And while he isn’t the most muscular man I’ve encountered nor the most intimidating there’s a quiet confidence in him that’s frightening.
This is a man who knows he can kill a man before his victim can blink.
Rico might just be the most dangerous person I’ve met. And I’m his captive.Fuck.
“You do know my pa is going to kill you.” The threat might as well be an empty one. No fear registers on his face.
“Seamus can try but I find his chances at succeeding very low.”
“Then I’ll kill you,” I promise him darkly.
“Now those chances are much higher. You’re bound because I find you a threat, Imogen. You seem quite capable.”
I bite, “Am I supposed to thank you for the compliment?”
“I’m only stating what is true. If you want to take it as a compliment, who am I to stop you?”
I grit my teeth. “How long are you keeping me prisoner?”
“You have amenities far better than a prisoner.”
I roll my eyes. “My apologies. How dare I confuse this fake bedroom for what it really is; a cell. Let me rephrase, how long are you holding me against my will?”
“You see this is what I fail to understand,” he begins by dismissing my question. “Why say something you don’t mean?”
“Are you pulling my leg right now?”
“Pulling your leg?”
Dropping my head in my hands I sigh heavily. “You’ve got to be kidding me right now.”
“No. I’m the one who says what they mean. You’re the one who doesn’t. Do you make a habit of lying?”
“I’m not lying,” I say exasperated.
“Then why apologize?”
“Because sarcasm isn’t lying!“ He stares at me blankly but I can tell the gears are working overtime in his head. And there’s a part of me, the empath I can’t switch off, that wants him to understand. Even if he is my captor. “It’s a form of expression.Myform of expression. You take everything at face value, don’t you?”
“Not necessarily.” He pauses. “Let’s just say my brain works ten times harder to process the nature of humans.”
I raise a brow, interest piqued be damned. “Even yourself?”
“Even myself.”
“That seems. . .lonely.”
His gaze is faraway. Distant. “It is.” With his hands clasped behind his back he turns to leave. My heart begins to race. This could very well be my chance. A simple attack from behind and I can be free.
As I shift in the bed to make my escape he comes to a stop. Giving me only his side profile he says, “Besides business this is the longest conversation I’ve ever had. Thank you.”
I want to lash at him with a sharp tongue. Bite him with my cutting words. Leave a scathing remark so that it burns.
But it’s the raw truth in his words, the vulnerability that has me snapping my mouth shut.
So when he leaves I don’t even attempt to flee. I sit in the bed with my hands still bound and think about the man who captured me.
Who really is Rico Maroni?
