What promises dared I believe coming from a man who killed for a living? He was a man who could ruin someone’s life before the sun had breached the horizon. He remained in my face, his head cocked as he waited for me to acknowledge what he’d said. Whatchoice did I have but to place limited trust in him until I could figure out a more precise plan of escape?
“Fine. But you will… tell me… everything.” I hated the tears, the horrible weakness that drove me into utter despair.
“Yes, Fleur. I keep my promises. I’m going to grab his things. There could be answers as to why he was here and who’s after us. You’re coming to the door with me. Do not attempt to run again. If you do, I will have to take you away from here by force and it’s something I do not want to do.”
“God, I hate you.”
“Right now, that’s good. Maybe that will help keep you on point.”
Oh, he had no idea how on point I would become. His jaw tightened, the hard, cold look lingering. The man was a well of sin and danger.
As he took a deep breath, he released his hold, taking my arm and leading me down the corridor toward the room. When I was within a foot of the open door, I froze.
“It’s okay, Fleur. I’m not going to allow anything to happen to you. I will be right back.”
And he was. A promise made. A promise kept. Maybe I should give him a prize.
He didn’t dawdle, didn’t take any time to examine Danny’s body. He returned with a duffle in his hand, leading me around the other side and down a back set of stairs where his SUV was waiting.
Just before he shoved me into the passenger seat, I returned my gaze toward the second floor.
And I could swear we were being watched.
By the time he jumped into the driver’s seat, I had my phone in my hand, hiding it as best I could. The only option I had was contacting the sheriff or maybe Bekka.
Montgomery wasn’t paying any attention to me, yet I sensed he was completely aware of everything I was doing. He confirmed it even before he roared from the parking lot. “Who are you going to call and what would you tell them, Fleur? That you’ve been kidnapped after finding your brother murdered in a motel room? The same brother whose been working for the Papovek Bratva out of New York, something I believe you already knew, which is why you didn’t want him in your life. And certainly didn’t want to tell me. Or would you tell your friends that you’d once been engaged to another equally dangerous man?”
“What?” Oh, my God. He’d run some crazy kind of dossier on me. “You invaded my private life.”
“Is there any difference in you discovering aspects about mine? Come on now, Fleur. We’re both intelligent people with colorful pasts. The last thing either one of us need is to allow anyone into our protected area who could destroy everything we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
“So this is business for you?”
“No,” Montgomery half laughed. “This is a cold reality and one you understand better than you want anyone to believe.”
“You have no idea who I am,” I pushed, but every electric sensation told me otherwise.
“I know enough. You used to live in New York.”
“Is that a crime?”
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Not at all. It’s a mecca for monsters, including the man you were engaged to be married to. I’m certain you’re aware of this already, but Zane Cummings pretends to be against crime syndicates, work his father as a senator was committed to doing. However, since taking over his father’s empire, Zane is even more corrupt than the Papoveks. I’m going to venture a guess your found family in Stowe has no idea about your connection to either ruthless family.”
“Are you threatening to expose me?”
“Of course not. I’m merely telling you that we have more in common than you might believe. We also have a reason for our connection.”
The hatred I had for the man increased, but instead of lashing out, I was remarkably calm. “You are… a true fucking son of a bitch.” He glanced into the rearview mirror but seconds later, I could feel the heat and weight of his stare. I squeezed my phone. He was right. Only Bekka knew a small portion of the story. A flicker, either anger, amusement or both flashed in his eyes.
“So you’ve told me.”
The hum of the engine was only matched in sound by the rapid beating of my heart. Lightheaded, my mind was too muddled to figure out what to do. The ache in my heart would soon be suffocating. “I’d left Zane because he was a monster. Controlling. Belittling. A fucking abusive man, the kind who lures you in with all the niceties of a gentleman, and the passion of someone who cares, then does everything to ruin your life. Did I have my suspicions he was involved with criminal activities? Yes, but when I chose to confront him about what I’d discovered only the night before my wedding, I found him balls deep in his assistant.After that, I just hadn’t given a shit what he did with his life. I’d wanted no part of it.”
His growl surprised me. Not only was the man still acting as if he owned me, but he was furious at Zane. “Bastard.”
“It takes one to know one. I ended ties with my brother because of the people he’d determined were his new family. I’d tried so hard to ensure he had a decent life. He was lured by the promise of money and clout. Fine clothes and fancy cars. I’m certain that’s what you and your family members do. You lure people into your army with promises that will put targets on their backs.”
“Now it’s my turn to say you don’t know me very well or my family. We don’t lure people into our organization because we don’t need to. We’re also not in the business of eliminating our employees based on issuing a warning.”
