“Prison. You killed a man.”
Her words weren’t accusatory, but to her they held a strong meaning. “Yes, I did. You already know the circumstances. I don’t think we need to talk about it any further. It’s time for you to face round one of your punishments.”
When I approached, she did what she could to slink away. But the words she issued stunned me, more so than I could believe.
“I don’t give a damn about the circumstances. You got what you deserved. What a shame you were set free.”
* * *
Cassie
I’d almost caught a slight glimpse of a human behind his cold, hard stare. The flash coming from them was now nothing but the eyes of a venomous snake preparing to strike. I’d never seen such a quick change in demeanor as I had as soon as I’d uttered the wretched words. They’d done more than sting. They’d driven a rusty razor-edged blade directly into his heart.
Sadly, I was no longer certain if I’d meant them.
Brogan’s jaw clenched as he held the sharp glare. Then he took three long strides toward me, yanking out a hunter’s pocketknife. When he flicked the steel blade open, the glisten from the sun highlighted the razor-sharp teeth.
Just like in my vision.
I shrank back as much as the thick netting would allow, never taking my eyes from him as he advanced. The muscles in his forearms were as tense as those in his chiseled face. He was the epitome of a barroom brawler, his extensive martial arts training allowing him the capability of killing a man with one hand.
Which is what had happened inside a tiny bar on the outskirts of Albuquerque years before. The media had called him a monster, highlighting the man he’d killed with a single blow as an American hero, recently returned from the war. How dare an outsider come into their tightly knit community and steal one of their own.
There were always two sides to every story, but Brogan had said very little after being arrested and in court. The news media had captured everything. Then his ten minutes of infamous fame had disappeared along with any mention of his name. I’d just opened the wound, enough that I feared he would kill me.
The big, brawny man had no issue slicing through the rope that had been wound around one of the massive tree trunks. Instead of allowing the trap to plunge to the hard sand, he guided it gently, the rope sliding through his fingers. When I was safely on the ground, he took his time folding and shoving the knife into his pocket before returning. His expression was that of a true predator.
I fought with the rope, doing everything I could to get myself out, but the harder I struggled, the more the heavy twine collapsed on me. Every sound I made I loathed, the stupid yelping like the sound of an injured sow just before slaughter. I wasn’t that kind of girl. I knew how to fight with the best of them.
My ridiculous thoughts were based on terror of the unknown, a self-admittance that I’d been not only stupid but out of my freaking mind.
Brogan ripped at the rope, easily creating a hole large enough to yank me through like a doll. He held me aloft for a few seconds, his upper lip curling as my arms flailed, trying to gain any leverage. When he eased me down, the expression on his face was now carnivorous, a primal man hungry for a feast.
I couldn’t stop shaking as he kept his firm grip on my arms, digging his muscular fingers into my skin in such a way the pressure was stimulating instead of painful.
“You will tell us everything you know,” he growled. The husky tone of his voice was much darker than the others’, electrified from years spent behind bars. I could tell what he was thinking, the filthy things he wanted to do to me.
And somewhere deep inside, a series of vibrations caused my throat to close, a moment of utter suffocation adding to the danger.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I knew my haughty words would likely piss him off even more, but I refused to give in so easily.
He laughed, cupping the side of my face with one of his beefy hands. “The things I could do to you in order to get you to talk would terrify you. Is that what you want?”
“What I want is for you to let me go.”
He took a few seconds to rub his callused thumb across my lips, narrowing his eyes as he continued feasting on me with his eyes. His nostrils were flared and the heavy dose of testosterone he was giving off created a crackling moment of electricity between us. I was stunned I was attracted to the man in any capacity, but visions of the past kept me believing that there was some good left in him.
He jerked away seconds later, pointing toward the trees. “Get moving. You have a date with a round of punishment that is well deserved.”
I couldn’t imagine what they had in mind. Finally, the fight or flight aspect that I’d been taught to keep close to my chest kicked in. We’d gotten here on this island. There had to be a way off. I was determined to find it.
The second he turned his head, I took off running down the beach. With my bare feet, I was able to make good traction, moving toward the damp, hard portion of the sand, pumping my leg muscles. I didn’t bother looking back. I knew he was chasing me, but I wouldn’t stop for anything.
When I was jerked back by a huge fist snagging my long hair, I pitched backward like a doll, and he dragged me up against his stone-hard body. Gasping, I kicked out, using one foot then the other, managing to slam one against his upper thigh, hopefully catching his balls.
“Fuck!” His yelp indicated I had, and his hand slipped away.
I lunged forward, panting as the new rush of adrenaline fueled both my anger and my drive. I zigged and zagged, managing to keep out of his grip for almost a full minute.
