Oh, I had every intention of trying to move until I actually could. I refused to stay strung up like some BDSM slave any longer than I had to.
I don't know how long I lay there before I heard the clop clop clop of shoes on the floor as someone approached. I had some movement back, but not much. I could wiggle my fingers and toes. I hoped that meant the rest of me was coming back. I wanted the hell out of here.
"Mr. Hayashi, how nice of you to join us."
Crap.
I couldn't see him, but I knew who'd taken me. I knew it when I was taken. I knew who the goons worked for the first time I'd seen them in their car, sitting at the end of the block. But, not until that moment, had I truly believed I was in hell.
Now, I knew I was.
Chapter Seven
I was in no way surprised when the man I knew as Robert Atkins came into view. "Mr. Atkins."
Well, apparently my ability to speak was back, even if I did sound a little squeaky.
The man smiled. He could be considered handsome if he weren't such a rat bastard. "You know who I am. How delightful. That will save us a lot of time. Where is my pet?"
Really?
"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied. "What pet?"
I screamed as electricity arched through my body, starting at my groin and going straight up to my throat. My entire body went stiff as pure agony ripped through me. I felt as if I was going to die, or explode.
"Shall we try this again?" Atkins asked once it stopped. "Where is my pet?"
Fear and anger knotted inside of me as I swallowed hard, lifted my chin, and boldly met Atkins' gaze. Man, this was going to hurt. "What pet?"
I screamed as pain ripped through me again. We did this over and over again, with Atkins' always asking, "Where's my pet?" and my replying, "What pet?" until I was trembling nonstop and covered in sweat and tears.
"Mr. Hayashi…Kaito. May I call you Kaito?"
I couldn't even shrug.
"Kaito, I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot."
You think?
"It is not my intention to cause you pain, but I need your cooperation. I simply must know where my pet is, and I believe you have the answer. My associates have informed me that you are good friends with Daniel. You would know where he is."
I would, but I wasn't about to tell this jackass.
"I considered giving you a truth serum to get the information out of you, but I don't like the idea of administering drugs that might have an adverse effect."
I couldn't believe I could be grateful to this asshat for anything, but I truly did not want to be shot up with drugs. Or at least, not any more than I already had been.
"You already drugged me."
Atkins shook his head. "The drug that incapacitated you was simply a form of tetrodotoxin created by one of my pharmaceutical companies. Once the drug is fully out of your system, there should be no lasting effects."
Should be? Why wasn't I hopeful?
"Puffer fish?"
Atkins smiled. "Yes, but not to worry. Given in small doses, it's not lethal. My associate gave you a shot of fampridine to counter the tetrodotoxin, which is why we are able to talk."
"Why are you doing this?" I asked. The longer I could keep Atkins talking, the longer I could go without being electrocuted again.
