Chapter 10
Fuck this man.
“You’re a lying sack of shit, Wrath.”
His entire demeanor had changed, as if he’d grown weary of her disdain. Shifting quickly, he shoved his arm around her throat, squeezing until stars floated in front of her eyes.
The heat of his breath against her skin, the feel of his wet tongue created another wave of quivers.
You can’t do this. You can’t… But the words and the meaning seemed to float away.
She slapped her hand against the window, clawing at the glass.
“Stop!” she managed. Tears formed in her eyes, ones of frustration more than fear. He was merely trying to get a reaction.
How could he do this to her?
And how could her body betray her?
“I don’t think you truly understand the kind of man I am or the level of danger you’re in,” he hissed.
“I could just as easily snap your neck, dumping you into the Atlantic Ocean as allow you to leave here unharmed. Even with a partner, Agent Waters, you work alone, which means you won’t be missed for hours, even days.
At that point, there won’t be a trace of you, your life or your disappearance.
I’m quite capable of erasing your entire world. ”
The threat was real, but his words were jaded, as if he had no desire to hurt her in any manner.
Still, whatever this fucker wanted her to agree to, she would consider with caution.
He was certainly able to elude everyone, including the woman he’d fucked on two occasions.
She bit back another anguished cry, refusing to give him the satisfaction.
Just as quickly as he’d placed her in the position, he let her go, backing away from the window.
Remaining against the cool glass, she panted, watching the reflection as he moved back to his glass of scotch, sipping as if this was an ordinary business deal. He had her gun. He had her locked away in a house and no one knew that she’d gone off the grid. She was in no position to argue.
At least at this point.
Smoothing down her shirt, she folded her arms before turning around. “What is this deal, and don’t you dare waste my time.”
Wrath gazed at her warily before handing her the second glass. “I think you need this. Don’t you?”
She hesitated and scanned the entire kitchen.
“I assure you that I haven’t poisoned such a fine scotch and I wouldn’t bother trying to find any sharp knives or other implements at this point, but you won’t need them.
That is, if you accept the terms of my deal.
We are well protected here for the time being.
No one ever learns of my existence no matter what country I’m in.
As you might imagine, anonymity is required. ”
“Similar to serial killers.”
He snickered, lifting a single eyebrow. “Throwing barbs isn’t your style, sweet Sophia. Perhaps we can at least be civil to each other, one professional to another.”
A professional. She wanted to laugh out loud. Play the game. Get him to trust you. This time, her inner voice was on point.
Reaching out, she wrapped her hand around the glass. Their fingers touched, and she was thrown into a moment of roaring hunger, tingling hits of electricity shooting straight into her pussy.
“Our connection is still very strong,” he managed, his voice strangled. “Very strong indeed. Just like you, sweet Sophia, I questioned everything after the time we shared. I even attempted to stay the hell away from you. I’m certain you can understand why.”
“Because you actually give a shit about me?”
He simply offered a sly smile.
“Then why the fuck didn’t you? The lure of the kill?” If only she could get to her phone, dial her partner’s number. Then the freak wouldn’t get away with this. She had to pretend, becoming a consummate actress until she had him in a compromising position.
He narrowed his eyes. “Since you have managed to find out about the consortium, then you already know the answer to that. This is my job, a profession much like the one you’re involved in. My guess is that you don’t value catching criminals any more than I appreciate the art of killing any longer.”
The comment caught her off guard. Was the asshole attempting to snow her, suggesting that he had a conscience?
She bit back a bitter laugh. “Tell me about them, this Dark Haven. Isn’t Alessandro Comali in charge?
I would imagine he’s close to his deathbed by now.
Wait a minute. If you’re the leader of a pack of killers, does that make you in line for the throne? ”
Genuine surprise filtered in his eyes for a brief second. “Interesting.”
“That I do my homework? I realize you and these powerful men believe they can hide in plain sight, but you forget the most valuable lesson about humans.”
After a few seconds, he took the bait. “And what is that?”
“That everyone makes mistakes. Even someone as notorious as the great silent killer. Oh, I forget, you’re now taking claim to your kills.
