Read Online Tequila Sunset: A Military Erotic Romance (Sexy Siesta Series Book 2) by Talina Perkins - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Talina Perkins
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stairs and paused, the smell of smoke and gasoline overwhelming. She pushed forward.
Left would take her to the kitchen. Right the living area. She maneuvered around the last corner separating her from the living room then pulled up short.
Cold steel pressed against her temple. Diablos.
“ Ahi señorita , it’s good to see you’re still alive.” A big hand pushed her toward the living area and toward the voice. What was it with thugs? Was it a recruiting requirement to have sausage hands to push people with?
She recognized the smug voice. Her gaze darted around in search of the man who went with it. At least her instincts were finally back on target.
Lights flickered on, revealing four men standing in front of her, each with a gun pointed at Gabriel. A little worse for wear, but the bad guys had fared much worse. She held back a smirk. She bet the one with the broken arm and bloody nose wouldn’t forget the wrath of a Recon Marine anytime soon.
Her attention drew back to Gabriel. He knelt on the floor, focused on her. His mouth tilted up on one side and he winked. Small ripples of relief loosened the knot of fear lodged in her stomach. Much more and the damn thing would take up permanent residence.
She wished she had the same confidence he obviously had, because right now she’d say this Mexican stand-off was a little one-sided.
“I thought we’d finish our conversation, señorita . Since we were interrupted by your guard dog earlier, you never heard my offer for your business.” His gaze raked over her, and she shuddered from the slimy feeling he gave her.
She narrowed her eyes as Bougainvillea closed the distance between them. “ Señor Bougainvillea.” Her words curt and tainted with contempt.
Anger curled his lip, marring his otherwise handsome features. Whatever happened to the boy her mother talked so fondly of? The very stories that had prompted Ema to make the call in the first place.
One thing was for sure, from the cold, calculating eyes that stared down at her, the man standing before her was no longer the boy her mother had grown up with.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a slight movement. Gabriel’s hands were bound in front of him. A flash of pink from her misplaced cell phone cupped between his palms clued her in.
Okay. Keep Bougainvillea’s attention . She could do that. And breathe. Don’t forget to breathe.
“So starting fires and scaring the shit out of people is your version of talking business? Kinda hard to strike a deal when one side is dead, don’t you think?” Her voice didn’t crack so that was a bonus point for her.
Beneath his pristine white shirt and tie, she could see a tic in his neck as her words struck a nerve. Soulless eyes locked on hers.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, followed by a rush of dread up her spine. She cringed inwardly. One point for the bad guy.
She gulped in air. She’d never seen such malice in one person. Looking in his eyes was like looking in a pit of tar. Nothing ever escaped. How had she missed that earlier? On second thought, maybe she hadn’t. Bougainvillea was obviously skilled at hiding his true nature from most, but Gabriel had seen the person beneath the persona.
She took a step back and into a wall of muscle. She was so focused on the danger before her she’d forgotten about the one at her back.
“You guys really know how to work a room,” she muttered more to herself than to the man standing way to close for comfort. Her attention flicked over to where Gabriel knelt. He tilted his head down a fraction before mouthing, Trust me .
She blinked her understanding then turned her attention back to Bougainvillea. “ Sabes que? You know what? Take whatever offer you have, and leave. I’m nowhere near interested anymore.” Anger clipped her words.
Hatred flared in Bougainvillea’s eyes. He struck out with the back of his hand so fast she had no chance to block. Pain shot through the side of her face.
Left would take her to the kitchen. Right the living area. She maneuvered around the last corner separating her from the living room then pulled up short.
Cold steel pressed against her temple. Diablos.
“ Ahi señorita , it’s good to see you’re still alive.” A big hand pushed her toward the living area and toward the voice. What was it with thugs? Was it a recruiting requirement to have sausage hands to push people with?
She recognized the smug voice. Her gaze darted around in search of the man who went with it. At least her instincts were finally back on target.
Lights flickered on, revealing four men standing in front of her, each with a gun pointed at Gabriel. A little worse for wear, but the bad guys had fared much worse. She held back a smirk. She bet the one with the broken arm and bloody nose wouldn’t forget the wrath of a Recon Marine anytime soon.
Her attention drew back to Gabriel. He knelt on the floor, focused on her. His mouth tilted up on one side and he winked. Small ripples of relief loosened the knot of fear lodged in her stomach. Much more and the damn thing would take up permanent residence.
She wished she had the same confidence he obviously had, because right now she’d say this Mexican stand-off was a little one-sided.
“I thought we’d finish our conversation, señorita . Since we were interrupted by your guard dog earlier, you never heard my offer for your business.” His gaze raked over her, and she shuddered from the slimy feeling he gave her.
She narrowed her eyes as Bougainvillea closed the distance between them. “ Señor Bougainvillea.” Her words curt and tainted with contempt.
Anger curled his lip, marring his otherwise handsome features. Whatever happened to the boy her mother talked so fondly of? The very stories that had prompted Ema to make the call in the first place.
One thing was for sure, from the cold, calculating eyes that stared down at her, the man standing before her was no longer the boy her mother had grown up with.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a slight movement. Gabriel’s hands were bound in front of him. A flash of pink from her misplaced cell phone cupped between his palms clued her in.
Okay. Keep Bougainvillea’s attention . She could do that. And breathe. Don’t forget to breathe.
“So starting fires and scaring the shit out of people is your version of talking business? Kinda hard to strike a deal when one side is dead, don’t you think?” Her voice didn’t crack so that was a bonus point for her.
Beneath his pristine white shirt and tie, she could see a tic in his neck as her words struck a nerve. Soulless eyes locked on hers.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, followed by a rush of dread up her spine. She cringed inwardly. One point for the bad guy.
She gulped in air. She’d never seen such malice in one person. Looking in his eyes was like looking in a pit of tar. Nothing ever escaped. How had she missed that earlier? On second thought, maybe she hadn’t. Bougainvillea was obviously skilled at hiding his true nature from most, but Gabriel had seen the person beneath the persona.
She took a step back and into a wall of muscle. She was so focused on the danger before her she’d forgotten about the one at her back.
“You guys really know how to work a room,” she muttered more to herself than to the man standing way to close for comfort. Her attention flicked over to where Gabriel knelt. He tilted his head down a fraction before mouthing, Trust me .
She blinked her understanding then turned her attention back to Bougainvillea. “ Sabes que? You know what? Take whatever offer you have, and leave. I’m nowhere near interested anymore.” Anger clipped her words.
Hatred flared in Bougainvillea’s eyes. He struck out with the back of his hand so fast she had no chance to block. Pain shot through the side of her face.
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