Free Deceived by Camilla Isles Page B

him or her. Eli knew his world was in stark contrast to what Lexi was use to. He wanted her to feel comfortable with his life, but unfortunately, a multitude of brutal acts had taken place right out of the gate since they met. Eli knew Lexi was meant for him; he just hoped she felt the same way.
     
     
    ****
     
     
    Lexi was deep in thought, working on catching up on her spreadsheets and reports when Carl sidled into the room.
    “How’s it going,” he asked.
    “Oh--you startled me,” Lexi said as she looked from her computer screen to Carl.
    “Did you forget I was here?”
    “No.” I wish I could she thought. “I’m just concentrating, trying to catch up,” she said looking back at the monitor.
     
    Carl walked over and stood behind her, then bent over to look at the screen. This was so coming back to her now, his subtle moves. He liked to look down women’s dresses or shirts as he pretended to look at the computer screen.
     
    “I really can’t work with you peering over my shoulder.” Lexi couldn’t believe she said that. The more demure Lexi would never in a million years opened her mouth, but she was no longer that person.
     
    “What did you say?” Carl retorted.
     
    Lexi pushed back her office chair and looked at Carl. “I said I can’t work with you looking over my shoulder. Do you want me to finish these reports or not?”
     
    “I don’t think I like your tone Lexi.”
    “I’m sorry Carl. It’s been a crappy few days and all I ask for is some quiet time to get things caught up.”
    “Fine. I’m leaving for lunch. When I get back this afternoon I’ll expect all the reports to be finished and ready for review.” And with that, he walked out the door.
     
    Finally Lexi thought. Maybe this won’t be as bad as I imagined . She had no way of knowing how bad it could get.
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Seventeen
     
     
    The Hell Hounds clubhouse was an abandoned building eight miles from town. The Hounds didn’t have a nice warehouse to store their goods or a tavern to let loose in like the KOBMC. But they were coming into their own when they started dealing cocaine.
     
    So far, the club had used the money to buy all new Harleys for the members and fixing up the abandoned building, adding furniture and hooking up running water and electricity. It was a far cry from a year ago when the members only rode crotch rockets and were scraping by selling hot auto parts.
     
    When Zane took over as president, the Hounds discovered new growth and more money coming in than they could ever imagine. Zane was a no nonsense type of leader however. He had no trouble cracking heads, whether it was someone on the street giving him lip or one of his own. He didn’t tolerate dissension and he would make damn sure his men understood that whether he had to beat them into submission or burn their balls with a lighted cigarette.
     
    So it was no problem for him to cut the girl’s face the other night. Three of his men grabbed her outside the Tavern. He told them he didn’t care which of the bitches they got; it didn’t matter to him, as any would do. When they brought him to her, she was out cold. Once they got her in the van, one of the members clocked her to shut her up. It did the trick. Good , Zane had thought. I don’t have to hear the bitch scream while I carve her up.
     
    So he went to work, slicing through the delicate skin. He was impressed with his handy work as blood dripped down her face and onto her red blouse. When he was finished, he told his men to take her back to the Tavern so the KOB could admire his work as well.
     
    This should keep them from messing with me he thought as he sat in their clubhouse with three of his men. The rest of the Hounds, about five of them, were on a run. He would need to do more recruiting soon if his missing guys didn’t show up.
     
    Even if they weren’t responsible for his missing men, he took pleasure in slicing up the bitch, he thought to himself. The