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He made the statement with no emotion in his voice. To him, the words were hard, cold facts. Or so he wanted everyone to believe. Whatever torture he’d gone through had changed him permanently.
“How did you get out?”
Snickering, he finally looked me in the eyes. “I planned for two months, using sticks and metal pieces they’d used to carve into my skin, cobbling them together as a ladder.”
“Jesus.” I couldn’t imagine how he’d survived.
“Then I killed every one of them. Every. Single. One. And they didn’t die quickly. No, I made certain they endured the kind of anguish they doled out on a daily basis. Then I drove them straight into hell.” His nostrils flared as he remembered the experience, every muscle in his body tensing. I watched as his eyes swept back and forth as if he was seeing the men he’d killed right in front of him. He couldn’t rid himself of the horror.
“Cobra,” I managed, wanting nothing more than to wrap my arms around him.
He lifted his head to ensure I looked into his eyes. “Now do you see why you should be terrified of me?”
“No. I refuse. You would never hurt me.”
Laughing, he jerked to a standing position. “Then you’re a fool.”
“No, I’m not. You allowed me to share a moment of peace with you. Don’t allow the man you are now to rule your life.”
“Too late, princess. It’s best you give a shit about someone else.” In three long strides he was standing in the doorway. He threw his head over his shoulder, his chest rising and falling. “When I leave, you will lock the door and keep it locked. You will not go outside under any circumstances. If you do, you will be punished. I will stoke the fire and there’s plenty of wood inside. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes.” There was no point in arguing with him.
“You know how to use a gun. Right?”
I wasn’t surprised at the question, only that he’d allow me to handle one of his prized possessions. “Of course. One of the Secret Service men taught me years ago. He used to take me to the shooting range.”
“Which meant you trusted him,” he said with ire in his voice.
“Yes, very much. He understood me.”
“I’m curious. Where is he today?”
He already knew the answer. “He was fired.”
Chuckling, he allowed his gaze to fall to the floor. “Figures. I’m leaving you with a weapon. Use it if necessary and shoot to kill. Aim for the chest. Then you won’t miss.”
It was another representation of how much danger we were both in.
“Okay.”
“And use your ring, but only if absolutely necessary.”
I held up my hand, resisting running my finger across the fake stone. It was strange how much I’d wanted the gift to be something personal. There was no reason for me to feel that way about anything Cobra did. It didn’t make any sense, but I continued to swirl the tip of my finger around the edges. “How long will you be gone?”
“As long as it takes.” He twisted his body so he could look into my eyes. My God. He was a shell of a man. “Until Valhalla.”
The last two words troubled me the most. I knew what they meant, especially to a soldier. There was no greater distinction in life than to die with honor and valor.
The man was eager to die.
As he walked from the room, a cold shiver drifted down my spine. What would it take to get through to him, to break him free from the horrible chains locking his mind into utter blackness?
I had no answer.
CHAPTER7
Jagger
