Inside Danger (Outside The Ropes Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

band.
    “I hated how things went yesterday. I came here first thing this morning to check on you. What are your plans for the day?” He was relaxed back in his chair.
    Demetri sat down across from me and I glanced his way with a shrug. “What can I do?” The minute the question was out I regretted it. It sounded like acceptance.
    Rusnak leaned forward and tapped one finger on the table to get my attention. “You can do whatever you want. Like I’ve said, you are a guest.”
    I held his stare. “I didn’t feel like a guest when Demetri locked me in my room last night.”
    His eyes narrowed and he paused for a beat before a small smile tugged at his lips. “Demetri takes things too far sometimes. It won’t happen again.” He looked to the man and said, “You are her body guard, not prison guard.” Turning back to me he added, “He has to stay with you, but you can do what you want. Tonight there is an event that I would like you to attend. It’s to celebrate Gage’s win, but also an announcement of sorts that I have taken over the Baltimore gym as well as opening the new one in D.C.”
    My heart stuttered at the mention of Gage, but I kept my blank expression easily enough.
    “Do you have any other plans? Perhaps pick up things for your stay here?”
    I nodded, eyes back on the table.
    “I know this is a strange situation, but tonight I need you to put on a good face. You will be representing the gym.” His voice was gentle but the demand was clear.
***
    Demetri started up the Lexus. “Where to?”
    “The Red Roof Inn, where you picked me up yesterday.”
    “I thought Holiday Inn.” He backed the car out of the garage.
    I gave up trying to keep where I was a secret, it’s not like I would be hiding out there again. “I lied.”
    He snorted. “I figure.”
    We drove up the long driveway, pausing as the gate slid open. Demetri waved to the man in the guardhouse controlling the gate, and my stomach sunk as I took in the security of the place.
    “Why not stay at your house? Why not tell anyone where you at?” Demetri pulled me from my thoughts.
    I shook my head, surprised that he was talking to me. “I didn’t want those girls involved in this.”
    “But anyone look for you, they go there.” He shrugged.
    I got his point, but him pointing out the flaws in my plan frustrated me. “I was only thinking about Damien, he doesn’t know I lived there.”
    “Neither did I, but I found easy. You gave up where you were easy too. It took one hour to find you total yesterday.” His smug tone grated my nerves.
    “Good for you,” I snapped, then turned to stare out the window.
    “Did you tell anyone else about the hotel?”
    “No.”
    “What if something were to have happened? What if you died? Nobody would have known where to look for you.”
    He was much more talkative today, I wished he would shut up.
    “If I was dead, that wouldn’t be my problem.”
    He smiled and his dark eyes brightened. “Good point. And you said without flinching. You not scared?”
    “No, not of dying.” Dying almost seemed easy; it was everything else that scared me.
    Merging with the traffic on the highway, he nodded. “Good.” Then he accelerated and turned up the volume to the radio.
***
    Demetri walked me to the VIP lounge where Rusnak was, already a full crowd surrounding him. I kept my face blank and body soulless, determined that nothing would touch me tonight—not emotionally.
     
    Rusnak approached Demetri, and they spoke low to each other, too low for me to hear over the music beat and noisy atmosphere.
    Demetri turned to me and leaned in to be heard. “I have to go now. I pick you up at end of night. Stay in this area.”
    I nodded, a mixture of relief and dread running under my skin. The devil you know vs. the Devil you don’t. After spending the day with Demetri, I still thought he was a lunatic, but we had come to some sort of truce or understanding. I didn’t know who was going to be responsible for