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A shiver runs straight through me, but it’s not from his words, but rather the sound of his voice as his breath dances against my skin.
He smiles wickedly as he pulls back.
“Do you enjoy trying to scare me?” I ask.
“Maybe a little.” He chuckles. “Though I’m finding very little actually scares you.”
“That’s not true,” I immediately argue, not sure where he could’ve gotten that idea from. I’ve been down right terrified since the moment I woke up on this island.
“Isn’t it?” He cocks a brow, thinking over his next words carefully. “I’ve seen more women abducted and held against their will than I care to admit. But I’ve never seen a woman try to fight back the way you did that first night.”
I’m momentarily stuck on the thought of the other women and how their situations may have played out.
“I wouldn’t exactly call that fighting back. A lot of good it did me.” I swallow past the lump lodged in my throat.
“That’s not the point. Hell, most men wouldn’t even be brave enough to try and take a swing at me, but you did without batting an eye.”
“I’d rather die fighting.”
He studies me for a moment.
“You’re not what I expected.” He gives me a look that causes my pulse to spike.
A long moment passes between us.
“I just can’t figure you out,” I tell him, pushing up into a sitting position.
“What do you mean?”
“One minute you’re all violent, evil cartel lord, the next you’re sitting next to me talking to me like you’re a simple man.”
“I am just a man.”
“You’re far fromjusta man,” I counter, not missing the way the edges of his mouth twitch as he fights to contain a smile. “And now you’re laughing at me.” I pull my knees to my chest and hug my legs.
“I’m not laughing.”
“You might as well be.”
“For the record, I can’t figure you out either.” He nudges my arm with his in a way that feels oddly out of character for someone like him.
“Me?” I blanch. “I’m an open book.”
“Yeah. Okay.” He rolls his eyes.
“What? I am!”
“Hey, boss.” We both turn at the sound of Niko’s voice. “Ross is back,” he tells Mateo, who quickly pushes to his feet before looking down at me.
“I’m going to need you to go back to your room now.” His voice is suddenly all business.
“What? Why?” I whine as he reaches down and pulls me to my feet.
“Duty calls.” His eyes do a quick sweep of my exposed body, a slight flare to his nostrils as he leans down and snags my coverup off of the ground, sliding it around me moments later. “Trust me, it’s for your own protection.” Something about the way he says it has me quickly gathering my things. “Take her to her room,” he tells Niko. “Have Dimitri guard her door. Make sure you tell him that no one goes in or out but me or you. Then meet me in the courtyard.”
“You got it, boss.” Niko nods as Mateo takes off past him.
“What was that all about?” I ask as I follow Niko back to the house.
