Grasping For Freedom Read Free Page A

then did she remove her phone from her pocket.
    Knowing she missed the call and the blackened out screen would give her no information on who called, she waited. The instructions from her boss were strict. If she didn't pick up, she'd receive another call in exactly three minutes. If she missed the connection a second time, she'd be removed from the area with no warning. Her life depended on her answering the phone.
    Her phone vibrated. She pushed the side button. "Hello?"
    "In three more days, we'll contact you. At that time, we need an idea on the number of Bantorus members and any information about their schedule," said the voice on the other end of the call.
    Hired by Los Li after she turned to the wrong person for help, there was only one thing she could do until she found a way to get her father out of danger. She had to go along with her job of gathering information about Bantorus MC before her dad got himself killed.
    She recognized the caller as the man she knew as Radiant. Nothing about him cast a glow around him like his name suggested. She suspected he was one of the main leaders within Los Li, and he got his name because he was the brains behind everything they did. Not that she knew what their business was, but the secrets and people who came and went within their headquarters were bad, real bad.
    "Okay." She nodded, though she knew no one could see her. "You'll need to give me time, because only Rain—who isn't much of a talker, and the bartender here is reaching out to me. Most of them...they don't like outsiders, so they're not sharing anything I can't see myself."
    "I'd suggest you change their minds then, baby," said Radiant.
    She thrust her fingers in her hair. His suggestion was the obvious one, but the last thing she wanted to do was lower herself to whoring herself out. That was the main reason why she came to Pitnam. It kept her away from sleeping with the members of Los Li in exchange for her dad's life.
    "I'll think of something," she said.
    Silence greeted her. She looked at the display—still black, and put the cell back on her ear. "Hello?"
    No response. She pushed the button on the side of the phone again and shoved the device in her pocket. Already she felt like a failure.
    She opened the door and walked back inside Cactus Cove. She had no idea why Los Li wanted information on Bantorus MC, and she didn't care. She had to find her dad before she lost him too. She was too young and blind to what her mother had gone through, but she could stop her dad from self-destructing.
    No matter what anyone else said—friends, coworkers, her dad's old buddies—she was the only person who could help her dad, the only one who could make him listen. Now that her mom couldn't keep David Haas on the straight, she was responsible for him.
    The arid and yeasty smell of beer hit her in the hallway. She paused on the outskirt of the room, gathering herself. She only had a few more hours and then she could go out to the cabin.
    A large man with a black skullcap walked toward her. She smiled and looked away to discourage any conversation. The man kept coming. She stepped to the side and his beefy hand circled her waist and brought her up flat against his chest.
    "Excuse me," she said, pushing on his arms.
    "That's it, honey." He tugged her closer, breathing on her face. "I like a bitch with fire."
    "I said, excuse me." She shoved, but all she did was exhaust her strength. "Let me go, you—"
    The man whirled around, losing his hold on her. Brandy stumbled, gaining her balance and heard a sickening pop followed by a thud. She jerked her gaze toward the man, who now lay flat on his back on the floor.
    Torque stood above him, rubbing his hand. "She ain't one of the bitches, Graham."
    Graham pushed up on his elbows. He glanced between her and Torque. "Sure looks like a bitch to me."
    Torque planted his boot in the middle of Graham's chest and pushed him back down. "Apologize. Now. She's the new manager."
    "Ah, hell,"