Aric (The Boundarylands #7) - Callie Rhodes Page 0,6

first piece of evidence, as anyone who valued their own safety would do.

But Jocelyn had never been able to let things go. She always had to keep tugging at loose strings until things completely unraveled.

And that's exactly what had happened this time.

In the course of three hours on her computer and in the company files, she'd been able to link her boss to almost a dozen murders that had taken place in the city over a four-year period. No—not murders: professional executions...because her boss was nothing if not professional, the type who would never allow an open issue or a loose end to go untended.

And those murders were only the ones she could find records for. Deep down, Jocelyn knew there had been more.

A lot more. And if she didn't stop her boss, the killings wouldn't stop either.

Damn her conscience. Jocelyn had only been trying to do what was right, and where had that led her? To hookers’ night at a goddamn alpha bar in the middle of the Boundarylands. This was her reward for trying to be a good person.

I want to leave you shaking with pleasure, and yes, there's a nice pile of cash in it for you, but believe me, neither of us is going to be thinking about that when you're taking my cock.

Another electric jolt ran up her spine. The sensation was terribly uncomfortable, seeming to take over her whole body. Strangely, it didn't feel entirely like fear. There was…and Jocelyn wished it wasn't so, but the goosebumps on her arms didn't lie…there was an element of excitement, too.

And something else. Something even worse. Because the truth was, even though the alpha was terrifyingly massive, he wasn't ugly. Far from it.

He reminded Jocelyn of a statue that might have been carved by an ancient Roman sculptor, with a classically handsome face, a strong jaw contrasting with a full, lush mouth. He had wavy hair of the sort that would be unruly if it grew longer, chestnut brown with glints of gold. And his body might as well have been made of marble considering how perfectly formed and massive his muscles appeared to be under his faded blue Henley.

Damn—even his shirt sent her senses into overdrive, begging to be touched. Maybe it was the contrast between the soft, much-washed fabric and the man's powerful masculinity that both attracted and repulsed her. Maybe it was something else.

Either way, it didn't mean Jocelyn wanted to screw him. There was no way she would ever let that creature touch her, not for all the cash in the world.

His hands were so big they could crush her bones. The weight of his body on top of her would crack her ribs and drive the air from her lungs. His thrusts would split her in half. Thank God there were a bevy of willing professionals inside to attend to his needs while she…

Jocelyn had no idea.

She obviously had to get out of the Boundarylands, but she had no car. Traci had taken the keys with her, and while Jocelyn no longer cared if these women found out she'd lied to them, she really didn't want to go inside and risk encountering the alpha.

And even if she managed to find Traci…what then? It wasn't like the woman could do anything for her. Even if Jocelyn could talk her into driving her back to her car, something worse would be waiting.

John would be waiting.

Ravaged by an alpha or taken out by a hitman—surely these couldn't be her only choices.

"Hey," a soft voice called.

Jocelyn jumped, looking wildly around to see who was talking. What she saw surprised her: it was no alpha standing a few yards away, studying her cautiously, but a woman.

One with bright pink hair and an even brighter smile.

Another of Nicky's girls? Jocelyn didn't think so. There was something different about this woman that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Something…reassuring.

Jocelyn did her best to match the woman's cheerful expression, even though every muscle in her face felt tight and shaky.

"Oh…hi," she said. "Sorry, I was just..."

That was as far as she got, unable to come up with an explanation for why she was hiding behind a bar instead of inside drumming up business.

"It's okay," the woman said, taking a tiny step forward. "I'm not going to hurt you. You're in trouble, though, aren't you?"

Was it that obvious? And if it was, why hadn't the other women noticed her distress?

Jocelyn didn't know if she could trust this stranger, but at