his feet now, with a gun pointed at their head. He was hideous to me. The epitome of evil.

I shoved to my knees as he studied me. I didn’t want to die lying down. Didn’t want to die on my knees either, but if I got to my feet, he’d probably shoot me. So I stayed where I was, eyes bouncing between Kruzman and Ashley. More men were appearing out of the darkness.

“Kruzman!”

Sucking in a breath, I looked around. Kilo’s voice had echoed so I wasn’t sure where it was coming from, but I knew that was him. Relief that he was alive hit me hard. Then fear took back over. I didn't want him to get hurt trying to rescue me. I did want him to hurt Kruzman. And Ashley.

“Let her go.”

Kilo, Ruck, and Overdrive stepped into the light on the opposite side of the circle from Kruzman and his men. They had their own guns pointed at the sicarios.

“Shoot me and you risk her life,” Kruzman said. His voice was rich and cultured. He was good at hiding the monster inside. It was almost believable that he was just some rich businessman. Not a cold blooded killer.

I looked over my shoulder and met Kilo’s eyes. I’m sorry. He would get the message, I knew it.

His gaze softened for a moment, then he focused back on Kruzman. “We have what you want. What you’re looking for.”

I searched Kilo’s face, wondering what he meant. Then I turned my head and watched Kruzman. That was where the danger was, so I didn’t want to turn my back to him.

“Speaking of having what you want,” Ashley said. “I brought you the girl. Give me my money and I’ll leave.”

His fight wasn’t with my bikers. And he didn’t have any loyalty to Kruzman. The man was just a snake and a coward. I shook my head as Kruzman glared at him.

“You’ll have it once I’m done here,” Kruzman told him.

Ashley shook his head. “No way. If you die, I won’t get paid.”

“Then perhaps you should stay and make sure I don’t die,” Kruzman suggested.

I scooted backward a few inches while their attention was trained on each other. The halo of light was like a golden spotlight and it wasn’t safe for me or the guys if I remained in the center of it.

“Ah, ah, ah, don’t move.”

I looked up at Kruzman as I froze. His focus was back on me once more.

He walked toward me, his men keeping their weapons trained on Kilo and the others while his gun was pointed at my head. He shook his head. “You’ve caused me a lot of trouble over the years, little girl.” His eyes flicked up to Kilo. “And you still are.”

“You killed my father,” I snapped.

“Also a troublemaker. He stole from me.”

I didn’t know what he was talking about, and didn’t care. He was a liar. And a murderer. All I wanted was to make it out of this with my own life and the lives of the men protecting me intact. My hands clenched into fists in the sand at my side.

“We’ll give you what you want,” Ruck told Kruzman. “But we take the girl and walk away.”

I was a wrench in their plans. Kilo had told me they didn’t want Kruzman to leave because he’d always be a threat. That if he got away tonight they’d have to hunt him down afterward. But because I was here, they were willing to make some kind of exchange to protect me. I hated that they were in this position.

“No,” Kruzman snarled. “I’ve been chasing her for too fucking long. She comes with me and if you don’t want her to die in front of you, you’ll let us walk.”

“Mercy.”

I looked over my shoulder. Kilo was staring at me, then his eyes flicked to the right. He wanted me out of the way. I gave the barest of nods, to let him know I understood. This was about to get bad and being in the middle of these two opposing sides was a terrible idea. I faced forward once more, waiting for whatever the signal was going to be. I didn’t want to move before they were ready.

“Not happening,” Ruck told Kruzman.

“Go!” Kilo shouted.

My gaze met Kruzman’s as he looked down at me. I jumped to my feet, tossed the sand in my fists into his eyes, then dove off to the right, rolling under a truck. I bit back a scream as gunfire split the night.

“Please be okay,” I whispered to myself as I hid. Guilt was heavy in my stomach as the men fought for me while I laid here, but I had no weapon and if Kruzman got a hold of me again it would do more harm than good. It was better that I was out of the way so I couldn’t be used to tie their hands again.

I bellied backward, trying to come out on the other side of the truck so that I could find a better hiding spot when something grabbed my ankle. Gasping, I looked over and saw Ashley there. Asshole. I kicked with my free leg and my sneaker hit him in the face. It felt great, but it didn’t stop him from jerking me out from under the truck. I sputtered as dirt flew into my face and mouth.

He yanked me to my feet and once again started dragging me. At least it was away from the battle this time. “He knows I have you. We’re going to let those fuckers fight it out and then I’ll get my money afterward.”

“What if Kruzman dies?” I huffed, trying to get my feet under me so that he wasn’t just dragging me along. His stride was much bigger than mine, so I was having to take more steps just to keep up.

“Then your friends there can pay to get you back.” He scowled down at me. “Either way, I’m getting my money.”

I tugged at the hand holding me, trying to break his grip, but he was too strong. The last thing I wanted was to be in Kruzman’s hands again, but I also didn’t want to go with Ashley. And I really didn’t want him to profit off all this. Denying him his money was the only way to really hurt him. If I could get away and run off into the desert, he’d have no bargaining chip.

Clasping my hands together, I threw them into his side as hard as I could. The small grunt he gave didn’t give me much hope, but I kept hitting him. He must have gotten tired of me because he stopped and threw me over his shoulder. I kicked and hit at any exposed flesh I could find.

He heaved a sigh and I saw his elbow swing toward me too late. It was lights out again.