Read Online Operation Burlesque BBW Romance by Michelle Fox - Free Book Online

and blue carpet. I sat in one of the chairs, my neck throbbing from the lack of support while I slept.
    Outside the window, a landing strip raced by in a gray blur as the plane’s wheels bumped over the runway. From the dim light, I surmised it was either dawn or dusk. I didn’t know where I was, but I had an idea: Morocco.
    “Ah, you’re awake,” said a male voice with a Boston accent.
    I startled and turned my head to see a short, bald man sitting across from me. He had the baby blue eyes of Sinatra, but the rest of him didn’t match. His figure had the bloat of a man who drank too much and even his fancy pinkie ring couldn’t class up his sausage fingers. The man looked at me, his gaze placid as a blue sky. He didn’t feel guilty about a thing. I found the thought chilling.
    Footsteps sounded behind me and another man came into view. One I knew, but didn’t want to see. Clark. Again. Would I ever get rid of this guy?
    “Hello, Ruby.” Clark smiled down at me. He’d showered at some point in the recent past and the smell of aftershave wafted into my nose. His clothes had changed, too. Instead of circus road crew rags, he wore a nice pair of khaki slacks and a green polo shirt. He looked halfway handsome with his hazel eyes and neatly trimmed hair. He was nothing like the guy who’d harassed and stalked me all over the Cirque D’Amour. Weird. Maybe Blake hadn’t been the only one doing magic tricks.
    I looked at both men. “What the hell is going on? Who are you?” I tried to move my arms as I spoke, but they’d been tied to the arm rests. When I flexed my feet, I discovered I’d been bound at the ankles as well. Well, wasn’t that just peachy keen? I tested my bonds but found no slack that would allow me to escape. I was stuck.
    “Allow me to introduce you.” Clark sat in the seat next to the bald guy. “This is Frankie.”
    “And?” I prompted. I remembered everything up until I’d passed out: The police, who weren’t police, looking for Blake. They’d kidnapped me, pumped me full of drugs and put me on plane. The name Frankie was not nearly enough information to explain any of that.
    Ignoring my question, Frankie pointed at me with his chin. “Cut her loose, Clark.”
    “She’s a fighter, boss.”
    “Boss? You work for Frankie?” I frowned at Clark. Had the crew gig been a front of some kind? What was going on?
    He smirked at me. “The crew was just a side job, Blake was always my paycheck.” Holding up a finger, he wagged it at me and said, “I tried to warn you away from him that night. You should’ve listened to me.”
    I rolled my eyes, but didn’t say anything. Clark had revised history to the point where it was unrecognizable. He’d been trying to get into my pants, not save me from anything.
    “Clark, I’m waiting. Cut the rope already.” Frankie sounded bored.
    “You sure?” Clark looked askance at Frankie. “She fought us like a rabid cat when we went to pick her up.”
    Frankie gave me a pointed look. “She’s a lady. She’ll act like one, right, Ruby?”
    “Yeah, sure, Frankie.” I smiled sweetly at him and pictured ramming my heel into his crotch. If Frankie was smart, he wouldn’t give me a clear shot.
    Clark pulled out a knife and sawed through the rope holding me down. Once free, I massaged my wrists.
    “Thanks for nothing,” I said, glaring at him. At least he hadn’t copped a feel this time.
    Apparently, Clark didn’t care for my tone. He raised his hand as if to hit me, a thunderous look on his face, but Frankie called him off.
    “Sit down, Clark. We got business to conduct before we reach our gate.”
    Clark slumped into his seat with a sullen frown.
    I stretched my arms overhead, releasing all the knots in my back from being trussed up in one position so long. “So is anyone going to tell me what is going on? Where am I?”
    “Right where Blake wants you. That plane ticket he sent was a lucky break for us.” Frankie watched me stretch with open