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“I know that look in your eyes. I’ve seen it many times. You’ve got a problem brewing.”
“No. I don’t. Now you need to move before I scream.”
He didn’t budge. “Go ahead. Scream if you want. I’m guessing you won’t, though.”
I met his glare with one of my own. “What exactly do you want from me?” I asked, the question running much deeper than what was on the surface. This man had a goal, a target he was trying to hit. I was pretty sure he got whatever he set his mind to, and I had to hope I wasn’t in his way and about to get run over.
“You.” That was it, one simple word, but it stopped my heart in my chest.
My lips parted, and I gasped at the truth I heard in his tone. I froze, losing all my words and having a hard time clinging to any coherent thoughts. What did he mean?
“What…” I swallowed, trying again. “I mean, huh?” That hadn’t come out much better.
“You’re in a pack with an alpha who wants you gone. In my pack, that wouldn’t be a problem.”
“So you want me as a guide?” My lungs inflated and my heart beat again, even if a small part of me felt just a ghost of disappointment. It was insane to want him, but maybe it would be nice if he wanted me… Just a little?
“It would be a good start.”
So maybe more? Or was that a tactic to string me along, lure me over? This man knew how to work a woman.
What was I doing? I had to get my head in the game. Whatever he wanted didn’t matter right now.
“I don’t have time for this.” I went to lift my hands to his chest, give him a shove in the right direction. I stopped abruptly and crossed my arms instead. What if I killed him?
He noticed the quick change of direction, which was what I’d expect. He seemed to notice all things, all the time, like he was constantly cataloging everything and everyone around him, catching the smallest nuances.
“In order to get you for…mypack, I need you alive. Now that you know what I want, why don’t you tell me what your current issue is?”
“I told you. I’m fine.”
He looked down at my hands tightly tucked into my arms. “Why don’t I believe that?”
“Because you’re an arrogant ass?”
“Try again.” He leaned slightly closer. “I have a vested interest in keeping you alive. You sure you don’t want to utilize that?”
He wanted me alive. That was a serious lure. Groza wanted me dead. I scanned the room, wondering where my horde of ghosts had gone when I needed some advice.
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“No one.”
He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes.
“I mean nothing.”
“I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, but I know you need me.”
He wasn’t budging, and I couldn’t even push him away. If it were only that easy. “Yes, you sure seem like the good Samaritan type. I’m sure you do favors for all sorts of people with no strings attached.”
“How about this: I give you my word, no matter how bad your mess, this one’s on me. No strings.”
“Your word?”
“Yes, and I don’t give it easily.”
Was this a trap? Had I read this all wrong? Was he trying to get me to give up the location, basically forcing a confession from me? It didn’t seem like it, but how could I possibly trust him? I’d judged wrong before.
