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The tenderness in her voice gives me a sense that she’s open to it. If she was putting up a front, she’d sound bolder. I’ve hit a nerve with her. Is it enough to get her to turn against her family?
I have to remind myself that no matter how good my name, or at least my undercover name, would sound rolling off her lips, that’s not what I’m here for.
My duty is to the public, not to fall in love with this woman. At best, she’ll be my informant. Nothing more. I can’t risk ruining everything.
Eight
Lilia
Thequestionofmakingmen like my father pay for his crime goes unanswered as we pull into a clearing.
After a long drive deep into the mountain forest, Erik stops in front of a small log cabin. He shoves the car keys in his pocket as he rounds the front of the vehicle.
Guess I won’t be stealing the car. Anyway, we’re so far off the highway, I’m completely disoriented with all of the twists and turns we took. I couldn’t tell anyone where I was, even if I found a way to call for help.
He leads me to the door, and if I wasn’t in handcuffs, being takensort ofagainst my will, I’d have to admit that I like his tender touch. Is it just because I’ve never had a man touch me like this? Because I’ve fantasized about him so many times? I only saw him briefly a few times, but his rugged nature stuck with me.
He steps beside the cabin and returns with a key that opens the front door. No high-tech gadgetry here. He motions for me to step inside first. A far cry from my father’s insistence that someone go in first and look around.
Following me in, he shuts the door, while I’m busy taking in the space that should feel cramped. The four walls only have one area sectioned off for the bathroom. There’s one twin bed, a recliner, and a kitchen table that’s barely big enough to seat the four chairs around it.
Maybe we won’t be here for long. There’s no TV. No amenities other than basic appliances like a stove, fridge, and sink. There must be electric, yay! Presumably a shower in the bathroom. But it doesn’t look big enough for a bathtub.
“I’m breaking protocol, Lilia, but I need to shoot straight with you.” He retrieves a cell phone and charger from a kitchen drawer and plugs them in.
We must be about to revisit that answer I’m waiting on.
“I prefer that.”
He steps in front of me, taking my joined hands, and retrieves a key from his pocket to undo the cuffs. When I’m free, he sets the cuffs on the kitchen table, returning the key to his pocket.
My humorous thought about numerous reasons to get him out of his pants are cut short when he lifts my hands and massages my wrists.
“I didn’t mean to put them on so tightly. Hopefully, that’ll go away soon.”
The red ring around my wrists bothers him?
“They weren’t really that tight.”
He motions around the space. “Have a seat.”
Not the bed. That’s too…personal? Are we going to be here overnight? I decide to take the recliner. “I’ve never sat in one of these.”
The cushion offers no support as I sink into the chair. I pull the lever and allow it to kick my feet up the way I’ve seen people do on TV. I laugh at the unexpected rush.
Is it naïve to consider this my first taste of freedom? Who is Erik, and what is his gameplan?
Erik smiles but looks away. “Want a drink?”
“What are my choices?”
“Well…” He opens a kitchen cabinet. “We’ve got water from the tap or there are packets of cocoa.”
“You call it cocoa? I call it hot chocolate.”
“Hot chocolate it is. Would you like that?”
“Yeah.” It was always reserved for special occasions. My freedom is pretty special. But is that what this is?
