Page 74 of The Denver Alpha
“Where are you taking me?” I hazard, the strain in my voice betraying my growing discomfort.
No response.
My heart pounds, sweat beading my temple.
“Hey!” I try again, kicking my legs against the divider between the back and front seats, demanding their attention. “I asked you a question.”
Once again, I’m met with silence, and a deep sense of foreboding comes over me.
Panic seeps into my bones as I kick against the divider again, harder this time. “Hey, assholes!”
The car swerves hard, sending me sliding across the seat and into the opposite door. My body collides with the hard plastic and a sharp pain shoots through my shoulder on impact. Hissing in pain through gritted teeth, I suddenly realize that the car has come to a stop. I quickly scramble to right myself, throwing a panicked glance out the window as I try to get my bearings.
We’ve pulled off the road onto the wide gravel shoulder, darkness blanketing our surroundings. There are no other headlights, no other traffic.
“Where are we?”
I don’t know why I even bother asking because once again, the cops don’t answer. The one in the passenger seat just throws open his door and climbs out, pulling open the back door and reaching in to yank me out by the elbow. I stumble as I try to get my legs underneath me, the loose gravel slipping beneath the soles of my high heels. I’ve barely had the chance to steady myself when the officer spins me around roughly, shoving my front against the police cruiser and grabbing for my wrists cuffed behind my back.
“Hey!” I protest, squirming against his hold as he messes with my cuffs.
Is he tightening them? They’re already too tight!
I hear a click, then another- and suddenly the cuffs are gone, my wrists free and the weight of the cop off my back.
Pushing off from the police car, I spin around, rubbing at my tender wrists and looking up at the officer. “Am I free to go?”
His lips are turned down in a frown as he gives a single nod. “Guess it pays to have friends in high places,” the cop mutters. He turns his head to the right and I follow his gaze, seeing a dark colored sedan parked on the shoulder a few yards away. The windows are tinted, so I can’t see who’s inside, but I know who it has to be.
Relief floods my veins.Cole must’ve gotten to them.He’s come to my rescue-again.
My lips slide into a grin and I’m already thinking of all the kinky ways I can thank him as I take a step toward the vehicle, the drivers’ side door opening. Just as quickly as it appeared, though, my smile melts away when I see who steps out.
“Gavin Holley?”
He nudges the door closed behind him, gravel crunching underneath his loafers as he strides our way. I take a step backwards at his advance, feeling the color drain from my face.
“You don’t seem happy to see me,” Gavin teases as he moves closer.
I fold my arms across my chest protectively. “Why would I be?”
Gavin chuckles, shaking his head as he swings his gaze from me to the police officer. Everything in me screams to run away, but my legs won’t seem to move as he approaches the cop beside me and hands him a thick envelope, a wad of bills peeking out of the top. “I’ll take it from here.”
“What? I’m not going anywhere with you,” I scoff, looking back toward the officer with uncertainty. He’s clearly made some sort of deal with Gavin, but surely he wouldn’t leave me here with him against my will…
The cop doesn’t return my eye contact. Instead, he turns around and climbs back into the passenger side of the squad car without another word, slamming his door closed behind him.
So much for protect and serve.
I turn back to Gavin with a scowl as the cruiser starts to pull back onto the road, gravel spitting from beneath the tires. “What’s this about?”
I’m not afraid of Gavin Holley. I know I can hold my own against him. I’ve been taught the basics of self-defense, and even though he’s a grown man, I’ve got shifter strength on my side. I won’t deny that he makes me nervous, but the guy doesn’t scare me.
“Get in,” he says, tipping his head toward the sedan. “We’ll talk.”
I fold my arms tighter across my chest and shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
Gavin sighs in annoyance. “Don’t be difficult. I have a message for your boyfriend…”