Page 75 of Claiming His Throne
“Yeah, your slut.” The older man says. He’s Russian, judging by his accent.
His hand fists my hair and he pulls my head back. A little yelp leaves my mouth and I hate myself for it straight away. I’ve prided myself on not letting men best me. It hasn’t been easy to make it as far as I have in corporate America without being tough. And now, here I am, on my knees. Because a couple of men happen to outweigh and outgun me.
Alfie smirks. “You have no idea who she is,” he says, tilting his head. “You can’t keep her hidden away and think this country isn’t going to notice her missing.”
He’s right. My disappearance will make headlines. I just don’t think this man is really going to care about that.
“Not my problem. Where is my disk?” he asks.
“Why don’t you come over here and I’ll tell you,” Alfie says.
The man lets go of my hair and shoves me forward, causing me to fall flat against the ground. I turn, landing on my upper arm and shoulder just in time to avoid face-planting on the concrete. I roll onto my back. I feel like a tipped over tortoise. I need to get up. I can’t stay down here.
Glancing to my left, I spot the man who came and got me out of that room when I woke up. He didn’t talk. Just picked me up by my arm and started pushing me around. He’s not looking at me. And then, when I see him step towards Alfie, I roll onto my side and use my hands to push myself into a sitting position.
I peer over at Alfie. He’s still not looking at me either. He’s focused on the Russian man who is right in his face. That’s when everything happens. It’s as if I’m watching a movie play out in front of my eyes. Alfie’s arms come around and grab hold of the man’s head. He twists it until a loud snap sounds out. The other man is on Alfie, throwing a punch to the side of his face. Alfie shoves the Russian man’s body forward, and then he’s raising a gun and pulling the trigger before the second man can recover.
Alfie fires four more times, even though I’m pretty sure both men are already dead. I sit here. Hopeless, watching. But when he turns to me and his eyes finally meet mine, I see something else. Regret, concern, and anger. I flinch when he reaches me and bends down.
Alfie doesn’t stop, though. He yanks at the rope tied around my wrists until my arms are free.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers as he pulls me close.
What is he sorry for? I have no idea. I can’t seem to think straight.
“Angus,” I say on a sob.
“What about Angus?” Alfie’s hands cup my face.
“They… shot him. They took him.”
“I’m so sorry,” Alfie repeats. His lips press against my forehead. “I’m going to get you out of here, Molly, okay? I need you to stay right behind me. Don’t make a sound.” He points to the door. “Did you see anyone else out there?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t see anything. I woke up alone in a dark room.”
“Okay. Come on. Remember: stay behind me.” One of Alfie’s hands holds mine while the other pulls out the gun he tucked behind his back. “Fuck,” he grunts.
“What?”
“I hate these pistols.”
“Really? I’m not sure now is the time to be picky over what weapon you have, Alfie.”
He gives me a smile before opening the door a crack and sticking his head out. “Let’s go,” he says in a low voice.
I follow close behind him because I’m really not in a position to get myself out of this building. I have no idea what or who is waiting in the shadows. I’m also not opposed to following Alfie’s lead. It’s not the first time I’ve followed his instructions without question.
Just as we reach the end of the hall, rapid-fire gunshots ring out. Alfie presses me against the wall. The wall gives way, and then he’s pushing me into a room. The gunshot sounds continue, people yelling in both Russian and English and Spanish.
“You know, when we get out of here, I’m going to marry you,” Alfie says.
I give him a quizzical look. They must have really given him a good knock to the head.
“Okay,” I reply, not wanting to argue or really talk about marriage right now.
Alfie puts a finger to his lips as he sticks his head out again. His shoulders relax, and he quickly tugs me back into the hallway.
“You fuckers stop for a beer or something? What the fuck took you so long?” Alfie growls.
