Chapter Nine - Joshua
CHAPTER NINE
Joshua
“I don’t need to justify myself to you.”
“Then an explanation would suffice.”
Ryder knows damn well that I won’t indulge him.
“What do you have to gain from making a deal with her? She doesn’t have any leverage over you.”
I already have an answer prepared for this question.
I stand from behind my desk and square my shoulders, daring him to challenge me. “It’s not about leverage. I need her cooperation until we get this mess sorted out. The last thing I need right now is her temper tantrums.”
My friend studies me for a long moment, but we both know he won’t say what he’s really thinking.
Smart man.
By the time I reach the door, Jay is waiting outside with the cart of the food I requested this afternoon. A nod is my only greeting.
I type in the code and push the door open.
She stands in front of the window that overlooks the garden and whips around the second I step through the door. Wide eyes assess me, but the usual apprehension isn’t nearly as apparent as it had been earlier today.
There’s not a trace of makeup on her face, but she doesn’t need it. Her dark blonde hair falls over her shoulders, and if I didn’t know that she doesn’t have access to any styling products, I’d think she worked hard to achieve the flowing waves that come so naturally.
Her gaze drifts behind me to where Jay is setting the table, and her eyes double in size. She looks ready to drool as she takes in the assortment of food.
My chest clenches uncomfortably, and it takes me a second to realize what that feeling is.
Guilt.
She hasn’t had a decent meal in a week, excluding her breakfast, but even that was cold. I hadn’t noticed until I picked her up after her fall just how thin she’d become since coming here, and for some reason, that bothered me.
I’ve done far worse than deprive my prisoners of food and social interaction, so why the hell would I start caring now?
That very question has been bouncing around my head all day, but I refuse to give it any real thought. Instead, I suppress the emotion and fix a blank expression on my face.
“Shall we?” I take a seat just as Jay places the last dish on the small, nearly overflowing table and leaves the room.
Elise doesn’t move right away and the urge to snap at her is strong, but as I study her expression, I realize her hesitation has more to do with surprise than defiance.
She’s staring at the food like it’ll disappear if she moves her eyes for even a moment. After going so long without a real meal, I’m sure the steak, potatoes, corn, salad, and wine are overwhelming.
“I wasn’t sure how you liked your steak, so I had Jay cook it medium. I guessed on the wine as well, but this is one of my favorites.”
After what feels like an eternity, she moves to the chair opposite mine, lowering herself and examining my expression warily.
“Last time I accepted wine from you, I woke up days later.”
For some reason that I can’t begin to comprehend, I want to put her at ease tonight.
I lift my glass to my lips and take a sip. “I can assure you this wine is drug-free.”
Again, her response is delayed like she’s engaged in some mental battle.
After a deep breath, Elise lifts her chin and raises her glass to her lips. “Lucky me.”
We dig into our food, and I give her a few minutes to eat before getting to the point of this dinner.
“Have you given any thought to what you want in exchange for cooperation?”
It takes an intentional effort to stop myself from smiling when her jaw ticks, no doubt bothered by my choice of words. I wait for her to snap at me, but she sits up straighter and puts on her version of a poker face.
“I want to cook.”
I’d been expecting her to ask for different forms of entertainment, but really I shouldn’t be surprised. Cooking is Elise’s whole life, so of course she’d choose this.
It’s a reasonable enough request, but I can’t help testing her limits.
“No.”
I study her face for any sign of disappointment, but there’s nothing. I’m equal parts frustrated and impressed by that fact. What she doesn’t realize, however, is that her lack of reaction tells me that she does have something to hide. I’m sure she plans to use it as an opportunity to escape.
Not that she’ll be able to.
She arches an amused brow, and I admire her show of confidence.
“I’m no expert in negotiations, but I was under the impression this would be more of a compromise.”
“The kitchen is fully staffed,” I tell her. “And who’s to say you won’t try to poison us all?”
“Do you normally have poison lying around the kitchen?”
I scrutinize her under my cold glare, but she doesn’t so much as blink.
