Free Leather and Lace (Tempered Steel Book 2) by Maggie Adams

looking for a needle in a haystack.”
    “However, given the evidence and Hawkins testimony, you shouldn’t have any problems collecting the insurance and getting your business cleaned up and running again,” Fultz commented.
    “So what do we do now?” Brandon asked.
    “Nothing. You sit tight and let us do our jobs,” Fultz said.
    All the brothers turned to Sam. He smiled because that was so not going to happen. “We’ve never been good at waiting. We’re kinda take charge guys.”

 
    Chapter Six
     
    The next afternoon, Angel was riding high after the dinner at the Coalsons. She sat at her computer, inputting the latest inventory for Merrywidows Fancy, her online adult novelty store. Sales were up with Halloween being right around the corner. Apparently, a lot of adult “treats” were being purchased. She smiled. Wonder what Sam’s going to say about this part of my career? He’ll probably pitch a fit!
    She closed down the computer, and prepared to head to the kitchen for a snack, when she heard a noise in the stockroom. Thinking Frankie had come in, she started toward the back of the house. “Hey, Frankie! Thought you had left. I was just going to make…..some…..tea,” she finished on a whisper as she felt the cold steel of a knife on her neck and fingers biting into her arm.
    “Where you going, pretty lady?” a coarse voice cracked out as the man’s hand slid along her arm and around her waist.
    Angel swallowed the bile that rose in her throat as the stench of the unwashed body assailed her. “Whaa, what do you want?” she murmured.
    “Whatever I can take, baby,” His hand crawled up to the underside of her breast. “And you’re going to give it all to me.” He licked the side of her face. She flinched.
    “Whatsa matter, baby? You don’t like my touch?” He cackled. Squeezing her breast roughly, he continued, “I guarantee when I’m finished with you, you’re going to beg me to put an end to your suffering. The boss said I can take whatever I wanted as long as I got the job done.”
    Angel’s eyes grew wide as she frantically tried to think of a way out of his arms, but the knife was pressed to her jugular. “Please, please, just tell me. I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t kill me.”
    He pulled her hair roughly, forcing her to her knees. Stepping around to her front, she got her first glimpse of her assailant. Short, with a close shaved head, he was totally nondescript – except for his eyes. Red-rimmed, bleak, and desperate brown eyes focused on her face – a meth-head. His breathing accelerated as he pulled her hair again, making her wince.
    “Boss said I get you when I’m done. I’m finished. You’re going to suck me, fuck me, then give me all the money in your safe. Or I’m going to kill you, one piece at a time. Now unzip my pants,” he growled, his eyes moving around the room in fear and excitement.
    Angel shivered as her hands touched the fly of his dirty jeans. She glanced between his legs, praying for something to focus on to get her through this horrifying ordeal. She had no idea what he was talking about. Why would someone want to hurt her?
    As she unbuttoned his top button, her eyes wandered everywhere but his crotch. She saw behind him, her pretty little nook, blooming mums on her grandmother’s lace doily gracing the table, her favorite coffee mug on the counter, and the small braided rug where Frankie had set the space heater in front of the sink to be wiped off and checked for winter. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing to help her.
    As she pulled down his zipper, he grabbed her hair again, pulling her forward as his feet hit the rug, kicking the heater to the side. “I’m going to lean against this counter so I can relax and enjoy my hummer,” he smiled viciously.
    Angel knew she had to touch him. She looked around once more trying to find any way at all out of this. She knew he would kill her before he left. She just wished he would get it over