I let out a laugh, and she takes a step back when I push off the car. “I don’t remember giving you a choice.” I watch as her face turns white the closer I get.
She steps back again, and I take one forward. We do this a few more times before she decides she would like to try running... again. Unfortunately for her, I’m getting annoyed now.
I reach out and grip the back of her neck before she can get away. She cries out as I slam her back into my chest. I don’t loosen my grip as I lean down, dragging my nose through her black hair. Fuck, she smells like honey and vanilla. Her body doesn’t move an inch as we stand there.
“Let me go,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion as the weight of her fate settles in.
“No,” is all I say as I step back, turning her around before leaning down and pushing my shoulder into her stomach. She fights me like she did the first time, but her punches aren’t as strong because of the cuts. I’ll take care of them once we get back, but for now, she needs to learn what I say goes, and letting her go isn’t an option.
I pull open the trunk and move her down my body until my arm is under her back and at the crook of her thighs before dropping her to the floor of the trunk. She’ll be fine for the twenty minutes it’ll take me to get what I need.
“Maybe being shoved in a trunk will make you fucking listen?” I snap when she automatically tries to push herself out, but I don’t let her, blocking each of her attempts.
As I go to lower the top, she starts to protest. “No! No! Please. Please don’t lock me in here. I promise I’ll go with you. Please!”
“No thanks,” I say, looking down at her. She’ll be fine. Plus, I don’t trust myself being close to her. Not yet.
“Wait! Who the fuck are you? You’ve kidnapped me, and I don’t even know your name!” The panic in her voice makes me want to laugh.
“Emris. My name is Emris.”
I don’t say anything else as I lower the top of the trunk with a smile on my face.
“See you soon,” I chuckle as it clicks closed.
She screams, and fuck if it’s not loud. I tap the hood and then round the car, getting into the driver’s side and heading down the road. I need a few things to stock up on, then I plan on taking her to her place to get her stuff.
My phone rings from the cup holder, and I grab it, Carson’s name flashing across my screen.
Perfect timing.
“What’s up?” I ask, speeding down the road, making sure to hit every bump to piss her off. I chuckle when she yells from the trunk.
“What’s got you laughing?”
“Nothing. Got her in the trunk, and she’s not happy.” Another laugh shakes my chest.
He ignores my comment and gets to the point of the phone call.
“Jesus Christ. Okay, well, her name is Brielle Graves. She’s twenty-two. Rents a room at The Green Tree Apartments up the road from that bar. Mom died of cancer a few months ago, dad’s been gone since she was born. No siblings and no school records after high school.”
Interesting.
“Thanks. I’ll be back soon. Call Killian and fill him in on what happened. Keep the details about me keeping Brielle to yourself. I’ll tell him that when we go to the hotel.”
“Got it,” Carson says before hanging up.
I let all the new info about my captive sink in. Is what I’m doing wrong? Yep. Do I feel bad? Not really.
She will come around.
Eventually.
Turning up the radio, I drown out her occasional yells, whistling along to the song playing over my speakers.
9
BRIELLE
