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He studies me for a long moment, clearly taking in the panic that I’m sure is plainly written on my features.
“Tell me your name.” His voice sounds muffled like it’s underwater as my pulse rages in my ears.
My name? Why the hell does that matter? What kind of sicko is this guy? Is it going to go next to someone else’s on a list somewhere of people he murdered?
Each breath becomes more difficult than the last. I clench my eyes shut, and every gasp seems to be deeper as I find myself consumed by another PTSD episode. It is as though I’m drowning above water and unable to catch my breath. My chest feels like it could explode as I struggle to come back to the present.
My breath gets caught in my chest as ice-cold water is poured over my head. My eyes snap open to reality, and my shocked gaze meets that of my captor.
“I haven’t touched you, if that’s what you’re worried about and I’m not going to. I only knocked you out so we can talk.” His deep voice is strangely soft as he sets the glass on the floor next to his chair, and sits down.
He kidnaps me, drugs me and ties me to a chair, then thinks it’s touching me that’s the main issue?
My jaw clenches and I cut him a glare, “Not everything is about you, asshat”.
Anger it is then. Better that than fear.
My outburst earns a raised brow from him and amusement paints his handsome features.
“Tell me your name.”
He repeats his command from earlier, leaning into the chair to level a stare at me and my cheeks burn.
My heart pounds in my chest, “Lara.”
“Lara…?” He grins and parrots my name as more of an open-ended question.
“Yep. Just Lara. But that isn’t important. What is important is knowing why the fuck I’m tied to a chair and being attacked by strange men.” I shout, “What do you and your little leathery skinned henchman want?”
I should really watch my tone, but I have been known to be hot headed in tense situations. Claire said it’s a defense mechanism, but I always figured it was because I’m a bitch deep down.
He’s quiet for a moment and his jaw clenches, “That wasn’t my henchman. I work alone.”
My eyes narrow, but my temper remains as hot as usual. “Right. And I’m supposed to believe that?”
He ignores my question.
“What did he say to you? Did he say what he wanted?”
My brows furrow in confusion.
If he’s not with the other man, they may be after the same thing, and by my luck I’ve been caught up in the middle. But, I have nothing of substance to offer except the crazed maniac’s ramblings.
I remain silent, and let him continue to wonder whether I have some kind of information in the hopes that I stay alive long enough to escape.
He sighs, grabbing the empty glass from the floor then walks out of the room without locking it. Moments later he returns with more water and brings it to my lips, tilting it slightly.
“The drug dehydrated the shit out of you. Drink.” The authority in his tone, much to my surprise, has the desired effect as my lips part to sip the offered water.
After finishing the glass he looks at his phone with a frown and I watch him move to exit the room, but he pauses, glancing back at me.
“That individual from the forest, he’s been killing people across the country for months. Most recently he killed someone just east of here.”
Leathery man is the serial killer?
I snap out of my thoughts as he continues, “Consider yourself lucky that I spooked him or you could have been next.”
I snort and watch him disappear through the doorway.
