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“There has to be another way.” I scanned the hallway. “A back door…something.”
He just shook his head. “It’s locked and I don’t have the key.”
“Then get me a weapon,” I whispered. “I’ll take care of the rest myself.”
He came close, so close the knuckles of his hand that gripped the sandwich brushed my belly. “I do that and you’re dead for sure. All I know is, they’re in negotiations with someone called Hale.”
Hale…
Fear gripped me. But underneath that, beneath the dark, revolting terror, was a spark of hope. Hope I’d get out of here…hope he’d make sure I was safe,even if I was negotiating one hell for another.My breaths came faster now, tearing from my chest. One hell for another, that’s what this was.
I saw it now. He’d roll up in his black limousine and the door would open. I’d be forced in there, taking a seat opposite him, in silence. I’d become aware of every breath from him, every glance, every sigh, every shift of his body against the plush leather seats. My life would end then.
End in the back of his car.
I’d become a shell. A body…a currency.
Forever.
“No.” The word slipped free. I jerked my gaze to my captor. “I’d rather take my chances with a weapon.”
Footsteps boomed outside the door. My captor jumped backwards, his panicked gaze shifting to the door as it opened and one of the mercenaries strode through.
“Food,” the young captor barked, and shoved the sandwich into my hand, then the water. “Eat,drink.”
I had no choice but to take the sandwich and stumble back to the seat, wincing as I sat once more. The mercenary glared at me as he came through the door. Orders were given in French, and a jerk of his head my way told me all I needed to know.
Hale was coming.
Like a fucking silent tornado, I wouldn’t hear him coming, but he’d leave desolation in his wake.
My hands shook, clenching around the water.
That flutter in my belly grew stronger now, drawing my focus. That life urging me to consider the unthinkable. The only thought that had driven me to the kitchen on that first night, to consider taking my life. The one thought that chilled me to the bone.
What if I had a daughter?
My father. Hale. All the men that came for me would come for her.
That I couldn’t allow.
That Iwouldn’tallow.
Heavy steps echoed, slipping away from me as the mercenary headed down the hall until thethudof the bathroom door echoed. The bottle of water slipped from my hand and hit the floor with abang.I was already driving to my feet, already shifting my focus to the front door, already taking a step.
It didn’t matter what waited outside that door for me.
It couldn’t be any worse than my own private hell.
I crossed the floor in an instant, gripped the handle, and pulled.
“What the fuck are you doing?” the young captor hissed behind me.
But he was too late. The vibrant splash of color from the evening sky assaulted me. I squinted into the glare and took a step outside. A dark blur of movement came at the far end of the landing as one of the mercenaries stood guard, his gun at his side.
I jerked my gaze from him, finding the entrance to the stairs. My heart drove into the back of my throat as I took a step. Everything inside me was screamingrun…run…RUN.
I lunged, driving my body through the air, until an arm wrapped around my chest, and a savage snarl echoed in my ear,“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
