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I took another look around the room, recognizing at least a few names on some of the equipment. Next-Gen. SOCOM. Both supplied tactical communication systems to the military. Who the hell was this man? When he ended the call, he turned toward me.
I recoiled as he dragged the second chair closer, sitting down and leaning forward. I immediately looked away, unable to handle being this close, but I’d caught a glimpse of his heated gaze. He was stripping away my clothes, memorizing every inch before violating me. That wasn’t going to happen. I would kill him first. Sadly, I was just as drawn to him as I’d been in his car, the man devastatingly handsome, but he was the devil in disguise.
“The less you learn about me the better, Emily. Just know that I am a very bad man.”
A nervous laugh threatened to give away my increasing terror. I stared at him incredulously, resisting all the ugly words forming in my mind. As he leaned closer, I started shaking visibly. “You have a Russian military grade weapon, tactical communications systems that cost more money than your fancy car out there. You speak Spanish and Russian fluently. Somehow, I don’t think you work for the United States government.” As soon as I’d issued the words, I looked away. In my anger, I’d spouted off far too much information.
“How very interesting you know so much about military equipment.”
I looked away, trying to keep my composure. “I read a lot of true crime novels.”
His laugh was deep, the tone sending another wave of shivers dancing through me. Did I really think I was going to bargain my way out of his clutches? “What are you going to do with me?”
“That depends on you.”
“Meaning what?”
He studied me for a full minute, inhaling as he rubbed his stubbled jaw.
“I think you need to fully understand that given the circumstances of our meeting, your options have become limited.”
“My options? What are you talking about?”
“That means you will obey me without hesitation. Any infraction will be dealt with swiftly.”
“Punishment,” I mused, taking several deep breaths, my mind a cataclysm of uncertainty and terror, the combination finally reducing my resolve to rubble. “What the hell do you want from me? If you’re worried that I’m going to the police, what the hell can I tell them? About this place? Even if I knew where I was, I have a feeling that by the time they got here, you’d have it dismantled. You have the means to do so. That much is easy to tell. My guess is you have an army of men working for you, doing your bidding.” I was so agitated, my voice had raised several decibels.
“Calm down, Emily.”
“Are you crazy?” I tried to keep from displaying any other emotion but anger, but reality was finally sinking in. After what he’d allowed me to see, there would be no return to my life.
Ever.
He jerked up from the chair, cursing in Russian as he moved toward the back of the room. I remained where I was, still shivering, noticing the windows were not only blacked out, but two also had the same bars covering the exterior. He’d taken no chances on allowing anyone to find out what he was keeping inside the house. All I knew is that we were in the Bronx, nothing else distinguishable enough to guide police officers to the location. I’d seen a single street sign yet without an address or a better description of the house, whatever information I might provide would be a wild goose chase.
Seconds later, he eased his arm over my shoulder, a glass in his fingers. “What is this?”
“Bourbon. I think you can use it.”
Now he was supplying me with liquor? When I hesitated, he laughed in that same damn husky tone of his. He returned in front of me, taking a sip of the same dark liquid in his glass then exchanged the two, lifting a single eyebrow.
I wanted to bash his head in with the heavy glass, but I was grateful for the alcohol, taking a swig then another. “You don’t live here.”
“You’re far too observant, but you are correct.”
“Then where do you live?”
“Tsk. Tsk, Emily. You’re asking far too many questions. I doubt you’ll like any of the answers.”
“Why are you doing this?”
There was nothing like the heat of his gaze or the lust in his dark eyes. I already knew the answer before he told me. “Because I take what I want.”
The words held a finality to them, a statement that made sense to him yet one that had put the nail in my coffin. And I had a terrible feeling that when he wanted something, he would never give it up.
“What are you waiting on, another assignment? The name of the next person you’re checking off a list?”
He crouched down in front of me so close that I gasped. He took my hand, yanking it closer to him when I did everything I could to pull it away. “You’re awfully forward for a woman in this position.”
