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“I know this isn’t the time, but damn, Fin, you look so hot right now. Go kick some ass, and try not to give Cohen and Ryker a heart attack when they see you,” Asa said, making my nether regions heat.
A giggle escaped me at his insinuation, letting the rest of the nervous tension leave my body. Just because I was walking into a building that housed a psycho killer didn’t mean I had to be scared.
Balderdash! Why did I have to think of it that way?
Before I could fret too much, the door opened, and a man I’d never met, yet who had caused me so much torment, stepped out.
“Can I help you? This is private property.”
“Oh? Is it? I couldn’t tell with all the signs and creepy boobie traps that you didn’t want guests.” It seemed my brat filter was activated when I was crapping my pants.
The man regarded me, barely holding a sneer back as he took me in from head to toe, playing dumb like he didn’t know me, and I wondered how far he would take that. “If you don’t leave in five seconds, I’m calling the police.”
He crossed his arms, and I caught a streak of blood across his knuckles at the action. My heart raced faster, but I focused on his eyes. His dead, soulless eyes.
“Oh, yes, please do call the police. It will save me a phone call.”
“Pardon?” he scoffed, clearly not amused with my witty banter. Too bad, I was hilarious.
“The cops. You said you would call them if I didn’t leave in five seconds. Well, it’s been fifteen seconds at least, so please, call them. I’ll wait.” I crossed my arms this time, pretending to be the one who was impatient and mocking him all in the same move.
Our plan was simple. I needed to keep Dex occupied and away from Cohen and Ryker long enough that the team could extract them with limited casualties. It was just the getting away part myself I was still unclear on. Hopefully, before that occurred, the actual government would be here with Samson’s connections.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m done.” He went to close the door, and I tutted, shaking my finger at him.
“Now, now, Dex. That’s no way to greet an old friend. We were friends, weren’t we at one time? Or was it all a play from the beginning?”
His face morphed from one of disinterest to calculating as his whole posture changed. “Well, Finley, I guess if you know who I am, then there’s no need for us to beat around the bush. I was trying to be charitable since I already have who I want, but if you insist on annoying me, I can add you to my torture list. I do like to play with my things.”
His face twisted, and a cold chill ran down my back. This wasn’t a man that could be fooled or who’d go down easily. Dex was truly a psychopath who knew no bounds. He’d take what he wanted, not caring who or what he destroyed on his path to get there. My limbs became frozen as I held his eyes, not wanting to appear weak. But I was. I so was.
I was the prey here. There was no doubt about it.
“So, why don’t you come in and tell me all the little stories you’ve concocted about me to make yourself feel better? I do find them so entertaining. I always loved manipulating you into believing Ryker liked you. You were so gullible, believing anything I told you.” He paused, his eyes traveling up and down me. “It seems you still are naive. Your lipstick can’t cover all the lies you tell yourself.”
Dread filled me as my heart raced. I hadn’t anticipated the mental battle he’d wage. He tilted his head, almost like he was listening to something, before a creepy smile spread across his face freezing me on the inside.
“Oh goody, it seems whatever backup you were expecting has been, how shall I say it, um, yes,bombarded.” Dex threw his head back, cackling like he was the world’s funniest comedian. He rubbed his hands together, that smile spreading across his face sending fear cascading through my body.
“Do not step into that building, Fin!” Milo shouted into my ear, and I winced, causing Dex to smile even wider.
“Your team telling you to retreat? How about we strike a deal? Want to play a game, little hacker?”
“Don’t call me that,” I said, anger burning the fear away. “You might have been able to pretend to be Ryker online, but you’d never pass in person, and you know it. You’re not even a quarter of the man he is.”
“Ah, it seems like someone’s crush has come back full force. Too bad you won’t get to have your happy ending. The only person who gets one here is me.” He reached out, attempting to grab me, but I blocked it and knocked his hand away with one arm while holding the knife I’d slid into the hidden holster on the side of my pants. I palmed it, keeping it secret, ready to strike.
“Ooh, I guess the little hacker’s gone through training now. That just makes this more fun.”
He came at me from the opposite direction in a quick grab, but I ducked, sweeping out with my leg and making contact with his thigh, but I’d aimed too high and almost toppled over. I arched up with the knife, catching part of his arm as he grabbed my ponytail. I had a second to prepare for the sharp pain as he yanked me back. I tried to remember my training despite my thoughts screaming at me to get away.
A whimper left me as he began to drag me, and I kicked out, trying to catch the doorway with my feet. I swung back with the knife, making contact again, but it wasn’t enough. My other hand went to his as I tried to pull it away. I didn’t think in my panic, all my training and thoughts of escaping leaving me, only trying to disengage him from me. When I remembered I still had the knife in my other hand, I reared up, praying I wouldn’t stab myself in the head.
When he screamed, I felt victory, pulling the knife free before he took my weapon. He didn’t let go of my hair, so I swung up again, but he was prepared this time and blocked it, knocking the blade free of my hand. Tears stung the back of my eyes at the loss of my knife, and I scrambled, trying to pull free with both hands. I couldn’t let him take me anywhere. I’d never see the light of day again if he succeeded.
Digging in with my nails, I threw down my weight and locked my hands around his forearm. Twisting, I pushed forward and got my knees under me, giving myself more leverage. My scalp cried out, but it was better than letting him get any further into the building with me as his captive. I wasn’t sure if he was lying about the backup or not, so I didn’t want to be stupid and go any further if I could help it.
“Stupid bitch,” he screamed. I knew I only had a few seconds before he acted out in anger and just slit my throat. Dropping my hands from his forearm, I heard him chuckle, thinking he’d won. Falling back on my butt, I caught him off balance as I kicked my feet up and nailed him in the groin with my pointy heels.
