Chapter 7
Cori
I left him in his bedroom to dress. I ran out and put on fresh clothes. By the time I return to the kitchen, he’s in there. He’s shirtless while he chops something on a cutting board.
There’s music playing overhead, and he sings along.
My captor sings along about waiting for love. When he looks up and makes eye contact with me, I snort. Once I get the fuck out of here, I never want to see this crazy nut again.
“Are you ready to eat now, baby?” He gestures at the chair by the island. “You let me in your body without a condom. I think it’s safe for you to eat my cooking.”
It probably is, but I won’t do it because it’s what he wants.
“I’d rather cook for myself.” He drops his knife, and I think I see disappointment in his eyes. “Don’t call me baby. I don’t like that.”
“Can you cook for us both?”
“I’m not cooking for you. Are you crazy? What the hell do I look like cooking for a kidnapper?”
“It would look like you’re unselfish. Just make double whatever you’re making for yourself. Damn.”
He leaves the cutting board, opens the fridge, and gestures for me to come closer. He pulls out a bottle of champagne and a can of pineapple juice.
He makes two mimosas, but I ignore mine while I grab things from his fridge to make omelets.
Another love song comes on, and I say, “Can you please turn off the music?” I ask as nicely as possible given the circumstances.
“You don’t like love songs?”
“Not under these circumstances.”
“It’s always the right circumstance for love.” I decide to ignore that last statement. He turns off the music, and I continue my cooking.
I make two vegetable omelets and cook the turkey bacon I found in his fridge. I finally give in and take one of the water bottles. Hopefully, he’ll shut the fuck up long enough for me to eat and think of a way to end his life.
“So, tell me about yourself,” I ask while we eat. He looks up, but his eyes narrow at me.
“What do you think you know about me?” he counters, and I decide not to beat around the bush. The point of my mission to investigate him was to prove that he’s behind the money laundering operation that’s taken over the small town of Shadow Cove. I’ve come this far, so I’m going for it.
“I think you’re really the boss of whatever the criminal element that’s taken over Shadow Cove for almost the past decade. I think Ripley King works for you, and you’ve made him the face of the operation. I think you’ve been living in plain sight.”
His eyebrows shoot up, but he neither denies nor confirms my words.
“What makes you think that?”
“I know the old man pretending to be D.H. is not the real boss.” He stares but says nothing. “Are you D.H.?”
I hold my breath and wait. If he plays some word game, I will give up. I have no interest in playing games.
“My name is Daxton Hunt,” he admits.
“Does Ripley King work for you?”
“He does.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you make him the face?”
“He’s a big, mean motherfucker who scares everyone,” he admits.
“He’s not mean to my best friend,” I counter. Daxton shrugs. “That’s not why you made him the face. You chose the white guy because you thought he’d get less resistance. Not a bad idea.”
He smiles, but I don’t think it quite reaches his eyes.
“And what are you going to do with this information?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “This is for my own nosy heart. That’s what this was.
My way of satisfying my own curiosity and proving to myself that I was right.
” Of course, I’ll brag to my best friend and cousin that I was right all along, but he doesn’t need to know that. It’s not like they will ever tell him.
“So, that’s it? You’ll stop following me?” he asks.
“That’s it. You confirmed what I suspected.” I won. I keep that last thought to myself. At least until I get out of here, and if I ever run into him again, I can throw it in his face, but for now, I will keep my victory a secret.
“I assume you think you’ve won?” It’s like the man can read my thoughts.
“I don’t like to play games, Mr. Hunt.”
“Mr. Hunt? I just had my head in your pussy. You came on my face. If there’s a God, you’ll have my dick in your mouth later. I think you can call me Dax.”
“Good thing I don’t believe in God.” I stand and go to rinse my plate. Then I think better of it and throw it in the sink.
He follows me, and I soon feel those big hands on my shoulders. He presses his body into mine, and I feel his hard dick on my ass. I don’t know how he has the stamina, but the man is always ready to go.
“Have faith, Bella.” He presses his lips to my ear, and goosebumps flood my body. “We all have to believe in something.” As quickly as he invaded my space, he steps away. I’ll never admit it, but I like the feel of his body against mine.
“Now, tell me about you,” he counters.
“Nothing to tell. I’m Cori Lamb. I have a brother who is three years younger. He’s a worthless piece of crap. I’m one of two private investigators that Mr. Armstrong employs, and I’ve lived in Shadow Cove my entire life.”
“Sweetheart, I already know that. Tell me the parts no one else knows.”
My head snaps up. “Don’t call me sweetheart,” I warn.
“I can’t call you baby or sweetheart. Noted.”
“After I get out of here, you don’t get to call me anything.” I finally turn, and our eyes collide. There’s a playfulness that I can’t read. It’s as if he’s in on some secret, but I can’t think of what.
“Tell me about you,” he repeats. I won’t. This isn’t about sharing parts of myself with him. This was about me finding out who he was, and I succeeded.
“I’m Cori Lamb. I’m twenty-eight years old. I’m a private investigator, and I’ve lived in Shadow Cove my entire life.”
“You are one stubborn woman. That’s how you got yourself kidnapped,” he taunts. “But fine. It will be more fun to learn about you in time.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “In time?” He nods. “Time’s up.”
He crowds me again. He gets so close that I move back until he pins me to the sink.
“Our time together hasn’t even begun.” I do my best to appear unfazed, but his words give me chills. He reminds me of a possessive man, and I don’t know why he would feel possessive of me. There is nothing that happened between us that would lead him to believe that this will go anywhere.