Chapter 7
Cassie
The desert heat had been brutal.
Even with the sun setting, that shitty wooden cabin had felt like an oven.
Dad and I had been tied back-to-back against the same wooden post, rope cutting into our wrists. He'd been screaming himself hoarse for the past day and night.
"Alex is my son-in-law!" his voice had cracked as he'd shouted at the locked door for the hundredth time. "He'll pay you! Just let me out of here!"
I'd let out a cold laugh. "Could you maybe stop living in fucking fantasy land? Even if you were Alex's biological father, his people would tie you up and throw you in a ditch."
Dad had twisted around as much as the ropes had allowed. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? You planning to just sit here in this desert and wait to die?"
He'd thrashed against the ropes, trying to twist around enough to claw at my hands and back.
I'd forced myself to calm down. "Save your energy. We don't know how long we'll be stuck in this desert."
"Call Alex to come save me!" Dad's voice had turned wheedling. "His race car can definitely find this place!"
I'd kept my tone flat. "Why the fuck would he come save you? You're just some gambler with debts."
Dad's words had caught in his throat. He hadn't been able to argue with that.
The door had suddenly slammed open, flooding the cabin with harsh desert sunlight that had made me squint.
Leon had stepped inside.
"Mr. King!" Dad had immediately perked up, craning his neck around. "You're here to let us go, right? I'm so thirsty, it's so hot in here—"
Leon's voice had been ice-cold. "Make him quiet."
A dark-skinned man—clearly ex-military from his posture—had stuffed a sandy rag into Hudson's mouth.
Leon's calculating gaze had settled on me. "Yesterday in all the chaos, I didn't get a good look. You really are as pretty and innocent-looking as everyone says. A UNLV student too. So this is Alex's type."
I'd pressed my lips together. "I don't have that kind of relationship with him."
Leon had chuckled. "Of course I know that. You're using him, aren't you?"
My heart had lurched. I'd avoided his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Leon had sighed. "You're quite the talent. With that harmless face, your linguistics expertise, and that terrible acting..."
He'd gestured toward me. "Alex actually went up against me for you. The kid's young and hot-headed, easily fooled by smart girls like you."
'Shit.' This guy had been way sharper than Alex.
My voice had come out smaller than I'd intended. "So you want to use me to threaten him into giving up Lightning Racing's underground tracks? It won't work. He won't listen."
Leon's smile had turned genuine. "You do understand him. But actually, I'm interested in your abilities."
"What?"
He'd stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You want to get rid of this father who treats you like a poker chip, don't you? I can help with that."
My blood had turned to ice. 'Does this guy read minds?'
"I'll even forget about you injuring my men. Work for The House from now on. Use your linguistic gifts to help us. How about it?"
I'd shaken my head frantically. "I just want to go back to school and finish my thesis."
Leon's expression had hardened. "You still think Alex is coming to save you?"
His laugh had been cruel. "He won't even answer his phone. You're not worth two racing venues to him!"
I'd looked down, mind racing. 'Did my revenge plan fail?'
Suddenly, a man had burst through the door. "Boss, Chase is here!"
Leon's face had changed instantly. "How many men did he bring?"
"Just him. Driving that modified Mustang."
Leon had smirked. "He actually dared to come to the desert alone." He'd turned to leave. "This should be interesting."
The door had locked again, leaving us with four armed guards.
The scarred man—Dominic, I'd thought—had walked over to me. In the dim light, his face had looked even more menacing.
He'd kicked me in the stomach, then spat. "Smart little bitch. You cost us eight men. Today you're dead."
I'd curled over in pain, gasping.
Alex's voice had carried through the walls. "You picked a hell of a remote place for kidnapping! GPS doesn't even work out here in the desert!"
Leon had responded. "Didn't answer your phone before, but now you've seen the light? And you came alone?"
Alex had sounded cocky as ever. "So what if I came alone? You wouldn't dare touch me. Everyone in Vegas knows about our agreement."
"Didn't expect you'd actually compromise for some college girl, Alex. Be careful that innocent face doesn't fool you."
My heart had pounded. 'The plan is still working.'
"Cut the bullshit," Alex had snapped. "Previous deal stands. Two racing venues on The Strip for you, and you stop fucking with my underground races."
"I've changed my mind," Leon had said smoothly. "I want four venues. Including your secret desert track."
"Fuck! Leon, don't push your goddamn luck!"
"Tsk, tsk. Racers are so temperamental."
"Drop the gentleman act! You're only a few years older than me, walking around in those fake-ass glasses."
"You don't have to agree," Leon had continued. "The girl can work for The House from now on. You don't get a say."
Alex's laugh had been cold. "Leon, did I hear you right? You want to take people from me?"
"I've introduced you to plenty of racing girls before, and you weren't interested in any of them. Suddenly you want some college student? I want her. Yes or no?"
"No!" Alex's voice had turned hard. "I won't let you have your way. Two venues on The Strip, that's it. Take it or fucking leave it."
"What are you trying to do?" Leon had sounded wary.
Suddenly, a massive explosion had rocked the cabin. Sand had erupted in a huge crater next to the building.
Men in racing gear had burst through the door, quickly taking down all four guards.
Dad and I had been dragged out into the blinding desert sun.
Leon's men had poured out of SUVs, surrounding us in the open desert.
Both sides had clashed in the sand, fists flying, dust and gunshots filling the air.
I'd scrambled to get away from the chaos, trying to dodge flying sand and bullets while Alex's men had created a path for me.
Dad had suddenly grabbed my arm, his whole body shaking with terror and heat.
I'd pulled him along through the sand, but it had been like dragging dead weight.
One of Leon's men had suddenly grabbed Hudson's other arm, yanking him backward.
Alex's people had grabbed me, and we'd been stuck in a tug-of-war.
After a few seconds, I'd let my grip loosen.
I'd let go of my father's hand.
Dad had screamed, his eyes filled with terror, fear, and desperation.
I'd smiled slightly and mouthed the words: "Goodbye, Dad."
The swirling sand and fighting bodies had swallowed him up.
Alex had pulled me into the modified Mustang. The engine had roared to life, kicking up clouds of dust.
I'd looked back and seen Dominic raising his gun, taking aim.
"Watch out behind us!" I'd shouted, throwing my arms around Alex.
A cold sensation had hit my back. The bullet had punched through the rear window and into me, pain flooding my entire body.
Alex had looked back. "What's wrong?"
"Fuck, you're bleeding!"
My vision had started to blur. 'I've been shot...'