Tired of the name-calling, her sarcasm slipped. “How inconsiderate of me.”
The second slap was harder.
Lauren cried out, “Stop! Please!”
Kedrov didn’t react. He was too busy scowling at her.
“Guards!” he bellowed.
The door opened immediately. The brute and a guard she hadn’t seen before entered, followed by Morgan, limping noticeably. He glared at Erica with pure venom.
“Ah. The mighty FBI agent. You walk like an old man.”
“The bitch attacked me.” Morgan’s furious attention snapped to her.
She smiled faintly. “You should probably ice that.”
Kedrov, whose moods seemed to change with the wind, chuckled darkly before he ordered, “Take them back.”
When Erica rose, he reached across the table and grabbed her by the arm. His evil flooded through her, enough to make her knees weak.
He leaned close, his breath hot with wine. “Spend the night thinking about how to be of use to me. You have until morning to decide your fate.”
She stumbled when he released her, catching herself on the table, plates and silverware rattling.
Kedrov flicked his fingers at his men. “Get them out of my sight.”
The brutish guard grabbed Lauren. When Morgan reached for her, she jerked her arm out of reach and followed the others out unassisted. Her mind was working—counting steps, memorizing turns, noting guard rotations, watching for weaknesses. Morning wasn’t an option.
Chapter 32
Erica’s cheek still throbbed, but pain wasn’t the priority. Escape was.
The house settled into evening quiet, amplifying every sound and, hopefully, every opportunity.
The brute shoved Lauren ahead of him down the short hall leading to the basement door.
“You don’t have to be so rough,” Erica snapped. “She’s cooperating.”
He gave a low, humorless chuckle. “Cooperating is boring.”
Morgan crowded behind her, his fury simmering. “You should worry about yourself.”
When they reached the top of the narrow stairwell, an electronic tone pulsed through the house.
Morgan snapped, “Now what?”
“Perimeter alarm,” a third guard she hadn’t noticed muttered from the end of the hall. “Probably those damn bobcats again.”
Another alarm sounded. Voices echoed outside: shouting, moving, urgent.
Morgan frowned. “You two go check it out.”
The new guard hesitated. “We should secure the women first.”
“I’ve got them,” Morgan said quickly. His stance shifted, still bent slightly forward.
“You sure?” the bug brute challenged. “You’re walking like you got your ass handed to you by a girl.”
