Heartbreak Me by T.L. Smith Page 0,68

door as I get in, then does the same.

“Why? Why will they be surprised to see me?”

Atlas turns to face me and shakes his head, “Because last time they saw you, they kidnapped you,” he says matter-of-factly. My body starts to shake at that thought. “They will never hurt you again.”

“Do they do that often, kidnap people?” I ask.

He cracks his neck as he drives. “Only those who need it.”

“I didn’t need it. They took me from work, and I didn’t even know why at the time. I didn’t deserve it.”

“Unfortunately, you are related to her.”

“Yes, very unfortunate,” I reply. My cell rings and I see Tina’s name.

“Hey,” I say, as we drive up to his casino.

“Hey, was going to pop in, but wanted to see if you needed anything first.”

“Umm…” I look to Atlas as he slows the car down to park. “I’m staying at Atlas’s house tonight,” I tell her.

“Ohhh… is he putting on his big boy undies and taking this relationship further?” I turn to Atlas and see him smirking, obviously overhearing what she’s said.

“I guess so.”

“Okay, good. I expect a full report tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I say with a smile.

“Thea, remember if you take it up the ass to use heaps of lube,” she yells.

I hang up on her and turn to see Atlas in full smirk mode.

“She’s trouble that one.” He gets out of the car, walks around the front, and opens the door for me.

“The best kind of trouble, though.” Stepping out, he nods and starts walking toward the casino. The doormen let us in, and Atlas takes us to a private elevator. When we fly up to the top floor, I see Sydney sitting out the front at what I guess is her desk. Her eyes skim me before they go back to Atlas. “Are you sure she should be here?”

Atlas looks to me and tips his head toward Sydney. “She will keep you company. I won’t be long.”

Sydney looks up at me, then turns back to her computer. She’s never one to talk much anyway.

Two guys come out of the elevator we just did and walk up to Sydney, totally ignoring me as I sit on a couch in front of her office area. The floors are wooden, and Atlas has two large doors that go into what I’m guessing is his office. Sydney has an almost full glass desk with a computer and not much else.

“Sir, in?”

“Yes, but he’s busy right now, so take a seat and wait.”

Both men turn, and when they do, they spot me. I look up and recognize one straight away. I didn’t get a good look at the two guys who took me that night, but their voices I would know anywhere, and these two are definitely them.

One smirks as he walks over, and he sits relatively close to me. “Miss.” He nods to me.

I look over at Sydney to see her already monitoring us with watchful eyes.

“I know who you are,” I say, smiling, but not making eye contact.

“Is that so, miss?” the other answers.

When I turn to look at them, they are both staring at me.

“Yes, that is so.”

“Well, Atlas always has a new flavor of the month. I guess you’re lucky to be this month’s.”

“I guess so,” I answer.

“Barry, Leo… office, now.” We all turn to Atlas, who we didn’t even hear standing at his office door, and he’s staring at us. They both stand immediately and nod to me as they pass, heading into his office. Atlas looks at me, then shuts the doors.

I look to Sydney.

“They are painful, both of them. It’s why they’re so good at doing his dirty work, but they always listen.” She turns back to her computer. “So don’t worry about them.”

I wait for what seems like an hour before the two guys walk out, they both nod in my direction, but don’t offer another word. After that, Atlas walks out, and behind him is Benji, who looks worse for wear. Benji’s eyes lift to me, and I flinch when I take in his face. His lip is busted, and both eyes are black.

Atlas walks over and stands in front of me as Benji passes, and as he does, I close my eyes, waiting until he is gone.

I thought of him as a nice man the first time I met him.

How blind men can be made by love.

“He isn’t an awful man, he’s just gotten lost in your sister,” Atlas says to me.

I look up once the elevator doors