Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
When he’d gone to what was considered the bad side of town to deal with Darrius the last thing he expected to see was a blood-drenched version of the woman who’d haunted him since he’d met her. He should have left her and let Darrius do what he would to her, but again that unexplainable pull she had on him had gotten the better of Seamus and he found himself bringing her along.
He didn’t even ask how she’d got into that mess in the first place, but knowing the special kind of scumbag Darrius was, it wouldn’t be long before he’d have her selling ass on the street corner for a few bucks. At least where he was taking her she’d have a choice. After that, he could finally wash his hands of her.
Tam must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew she was being nudged awake. “Get out.”
It took her a moment to take in her surroundings before she realized the car had stopped. There used to be a lot of abandoned industrial buildings in this part of town but now it was barely recognizable. The police had run out most of the homeless people who slept around this area a couple of years ago because of what they called a huge ‘urban renewal project’. Now it was the very picture of a booming industry.
Seamus stood by the passenger door waiting for her to get out and Tam contemplated whether it would be worth making a run for it. She was pretty quick, but where would she go looking the way she did? She was still sticky from the congealed blood that had dried up on her skin and clothing. That smell, combined with urine couldn’t be very pleasant. How Seamus had managed to be in the car with her without vomiting was a surprise.
As if he’d read her mind, he gave her a narrowed eye stare. “Don’t even think about running because wherever you go, I’ll find you.”
Looking into that intense blue gaze, she believed him. Seamus didn’t wait around to see if she followed him. He stepped with the confidence of a man who was used to being obeyed when he was given a command.
They came to a structure that looked like it could have been an office building if not for the ornate double doors and a huge golden lion door knocker on the front. Seamus pressed the buzzer on the archway.
Tam began to tremble again. This seemed like an ordinary enough place so he couldn’t murder her here, could he? A few seconds later he was buzzed in. Tam followed Seamus inside, and she couldn’t help but be in awe of the opulence of the décor. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers and gold gilded trimmings, this place looked like something out of those shows where the wealthy showed off their glamorous lifestyles.
“Seamus, sweetheart. I didn’t realize you’d be back so soon. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” A tall woman with pale skin and long sable hair approached them. She wore a black sleeveless jumpsuit with a studded belt that made her waist look extremely tiny. There wasn’t a hair out of place and her make-up was expertly done.
Tam could tell this woman had probably never experienced a hard day’s work in her life. The coiffed beauty reminded Tam of the type of person who pretended homeless people were invisible when she passed them on the street. Someone like her who from the looks of it, had so much but couldn’t be bothered to spare a dime. Tam knew the type.
The woman put her arms around Seamus and pressed her lips against his jawline. Tam didn’t know why it bothered her so much to see but she clenched her fists at her sides.
A pair of green eyes strayed in her direction and the brunette noticed she and Seamus weren’t alone for the first time since she’d approached. She crinkled her nose in obvious disgust and pulled away from Seamus. “Who is this? And what happened to…her?”
Tam narrowed her eyes. This bitch.
“Natalia, this is Tamryn. You were telling me the last time I was here, that you needed some new girls of the ethnic variety because your clients have been asking for them.”
Natalia didn’t bother to look Tam’s way. Instead, she threw her head back and laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. This is a joke, right?”
“You’ve known me long enough to know that I don’t kid. Clean her up, get her tested, see how she does.”
Natalia turned to Tam with a deep scowl marring her otherwise perfect features. “Look at her, she’s disgusting. Her hair is matted, and I can’t tell if that’s blood or shit she’s covered in. You certainly can’t tell by the smell. How did you ever find her in the first place? How could you bring this vagrant off the street into my establishment?”