That appeared to amuse him. His smile would have knocked her socks off, if she didn’t already know he couldn’t be trusted.
“I think you misunderstand,” Erik replied smoothly. “You’re here. The man whose life you saved—and thank you for that, by the way. He is very important to our people.”
What? This was not what she expected. “Who is he?”
“His name is Vector. And without you, we would have lost him.”
“So, the thanks I got was you drugging me and erasing my memories? Making me think I was crazy?” Was she scolding him? Yes. Yes, she was. Because that was rude and unnecessary.
“The situation is complicated.”
“So, you admit it? That you doctored my video? Paid off all those people at the hospital? Paid off the police? Erased all the records?”
Erik shrugged. “I do what I must to protect my people.”
Oh boy. Totally something a mafia boss would say.
He leaned forward; his ice blue eyes boring into hers. “Yet you did not forget. Why is that?”
She had no idea and nothing she could say to him. What was she supposed to do? Admit that Vector’s emerald green eyes seemed to be seared into her brain? That every waking—andsleeping—moment, she was obsessed with finding him? “I don’t know. Is that why I’m here? I didn’t forget, so now you’re going to make me disappear?”
“We do not harm females.”
Weird turn of phrase but oddly comforting. “So, what do you want from me? I don’t know you people. I don’t belong here.”
“That remains to be seen.”
“What?”
Erik ignored her question to continue, “I assure you, you are not in any danger, Miss MacInnes.” Erik’s voice was smooth, diplomatic. “I simply need your help. I had hoped we could come to an understanding.”
Raven forced herself to hold his ice cold gaze without flinching. “What kind of understanding?”
“Vector is here, healing from his wounds. But he is not responding well, and I do not have the manpower to keep him occupied. My men are warriors, not healers. I need you to keep him company. Lift his spirits. Nurse him back to health.”
“I’m not a nurse.”
“I am aware of your profession. And your past.”
Ahhh. There it was. The truth. He’d researched her background, found out about her former fiancé’s links to organized crime. So what? Billy was dead. He’d made his choices and paid the price. Now Erik was trying to blackmail her? She hadn’t committed any crimes. He had nothing on her, nothing he could use to force her to cooperate. But…she wanted to see Vector. Make sure he was all right. The idea of him suffering, not healing, made her insides twist into hundreds of angry knots. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Just promise to keep your mouth shut and leave.
That would be the smart thing to do.
Erik pounced as if sensing her indecision. “I will pay you very well for your time. Once Vector is recovering properly, you will be free to go. I give you my word.”
Might be idiotic, but she believed him. Raven had the feeling that around here, his word was law. “How much?”
The number he quoted her made her heart struggle to beat. She could buy ten dream homes and have money to burn.
“Is this a joke?” They kidnapped her and flew her to their castle to make chicken noodle soup and read bedtime stories? And were offering to pay her an exorbitant amount to do it? She was so not buying it.
“Absolutely not. Vector does not want to live, Miss MacInnes. In fact, had you not intervened, he would be lost to us already.”
That she could believe. He was a mess when she found him. “I’m nobody. Why me?"
Erik’s voice was quiet, but firm. "Because Vector didn’t kill you."
