Electrified(93)

Finally, her eye caught her stainless sculpture for Vegas Adult Entertainer of the Year sitting on the shelf. She reached for it, intending to grab it and throw it at Sam’s head, but he grabbed her and stuck her with a syringe.

Instantly, a burning numbness spread through Sienna’s body. As her legs gave out beneath her, she felt Sam grasp her underneath her arms and hold up her weight, grumbling, “I told that fucker, Elon, you weren’t worth it, but his family is so damn money hungry, they only wanted you in their movies. I hope they don’t get outed to their damn friends how they actually make their money, because they owe me a shit load of cash.”

The last thing Sienna remembered hearing before passing out cold was, “They just had to have you. They couldn’t leave it alone, thought they already owned you. Dumb, if you ask me.”



CARSON THOUGHT about having a drink to settle his nerves when he nabbed a seat on an earlier flight out of Vegas. Since he made it a habit not to drink on early-morning flights, he abstained, especially with what he would have to deal with upon his arrival. He dreaded the upcoming meeting with his clients, who also happened to be the parents of the woman he had fallen in love with. It was time to confront them about their true intentions in looking for Lila. With absolute certainty, she was Lila to him now. He’d meant it when he said he didn’t care what she called herself and that she was beautiful inside and out. But the moment he was certain she was Lila, that was the name he heard in his mind when he thought of her. She should be free to be whoever she wants to be. Lila. Sienna. Mrs. Graham.

The plane was mostly empty, since who wanted to leave Vegas first thing in the morning when they could have the whole day? Him, for one. Carson wanted to make this trip as short and sweet as possible, and get back to whatever was happening with Lila and him.

He needed to figure out what exactly Lila had run away from, so he could devise the best strategy possible. One thing was certain, he couldn’t leave any loose ends where she was concerned. He wanted her to live free. With him.

As the plane began its descent outside New York, he knew one thing for certain. All roads would lead back to that crazy husband, Elon, who’d basically appeared out of nowhere. Why didn’t her family tell him about the guy originally? His best guess was that either they were estranged from him, or he didn’t want the investigation.

Something was very wrong, and it was time for Carson to use his brain and not his dick. He had to think, plan, and implement. Period.

Elon. Even the asshole’s name made him shudder. The bastard seemed to have slid out of the picture after Lila ran away. Was it because he didn’t want them to know the hand he’d played in her leaving? What hand was that, exactly?

No matter how he dissected the situation, Carson knew it wasn’t a good one. Lila’s parents obviously didn’t know why she ran from her life, namely Elon, or they wouldn’t need him.

He knew whatever it was, it was bad, and Lila wanted to save her family from that, or did they not listen to her? How could a mom and dad do that to their own daughter? It had to be Lila protecting them. She was that type of person, always protecting those around her. He’d seen her do it enough with Asher and Petal in the short time he’d known her.

It was still so strange how her parents were always talking about making things right with their in-laws, not concentrating on reuniting with their warm and sensitive daughter. Shouldn’t Lila being gone for close to seven years be their focus?

His mind flicked to Lila’s scar, the long and skinny abrasion along her hip bone. It melted into her skin and was often disguised under her glittery lotion. They never talked about it. In fact, when he touched it, Lila often moved him, changed the course of their action, deflecting him away from it. He shouldn’t have been so consumed with his feelings for her not to take notice and inquire about it. Damn him.

Switching his thoughts back to Elon, who he had started to think of as the bastard, Carson figured the ass had probably been playing the role of bereft husband or a lover scorned for the last seven years. No doubt, he was anything but that. Fuck, Carson needed to get himself in check or he was going to rip the guy to shreds. He couldn’t afford to let on he knew where Lila was when he got in front of Elon, or namely, that he had caught on to who the jerk actually was.

Carson needed to remain even-keeled, pragmatic, and capable, but let Lila’s parents know he was unable to finish the case. Not enough information? Not the right match? He was going to learn what he needed, get the family and the husband off the hunt for Lila, wipe his hands of them all, and then save the woman he wanted for himself.