“I suppose I could arrange it. There will be rules, of course.”
Her well-composed exterior falters at this, and I catch sight of her clenched fists, but her voice doesn’t waver.
“Such as?”
My head leans side to side as I contemplate the best course of action. It goes without saying that Ryder will be assigned as her personal guard. My men may respect and obey me, but I don’t want any of them coming near her.
“For one, you’ll have a guard with you at all times.” I decide to push her just a little bit more. “The other men don’t need to worry about babysitting.”
Elise’s jaw clenches, and I wonder if she’s physically biting her tongue to keep from lashing out at me. It’s a commendable effort.
“You’ll take instructions from Tripp. He’s the capo in charge of training new recruits and managing staff, but I’ll have him stationed in the kitchen for the time being.
You’ll cooperate without complaint, and if there’s even the slightest suspicion that you’re planning something, you’ll stay restrained in this room indefinitely. ”
She doesn’t miss a beat. “On the days I don’t cook, I’ll spend a few hours in the garden.”
I don’t miss her careful wording. A statement, not a question.
My nod encourages her to continue.
“I want books that were written this century, music, and a TV.”
I think back to the rows of classics lining her bookshelf in her apartment. So, collecting antiques had been her fascination.
“No TV,” I say, and my firm tone brings her pause.
She visibly analyzes my mood before going on. “I can’t use it to escape. I just get tired of reading or sleeping, and it would be nice to watch a movie for a change.”
She thinks my rejection has to do with her ability to escape, which is almost laughable, but I don’t bother correcting her. It’s better that she believes I overestimate her than realize that I’m saving face with my men.
My authority is never questioned or challenged, but it will certainly be scrutinized when my men find out about the freedoms I’m allowing Elise. Books, music, and even cooking can be justified, but a TV is a luxury I don’t even allow my soldiers living on base property.
“What about drawing? Or painting?”
I wonder if she realizes that her nose scrunches up at the suggestion.
“I suck at both,” she explains. “But I suppose I’d appreciate the variety. All I’m asking for is a few DVDs or even VCR tapes. It can be as outdated as you want.”
Again, I don’t correct her.
For a moment, I find myself wondering how I’d justify the allowance to Ryder, but I catch myself before the thought is fully formed.
Still, I humor her because it’s not like she could hate me any more than she already does. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She works to suppress a smile and, to my amusement, fails miserably to maintain her professional composure.
“There is one more thing.”
I arch an eyebrow and sip my wine.
“A lock on the bathroom door. I don’t want to worry about someone walking in on me.”
My first instinct is to brush off her concern since none of my soldiers would be stupid enough to mess with her, but I stop myself.
Elise is horrible at hiding her emotions, and even though she’s working hard to keep her expression perfectly neutral, I recognize the look from when she asked me what happened to her in the days she was unconscious.
I hadn’t liked the fear behind her eyes then, and I don’t like it now.
As it is, I’ve deprived her of every human right, and the least I can do is grant her minimal privacy.
“That I can do,” I assure her.
What I cannot do is let her get too comfortable, so I add for both our benefits, “You should know that all of this is dependent on you. If you give me any reason to doubt your motives, I will keep you restrained in here. I expect full cooperation from this point on. If you can show me respect, I can allow you freedoms.”
Her hair cascades over her shoulder as she tilts her head, curiosity glimmering in her brown eyes.
“What?”
She doesn’t answer right away, and I’m sure she’s worried about my reaction to whatever she wants to say. I steel my nerves, preparing for a potential fight.
“What’s your name? Your real name?” she asks in a whisper.
The first time she asked me this, I used the switch on her. The second time was as a diversion to steal my phone.
I guess the third time’s a charm because I find myself telling her, “Joshua. Joshua Moreno.”
For the first time since I brought Elise here, a wide smile spreads across her lips. The expression is stunning, and my chest clenches uncomfortably.
She raises her glass, and I do the same.
“You have yourself a deal, Joshua Moreno.”