Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
I have not a clue where we are. It’s too dark out to see much of anything.
“I’ll keep you safe,” he says again.
“Why?” I turn my attention back to him. Even the man's profile is intimidating with that hard-line jaw.
“Because I want you.” I stare at him, stunned. He did not say that.
“You’ve lost your mind.”
“Some say I never had it.” I snort a laugh. Okay, this isn’t funny.
“What does that mean? That you want me? Like sex?” I scrunch my nose. The men who hit on me think they have me pegged. They think I would be a fun time with no strings attached. Because I’m different, I guess that makes me a whore, or I should feel honored that they are giving me the time of day. No thanks.
“No,” he says simply. That was the answer I wanted, or so I thought until I’d gotten it.
“Okay, then.”
“Are you annoyed?” he asks next.
“Let’s see, I was drugged and then placed in a hole in the pitch-black.” I wrap my arms around myself at the reminder. “All for trying to help a girl that I thought was my friend.”
“I meant about the sex comment.”
“Oh.” I lick my lips. “It’s fine; it’s not like I want to have sex with you either.”
“We’ll get there.”
“Wait, what?” This man is confusing. Maybe if he spoke in longer sentences, I might understand. “You said you don’t want sex.”
“Not right now. You’re scared.”
“Thought that would turn you on.”
“I won’t lie. I enjoy others' fear more than I should. But I’m finding I don’t enjoy yours.” Why is that oddly romantic?
“And that’s why they sent you to come and extract information from me?”
"I suppose."
I lean back in my seat. "What happened in the end? I don't really know the outcome. I take it everyone is fine."
"Not the men who took you. They're dead. The drugs have been shut down, and the Chief of Police has been put back in line."
"Wait, the police were involved too?"
"They were paid to look the other way and helped cover up things." Holy shit.
"And the Chief of Police was in on it?" I shouldn't be shocked. Chaos and darkness have a way of finding me. I might also linger close to it, but I’m nosy. I can’t help myself.
"No, but it was one of his men, so he’s responsible." Yikes.
“So you punished him?” Eros shrugs. “That’s not an answer.”
“Yes, I dealt with him before I came out to the hole.” I chew on my bottom lip, reminding myself to not be nosy. I’m vowing to stay out of any Marino business—but I fail within seconds.
“What did you do to him?” I notice his hold on the steering wheel tightens. “You don’t want to tell me? Is he still walking this earth?” I probably shouldn’t be asking questions like that, but I really can’t help myself.
“I don’t want to scare you.”
“I killed a man today and then was subjected to my worst fear.”
“What is your worst fear?” It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that he skipped over my question.
“No way I’m telling you! It’s like your job is to exploit people's fears.”
“Is it the dark?” This motherfucker. I glare over at him. “I won’t use it.” I almost want to make him promise, but I’m guessing breaking a promise is nothing to a person that kills and tortures people.
“Wrong,” I lie, but it’s pointless; I’m pretty sure he knows. “Now tell me what you did to the guy.” Whoa, here I am issuing orders. If he is telling the truth about wanting me, which I’m not sure I’m buying, it could be a play. But in case he isn’t, I might as well exploit that myself. I have to work with what I’ve got, and it’s not a whole lot.
"I put a nail through his hand."
I gasp, clenching my own hand.
"It was his left.”
"And that makes it better?" I can't help but laugh. I'm not sure if it's a real one or hysterical.
"His right is his dominant hand." He actually sounds offended that he was nice in his nailing of a man's hand and I’m laughing about it.
"This is so fucked up." I wipe at the corner of my eye. Tears have formed from my laughter.
"It made you laugh. Do you wish for me to tell you more stories? Do they need to be nail gun centric?"
"I can't." I laugh even harder that our small-talk subject is his practice of torture. When I get myself together, I swear Eros might almost be smirking. "Let's hold off on that. Save them for bedtime stories."
"If you wish." Eros turns onto a gravel road that I can barely see. The fit is tight for the SUV with trees looming overhead. It’s dead silent for a few moments. I swear you could hear a damn pin drop.