The Heist Read Online Free PDF Page A

owed too much to Pops. So he did as she asked. He carefully eased the hood from her head. The terrified girl sucked in a deep breath. Her hair was a tangled mass; it hung in her face and eyes. She blew up out of her bottom lip, causing her locks to part, then she peered up at him. Kumar found her round, thickly-lashed, chocolate eyes captivating.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, her bottom lip trembling. “I thought I was alone.”
    “Are you hungry?” he asked, forcing himself to look away. He went to the Burger King bag he’d brought in then pulled out the burger and fries.
    “Can you undo these chains? Please.”
    “No, I don’t have the key.”
    “Oh, please help me,” she cried weakly.
    Kumar glanced back over his shoulder. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. Lee is a—”
    “A monster! Can’t you see what he’s done to me? He’s crazy! You have to help me!”
    “Calm down.”
    “Noooooo! Help! Help! Help!”
    Kumar dropped the food and rushed to her, throwing his hand over her mouth, forcing her head to snap back. He moved his face so close to hers their lashes brushed. He spoke in an even tone. “Don’t! If you keep screaming, then you’re going to force the men outside this door to come up with ways to keep you quiet. Do you want that?”
    She shook her head from side to side. He nodded. “Good. Maybe I can talk to them about loosening the restraints. But you’re going to have to cooperate. Be smart about it!”
    She nodded that she understood.
    Kumar dropped his hand. “Look, I got a burger and fries for you. I can feed it to you.”
    “Yes,” she agreed softly. “My stomach hurts. I think it's from the drugs he gave me.”
    Was she trying to summon sympathy? He sensed her stare as he walked back to the table.
     
    ***
     
    Sasha thought he looked to be from India. His skin was a richer shade of brown than her own. His blue-black hair was wound in tight, dark locks, tapered neatly around his face, cut low to his head. He was athletic, lean, and sinewy. His dark eyes and delicate features made him strikingly handsome. He turned and managed to smile. Sasha greatly appreciated his gentle manner at that moment.
    Lee had used her and discarded her like trash. She’d played Lee's game and lost. Her only hope of salvation was this man. So she remained mute as he dragged a chair over to face her, then he straddled it and held the burger to her lips.
    Sasha took a small bite and began to chew. Her eyes scanned her surroundings and found it to be an office. With cement floors and gray paneled walls, the entire room was dreary and dusty. It smelled of mildew, oil, and musk. Pipes hung above, some of them leaking into gooey puddles that had formed over time.
    She swallowed before asking, “Where is this place?”
    Kumar shoved the burger back under her nose. She took another bite. Chewing, she glanced at the fries. The stranger fed her a few. Talking with her mouth full, she tried to chew and smile through it. “What’s your name?”
    “I’m Kumar Suresh.”
    “My name is Sasha Dixon.”
    “I know,” he replied, picking up a soda then giving her the straw. Sasha sipped obediently. Kumar continued to feed her as if it were the most natural thing between them. He did so in silence, with Sasha thinking of how she could use his friendship to her advantage. There had to be a way.
    “I have to go to the bathroom,” she announced.
    “You what?”
    “The bathroom. I’ve been tied to this chair for hours. You just fed me. You gave me half a soda.”
    He cursed under his breath. She guessed he couldn’t deal with the new development. “I told you I don’t have the key.”
    “Well, what do these people expect me to do? I have to use the bathroom.”
    He rose and folded up the burger paper. “Hold it,” he snapped.
    “Whaaa?” She watched him pick up the soda as if he were about to take leave. “Wait! Don’t leave me like this! Please!”
    He slammed out. Sasha panicked. “Kumar! Come back!