Christmas Captive - Isabella Starling Page 0,9

roof of the car.

“Wait!” Addison cried out; her eyes desperate as they met mine. “Don’t you want to…”

“Don’t I want to what?”

“Well…” she bit her lower lip, making my cock jump to attention. “Maybe we could see each other again?”

Oh, this poor, naïve girl.

“I don’t think so, pet,” I told her with a harsh smile. “I would destroy you, and you’d never forgive me.” Her eyes sparkled in the dark. “My advice? Settle down with a nice banker your parents approve of. You’ll be happier that way than with me.”

“But—”

I cut her protest short by closing the passenger door. I gestured for the driver to take off, and the car pulled away, leaving me alone in the street. I wasn’t done just yet though. I wanted to see what Kitty looked like when she wasn’t swaying on the stage.

I waited, hidden in the shadows behind Le Cabaret, where the dancers’ entrance was located. She was bound to appear sooner or later. I couldn’t wait to see her up close, but I was wary of showing my face just yet.

It took twenty minutes for a figure to appear in the back alley, and I slid deeper in the shadows as she made her way down the dark street. I knitted my brows together. She shouldn’t have been walking around alone like that. This wasn’t the best part of town, after all.

I watched her closely, remaining hidden in the dark. She was medium height, with an impossibly slender waist and a perfect hourglass figure. Her face, though hidden by a knitted hat, was devoid of makeup and perfect in its natural state. Her coat didn’t have any buttons, so she clutched it closed around her slender body. She had an olive-toned complexion, with sparkling blue eyes and perfect white teeth. Kitty was a natural beauty, and I knew what lay beneath her clothes was just as perfect.

The temptation to leave my hiding spot was strong, but I resisted. And just as well, because a burly, broad-shouldered figure followed my girl into the back alley, his hands tucked into the pockets of his puffer jacket.

“What’s the rush, darlin’?” he snarled at her, and I growled out loud when he grabbed her. The bastard was stronger and bigger than she was. She didn’t have a chance in hell of fighting him off, and I hated the piece of shit for using his strength against her.

I observed their conversation which was quickly turning into the guy intimidating Kitty until she pulled back from him in fear. I had to intervene. Precautions be damned. This bastard was going to hurt her, and I couldn’t just stand back and watch it happen.

But I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t allow Kitty to see me just yet. I needed to bide my time. I watched the guy bully her until she handed him a thick wad of cash—probably her earnings from the night.

My fists clenched as I watched her retreat, like prey trying to escape its predator. She used the opportunity when the guy was counting her cash to run down the street and disappear into one of the side alleys. The man, obviously pleased with his accomplishments, pocketed the money, and made his way back to the building. But I was waiting for him, and I was going to make him pay.

I cornered the guy, stepping ahead of him and caging him between the wall and my broad shoulders.

“Going somewhere?” I asked him calmly.

“Get out of my way,” the guy snarled before taking a good look at me, his mind probably still on the cash he’d just stolen. “Who the hell do you think you are?” He raised his eyes to meet mine, and a look of fear crossed his face. “Oh, Mr. Kline, I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was you…”

“Who was the girl?” I motioned down the street Kitty had disappeared down. “Why’d you take her money?”

“Just one of the dancers,” the guy shrugged. He had an ugly skull in flames tattooed on his throat. “I took what belongs to me, is all.”

“How does it belong to you if she earned it?” I demanded, and he narrowed his eyes at me.

“I don’t want any problems, Mr. Kline.”

“Then do as you’re told,” I said coolly. “Are you willing to return the money to its rightful owner and apologize profusely for taking it in the first place?”

The beast in front of me gnashed its teeth together. He didn’t like this one bit, but he also knew how