Page 29 of Reckless

Squatting, he keyed in a number he knew well. When they’d started their partnership, they’d agreed to use each other’s birthdays for their safe combination. That way, they would always have access to each other’s safes. This was the first time he’d ever had to do this. The instant the door swung open and he saw the contents, his heart dropped to his feet. Oh hell no.

Taking his phone, he punched in Serena’s number. When she answered, he rasped out, “Get a forensics team to the motel. I think Jazz has been taken.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Chicago

She’d been here three days and still knew nothing. The man responsible for her abduction had been a no-show since that first day. Meals had been delivered by a silent, older woman who refused to look directly at Jazz. When she asked questions, the woman ignored her. If she were feeling stronger, she was sure she could have overpowered the woman and escaped. But today was the first day she’d woken clearheaded. Between the severe headache and bouts of nausea, she had been useless. When she hadn’t been moaning in pain or vomiting, she had slept like the dead. The concussion, along with whatever drug they’d used, had totally incapacitated her.

She had finally been able to eat a substantial meal for the first time since her arrival. Though she had worried the food or drink could be drugged, she knew she had to take the chance. She needed nourishment if she was going to get out of here. Besides, if they had wanted to do anything to her, she would have been an easy mark. She wouldn’t have been able to fight them, so drugging her wouldn’t have been necessary.

Now, however, she was ready to deal with these people and get the hell out of here.

Her luggage from her Seattle motel room had been delivered to her the first day. Unless they’d been able to open the safe in the motel room, she’d had nothing that revealed her identity. If they’d looked inside the safe, she was sure they would be having a different conversation. As it stood now, they knew nothing. Sure, they had her real name, but they knew nothing more than that.

Having felt well enough to shower and wash her hair, she was pleased to be able to put on her own clothes. That went a long way to making her better prepared to handle whatever was coming her way.

As she exited the bathroom, the bedroom door clicked and swung open. Since it wasn’t time for a meal, she knew whatever was coming her way had arrived. She had briefly wondered if there were hidden cameras in the bedroom and became even more suspicious.

Refusing to wait for whatever they had planned, Jazz strode determinedly to the middle of the room. The older man from the first day entered. The anger she had felt at being beaten, drugged, and abducted was now back in full force. Today, she was going to get answers, and then she was going to leave. There was no other option.

“So good to see you’re feeling better, Jasmine. I’ve been worried about you.”

“Who are you?” Jazz snapped. “Why am I here?”

A delighted smile spread across his face. “So you can speak. Now we’re getting somewhere.”

“You didn’t answer my questions.”

“And that’s the way it will remain until you answer some of mine. If you hadn’t noticed, you’re in my territory, and I have the advantage.”

“Fine,” she bit out. “What do you want to know?”

“Well, first, I want to know how you’re feeling. How are the headache and nausea?”

“Better. Now, tell me who you are.”

“Again, it’s my show.” The smile was still in place, but she could tell it was teetering on disappearing. “Let’s start with something simple. Why are you going by an alias? Are you in hiding?”

“Why would I need to be in hiding?”

“Answering my questions with questions of your own will not get you anywhere.”

“Very well. No, I am not in hiding. My name is Joy Monroe. I’m twenty-three years old. I live in Seattle, where I am a receptionist at a doctor’s office. Is that enough for you?”

The man shook his head slowly and sighed. “I’m deeply disappointed in you, Jasmine. None of the things you’ve told me are correct, and I am not a man of patience. So here’s what we’re going to do. For every lie you tell me from here on out, it will be a strike. Three strikes will result in a severe penalty.”

She’d had enough. Fury fueling her steps, she stalked up to the man and stared him down. “Listen here, you freak, you had me beaten, drugged, and abducted. I will not stand for this. I want out, and I want out now!”

The punch to her face came faster than she’d anticipated. Thankfully, her reflexes were excellent, and she managed to dodge a direct hit, with only a slice of pain across her jaw. If she weren’t so infuriated, she was sure it would have hurt worse. Not giving him time for another hit, she returned the jab with a punch to his jaw, making an excellent connection. Just as she was about to deliver a roundhouse kick to his gut, she halted in midstrike as he pressed a gun to her forehead.

“I don’t believe I will give you a chance for those three strikes after all. It’s clear there’s some humbling that needs to take place.” Though he kept his tone low, his voice shook with fury.

“Go ahead, asshole. Shoot me. I dare you,” she sneered. Yes, she was poking a rabid bear, but she knew enough to realize that this man had gone to too much trouble to just kill her off. He wanted her alive. A bullet to her head was not part of his plan.

Taking two steps back, he yelled, “Gentlemen!”

The two men who’d helped abduct her walked into the room.