As if the world was his playground.
In those few seconds, a light switch had been flipped inside the man. I could almost feel it. He went from a guy who had no clue what he was doing in the room to the master of game playing.
The worst thing about the asshole sitting in the chair was his expression. The same knowing smile. Happy and lighthearted. He’d had full control over the women he’d kidnapped as well as his desires. Until he hadn’t. Until the end when the twisted lust had caused him to make mistakes.
The only reason I’d remained alive.
I forced myself to look away, echoes of Lily’s scream taking time to fade. I refused to have my control stripped away by anyone.
Especially by a monster. Or was he? I was still conflicted, uncertain we were doing the right thing.
“You don’t remember me?” Maverick interjected.
Samuel narrowed his eyes as he sat forward as much as the shackles would allow, obviously processing various memories as I’d been forced to do over the years. When the light was reflected from recognizing the FBI agent who’d caught him after almost a year on the run, I was surprised to see admiration but also something else.
A deep emotion wrapped around a collection of thoughts I couldn’t quite put my finger on. The familiarity wasn’t what I’d expected.
“You’re that cop who chased me down in the swamp. But you didn’t catch me there. You almost did.”
Maverick walked closer, yanking out the chair opposite Samuel. With his foot on the edge, he rested his forearm on his bent knee and leaned over. “Yeah, that’s right. The man who stopped your killing spree. I’m curious, Samuel. What else do you remember?”
Breathe and watch. That’s why you’re here. You need to learn the truth.
Exhaling, I counted to three then turned my head so I could capture every moment of the interrogation.
If I hadn’t been looking directly in Samuel’s eyes, I wouldn’t have seen the slice of confusion. A split second.
“You just had to interrupt a lovely day I was having at my little house. In Naples. The sun was out. It was so warm. I was going to take a walk on the beach that afternoon.” The switch in the asshole’s emotions was swift. His entire face turned crimson, every muscle and tendon taut as a drum. He strained against the handcuffs, strong enough he shifted the chair by a few inches.
Maverick leaned in, grinning from already pushing the man’s buttons. I gripped the edge of the table, doing my best to control my breathing.
“You fucked it up!” Samuel’s uncontrolled hiss shattered the quiet in the room. The door burst open, a single guard rushing just inside. He’d lifted his torso off the chair, the legs of the cheap wooden furniture off the floor.
He was even foaming at the mouth.
Maverick threw out his hand. “We’re fine. I merely got under his skin. Leave us alone.” When the guard didn’t comply right away, he lifted his head, shifting his formidable gaze back and forth.
“Quiet down, Samuel,” the guard finally barked, all while keeping his eyes locked on Maverick.
Samuel snarled but sat down. After three deep breaths, the terrifying smile returned. “You were just doing your job. I made a mistake.”
“Yes, I was and yes, you did.”
A series of sensations swept through me. He was reciting what happened. He wasn’t remembering.
“That will never happen again.” Samuel had a faraway look in his eyes as he looked at the ceiling. What was he doing?
I followed his line of sight. He was staring at the camera. Did he expect to be told what to say? Maverick noticed as well, his expression remaining benign.
“Yeah, you tried to run even then. What a shame I had to destroy your home.”
“Did I run? It’s funny what spending time behind bars will do to your memory. But I remember you.” He slowly turned his head once again toward me. Only this time, there was no confusion in his eyes. A slow and steady smile curled across his face while a nervous tic appeared on my cheek. “You were always so beautiful. Maria… My Maria…” My name was little more than a whisper on his forked tongue. “I will never forget you. Did you miss me? Were you thinking about me all those dark, lonely nights?”
He was doing his best to rattle me.
It was working.
Every nerve was standing on end, the rapid thudding of my heart becoming claws around my throat. Even the lightheadedness was more pronounced.
