Page 24 of Nicoletta
“I see.” My heart thuds hard against my ribs. Whatever I thought we had never was, or has died with my deception. Either way, Bolt is lost to me.
“Nah, you really don’t.” Bolt drops his hands to his side. “But this shit ends now.” He grips my forearm. Not enough to hurt, just enough to let me know I’m the enemy. “You got some explaining to do.”
He jerks me away from the brick wall, his grip tight and controlled, fingers firm. For a split second, it all becomes clear. This man is an outlaw, a criminal, and no matter how good he is in bed, right now, right here, I’m in danger.
My self-defense training flickers to life seconds before my brain catches up. My eyes drop to his hand. The pressure point. The gap where his large palm circles my arm.
I move toward him, not away. Closing the gap, I diminish his leverage.
His eyes narrow, confused.
I step closer, until we’re almost flush together. Shortening the distance instead of fighting it. A heartbeat later, I twist my forearm sharply, rotate toward the weak point of his grip, and angle my wrist toward his thumb.
Twist.
Lift.
Drop.
Bolt’s hold tightens instinctively, but it’s too late. My arm slips free, and in the same motion, I pivot to the side, off his centerline, and turn so I’m no longer in front of him.
Bolt’s wide, shocked eyes tell me he never expected me to fight back, or to run away, and I use those few seconds to my advantage.
I spin around and blindly dart into the crush of people leaving the arena. I bob and weave around them, staying low, moving with the wave of bodies heading for the street.
I dodge in and out and around groups of people, making sure I move quickly, efficiently, without drawing attention to myself. When I glimpse the narrow alley between the gym and thegarage, I make a beeline for the dark passage that empties out onto one of the busiest streets in Tijuana. From there, I’ll hide out in one of the many crowded clubs until I figure out my next move.
Bolt is just another man who underestimated me, but that will never happen again. Not in this lifetime.
Disappearing into the alley, I keep running until I view the busy street at the other end. I check over my shoulder, and when I see no one following me I slow my pace, catch my breath, then step out onto the busy street.
“You’ve made it very easy for us, Nicoletta,” a soft voice screams in my ear.
I pivot into a tailored black suit and an unwavering expression.
Over the suit’s shoulder, a black SUV idles by the curb. Someone crowds behind me, effortlessly dragging me back into the alley.
Both men tower over me, out-sizing me in both weight and strength. Unlike my escape from Bolt, these men expect me to run, and they’re prepared. They separate their suit jackets just enough for me to see the guns holstered beneath. A silent warning I have no chance of defying.
“Wasn’t sure if it was you at first.” The taller one’s eyes rake over me. “Not the way your father described you.”
The shorter one licks his lower lip, and I automatically wrap my arm around my bare midriff.
“Great disguise, but your father’s grown tired of your antics,and it’s past time for you to return home.”
“You can’t keep me silent forever,” I bluster even though I know it’s an empty threat.
“You can’t believe your father and his associates would let you and that band of outlaws ruin it.”
“I don’t believe my father and Brad would be involved in something like this.” I spit out the lie, trying anything to keep them talking. Stalling for a chance to break free.
The taller man huffs out a cruel laugh. “That wiseass Brad would still be alive if he didn’t get greedy.”
My stomach rolls and twists, hearing the same words from his mouth that Smoke said earlier.
“That was the main reason your old man wanted you with Brad. He figured it would be easier to keep an eye on him. Keep everything nice and neat, but Brad even managed to fuck that up too.”
The shorter guy shakes his head. “Yeah, screwing you and your mother at the same time wasn’t smart on his part.”
