Free DEEP: The Complete Man Candy Trilogy by Joanna Blake Page A

filled with regret.
    Katey was staring at me. I shook my head, answering her unspoken question. No, I had no idea how to get us out of this situation. But I would try. I had to try.
    Not just for us.  
    For Chan.
    He would come after me. I knew it. And he would get hurt. Or worse.
    He might get killed.
    A scream rose up in my throat at the thought. Funny, charming, sweet, crazy Chan. He couldn't die.
    I wouldn't let him put himself in danger on my behalf.
    I had to make sure Max never found out about him. Never knew how close I'd been to running away with him. Or anything else that had happened.
    It was time to face up to the reason why. I cared about Chan too deeply. I couldn't pretend anymore that I didn't like him. That he annoyed me. That I didn't want his touch.
    It didn't matter if he'd kissed me on a dare all those years ago. It didn't matter if he'd lied to me back then. He cared now.
    I forgave him.
    I had to because... I was falling in love with him.
    Who was I kidding? I'd always been halfway in love with him. The adorable little boy with the blue eyes and dimples who spent every waking moment trying to get a rise out of me? How could I resist him?
    He was always in trouble.
    He was trouble.
    But Chan was never unkind. Mischievous, yes. But mean? Never. Not to the kids everyone else made fun of. Not to animals. Not to old ladies.
    And never to me.
    I looked up and saw Hanz smirking at me. Like he knew something I didn't. A shiver of fear shot through me at the look in his eyes.
    The car came to an halt and the door was opened from the outside. The driver was someone I hadn't seen before. He looked a lot like Hanz.
    Big, tall and dangerous.
    Professionally dangerous.
    The driver pulled Katey out of the car and carried her away. Hanz reached for me. I jerked backwards. But he just smiled and wagged his finger at me.
    "Be a good girl."
    I went limp. I couldn't fight him. If it had just been me then I might have made a run for it. But I couldn't leave Katey anyway. I didn't struggle as he lifted me carefully and carried me across a the partially finished entrance. We were in a closed off construction zone. There was a fence hiding us from view.
    No one would see us.
    No one was coming to help.
    I was almost glad. This way it would be impossible for Chan to find us.
    He would be safe.  
    Even if we weren't.
    I stared up at a building I recognized from pictures. It was an unfinished luxury condominium Max had been working on for over a year.
    The front was sheer glass. It was well over 20 stories high. To say it was intimidating would be an understatement.
    Another man opened the door for us. He seemed completely unsurprised to see two women bound and gagged. Another bad sign for what was in store. Everything about this was surreal. I knew I had to stop being scared and start thinking clearly.
    Our lives depended on it.
    We rode the elevator in absolute silence. I tried to catch Katey's eye but she was turned the other way. She must be terrified.
    At this point my only concern was for her and Chan.
    Especially Chan.
    I couldn't help it. I loved my friend but I didn't think she'd be killed. If Max ever knew what Chan and I had gotten up to together... how I'd let him touch me.
    Chan would be worse than dead.
    The elevator stopped on the very top floor. Of course. Only the best would do for Max.
    The penthouse.
    This part of the building was finished, and then some. Floor to ceiling windows, marble floors, a sleek open concept with white kitchen. An enormous white leather couch took up most of the living room.
    Of course it was leather.
    I heard Max before I saw him.
    "Bring her in here. Leave the other."
    I twisted my head and saw Katey being lowered onto the couch. I tried to catch her eye again but Hanz was carrying me into another part of the enormous condo.
    The master bedroom.
    Hanz lowered me into a chair. My hands were bound behind me so I was perched at the edge of seat. I sat there awkwardly and waited. Max