The Recruit: Book Two (26 page)

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Authors: Elizabeth Kelly

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“Fine.” His face was pale but his voice was strong enough,
and she took a deep breath before smiling at him.

“We’ll get you to the hospital soon. Mel will be there
waiting for you.”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat and winced. “I love her so
much, Charlotte.”

“I know you do, honey. She loves you too.”

He squinted up at her. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” She said firmly. She
glanced behind her at Steve who was sniffing a line of fine white powder from
the top of the smooth reception desk. “If he keeps snorting that shit up his
nose, I’ll be able to just walk up and take the guns from him.”

Vince frowned. “Don’t do anything stupid, Charlotte. These
guys are dangerous.”

She glanced at Jasper who was sitting on the floor beside
Rita’s station, and then at Ren who was leaning against the far wall. His arms
were folded over his chest and he was staring silently at them.

“Do you know the tall one?” She asked Vince quietly.

He shook his head immediately. “No.”

Her brow furrowed a bit. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.” He said firmly. He turned his head and
gave Ren his own quick look. “He seems the most stable of the three of them
though.”

“Yeah.” She whispered. “Of course, that’s not saying much
is it? Are they part of the motorcycle gang that you were talking about
earlier?”

Vince nodded and then coughed weakly, wincing again. Charlotte
frowned. For being shot in the side Vince was doing remarkably well, but he
needed to be taken to a hospital. She started to stand and Vince took a ragged
breath.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be right back.” She squeezed his hand again before
standing and walking towards Ren. He didn’t move and although he appeared to
be relaxed, she sensed the tense energy in his lean body hovering just below
the surface.

“He needs to go to the hospital.” She said quietly.

When he didn’t reply, she frowned at him. “He is going to
die. Do you understand that? Or have you snorted too much coke like your
idiot friend?”

“Be quiet, girl.”

“Your friend is going to get us all killed.” She said
quietly. “It’s been nearly five hours and he has no idea what he’s doing. You
heard him talking to the hostage negotiator. He’s useless.”

When he continued to stay silent, she stepped a little
closer. “You seem like a smart guy and maybe your brain hasn’t been completely
addled by the drugs yet. Why are you letting him run things? Are you that
weak? That afraid of him?”

He surprised her by suddenly grinning, revealing even white
teeth. “Maybe you should be a hostage negotiator. It’s a fine technique you
know – trying to use our ego’s to turn us against each other.”

She flushed. “I’m just asking you a simple question. Maybe
you should – “

His eyes widened a fraction of a second before Steve had
grabbed her hair again and shoved her to her knees. He put the barrel of his
gun in the middle of her forehead.

“Did I give you permission to speak to my boy?” He asked
softly. He cocked his gun as Darlene made a small moan of dismay and Rita and
Helen began to sob quietly.

Charlotte, feeling the cold muzzle of the gun digging into
her forehead, stared up at the dirty, blonde man. His eyes were wild and he
sniffed continually as he pushed the gun against her forehead.

“Beg me for your life, you stupid little bitch.” He
whispered.

She realized with sudden clarity that he was about to kill
her, and she was helpless to stop the small smile of relief from crossing her
face. She closed her eyes and waited for the darkness.

“Stop it, Steve.” Ren’s deep voice washed over her and she
felt the muzzle of the gun waver from her skin as Steve looked at him.

“Christ, this bitch wants to die. You can see it in her
eyes.” Steve gave a high yodelling laugh.

“Get away from her.” Ren’s voice was deceptively soft as he
pushed his body away from the wall.

“Why are you so fond of this skinny little whore?” Steve
grabbed Charlotte’s arm and yanked her to her feet. He dragged her to the
other women and pushed her down beside them.

Rita buried her face in her shoulder and Charlotte wrapped
her arms around the woman as Steve stared down at them.

He looked at Jasper and then at Ren, a slow grin creeping on
to his face. “Let’s play a game.”

Jasper, who was leaning over the desk and taking his own
snort of white powder, straightened and scrubbed his hand across his nose.
“What kind of game?”

Charlotte could see Ren tensing behind Steve as the smaller
man grinned lecherously at her. “The kind that will have this cold little
bitch all fired up.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Steve.” Ren growled. “This is
neither the time nor the place.”

“It never is. Is it, Ren?” Steve snapped. “How many women
have I paraded in front of you and you ain’t fucked one of them.”

“I don’t need you choosing a woman for me.”

