Chapter Ten
Levi stood in the doorway of the hotel room, the door ajar. He looked back at Tessa, who was secured again to the bed. She wore an annoyed, confused frown. Levi sighed and looked over at Sam. He was slapping his leg, laughing at some campy eighties movie.
Levi shook his head and exited the hotel room. He closed the door and started down the stairs, grabbing his phone as he did. He quickly dialed his boss with anger growing in his gut.
"Hey."
"Did you show her dad the picture of us abducting her?" Levi stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
"Yeah. He still won't pay. The prick."
"Shit. Well, we'll just have to cut her loose." Levi patted his back pocket out of habit. There was nothing there. He'd quit smoking two months earlier.
"Hell no." His boss's voice boomed from his phone speaker. "You two are going to rough her up and send me the pictures so I can show daddy. If that doesn't work, you'll slit her throat, and we'll let him know that he's next if we don't get the money. That works nine times out of ten."
His boss laughed an ugly laugh, and Levi pulled the phone away from his ear. Fuck! Why does her dad have to be such a fucknut?
This was getting serious. Levi knew that his boss wouldn't give this job up without a fight, which meant that he would expect Tessa to be hurt sooner rather than later. Levi had to do something quick. If he didn't take matters into his own hands, she'd suffer.
Damn it!
"Levi?" His boss yelled from the phone.
He brought the speaker back up to his ear. "All right. Just leave it to me. And, boss, do me a favor. Don't tell Sam about this … hiccup. Let me take care of the girl. I don't want him fucking it up."
There was a long pause, and Levi worried that the boss wouldn't agree.
Finally, he answered. "Fine. I guess I can give my best employee that courtesy, but Levi, you have an hour to send me pictures of that bitch bleeding."
Levi clenched his jaw so tightly that his teeth made scraping sounds against each other. "Ninety minutes. You'll have them or…" He paused.
"Levi, don't fuck around."
"Don't worry. I'm invested now." He swiftly ended the call. Levi raked his hand through his hair, exhaling before talking to himself. "Totally invested."
****
Tessa pulled on the ropes holding her to the bed. She was irritated to be back bound to it, but she was more upset about Levi's demeanor when he'd walked outside. There was obviously something bad going on. Did it have to do with her dad or maybe just another criminal job?
Sam let out another annoying laugh, and Tessa rolled her eyes. How much longer would this torture last? She was hungry, and her muscles were sore from being in the same position.
Just then, Levi burst back into the room. He was agitated. She could tell by the way he moved and how his eyes darted around the room. Sam turned to stare at him. He started to stand from his chair, but Levi skirted past him. He came straight to her side of the bed, kneeling down.
"Tessa, love. I have to make a quick run, but I'll be back. I promise."
"No." Fear gripped her. "Don't leave me here. Please!"
"Pet, if there was any other way, I wouldn't, but there's not. I swear, one hour. I'll be back."
"Levi, please." Tears began to wet her eyes. "I need you here." Those words were one hundred percent true.
He tilted his head to the side, looking conflicted. "Love, one hour."
He bent down and kissed her forehead. She was only slightly worried that Sam would see.
Levi swiftly stood and walked toward Sam, who was already ignoring them again. "Man, I have to go get something for the boss. I'll be back shortly." He pointed at Sam's chest. "She better be in the same condition I left her in when I get back."
Sam barely looked up. "Yeah, yeah. Hey, bring me back some chips or something. I'm starving."
"Damn it, Sam. You are one annoying fuck."
"What?" He turned to look at Levi, but he was already leaving.
He opened the door and paused for a second, looking back at her. A few tears pooled in her eyes as she shook her head. Levi exhaled a rough breath before walking out and closing the door.
More fear made her stomach hurt as Tessa turned her attention on the man who was now in charge of her. Sam still sat watching the TV. What now? A sob worked up her throat as she started to intensely miss Levi already.