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Footsteps approached. Dress shoes with tassels were visible first. Then the suit pants and a long cashmere coat.
And the face that was so familiar yet a stranger.
I was stunned once again how on one man these features meant protection and security, while on the other they were terrifying.
“I don’t like that it’s come to this.”
I snorted. Samuel Hollingsworth seemed to thrive on intimidation.
“Let’s not bother with innuendo.”
I remained silent as he stepped closer. One half of his face was bathed in light, the other in the dark.
“You’re in a unique position, Pepper.” Something about the way he said my name sent a chill skittering down my spine. “You alone hold the power to get me what I want.”
He walked a slow circle around me. I sat statue still, hoping I’d wake up and this would all be a nightmare.
“But I too hold the power to let you keep what you want.”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart beat so loudly in my ears I could hardly hear his voice. I had zero doubt he’d take away everything I loved without a second thought. He’d already proven that, considering over half my dogs weren’t at the rescue anymore.
He stopped in front of me and looked down. He tilted his head, those sinister eyes inscrutable.
“Interesting you haven’t asked me what I want,” he mused, almost as if he were curious as to why.
“I’m pretty sure you’re going to tell me. Otherwise, this whole charade would be pointless.”
He glared, and I tried not to shrink into the chair. And then he laughed.
The sound vibrated and echoed throughout the cavern.
He shook his finger at me. “I see why he’s drawn to you. His mother had that same spirit.”
Then he clamped his mouth shut as if he’d spoken out of turn. Or did the mention of his dead wife affect him in the same way it did Teague? It seemed impossible this man was capable of any sort of feeling, but even monsters could be wounded, couldn’t they?
“You’re going to convince my son to come to work for me.”
“If you changed your tone, you probably wouldn’t need me to do that.”Pepper. I excelled at keeping my mouth closed. My fingers trembled despite sitting on them. Yet I appeared determined to piss this man off.
“And when you do,” he continued as if I hadn’t spoken, “I’m going to let you keep your little mutt house.”
The vision of him kicking Muffy blasted into my brain. How dare he treat my dogs that way, let alone speak of them like that?
“Teague is his own man. Not to mention he already has a job.”
I should be agreeing to whatever his father wanted so I could keep Grey Paws and move on with my life.
But I didn’t trust him.
“I am not a man you want to toy with.”
“I’m aware of that, but I’m afraid you think I hold some power that I don’t.”Why am I still sitting here?Why didn’t he tie me down?
He went to the trouble of kidnapping me yet didn’t seem to be holding me prisoner.He’s a master of mind games.
“For your sake, you should hope you hold that power. If you don’t, I have no reason to . . . show mercy.”
