Page 135 of The Protection Agreement

“I always get a kiss, Mrs. Powell,” I whisper. She tries to pull out of my arms; I keep my arm firm on her waist, holding her in place.

“Are you ready, Ice?” she calls out without taking her eyes from mine.

“Yes,” he answers.

“I’m sorry,” I say as her eyes leave mine.

“For?” she retorts.

“Allowing Debbie to run her mouth.” Her scowl is immediate.

“I’m heading home.”

“Jola.” My tone pleads. “I’m sorry,” I whisper in her ears.

“I want her gone.” She stares me down.

“Done,” I answer. She leans forward and kisses my lips.

“See you at home, Mr. Darcy.” I smile, smacking her ass. I know I’m somewhat forgiven.

I watch her leave with Ice, knowing I better get my ass home early today, so as not to find her knocked out. Once the elevator closes, I turn to Grayson. “Send a notice to Debbie, we will be terminating our services with her. Send her to one of our competitors.”

“Gladly,” he says. I know he never liked Debbie.

“Why did Lexi come back?”

“She forgot her phone with me. Lucky for you, she didn’t hear most of what Debbie was saying. ”I exhale in relief. Not exactly sure why I didn’t kick Debbie out the moment she started spewing nonsense.

Chapter seventy-eight

Lexi/ Jola

Ice and I make a quick stop at the deli. We stopped going to the one Bruce confirmed the woman was slowly poisoning Ice to weaken my protection. Bruce made her quit and leave town. We stopped going there. Today, we are at our new lunch spot. I know Bruce has more guys watching and Ice alerts them whenever we are leaving the building, but weirdly, my Spidey senses are tingling, like something is wrong. I don’t want to alert Ice and be wrong. Grabbing a sandwich at lunchtime would only take a few minutes and we should be back in the building.

The thought has just settled when I hear a loud noise with people running. Unsure what’s going on, Ice puts me beside him as he tries to survey what’s causing chaos outside. Next thing I know, Ice puts his hand to his neck. He is shaking next to me before I can detect what’s wrong with him. Another dart hits him as I try to grab and pull it out of him, a bag is thrown over my head and a gun to my side. I stop moving right away.

“Move and I will shoot him and then you right here.” My hands are immediately zip tied, my phone taken. I’m pulled along with the gun still on my side and shoved into a car.

When the cover is pulled off my face and I see the man that has me tied to a chair, I instantly know. I’m facing my worst nightmare. He’s the guy that tried to choke me to death; I could never forget those menacing blue eyes and the ugly tattoo. He’s also the monster who raped me when I was vulnerable.

I won’t cower to this asshole because, as my grandmother used to say, the day you face your monster is the day the monster goes down. I know Bruce will not stop until he finds me. My task is to keep fighting. I inhale and exhale as Amrit taught me to control my emotion, and focus on the task of assessing the situation for my escape or how to fight back. I’m looking around the empty room for anything, but it’s a sterile room, with one door in and out, no windows. I can’t hear any sound or sense anything, which tells me he has had time to plan this. Asshole is circling me slowly. I avoid his eye, though I feel it intensely on me. This guy is obsessed with me, and I must play that to my advantage before Bruce arrives.

He leans in and I smell the choking smell of smoke. My insides turn, but I maintain calm. I feel his slimy tongue from between my ears down to my chin. It takes everything in me not to move when a monster drools on me.

“I’ve waited a long time for a moment when you and I can talk face to face. I’m Aspen, by the way, your soon to be husband and life partner.” I turn to face him.

“I haven’t been waiting to meet you. I have been living my life,” I retort.

“I know, but now we finally get to discuss our terms. I must say you will find my terms better than the one Claire has for you.”

“Who is Claire?” I ask, pretending not to know who she is.

A wicked grin graces his face.

“Claire is Jonah’s mother, and she wants you dead, but I’m going to keep you all to myself, the way I’ve always wanted. You and me living together forever, and you having my children.” He smiles and I scoff. None of that is ever going to happen. I will kill myself before I ever have this monster’s child.

“I don’t know what her issue is with me, and why you think kidnapping me is a good thing.”