Footsteps sounded outside the door.
My heart squeezed at first and was so painful in my chest I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I could barely breathe, could barely take my next breath.
Jesus…
The door opened and I sucked in a few short breaths to keep from passing out and also to steady my fear.
He came in and closed the door behind him.
I was really hoping and praying he’d just go over to his bed and sleep, or go change in the bathroom and then come to bed, but he looked like he had other things on his mind.
His gaze instantly snapped to me in a feral, primal way. It reminded me of some sort of savage beast who’d just picked up the scent of their prey.
Savage, that was him to a T.
He kept his gaze trained on me sitting in the cage with my knees hugged to my chest.
He backed off his jacket, tossed it on the chair nearby and came over to me.
When he opened the cage door tears stung the backs of my eyes.
This was it. God… this was it.
I didn’t know what the hell I was supposed to do now.
What the hell could I do to stop him from doing whatever he wanted to me?
He kept standing this time instead of coming down to me.
“Still awake,” he chanted in a sing song taunting voice. “Still wide awake. She thinks it’s better to stay awake so she can see what happens next. That’s okay, should have gotten your rest though. You needed it.”
“I’m not tired,” I replied. It was a lie and we both knew it was.
Exhaustion had come for me hours ago and I was certain if I felt the way I did –like I hadn’t slept in forever – then I must have looked exactly like that too. I was sure.
He answered with a smile. “You know it’s amazing when you aim for something and end up killing two birds with one stone. You were Plan B, although you were my plan A. It’s so much simpler to just hit where it hurts. Go to the weakness. It never fails. I’d planned to take you from the get go and make your father give me those damn blueprints. If I had everything would be over, I’d be richer, you’d be dead already, him too for being so annoying as fuck. But guess what?” he laughed a crude sardonic laugh that made my skin crawl. “I like it this way. Ethan wanted to do things as clean cut as possible. No kidnapping and no unnecessary deaths. I’m so glad I listened to him. Had I not, I wouldn’t have known how much Xander Cage cared for you. I wouldn’t have known it one bit. I would never have known that the man was still alive and looking for me. I didn’t know how that managed to slip under the net. He’s good like that though. Better than me, but that might be because I like a cameo every now and again. It shakes people up and they know I’m not some myth. I’m their worst nightmare.”
“Do you just like to hear the sound of your voice.” I had to ask because I didn’t know why he thought I needed some content to what had happened. Right now I just wanted to die.
He laughed again. “Just like your father. You really are a Marchesi. I like my women fiery. The point of my speech that seems to have bored you was to tell you I’m glad I’ll get to take another woman Xander holds so dear to his heart. I never got to have fun with the first one. I’d planned to cut her head off and send it to him, but she wouldn’t have allowed herself to get caught the way you did. And fear was lost on her. Nothing scared that woman. Your fear arouses me.”
And his words sickened me.
Of course I would have to be the one to be weak. Unlike Claire as he quite rightly pointed out.
I didn’t answer although he gave me an expectant glare like he was expecting me to give an answer.
“Stand up,” he demanded.
I stood on shaky legs.
No point protesting or fighting simple commands.
“Take your clothes off.” He spoke so cool and calm as if he was talking about the weather.
“No, please.” I shook my head. “Please, please.”
He smiled and pulled a gun from his back pocket. He pointed it at me and my whole body seized up with numbness.
