He pulls me against him, and I go willingly, my hands fisting in his shirt.
“Tell me you don't want this,” he whispers against my mouth.
I can't. Because god help me, I do.
“I hate you,” I say instead.
“I know.” His forehead rests against mine. “Hate me all you want, lass, as long as you stay.”
“You're a monster.”
“I know.”
“I have to go back.”
“No.”
“I can't—” I stop myself before I say it out loud. I can't fall for him. I can't be here. I can't say yes to this life.
He knows that.
“This is wrong,” I tell him.
“Why?” His head tilts to the side. “Because I took you? Because I've been watching you? Why do you have to play by the rules when the world doesn't?”
“Because I'm engaged to another man.” My voicewobbles.
“A man who'd make you miserable,” he says gently. “You're saying yes to a life where you'd pretend to be happy. Marrying a fucking monster who's going to kill you.”
“You don't know that.”
“Who's the liar now?”
“I'm not lying.”
Something dark crosses his face. “You're just not ready to hear it yet.”
He slowly moves away. The loss of his touch makes me want to sob.
As soon as I can walk again. As soon as I can bear full weight on this ankle. When he's preoccupied, and I find a way—I'm going back to Marcus. Back to my normal life. Back to being a good girl who makes good choices.
Because that is who I am.
I cannot say yes to him. I can't fall in love with my captor. A monster. A goddamn mobster.
I can't.
Even if a little part of me already knows it's too late.
Chapter Fifteen
Ashland
The call comesat four in the morning.
My phone vibrates against my palm, and I silence it before it can wake her. I slip out of the bedroom, close the door behind me with barely a sound, and step into the hallway.
Seamus’s voice is tight and clipped. All business. “The warehouse on the docks. Russians—Morozov, by the looks of it—hit it two hours ago. Took down four of our men.”