Need an ego boost since you botched, what was it, two separate kills, not just one?
” The information pissed the man off. She took another sip of her drink.
She knew he was furrowed with frustration given the fresh dent in the wall. Maybe he was unraveling.
Growling, he turned away briefly, running his fingers through his hair.
A tear in his otherwise perfect mask of steel.
“You don’t want to hear about the atrocities associated with the Dark Haven, Sophia. They are much more powerful than you could ever imagine.”
“I’m going to learn one way or the other, Wrath. Even the limited information I found means there is much more. And do you know how I realize this? Everyone has a price.” Including the motherfucking informant who must have sold her to the devil himself.
He chuckled and took a sip of his drink, seeming much more relaxed than before.
“Yes, I suppose you’re right. I won’t bore you with the details and trust me, there is no law agency in the world who can stop them.
They are brilliant in their idealism of sadism.
Their preferred methods of punishment are…
brutal. That would include disciplining you, sweet and beautiful Sophia. ”
The words were out of place, even for him. “Another threat, Wrath?”
“Just a promise.”
Tension settled in, a quietness that was unsettling. Was he actually attempting to keep her out of harm’s way?
“Then why stay involved if you hate them so much?” she finally asked.
“Family obligations, Sophia. I have no choice. They have no tolerance for betrayal of any kind and anyone who gets in the way of their plans will be annihilated.”
“We all have choices. For example, you didn’t have to kill those men. You can stop right now, give yourself up and if you do, I’ll make certain you get a fair trial and are completely protected. You can’t run away from the truth, Wrath. Lies and deceit will always find you. Come with me.”
“Interesting.” Wrath lifted his gaze, studying her intently. “Sadly, since you seem to know so much about my family and the consortium, you realize that’s not something I can do. My family won’t allow that to happen. Besides, there is no manner of protection for a man in my position.”
The way he issued the words brought a level of sadness into her heart that she hadn’t expected. He wasn’t telling her a lie. “I’m sorry, Wrath. We all deserve to have choices in our life. I would help you if I could.”
“My beautiful Sophia. This is why I was drawn to you, why I brought you here. This is why you will be in my life, at least for now. What you have already given me is a level of freedom I never expected.” He closed the distance once again, brushing his fingers down the length of her arm.
“What do you want from me, Wrath? What? You act like you actually care about me and you and I both know better. You could never care about anyone but yourself.” Jerking her arm away, she almost dropped the glass.
All her defiance, her months of trying to catch this monster and she was floored by her body’s reactions.
Stop lying. You can’t lie any longer. You want this man.
You crave this man. Hiding behind the glass, she took a sip.
Even the slow burn in the back of her mouth wasn’t going to ease her fear.
She’d been lying to herself for months, pretending that what they’d shared hadn’t mattered in the least.
A blip in time.
A light switch she could easily control.
A nightmare she would awaken from.
“That is where you’d be wrong, Sophia. I thought you knew me better than that.” He turned away, shaking his head.
She watched his actions, the way his brow furrowed.
He was cunning, but this was something entirely different.
His life had just come to a crossroads. When he turned to look at her, there was no emotion riding his expression, merely the cold man she’d initially met.
For a few seconds, she wanted the man who’d adored her to return, maybe pretending they could rekindle what they’d shared.
That was never going to happen.
“Very well. This is merely a matter of good business. It seems we both have something to trade. I’ll make certain that your very secret life is kept completely private and away from prying eyes, including anyone finding out about what we shared.
I’ll also make certain that no one in my family or members of the consortium have any clue who you are.
” Wrath swirled his drink, disappointment remaining in his eyes.
Her anger resumed, shoving aside the wayward woman who’d forgotten all about her training and her conviction to help fight the good fight. The bastard really thought he could get away with this. “We make this crazy deal and you go scot free to kill again?”
“No. In addition, you will be labeled a hero, capturing one of the ten most wanted criminals in this glorious country.” His eyes twinkled.
She laughed, rolling her eyes in disgust. Then she was shaken by the concept. “You’re serious.”