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“Okay, okay, just put me down and let me explain,” she yelled, praying frantically she could talk her way out of her worst nightmare.
“You’ll be explaining, don’t worry about that,” he retorted, his long strides covering the ground, “and you can scream all you want. There’s no one around.”
“Please—who are you? What do you want with me?”
“Give me a fuckin’ break!”
Several months before, she’d enrolled in a self-defense class, but the initial lessons were boring and she’d quit. Now cursing herself for being so impatient, she tried desperately to remember something—anything—she’d been taught.
Never panic.
But she was panicking, and though she’d stopped struggling, she was running out of air. Forcing herself to think, she quickly realized there was nothing she could do. She was draped over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, completely helpless.
Talk a lot. Make a personal connection with your assailant.
The second flash of sage advice echoed through her head. Wishing her heart would stop its wild hammering, she tried to think of an excuse—something—anything—to save the situation.
They’d reached the lodge.
Moving up the steps and onto the porch, he opened the door, marched across a foyer into an expansive living room, and plopped her down on a wide brown leather couch.
“Steph Grady,” he said calmly, shaking his head. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you about curiosity and the cat? You shouldn’t have come here.”
Abruptly leaning over her, his dark eyes narrowed.
“You’ve been a very bad girl.”
“Why would you s-say that?” she whispered, wondering how she’d managed to speak at all.
“Where do I start? Spying on me, thinking you can outsmart me, insulting my intelligence. How’s that for starters?”
“I was just d-doing my job,” she stammered breathlessly. “All I want is a photograph. If you let me—”
“Stop!” he barked, making her wince. “We certainly have a problem. You’ve been poking your nose where it doesn’t belong for a while now.”
“I, uh, don’t understand.”
“There you go again. Insulting my intelligence,” he scolded, shaking his finger at her. “Do you honestly think I’d let you anywhere near one of my meetings?”
“You mean…”
“That’s right, sweetheart. I baited a hook, threw out the line, and now you’ve been caught.”
“But, uh, I don’t understand,” she repeated. “Why am I here?”
“You and I need some private time. That’s another reason I’m angry. My time. It’s precious. I’m a busy man—but you know that.”
“What do you want? Just tell me and I’ll give it to you.”
“Really?” he said, surprising her with a chuckle. “You’ll give me whatever I want.”
“Yes, just please—”
“Wake up, little girl,” he suddenly growled, his pleasant expression instantly dark. “I take what I want.”
“I’m sure you do,” she said hastily. “I didn’t mean…”
“You’re going to answer my questions and—”
