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My gasp was muffled by his palm, but he still seemed to understand what I’d said. He removed his hand and stared down at me with an unreadable expression. “Yeah, I figured you’d remember my face.”
“That’s why you’re snatching me?” He didn’t let me go far when I tugged my arms and tried to take a step back. “You don’t have to do this,” I pleaded. “I can pretend I have no idea who you are if that’s what it takes for you to let me go. If anyone asks, I never saw anyone coming out of Stacey’s dorm room. I swear.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “It’s not that simple, kitten.”
“I’m not your kitten,” I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him.
A glimmer of humor shone from his dark eyes. “Yet you hiss and scratch like one when you’re pissed off.”
“Sorry for not going meekly along with my own kidnapping,” I scoffed as I tried to pull free again.
His lips curved into a smirk, and he shrugged. “It’s sexy.”
My jaw dropped, and I tried really hard to hide how much I liked hearing him call me sexy. I jammed my hands onto my hips and glared at him. “Don’t get any ideas, buster.”
His smirk turned a little wicked, and a smug glint entered his beguiling eyes. “You and I both know you were attracted to me when we met.”
I wanted to smack and kiss his face at the same time. He was right, but I wasn’t willing to admit it to him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His expression darkened, and he took my chin firmly between his thumb and index finger. “Don’t lie to me, kitten,” he growled. “Or you won’t like the consequences.”
There was no doubt he meant it, and I gulped hard. I was scared, but my stupid, traitorous body clearly hadn’t received the memo that it shouldn’t be attracted to the man holding me hostage. I nearly gasped as a thought entered my mind. Was I going to be one of those crazy women who fell for their captor?Stockholm Syndrome? Really, Audrey?
To my shock, he suddenly added, “I will never lie to you, Audrey. Trust me.”
Okay, I’d had enough of this. “Why would I trust you when you’re trying to kidnap me?”
“I’m nottryinganything.” He grunted as he tugged me away from the building. “I’m successfully kidnapping you.”
“Let me go!” I shouted as I began to struggle once more. My fear notched back up when I saw the dark sedan idling near the entrance to the alley. No matter how fierce my attraction was to this mystery man, I still didn’t know where he was taking me or what he planned when we got there. His promise not to lie to me sounded as if he didn’t intend to kill me. Was he going to hold me for ransom?
“Sorry, kitten. You’re coming with me. You’ve seen my face.” He paused, then muttered, “And it’s for your own good.”
For my own good? Being kidnapped? This guy might have been hot as sin, but I was starting to think he was also bat crap crazy.
He wrapped his left arm around my back and pulled me against his chest while his right hand dipped into the inside pocket on his immaculately tailored suit coat. Something was seriously wrong with me because I couldn’t help admiring how good he looked in what he was wearing. I also melted into his hold for a moment.Quit noticing how sexy he is, Audrey!I berated myself.
His looks, and how amazing it felt to be wrapped up in his arms, flew out of my mind when I saw the hypodermic needle in his hand. That put the fight right back into me. “No!” I gasped as I squirmed and wiggled with all of my might, but he was still able to lift the needle to his mouth and pull the cap off with his teeth. I cried out when I felt the sting in my upper arm. “Please,” I pleaded. “Just let me go.”
“Never going to fucking happen, Audrey,” he growled as he held me perfectly still while slowly pushing the plunger all the way down.
I glared up at him as he pulled the needle from my skin and shoved it and the cap back into his pocket. “I know very powerful people,” I warned, trying to hide my panic. “They’ll find me, and you’ll be sorry you ever took me!”
“Just relax, kitten, I won’t hurt you, ” he murmured as he smoothed back a lock of hair that had fallen out of my updo onto my forehead while I had been struggling. “They’re no match for me. Especially when it comes to you. You’re mine now. No one is ever going to take you from me.”
I was utterly confused by his statements, but my brain was too fuzzy to figure out what he meant by them. I tried unsuccessfully to push words past my lips as my consciousness drained from my body, the drugs quickly taking effect.
4
Merrick
Ibrushed a kiss over Audrey’s forehead after I swept her limp body into my arms. Drugging her hadn’t been my first choice, but a scenario where she went with me willingly wasn’t likely.
Gently, I placed her in the car and secured the seat belt around her. Then I jogged around to the driver’s side and slid in. We were headed to the Teterboro Airport, where a private plane was waiting to take us to Los Angeles. I’d collected a favor from a previous client with deep pockets who’d asked for a little more than the services I usually provided.
With the weekenders returning to the city, there was little traffic on the way out, and we made it to the airport in less than forty-five minutes. I drove the car into the hangar and exited, tossing the keys to a man in jeans and a logoed polo. Our bags had already been loaded onto the plane this morning—I’d packed Audrey’s after she’d left for the wedding.
I’d only given her a mild sedative, but it would be enough to knock her out for most of the plane ride across the country. After unbuckling her, I gathered her into my arms and stalked toward the plane. The attendant didn’t look twice at us as he got into the car and moved it into a parking spot on the other side. Considering his employer, a man carrying an unconscious woman onto the plane was probably mundane.
