Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
This is a threat.
My eyes scatter around my apartment until I find the gun I left on the table near the front door.
Shit.
I shouldn’t have put it down, but I thought I was safe in my own home.
Her eyes have followed mine to the same object, and she raises her hand to bring it to her lips. A single finger to silence me while she shakes her head as a warning not to try.
This is insane.
One second passes, and I spin on my heels and bolt toward the door, rushing to reach my gun.
THWACK!
A knife zooms past my head and flicks my gun off the table right before I can grab it.
A forceful shove from my own desk chair knocks me off my feet, and I fall right into the goddamn chair. My hands are immediately locked behind the seat, twisted until I groan with pain as they’re zip-tied together so tightly I can’t move. It all happened quicker than I could react.
Fuck.
She trapped me in my own home.
The chair is spun around on its axis until she’s right in front of me, the black suit glinting in the dark. There’s a cheeky smile on her face as she plants both hands on the armrests and leans in.
“Hello, Detective Foley …”
Why do I feel like she knows me?
“It’s so nice to finally meet face-to-face.”
My brows twitch. “Who are you?”
“You think I would go through all this trouble and then tell you my name?” She chuckles as she lets the leather jacket slide off her shoulders. “I’m not going to be that easy.”
“What the hell are you doing in my house?”
Her hand rises, and when her fingers latch around my throat, I swallow away the unadulterated rage.
Could she be the killer I’ve been chasing? Or is she merely a copycat interested in the game?
“I came here for my reward.”
The unknown texter.
“You could’ve contacted the station about that. But now that you’ve invaded my house, you can kiss that money goodbye.”
She gives me a venomous, pretty, lopsided grin. “Oh no, Detective Foley, I don’t want cash.”
Whoever she is, she has ulterior motives, and nothing good.
“Then what do you want?”
Her fingers unfurl from around my throat, only to slowly slither down my shirt, as if she’s feeling me up. “For my time and effort? All of my knowledge? All the secrets you wish to learn?” Her hand dips even lower, all the way down my abs, and I can hear her stifle a moan. “You.”
I’m momentarily too flabbergasted to even speak.
So I’ve got a stalker now. Is that it? Is that what she is?
“I’m not going to entertain that idea,” I reply.
“Oh, but you will.” She leans in to whisper into my ear, “I’ll make it worth your while.”
She leans back, her dark eyes boring into mine from behind that bunny mask, and there is not a thing on this earth I wouldn’t do to tear it off.
I jerk at the zip ties, but it’s no use, and it only makes her laugh.
“You won’t be free until I say you’re free,” she says.
“Stop these fucking games. Who are you? What’s your goal here?”
“To make you my plaything, duh,” she retorts. “What else did you think?”
I snort. “You must think I’m insane. There’s no way I’m going to agree to anything you suggest. Now untie me, and we can talk.”
“So you can attack me and pin me to the floor?” she muses, sliding her hand up my body again. “Arrest me? Ooh … Kinky.” She bites her bottom lip. “I’d love to watch you try.”
My eye begins to twitch.
Is she … turned on?
What is wrong with this woman?
“You broke into my house,” I growl.
“You practically invited me,” she retorts.
Is she crazy?
“You put out that notice, asking for tips through that phone number.”
“And you know damn well that’s not my personal number,” I reply.
“Semantics.” She shrugs. “I’m only interested in the promises you made.”
“I didn’t make any fucking promises, especially not to a stalker.”
“A stalker?” she scoffs, playfully slapping me on the chest. “You’ve got me all wrong.”
I keep a stone-cold face. “Then explain to me how you found yourself in my home.”
“Simple. You left your balcony door open. For air probably. Or to lure sneaky girls into your home …” She begins twirling my hair, and I hate how little I can do to stop her. “Either way, you’re mine now.”
My nostrils flare. “You’ll end up in jail.”
“Good one.”
“Release me,” I say through gritted teeth.
Suddenly, she grabs my tie and forces me to lean toward her instead. “Bark.”
“Fuck off.” I avert my gaze, but she grips my chin with her other hand and makes me look at her.
“I told you to bark for me, Atreus.”
My lip curls up. “And I told you to fuck. Off.”
I am absolutely seething.
She’s insane if she thinks I’m going to do as told like she’s my goddamn wife.