Free Inside Danger (Outside The Ropes Book 2) by Ashley Claudy Page B

Rusnak flashed a look at Gage and then rearranged his face for me, back to smiling, but his voice had an edge as he repeated, “Sit.”
    “If she’s going to stay, the least she could do is take off her clothes, give us a little entertainment. What else is she good for?”
    I snapped my head to Gage. “Fuck you.” My nerves were too raw from earlier events, my control nonexistent. I understood him having to ignore me, but he didn’t need to be cruel. This was crossing the line.
    He cocked his head, lips gliding up into a dark smile. “Fuck me? I’ll be by your room for that tonight, sweetheart.”
    It took a moment to register, a second for the words to ignite and explode in me. Then I was all reaction, all my tension from tonight erupting. I lunged towards him, pushing him with a quickness and force that must have surprised him. He caught himself before he toppled over in the chair and rose to his feet. He towered over me as he grabbed my hands to keep me from striking him.
    Demetri pulled me away, putting me behind him as he demanded, “Stop.” He gripped my shoulders, making me meet his eyes before he continued, “You stop. We leave in moment.”
    I nodded and took in a deep breath, not daring to look at anyone else.
    Demetri dropped my shoulders and turned back to the group. “These men,” he laid three ID’s on the table, “had issue with us, but they can’t tell what was no more.”
    They leaned forward and studied the ID’s on the table.
    Silas tapped one ID. “That’s the man from the other night.”
    Gage’s eyes popped up, meeting mine for a heartbreaking, fire igniting second before moving to Demetri. “Where are they?”
    “In car. But their bikes need clean up.”
    Rusnak stood up and walked Demetri to the door. “Call Billy, take her back, we’ll be there soon.”
    He held the door open for us. As I passed by, he shot me a hard look and spoke with an even harder voice, “I’ll talk with you tomorrow.”

    Demetri turned down the radio as we merged on to the highway. “Why you let him into your room?”
    My simmering anger went flat at his words. “Who?”
    “Lawson.”
    I shook my head, unable to form words.
    “I never let someone talk to me like that. You shouldn’t either.”
    “I don’t. You saw that.” My shock was receding, uncovering my anger again.
    “I saw you act like child.”
    “I’m not exactly thinking things through right now, not after what happened.” I tried to defend.
    “You did good earlier, when it mattered.” He inclined his head in recognition, but then gave me a disgusted look. “But you let him get to you. He had control.”
    I breathed through my reply, still stuck on Demetri knowing about Gage and I, trying to work out how to ask about that.
    “I would kill someone who talks to me like that.”
    That snapped my attention back to him and what he was saying.
    He laughed at my expression. “I’ve killed people for less.” It almost sounded like a question as he smirked my way.
    “Are you joking?” I honestly couldn’t tell, but he was still laughing.
    “What you think?”
    I didn’t have a clue. But I decided I didn’t really want to know the answer so I shook my head, looking away. My clouded brain couldn’t think of a tactical way to ask, so I just came out with it. “How did you know Gage came into my room? Who knows?”
    He shrugged his shoulder. “Everyone that wants to know, knows.” He tapped the corner of his eye, “It’s my job to know.”
    After a moment of silence he added, “But nobody cares. I only mention because of how you acted tonight. I had thought you stronger is all.” He turned up the volume, ending our conversation.
***
    I sat in my room, trapped in my own mind, working out what I should do next. I needed a plan.
    The door opened, and I jumped to my feet, anger blazing at the sight of Gage. Before he could close the door behind him, I pointed to the hall. “Get out.”
    He shook his head, but didn’t step