He studied me, his lifeless eyes lingering on my breasts. I felt dirtier with each sweep of his gaze. He had a slight accent I couldn’t place, giving him even more of an edge.
My heart skipped all over the place, but not in an excited way. I was scared not only for my own life but also for Liam and his family.
Oh God, what if they took Freya as well?
Leaning closer, he closed his eyes, and took a shuddering inhale.Gross.“Strawberries.”
Shuffling back, I couldn’t help but cower. It hit me like a hammer to the head that I was completely at his mercy. He could do whatever he wanted with me, and there was nothing I could do to get away. I had no lock picking abilities, didn’t know howto fire a gun, and was a slow runner. My chances of escape were slim to nonexistent.
He was on his haunches, close enough that I could touch him if I reached out. Which meant he’d be able to do the same to me.
Another shudder racked my body. I stiffened, trying to play it off.
“Let’s talk,” he said, cocking his head at me. “How many men are at the Olysses mansion?”
“How would I know?”
“You were there not too long ago. I’m sure you saw things. Like cameras. Security details. Number of entrances.”
Letting out a disbelieving laugh, I shook my head. “I was there as a guest, not a spy. Why would I count exits or guards? And I’m sure it’s not news to you that there are cameras everywhere.”
Pulling out a knife, he grinned at me, looking one loose screw away from falling apart. My eyes were glued to every movement of his hand that was covered in a ridiculous chain-link tattoo.
“I was hoping you’d be difficult. Your skin will look much nicer with a few scars.”
His hand snapped out before I could get away, his fingers digging into my skin, breaking its surface. Ignoring the sting and trickles of blood, I struggled, but my attempts at pulling my arm away were fruitless. He was much stronger than I was. And I wouldn’t get far since I was chained to the wall.
Without warning, he sliced the knife along my arm, leaving a cut from my elbow down to my wrist.
Both of us watched the blood pooling instantly, then dripping to the ground.
If I’d thought my throat had been dry before, it was a sand pit now. I struggled to swallow, let alone talk. My brain couldn’t comprehend that this psycho had cut my arm.
The burn was like nothing I’d ever felt before. I bit my tongue to distract myself from my arm, but a low moan escaped me regardless. Tears pooled in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I’d never experienced pain this intense before.
How had I gotten into this situation? What little information I had on Liam and his family wouldn’t help them much. And there was no way I’d tell him anything, no matter how much my arm burned or my body wanted to shut down.
“Has your memory come back yet?” the chain-link guy asked.
“I… no.” I cleared my throat, forcing the words out. “I already told you that I didn’t pay attention to the security. I’m only Freya’s friend. You kidnapped the wrong person.”
He threw his head back and barked out a manic laugh. “You’re good.” He waved his knife around. “But I know you got close to the heir.”
There was no use denying that. He’d obviously seen us together. But that didn’t mean he knew how far our relationship had gotten.
“We only hooked up. He didn’t tell me all his secrets just because we slept together.”
“He’s never kept anyone as long as you.” He tapped his knife against my mouth, and I froze. “Ah, don’t try and deny it.”
Since I had no idea how much time Liam usually spent with his women, I had no clue if I had more or less of it. Removing the knife from my skin, the chain-link guy studied the cut on my arm. “You know, if you don’t have information, you’re only good to me as leverage. And that’ll mean sending body parts as enticement.”
I wheezed out a breath.Is he serious?
“They don’t care about me enough to risk getting me back,” I cried, the frustration and tears catching up with me, my arm throbbing. “You grossly overestimate my value.”
“We’ll see.” Getting up, he nodded to the guy standing by the door. “We’ll let them sweat it out for a few more hours. Then we send them parts.”
I trembled, my body going cold. He couldn’t be serious.
