Free Bella's Beast by LeTeisha Newton Page B

but he was a
force to be reckoned with. He was known to clean house, in the worst way, when
someone challenged him. Known to make people disappear if they wronged him, and
he was paid well for it. No one, absolutely no one, held his leash, and he was
a monster that could eat the others. He was the one the loan sharks were afraid
of.
    And
he was the only one who could save her and her brother.
    “You’re
stiff, baby. What’s wrong?” he asked, stroking her neck soothingly. She leaned
into the caress for a moment, loving the security there. It was only temporary,
she knew, but she still needed it. Just a few seconds of
peace. That’s all she needed, before she walked away and went home for
her last night of freedom. Because when Elijio helped, he had to get paid, and
if you couldn’t pay, then you belonged to him. Bella had nothing but herself to
give to him.
    “Problems
you couldn’t take away,” she whispered, knowing he wouldn’t hear her.
    “Try
me,” he whispered back, surprising her. Startled into opening her eyes, she was
staring into the most amazing face she’d ever seen. His jaw was strong and
firm, his lips full and lickable, if you asked her. His nose was straight and
his cheekbones high. Dark, almost black eyes, were focused on her intently,
surrounded by the longest eyelashes she’d ever seen in her life—the kind that
curled into the eyelid and gave women some serious penis envy just to have them.
His hair curled around his face with a flair that had to be created in a salon,
because nothing was that perfect. For a moment she was speechless. He smiled
sadly, and gripped her hand.
    “Come
on,” he commanded and walked her off the floor. Other dancers cried out as they
left, but he didn’t stop. He made a beeline for the door, and no one got in his
way. Even the bouncers moved as he stalked past them. Bella was helpless to
stop. Once outside, the cool autumn air chilled her. He tucked her under his arm,
warming her, as they walked just a little way from the club’s entrance. It was
far enough that the sound of the music was muted, but not enough that she would
have struggled. He stopped near a low-slung sports car that she didn’t know the
name of but looked like it cost a hell of a lot of money.
    “Tell
me,” he commanded as he leaned against the car frame, never releasing her hand.
    “You
wouldn’t understand,” she started.
    “Isn’t
it good to tell someone who doesn’t know? No loss or gain.”
    “I
need to meet a really dangerous man tomorrow to help my brother,” she said
finally, not sure why she wanted to tell this man her problems.
    “What’s
wrong with your brother?” he asked. It surprised her that he didn’t even bat an
eyelash at the dangerous man part, but she didn’t stop talking.
    “He’s
got a gambling problem.”
    “And
you pay the price. How much is he under for?”
    “Two million.”
    “Is
that with inflation or true debt?” he asked.
    “True debt. How the hell—”
    “Then
it will increase ten percent, at minimum, every week. When was the demand for
payment made?”
    “I
don’t think—”
    “Don’t
think. Just answer,” he interrupted.
    “A week ago. I have until
tomorrow to make a payment. Two weeks for the in-full amount.”
    “He’ll
owe two million two hundred thousand by tomorrow, and two hundred thousand more
by next week. Did they tell you that?”
    “Look,
I don’t know who you are, but I’m done. Thanks anyway,” she said and she pulled
her hand from his. She felt the loss of his heat immediately, but didn’t stop.
She spun on her heel, determined to get to her car and go home.
    “I
wouldn’t walk away from help so easily,” the man called out.
    “And
who the hell are you?”
    “Elijio
Vargas. And I’m sure, whoever you are going to see tomorrow, isn’t as dangerous
as me.”
    Bella
couldn’t get her mind to function properly, no matter how hard she tied, as she
turned back around slowly to look at the man she’d danced