Steve shook his head and stepped closer to Charlotte,
sliding the muzzle of his gun through her thick, blonde hair. “Maybe you like
boys.”

When Ren refused to be goaded by him, Steve squatted down
and smiled at Charlotte. “What’s your name, bitch?”

“Charlotte.” She muttered.

“Pretty name for a pretty girl.” He ran his dirty finger
across her mouth. “Do you know that I took this asshole in? Gave him shelter,
food, allowed him into my gang, and shared freely with him everything that I
worked so hard to acquire.”

He smiled gently at her. “I’ve offered him woman after
woman – all of them prettier than you – and he’s turned each of them down. He
insults my generosity by acting like he’s too good to fuck one of my women.
What do you think of a man who refuses to accept such a generous gift from the
man who has given him so much?”

When she remained quiet, he yanked on her hair. “Answer
me!”

“I think he’s a fool.”

He laughed. “Oh, I do like you.” He glanced behind him at
Ren. “And I think he likes you too.”

He stood and turned to Ren. “Tell you what, old friend. I’m
going to give you one last chance to prove your loyalty to me.”

He waved his gun at Charlotte. “Stand up, bitch.”

She untangled herself from Rita’s grip and stood, walking
forward when Steve motioned the gun at her.

“You’re going to fuck her.”

Ren stiffened. “No I’m not.”

Steve shrugged. “Fine, then I’ll kill her.”

He raised the gun and pointed it at Charlotte.

“Don’t be a goddamn idiot, Steve. You’re so fucking high
right now you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.” Ren snarled. “What do
you think all those cops out there will do if they hear a gunshot? You start
killing hostages and we’re finished.”

Steve laughed. “I’ve still got four more hostages, Ren.
They hear a gunshot and all they’ll do is phone again and try and talk me into
giving myself up.”

“What do you think, Charlotte?” Steve smiled at her. “He
ain’t a bad lookin’ man. One quick fuck - or death. Make your choice.”

She stared silently at him and Steve laughed again. “This
bitch is crazy! Jasper, you ever seen a bitch want to die so bad in your
life?”

Jasper shook his head no as Steve turned back to Ren. “What’ll
it be? You going to have this woman’s death on your conscience?”

Ren shrugged and tried to sound nonchalant. “You said it
yourself. The woman wants to die.”

“Now you’re both just bein’ difficult.” Steve said
sullenly.

“I’m not playing your game, Steve.” Ren said quietly.

“Oh you’ll play. And so will she.” Steve suddenly pointed
the gun at Vince. “The rules are changing. You fuck her, or hell any of these
bitches, to prove your loyalty to me or I’ll kill the cop.”

Charlotte inhaled sharply and Steve grinned at her. “That
got you, didn’t it?”

He winked at Ren. “Ready to play now, Ren?”

Ren shrugged again. “What the hell do I care about the life
of some cop? Go ahead and kill him.”

“Suit yourself.” Steve started to stride towards Vince.

“Wait! I’ll play the game.” Charlotte’s voice rang out
loudly and Steve stopped.

“Christ, she’s practically begging you for it now, Ren.”
Steve yodelled laughter again. He waved the gun at Charlotte and she walked
over and stood next to Ren.

Vince struggled to sit up, before falling back to the floor
and panting harshly. “Charlotte, don’t do this. I’d rather die.”

“Be quiet, Vince.” Charlotte snapped.

“Play the game, Ren.” Steve said softly. “Prove your
loyalty and I’ll let the cop and your new little fuck buddy live. Go on now.”

Ren stared down at Charlotte, his eyes dark and unreadable,
before suddenly taking her hand. He started to lead her to the back.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Steve shouted.

“To the back.” Ren turned and stared at Steve steadily.
“I’m not fucking her in front of you.”

Steve eyed him shrewdly. “Fine. But if you even think of
letting the cops in through the back or letting that bitch go, know that I’ll
kill the cop and at least one of these other bitches before they take me down.
You get what I’m sayin’?”

“I get it.” Ren said tightly. He pulled Charlotte past the
curtain that separated the back room from the salon.

* * *

Saving Charlotte
will be available
at
www.amazon.com
in January of 2015.

If you would like more information about Elizabeth Kelly,
please visit her at:

https://www.facebook.com/elizabethkellybooks

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Write to her at:

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Other books by Elizabeth Kelly:

Tempted

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DYAU0YE