Page 189 of Trust No One

“What are you talking about?”

His gaze wandered down the dark hallway, lips curling. “Big house. A lot of land. I didn’t know you were that rich.”

“I’m not. This house is falling in on itself.”

He laughed. “Even Hale scraps are worth more than I’ll ever see.”

“Pete, what do you want?”

His gaze roamed over me, lingering on my lips. “First, we go into your bedroom while that little girl sleeps. Then we’re getting to know each other.”

My heart stilled. My mind scrambled.

The bedroom. The flashlight. The gun—unloaded—was in the nightstand. He didn’t know that. Could I make it matter?

His hand shot out, crushing my wrist. “I don’t want to hurt her. But I will if you don’t listen.”

My limbs locked. My body tightened.

“It’s a nice big bed. Four posters.” He leaned forward, his voice a sharp edge against my skin. “I won’t have to tie you down, will I? You’ll lay real still, won’t you?” His hand trembled as he pulled a rope from his pocket. The movement was subtle. But . . . he was nervous.

Before a jury, I’d have argued that men like Pete needed to feel powerful, seen. The more he felt ignored, the more dangerous he became. “Finding me couldn’t have been easy.”

Eyes narrowed. “Not too hard.”

“It’s hard. I live in the middle of nowhere.”

Fingers bit tighter into my flesh. He dragged me toward the bedroom. “You like ’em smart, don’t you?”

Always answer a question with a question. “Why do you say that?”

“You have a type.”

“What’s my type?”

“Rich. Smart. Pretty.”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

He jerked me closer. My breasts brushed his chest. His scent, a toxic mixture of cigarettes, booze, and sweat, swirled around me. He leaned forward, captured my lower lip in his teeth. Clamped.

I winced. Whimpered. Tasted blood.

He released my lip. “You talk too much.”

His rap sheet was littered with assaults. Women mostly. One beaten so badly he’d smashed her orbital socket and dislocated her shoulder. None of his victims had pressed charges until the last. When I’d been assigned the case, I’d refused. My boss had insisted, pointing out that the law tested all public defenders.

I licked the warm blood from my lips. Concentration, through the fear.

“I can make the girl watch.” He moistened his lips.

“No!” I swung the flashlight wildly. He dodged. But I managed to strike his shoulder. A glancing blow.

He grabbed the light, twisted it from my hand, and threw it aside. “Aren’t you brave?”

I wasn’t brave. I was terrified.

My fear pleased him. “Into the bedroom, Raine.”