Chapter Two
Gina
I’m so screwed. Last night, Jesse, the creepy owner of The Hitching Post, was giving me a hard time for accidentally spilling a beer on him when the hottest man I’ve ever seen came to my defense. After my savior punched him in the face, Jesse took his anger out on me, and now I’m jobless. Since The Hitching Post is the only place in town that I’ve found willing to pay me under the table, I’ll be moving on.
I look around my tiny apartment and sigh. Three years ago, my parents fell down the dark hole of gambling, and our lives spiraled out of control. Instead of graduating from high school and leaving for college, I’m running from Manny, their bookie. Before I turned eighteen, he started insinuating he’d be willing to let me work off their gambling debts with my body. When I didn’t jump at his “golden opportunity,” he resorted to threats and even attempted to force me into his prostitution ring.
To escape him, I took the money I’d been secretly saving for college and disappeared across the country. After changing my name and finding a job that would pay me cash, I rented this crappy apartment and disguised my appearance by dyeing my blonde hair dark brown and wearing nerdy glasses. I’ve managed to keep my head above water until tonight when all hell broke loose. Now, I’ll have to pack my meager belongings and move on to another town and start over.
It’s barely morning, and I’m hastily packing my getaway bag. Unfortunately, I’m leaving a few unnecessary items behind, but I’ve learned to travel light. As I sort through my toiletries, someone pounds on my front door. My heart jumps into my throat, and I grab the baseball bat hidden under the bed before glancing out the cloudy peephole.
Oh my God. It’s my sleazy landlord. After pulling an oversized sweatshirt on over of my tank top, I take a deep breath and crack the door open. I paste a fake smile on my face. “Hi.”
He grins, and my stomach turns over when I see all his missing, rotted teeth. “I heard you might need a little help with your rent.” Oh, hell no. I’ll never be that desperate.
Before I’m able to refuse, a large hand wraps around Alvin’s shoulder and pulls him out of the way. “She’s not interested. Get lost.” Freaking Saint Riordan. Everyone in this area knows about the Riordan family. Last night, when the familiar looking hottie spun Jesse around and punched his lights out, I knew there’d be trouble. After the police left, Jesse roared at me for causing the “Riordan Asshole” to embarrass him. I think the jerk felt a little guilty because he dragged me into his office and shoved two hundred dollars into my hand and fired me.
Alvin sputters for a second before he runs his hands down his stained white t-shirt and glares at Saint. A mercenary gleam enters his eyes. “She owes me rent.” The lying little maggot.
I gasp and throw my door open all the way, ready to argue, but Saint looks at me and winks. “She’ll pay her rent when it’s due. Now, stop harassing your tenants or I’ll make sure my cousin puts your properties first on his inspection list.”
Alvin’s eyes narrow as he glances between me and Saint. He stomps down the rickety stairs and stops at the bottom to grouse, “Fuck you.”
As he disappears into the apartment, I’m left standing alone in the dingy hallway with Saint. “Uh,” I stutter, not sure what to say.
He pushes me back into my apartment and slams the door closed. “Pack your shit. I’m not leaving you here.” He looks sane, but who orders a perfect stranger around? When I don’t move, he snaps his fingers in front of my face. “Sweetheart, I need you to grab your things or, if you prefer, leave them. I’ll get you new stuff.”
“Wait.” I grab his arm, and electricity passes through my body. Ignoring my damp palms and racing heart, I shake my head. “I don’t know why you think you’re suddenly in charge of me, but you need to leave.”
He leans close to my neck and breathes against my throbbing pulse. “Think again, Sweetheart. Now, I can throw your gorgeous ass over my shoulder and carry you out of here if you want.” His deep brown eyes stare into my startled ones, and I swallow as he runs a finger down my nose. “My sore knee would bitch about it, but I’m willing to deal with the pain.”
There’s no way I’d ever cause him pain, so I grab my purse and follow him out, planning to come back for my belongings once I lose this six-foot-five complication.
After leading me to his huge black truck, he helps me into the passenger seat and shocks the hell out of me by leaning over and buckling my seatbelt. He runs around the front of the truck and hops in, and I glance at him out the corner of my eye. “I’m really confused.”
Saint ignores me and backs out of the parking lot. For several tense minutes, I wonder if I’m being kidnapped by one of the wealthiest men in the area before I tell myself maybe I’m still dreaming. Reaching down, I pinch my thigh and feel pain running up my side. Nope, I’m definitely awake. “Hey, do you plan on ignoring me the whole time?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how to answer your statement until you tell me what’s confusing you.” My eyes narrow as I forget about his standing in the community and blast the jerk. “Look, this is kidnapping.” I uncross my hands and poke his thigh. “You’re taking me against my will.”
He covers my tiny hand with his huge, monster paw and lifts it to his mouth before glancing over and winking. “When I take you, you’ll know.” Holy shit. His words send wetness flowing into my panties. “I’m bringing you to my place to keep you safe. Now, sit back and let me drive before I pull over and show you exactly what taking you means.”
I swallow and follow his instructions. The rest of the ride, I stare silently out the window and wonder how I got myself into this predicament.
My breath catches when we pull off the main road onto a long driveway. It’s lined with tall trees and shrubs, and at the end sits a large, white plantation-style home. Saint pulls past the main driveway and parks behind the garage. He points at a spiral staircase running up the back of the garage. “I live in the upstairs apartment.” After helping me out of the truck, he leads me through the four-stall garage and into the main house.
A tiny, well-dressed, middle-aged woman is sitting at the breakfast bar. As she turns and smiles, I’m preparing myself for her snotty attitude, but she surprises me. “Saint, you brought a beautiful girl home with you.” My eyes nearly pop out of my head when she walks over and hugs me. “Hi, I’m Joanne Riordan.”
“Uh, Gina Caruso,” I manage to croak. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Riordan.”
“Oh, no. You can call me Joanne or Mom, but not Mrs. Riordan.” As she smiles and pinches my cheeks, I feel like I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole.
“Ma, I need to find someplace for Gina to stay. Alvin Dresdin is her landlord, and the asshole was pulling his shit with my girl.” I’m trying to determine how my living arrangements are his concern when it hits me that he called me his girl.
Mrs. Riordan, uh, Joanne smiles. “She can stay here in the guest wing until Dare finds her one of our rentals that’s available.”