Page 25 (1/2)

As she neared the small step before the covered entrance, she jerked back as she noticed hih for her to see

"Say a word and I’ll shoot you in the gut You’ll bleed out before the cops arrive" He wasn’t actually going to shoot her, but she didn’t know that

Color drained fro she was carrying

He cursed under his breath "Pick it up and act natural and unlock your daed in her head He could see it in those pretty blue eyes He guessed she was trying to figure out if she could un into you before you’ve taken three steps"

She sed hard Her keys were clutched tightly in her hand, but she still hadn’t made a move to do as he said "What do you want from me?"

"I don’t want to hurt you, but if you make me, I will"

"That’s not an answer" Her voice shook and her entire body began to treun

The longer they stood out there, the bigger chance he had of getting caught He went for semihonesty He didn’t want to hurt a hu a shifter "Listen, I don’t want to hurt you My boss just wants to talk to your boyfriend and taking you is the only way You’re just a bargaining chip You won’t be hurt if you cooperate"

She shook her head "I don’t have a boyfriend"

Being nice obviously wasn’t going to work either Standing, he jabbed the gun into her side She cried out but he ignored it "Open the fucking door Now"

With tre hands she eventually opened the door As soon as they were inside, he bolted it shut "Sit" From the foyer, heroo her purse and keys, she did as he said "If you take me, you have to realize he’ll kill you" She didn’t say who, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out whoht you said you didn’t have a boyfriend" He pulled out the flex-cuffs he’d brought and tossed them to her "Put these on"

She dropped her purse to catch them "He’s not my boyfriend, but that doesn’t matter to hi yet If you walk away now, no one has to know about this"

At her condescending voice, soain "I’e of adrenaline rushed through hi orders from everyone Once she’d secured her wrists in front of her, he tucked his gun in the back of his pants, then pulled out the tape he’d brought

"Wait, what are you--"

He secured a piece over her mouth "I’m sorry I have to do this"

For a le When she kicked out at hi her hard across the jaw did the trick Her head lolled to the side as she sluainst the couch

Now all he had to do was carry her to his truck He couldeasy

"Who’s fucking smart now?" He smiled to himself as he slipped out her front door As he hurried across the street toward his truck, he nearly stu down the road The giant hulking bastard eyed him briefly, then dismissed him

Joseph watched as he pulled into December’s driveway His heart beat a staccato drumbeat and a flash of cold fear snaked down his spine He’d been so close It was too late to atte now He didn’t have any silver bullets and he didn’t have enough training to take him on And he sure as hell didn’t have a death wish

Unlike most APL members, he didn’t think of hi, he jumped in his truck and sped away At least no one would know about his failure There was no way he was telling Edward about this He’d just make up some bullshit story about how Katarina had been protected and he hadn’t been able to get close to her No one ever needed to know about this blunder

As he glanced in the rearviewhe saw as he turned the corner was the shifter walking toward the front door He certainly had a surprise waiting for him

Liam knocked on Dece her a couple ti Her car was in the driveway, so ht He’d been going about everything all wrong Pushing hiet to know her

He’d been so driven with the desire to ain "December?"