“He and Eli went to do some recon,” Zander reassured her. “They wanted to see if this guy had a vehicle nearby. And to make sure that he didn’t have anyone else with him. He’ll be back soon.”
“Where’s our prisoner?” Jared asked.
“We’ve taken him to our special room. Want to come and talk to him?” Zander asked.
“Yes,” she said.
They both shot her looks.
“Wasn’t talking to you, darling,” Zander told her.
“I want to talk to him. I’m . . . I’m the reason he was doing this. I deserve to know why.”
Jared scowled at her, then cupped her chin firmly. “You are not the reason he was doing this. And I don’t want you near him.”
“Actually, he might talk more if she’s there,” Miles said. “And he’s secured, right? She only has to stay a few minutes and see if he talks. You can pull her out if you don’t like what is being said.”
Jared glared at Miles, then at her. “Fuck. Fine. You can come, baby. But like Miles said, if I don’t like what is being said, then you’re out. Understand me?”
“Yes, I understand.”
Nerves filled her as Zander led them down to a secured room. She didn’t know what to expect. Maybe some chains and whips. Blood stains on the rough floor and moans of pain emanating from the walls.
But it was just a tidy, neat room with a single seat in the middle that was secured to the floor.
In that seat was Drews. He was only wearing some boxers. His arms and legs were tied down and there was even a metal collar around his neck which was attached to a chain that went down to a bolt on the floor.
“Angel,” he whispered. “You’re here. My muse. The love of my life. I knew you’d come for me. Release me and we can be together.”
Holy moly.
Of everything she’d expected him to say, that hadn’t been it.
Did he . . . did he imagine himself in love with her? Did he think that she loved him?
Jared leaned in to whisper to her. “Go along with him for a moment.”
“Get away from my love,” he snarled suddenly, making her jump. “I do not want you near her.”
“Hey,” Zander snapped as Jared drew her into his body, holding her tight. “If you want to see Angie, then you won’t yell and scare her.”
“I scared her?” Richard said, instantly contrite. “I’m so sorry, lovely girl. Come here. Come see me.”
She glanced up at Jared.
“It’s up to you, baby. You know that I’d rather you weren’t here.”
Yeah, he’d made that very clear. But it was also obvious that this guy was deranged. And that he would probably tell her more than he would the others.
“I’m staying.”
Zander moved out of the way so she could see Richard again. Jared stayed close, but not touching her.
“There you are,” Richard said. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“You seem different from when I last saw you.” There was something strange about his eyes. And he certainly hadn’t spoken to her like this. So what was going on?
“Oh, I stopped taking those drugs. They made me feel so weird. I was numb. As soon as I stopped, I could see what I hadn’t seen before. That you were meant to be for me. My first wife.”
