Uncontrollable Temptations (Tempted #3)(75)

“Yes,” the lackey replied.

My eyes were full of unshed tears, tears I chalked up to being born from pain and not fear because fear meant surrendering.

“Stay with me,” he mouthed, as Jimmy dropped his gun to play with his phone. Blackie turned his head and saw the other goon had his gun trained on him. I felt the man release his hold on my hair and I braced myself as I stood on my own two feet.

I felt my anxiety build as I wondered why they untied us and now left us to stand in front of one another. Sure, both of us were weak in the legs, Blackie worse off than me, but still it didn’t seem right. We couldn’t fight them, they knew that, and they gradually backed away from us, keeping their guns aimed at our heads.

“There is this old saying, maybe you’ve heard it,” Jimmy began, as he circled us with his arm outstretched recording himself as he did. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” he arched his eyebrows and smiled at the camera. “I’m no one’s fool,” he declared, looking away from the camera and glared at Blackie. “You told me she was a whore. You said you take a chance a piece on her sweet cunt, right?” He questioned. “Answer the question! Look into the camera when you do.”

“Yes,” Blackie ground out.

“But you haven’t sampled her have you?” His eyes diverted back to me and he reached out and trailed his fingertip over my collarbone. “But you’re going to now and do you know why, pretty girl? Do you know why he will rape you?”

“Because you’re not a fool,” I hissed, my voice sounding just as defeated as the rest of me.

Rape.

“I’m not touching her you sick fuck,” Blackie said, through clenched teeth. “Shoot me up, do what you got to do but I won’t fucking touch her.”

Jimmy laughed, ignoring Blackie as he played back his video, scrutinizing it. I turned to Blackie.

“It will be okay,” he lied. We both knew it was a lie, but still I decided to test it, to test him and see how badly things really were.

“Leather and lace,” I breathed. “When we get out of here will you tell me what it means?”

He didn’t answer right away.

“Yeah,” he whispered.

The tears spilled from my eyes as he said the word. Blackie had no intention of divulging his secret, not if there was a chance we’d survive. He gave me what I wanted to hear, but he knew our truth and for the first time since Jimmy grabbed me I was contemplating laying it all down and giving up.

“No, that was all wrong, let’s try it again,” Jimmy said.

“Trust me,” Blackie whispered faintly, so low I barely heard him.

I lifted my hands and wiped the tears that stained my cheeks as he turned the camera back toward us. I could see the gun pointed at me from the corner of my eye. I closed my eyes as Blackie walked toward me.

“Thatta boy, make it good,” Jimmy sang. “Her life depends on it,” he reminded us.

Blackie took another step closer and swayed as he did so. He took my hand in his and placed his other on my hip. I could see the struggle in his eyes and chose to look away from him. He leaned close to my ear and nuzzled my neck.

“He loves you,” he whispered against my ear.

Jack. I closed my eyes and pictured his face, the smile he barely used and those eyes that got me every time.

“He’s here with you not me,” Blackie whispered, as he kissed my neck and his fingers worked the buttons of my shirt. “Follow my lead,” Blackie said, against my throat.

“Cut to the chase,” Jimmy ordered.

Blackie tore his mouth from my neck and lifted his head.

“Open your eyes, Reina,” he said softly, squeezing the hand he was still holding before he released it and took my face with both his hands. My eyes blinked open and peered into his. “Leather and Lace,” he whispered. “Now close them and think of Jack,” he said before he touched his mouth to mine.

And then it happened.

I wished for death.

I was ready to lie down and die when Blackie’s hands dropped from my face, his mouth releasing mine and his eyes staring at me blankly. I gasped when I saw the needle sticking out of his neck.

“Blackie?” I shouted frantically, grabbing his shirt with my fists. “What did you do to him,” I cried, as Jimmy’s goon pulled me back, strapping the cuffs back onto my wrists and securing me to the chair. Blackie fell to the ground, his body convulsing as though he was having a seizure.

“Please don’t let him die,” I sobbed as I stared at him, watching as he foamed at the mouth. “No, no, no,” I chanted, lifting my head to the empty room. The lock slid into place confirming my solidarity in watching my only friend as he most likely was dying.





Jimmy’s face illuminated the screen of my phone, flashing me a grin that displayed all his gold teeth.

“The following video is to ensure you that your people are alive and so shall they remain providing you deliver me the drugs you originally promised, that is, a quarter of a million dollars worth of heroine. If you do not deliver, then the next video you watch will be your right hand as he fucks your woman. Twenty-four hours to get me the drugs or your boy here will rape and murder your girl,” he declared. “And if you think his loyalty to you will stop him, you’ve miscalculated because he is my puppet now and I make him dance.”