He laughed, the kind that was both evil and mocking at the same time. “Don’t be ridiculous. They’ve moved on—probably even replaced you with that new intern.”
My breath hitched in my throat when I realized he had the power to influence the search for me. He had spies at the office, which is how he knew about the new intern. That detail wasn’t a random guess. It was a fact.
He walked over to me, his storm-gray eyes boring into mine. “The system you defend doesn’t give two shits about you. As long as the money keeps coming in and their pockets remain full, everyone else be damned.”
I felt my tear glands charging up, but I wasn’t going to let him see me vulnerable. No.
“You’re on your own, Kiera Jane,” he said, towering over me. “No one’s coming for you.”
My heart shattered in my chest, not because the justice system had failed me. But because men like my captor had already taken control.Theywere the ones calling the shots and puppeteering those who’d sworn to uphold the law.
What a shame.
He reached out, brushing my cheek with the back of his hand. “You have no political leverage, little lawyer. No institutional loyalty. No Godfather.”
My body trembled at his touch, my lips quivering subtly.
He continued, “You have no one of importance. Yet you decided to play a game you knew nothing about. Look where that got you.”
I tightened my jaw, refusing to let my tears drop.
“If you vanished, life would go on as if nothing had happened. And if you’re lucky enough, they might hang your picture on the wall of fallen heroes.”
His words hit me so hard that I felt like an idiot. He was stating facts, and I couldn’t detect any lies. It was harsh, but it was also the truth.
“That’s all the credit you’d get for risking your life fighting vicious wolves. Where’s the sense in that?”
“Then get it over with already.” I paused, trying to calm my racing heart. “Make me vanish.”
“And put you out of your misery?” He pulled his head back, chuckling. “I don’t think so.”
My brows furrowed together, displeased by how much pleasure he derived from watching me suffer. I tried to mask it, the unwanted sensation coursing through me after his touch.
His hand on my skin lingered longer than it should, leaving me confused about what I felt. Anything other than anger and disgust was unacceptable. Yet it seemed my anger had dissolved, leaving no trace of disgust.
Why did I feel a strange sense of calm, mixed with an emotion I was too ashamed to name? Why did my heart sink into my stomach when he held my gaze? And what in God’s name was this heat spreading across my body?
He’d invaded my space, filling the air around me with the scent of his cologne. I was frozen in place, unable to form a reasonable thought in my head or even take my eyes off him.
It was as though I was caught in some kind of trance—a spell that had me hooked.
The silence between us stretched on—awkward and deafening. It wasn’t until after he pulled away that I realized his other hand had been around my waist this whole time.
He flashed me that cocky grin and glanced down at his watch. “I know you enjoy my company, but I’m afraid I have to go now.”
My brows rose in disbelief, a small, nearly imperceptible grin creeping into my face.
“I’ll see you some other time.” He tapped my shoulder and walked past me. “Get comfortable. It might take a while.”
“Fuckin’ jerk,” I whispered to myself.
“I heard that,” he said without turning to look at me.
He exited the room and closed the door behind him.
Why the hell was there a smile on my lips? What the fuck was wrong with me? I should hate this man’s guts, not feel comfortable around him.
I combed my fingers through my hair and sat back on the floor, my back against the wall. My fingers rubbed my eyes as my chest tightened against the strange feeling swelling inside me.
