Blood flowing over my needle.
Oxygen leaving a corpse.
Lions chewing on flesh.
“Yes.”
He tried.
“You’re lying.”
“No.”
He paced around me, standing behind my chair so I couldn’t study his face. “I find that very hard to believe.”
I sat taller in my imprisoning seat. “Why?”
Cut’s voice licked over my nape, stroking my dust-blanketed hair. “You’re bruised and bleeding, but I don’t know if that’s from the car crash or my son. You’re hurting but not broken. Not exactly encouraging if Daniel had his fill of you.” He sneered, “I think you’re lying because you’re still alive.” His fingertips glided down my throat to my breasts. “You can walk. Talk. Answer back. I know my son, Ms. Weaver, and if he’d taken you the way he planned, youwouldn’t be sitting there with rebellion in your eyes.” His hands fisted my hair, jerking painfully. “You’d be in fucking pieces.”
Shit.
Tears pricked as he moved to stand in front of me again. His hands on his hips, he towered like judge, jury, and executioner. “You’re lying to me.”
“No.” I fought my shivers. “I’m not.”
Cut bowed, his face to my face. “Tell me the truth.Now.”
“Iamtelling you the truth.”
His eyes blackened. “One last time. One more chance and then you’ll get a painful reward for each lie.”
My heart flung itself against ribs. “I’m telling you the truth. Daniel took what he wanted.”
“Implausible.” His hand curled. “There is no proof and my son is suddenly missing.”
Lie better.
Fight smarter.
Taking a deep breath, I snapped, “I didn’t say he took what he originally wanted.”
Cut froze. “What do you mean?”
Please, let him believe my lies.
“After you left, he—he changed his mind.”
Cut raised his fist. “I don’t believe you—”
“Wait!” I tucked my chin, tensing against his strike. “The drug-liquor you gave me. He’d had it, too. He said he thought he wanted me to fight and struggle, but then he decided he’d rather I participated.”
Cut paused, never dropping his fists. “Go on.”
Words tumbled in a rush, tangling with bullshit and storybooks. “I kissed him and said I would willingly submit. That I wanted him because of what you’d given me. That I found him so sexy and I wanted him so, so much.”
Filth.
Trash.
