Lifting my hand, I slapped it down and cuffed her thigh. Her breathing hitched and her eyelashes fluttered. I flashed her a crude smile. My blood hummed knowing she was enjoying my touch andhatedthe fact.
“You have no idea howtruethat statement is.”
I yanked my knife out of the guy’s neck and his blood splattered everywhere. His head slouched and his body went slack. He thought he would get away with trying to give me counterfeit bills and was shown just how much I hated betrayal.
“You always gotta do shit messy?” Nolan chuckled, nodding for the guys to start cleanup.
I glanced at him, using my rag to wipe my blade. Typically I liked to get things taken care of quicky, but at times I had to make an example. “When they try to cross you, sometimes the only solution is to get messy.”
I rolled my neck between my shoulders.
We started toward the back of the warehouse to the room we deemed an office. Stepping inside, we shut the doors. On the monitors we saw the men working to dispose of the body.
I went to the desk and hit a button. The screens switched to my house, more importantly the room Azeira was in.
I left her chained to the bed to think about her actions. Trying to stab me was a smart, yet stupid move on her behalf. Maybe if I didn’t always have an eye on her she might have succeeded. After I hit another button, her sniffles filled the room. The sounds caused my pulse to race. Her tear-stricken face and cheeks were flushed from her excessive crying.
“I thought you would have killed her by now,” Nolan commented.
My eyes stayed locked on the screen.
“She’s a pretty thing, I can see why you would want to keep her alive. She’s probably a fun play thing.” My jaw twitched and my eyes cut into slits. Possession raged through me, causing me to quickly turn the monitors back to the warehouse.
“She’ll serve her purpose when the time comes.”
“It’s more than that though, isn’t it?” Nolan’s tone made my eyes snap to him. A taunting grin was plastered on his face. “You’ve never gone to this length before when it comesto someone who owes you. Yet here you are, kidnapping and holding this girl captive.”
“She’s nothing more than a piece on a chessboard. When the time comes for me to play with her, I will. Until then, she’s none of your concern.” My voice was harsh and Nolan’s grin grew.
A knock on the door gained my attention. “It’s finished,” Rock said, poking his head in.
“Good. You can go.” He nodded and turned to leave.
“I got some shit to take care of too. Hit me if you need me.” I waved Nolan off as he left.
Once it was just me in the room, I hit the button on the desk to turn the screens back to my house. I pulled one of the desk drawers open and took out Azeira’s phone. Hitting the side button to power it on, I waited as it lit up. This was only the second time I’d turned it on since taking Azeira.
Her best friend Jatavia texted her repeatedly, wondering where she was in worry. The last one piqued my interest.
Bestie: I talked to your dad and he told me you went to visit some family and your service was spotty. Bitch you could have told me so I wouldn’t be panicking, thinking something happened to you! Call me as soon as you have service.
Mirth graced my face. Her dad was already covering up the issues he caused. I had my guys watching him and he’d been scrambling to come up with the money he owed me. He couldn’t run, due to his sick wife and me having his daughter, leaving his only options of repaying me or losing everything. Closing out of it, I turned the phone off and stuck it in my pocket.
Standing up, I went to the wall across from the desk and typed in the code on the keypad. The door opened where a walk-in safe was located. After I entered the combination, it opened and I stepped inside, collecting a few bags.
Growing up I learned the best way to get things handled was to get it done yourself. With my business, I oversaw everything firsthand, including my money. Numbers were calming to me. They helped center and gather me when my mind was racing. I walked back to the desk, took a seat, and opened one of the duffle bags. I poured the money inside on top of the wood surface and glanced at the screen again. Azeira had settled down some. One corner of my mouth curled up. Defeat was displayed on her face.
Memories of how she looked under me played in my head. Marking her skin and owning every part of her crept under my skin. The trapped beauty brought out the beast in me. She didn’t know it yet, but she’d learn.
I grabbed the first bundle of hundreds and unwrapped them. Azeira was gonna learn to fall in line. Whether it was the easy or hard way was up to her.
“Are you ready to behave?” I questioned, stepping into the room. My nose twitched at the powerful smell of urine and odor.
It had been two days since I left her in this room and told my staff not to contact her. She brought her swollen, bloodshot, dejected eyes to me. Her face was still.
“Please,” she begged in a broken tone. Weakly, she yanked on the cuffs. I eyed them, noticing her chaffed, red skin.
“Will you behave?” I narrowed my eyes.
