Code of Conduct, page 11
“. . . second shipment . . .”
Reality dispersed Romeo. Magician strained to hear the words beyond the truck.
“. . . arrive after this one . . .”
The trailer rocked as a man filled the opening. His clothing and ethnicity suggested a Middle Eastern origin.
“One awake.” Syringe Guard tucked the remaining needle into the case. “As instructed.” He jumped with it out of the back.
Oh. Shit. Her quivers became outright shakes. His threats to drug her had been empty on someone’s orders. This latest unknown man’s? Why did Syringe Guard pick her to remain awake? What new level of hell threatened her now?
Magician maneuvered her legs in the tight space until she could hug them to her chest, ignoring the protests and strain on her muscles the actions caused. Fuck. Deterioration had set in more than she realized. She couldn’t fight in this condition. Hell, she didn’t know if she could even crawl, let alone defend herself.
The lead supplier hustled to climb in behind the newcomer. “Salam alaykum, Your Excellency, Sheikh Aalam Ali Khan.” He held out his hand. “I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow.”
Sheikh Ali Khan peered down at the hand, waited a moment, then ignored it, turning away.
Anger and annoyance crossed the supplier’s face.
“I have another engagement.” Ali Khan strolled forward. “Carlos Osvaldo likes to keep me happy. And I want to see the inventory firsthand.” At each cage, he curled his lip or paused as if contemplating ownership, then moved on.
Blood roared past Magician’s ears as her pulse raced. Cruelty oozed off the man, and with each step, her heart pounded louder. Everything in her knew the moment the Sheikh reached her cage; her life would change forever.
After an eternity, Ali Khan finally stopped in front of her.
She stared at his polished black shoes, battling to breathe through the malevolence thickening the air. No.No.No.No, whispered over and over in her head. Peeking up through her eyelashes, she blanched at the lack of humanity in his dark eyes. A low humming emanated from the back of the Sheikh’s throat and her gag reflex kicked in when he shifted his hips and licked his lips.
“You picked the right one.” Ali Khan pointed at Magician. “I want to see her.”
Fuck.
Sheikh Aalam Ali Khan pivoted and exited the trailer.
Two guards jumped into the back and unlocked her cage. With bruising grips, they hauled her out.
Her cramped legs refused to work right from remaining curled inside the restricted space for too long. Sharp stings rushed through her veins and her muscles buckled. Fire exploded in her veins as the blood worked its way down and her feet went numb. The guards managed to lower her to the cement floor, but she couldn’t stand on her own yet. She stumbled, trying to stop herself from falling, and crashed into the Sheikh.
“How dare you touch me uninvited, whore!” He backhanded Magician.
Slicing pain ripped across her cheek as her head snapped away. Once again, primal instinct kicked in, courtesy of her body’s weakness. She lashed out, kicking him in the groin.
Ali Khan screamed, the high-pitched wail echoing off the rafters. He doubled over, holding his crotch, and spat on the floor. Blood clung to an oversized, gaudy ring on his hand, explaining why her face throbbed.
Red liquid saturated her palm as dread unfurled. No way she escaped punishment for nailing the Sheikh in the balls.
The guards shouted, and two roughly grabbed her arms, one on each side. A younger man in an expensive suit rushed to Ali Khan’s side. The unknown man’s dark blond head tipped up, and he flashed cold, steel-hued eyes at Magician before helping the Sheikh straighten.
Ali Khan’s mottled and sweaty face showed his fury, and he wheezed, “You’ll pay for that insult, whore.”
After the first punch to the face and kick to the stomach, Magician lost track of the fists and feet reigning down on her. The guards fed on the energy. They shouted and laughed and dragged the other women into the warehouse, then beat their unconscious bodies too.
I’m going to die. Magician knew it in her soul. Please, God, just take me.
The world turned blessedly black.
To order your copy of Crossing the Line and find out all the latest news and updates, please visit P. A. DePaul’s website at https://padepaul.com.
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ALSO BY P. A. DEPAUL
SBG Novels
Exchange of Fire
Shadow of Doubt
Code of Conduct
Crossing the Line
Titles with Harlequin
Surviving the Storm
Deadly Mountain Treasure
Surviving Alaska
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
P. A. DePaul is an award-winning author who earned the prestigious Sapphire Award from Romance Writers of Australia and has achieved multiple placements on the Publishers Weekly Bestsellers listings.
Her favorite genre to write is Romantic Suspense. Her books are full of action, suspense, and romance. But, she can’t promise she won’t branch out into other genres. When an idea grabs hold, she allows it to take her for a ride.
As a hybrid author, she has books traditionally and independently published. Her traditional publishers include Berkley, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Harlequin Books.
She loves connecting with readers! You can find her on these social media and book sites:
P. A. DePaul, Code of Conduct
