Gunn(Bayou Springs Alien Mail Order Brides #2)(21)

 

He held his hands up and the icy numbness started to fade. "I just wanted to talk to you without your boyfriend going all Tarzan on me."

 

"Right," I spat out and rushed over to Gunn, carefully cradling his head on my lap. His left cheek was scraped from his fall and a small spot of blood had pooled at his temple. I used the hem of my shirt to clean his wound, and then carefully checked him over for any more damage. When I was satisfied he appeared otherwise intact, I turned my attention to Bolt. "Help me get him in the truck."

 

Bolt shook his head, his expression contemplative as he glanced from Gunn to me. "It looks like I finally figured out why I was never able to get you out on a date." He gestured to Gunn, still lying unconscious on the pavement. "Turns out you were saving it for this lowlife bayou rat."

 

The disdain in his tone made me bristle. I eyed him up and down, not bothering to hide my disgust. "Better a bayou rat than a city leech."

 

His vile smile vanished. "Enough. Get in the truck," he pointed to his goons' SUV, "before I decide you're more trouble than you're worth."

 

"Why? Where do you think you're taking me?"

 

"Your apartment. There are a few things in your safe you're going to hand over." He reached out and grabbed my arm, shoving me toward the SUV.

 

I planted my feet, already knowing what he was after. And chances were he wanted it so badly, he'd be willing to do whatever it took to get it. That meant my life was in serious danger, but it gave me bargaining power, too. "I'm not going anywhere without Gunn."

 

He glanced down at the man in question and scoffed. "He'll still be here when you get back."

 

"No, he won't. Because he's going with me. We both know you can force me into that SUV but you can't force me to let you into my safe. At least not easily. And I'm betting you're going to need your fix sooner rather than later."

 

Irritation flashed over his pale features and his dark eyes turned a sickly shade of yellow before returning to their normally rich shade of brown.

 

I nodded. "Just as I thought. The withdrawal symptoms are already visible. Are you sure you want to test just how long it takes to break me? All we have to do is put Gunn in the vehicle. Then when we get to my apartment, I'll hand over the serum. No struggle. No complaints. Got it?"

 

He was silent for a moment, then he walked over to Smith, pulled the napkins from his mouth, and untied him.

 

Smith sputtered and started spewing an impressive string of profanity in my direction. I just smiled at the thug, feigning amusement.

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

"Free Carl." Bolt ordered and waved at Gunn. "Then the two of you put this piece of shit in the back of the SUV. Hurry."

 

"I can't feel my hands," Smith complained.

 

"Do I look like I give a shit?" Bolt asked, grabbing my upper arm so hard, he made me wince.

 

Smith zeroed in on my face. His eyes glinted with pleasure as he no doubt reveled in watching Bolt manhandle me. He shook his head. "No, boss, you don't."

 

"Then stop fucking complaining and do as I say." Bolt shoved me into the front seat of the SUV. He slammed the door shut and a second later, he climbed into the driver's seat. As Smith rescued Carl from the Duct tape, Bolt turned to me, his eyes once again a sallow shade of yellow. "This is your one warning. Fuck with me or my boys again, and I'll have Smith put a bullet in your boyfriend's head. Got it?"

 

I glanced out the window at Gunn still lying on the cement, completely helpless until he woke from his energy drain. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned to Bolt. "Yeah, I got it."

 

"Good."

 

Seconds later, with Gunn dumped in the cargo hold, Smith and Carl jumped in the backseat. With both of his goons glaring at me, Bolt sped out of the parking lot, determined to get his next fix.

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

Gunn

 

 

 

 

 

The pounding in my head made my stomach roll. My mouth watered and for a second, I was sure I was going to vomit. But then my eyes popped open, and I focused on the road stretching out behind me as my stomach settled.

 

Son of a bitch. What happened?

 

But I instantly knew the answer to that question. Some piece of shit Azurite had drained my energy. I'd know the sick feeling anywhere.

 

Clutching my head, I slowly sat up, recognizing the vehicle as the black SUV that had cut us off in the parking garage. The two motherfuckers who'd attacked us were sitting in the seats right in front of me. I quickly scanned the vehicle, nearly letting out an audible sigh of relief when I spotted Kennedy in the front passenger seat. Her fists were clenched and her jaw tight as she glared at the Azurite driving.