The thief struggled relentlessly to release herself from the firm grip of the two stealthy bodyguards. She tried to get a better sense of her surroundings, but the small slits of the ski mask offered only limited vision. They lead her across the living room where they then ascended a long flight of stairs. She was dragged by her arms down a hallway and into a dimly lit den.
"I see we have a feisty one," she heard a husky voice proclaim from the far end of the room. Shadows fell upon a broad figure sitting at a desk, nursing a drink.
"A female this time," one of the guards commented, with a mischievous waggle of his bushy uni-brow.
As the man rose from his chair, his features could be more clearly seen. It was obvious by his tailored dark suit and the way he carried himself that he was one of discriminating taste. He held his drink and stroked his well kempt goatee a few times to suggest pensiveness. As he drew nearer to her, she couldn't help but notice his strong jaw line. He, indeed, was a highly attractive man on many levels.
His hypnotic steel blue gaze met her own. A shiver ran through her as she considered the position she was now in. Sensing his next move, she quickly wriggled again to release herself from the guards hold. It was no use. The security blanket concealing her identity was yanked from her head aggressively.
She observed a hint of a wicked grin begin to rise from the corners of his lips. He was quite obviously impressed with the vision before him.
"I will go notify the authorities, Mr. Gamble," one of the guards said in a manner that implied it was more of a question then a statement.
"NO!" She pleaded with tear glazed eyes.
Mr. Gamble's smile grew as he watched the helpless creature, confident in the knowledge that she was at his total mercy.
"Unbutton your blouse, thief, and then perhaps we will speak of compromise."
The two men snickered
Tears streamed down the bend of her crimson jaw line as she tried to reason with her adversary. "But in order for me to comply, your men will need to release my arms."
He gestured to the guards. She trembled while her fingertips pretended to locate the top button. Suddenly, in an abrupt movement, both arms sprang back and elbowed the men in the gut. She spat in Mr. Gamble's face spitefully. He caught her heel in mid flight with his hand just as she was attempting to kick him in the groin, causing his drink to plummet to the ground with a splatter.
Still maintaining the grip on her foot, he chuckled in amusement as he watched her fight to keep her balance. "Did I mention I studied martial arts for fifteen years, thief?" The two irate men once again took their places at each arm, this time holding her so tightly, they cut off her circulation. Mr. Gamble angrily wiped the spit from his brow onto the ski mask, and then threw it to the ground next to the spilled drink. In one quick, solid movement, he tore her shirt open.
"Now, was that so fucking hard?" He queried in a monotone voice, just inches from her face. "I tried to be nice. I tried to offer you a way out. I had one simple little request... one that was not asking a lot of someone who just tried to steal what I have worked so hard for all my life... and this is how you repay my kindness?" He kicked the ski mask to her feet. She shuddered, tears now flowing unmercifully from her eyes.