Page 29 of Destroyed With You

“In,” he said, walking through the wide bathroom door with her, his hand on the butt of the gun, just in case.

A leather tote sat on the counter and her dress hung on one of two hooks behind the door, along with a hotel robe. She took a step toward the tote.

“No,” he said. “Put on the robe.” He pulled it down, checked the pockets, then handed it to her.

She lifted a shoulder as if to say it was worth a try, then slid her arms in. She turned to face him, the robe still open, revealing—well, revealing everything. And even though she’d been naked only moments before, somehow the subtle invitation of the open robe seemed more dangerous. On the bed, strapped down, he’d been in control.

Now, with her standing there in what seemed like a sultry invitation, it felt very much like the tables had just turned.

As if in acknowledgement, her eyes locked on his. For a moment she just stood like that, letting him see what used to be his. Letting him know what she’d be willing to trade for her freedom.

“Close the robe,” he said, his voice cold. “And tie it. You don’t have anything I’m interested in.”

“We both know that’s not true.”

Lust curled through him, followed immediately by loathing. This was the woman who had walked away from him. Who’d had the opportunity to come tell him the truth later, but never did. The woman who now killed people for a living.

She wasn’t the woman he’d known in Hades. He didn’t know who she was. And he doubted he’d ever truly find out.

He shoved the emotions down, then used his free hand to grab her by the wrist. She gasped as he yanked her toward him, so that her body was pressed against his, her head tilted back and her eyes wide with surprise and, maybe, a bit of heat. But whether it was the heat of anger or desire, he didn’t know.

For that matter, he didn’t care. Because God knew this was never going to go anywhere. How could it? Whatever trust they’d had between them, real or fake, was completely gone now. And over the years, Winston had learned more and more that the most valuable thing in the world was trust.

He bent close to her ear and whispered, “I know what you do now, remember? I know you came here to kill. You aren’t the woman I fell in love with. I don’t know you at all. So don’t think that you can flirt or play or tease your way out of this. It’s not going to happen.”

He pushed her back, studying her face. “Do you understand?”

Her eyes held a thousand questions as she studied him, but all she did was nod.

“Good. Table. Go.”

She obeyed, turning and leaving the bathroom as he followed, the gun back in his shoulder holster. She passed the bed, then paused at the small cocktail table by the balcony door. “Sit,” he ordered, and she obeyed without hesitation or comment. He should be grateful. Instead, he wondered what mischief she was planning.

As soon as she was seated, he reached in his pocket for another zip tie, but there wasn’t one. He frowned, trying to remember if the second one had fallen out when he’d attached her to the headboard. Dammit, he was off his game on this assignment. And the reason for that was standing in front of him wearing nothing but a bathrobe.

Hell. He unbuckled the belt and started to pull it off.

“Oh, sweetie, I don’t think we have time before the food gets here,” she said.

He shot her a scowl. “Hands stay on the table,” he said as he bent and attached her leg to the chair with the belt, wrapping it multiple times before fastening it.

“Not on you?”

“Stop it.” His voice came out like a lash. “It’s not funny.”

She recoiled, then dipped her eyes to the tabletop. “No, you’re right. Nervous habit.”

Shit. He remembered that. She’d always made bad jokes when she was scared or nervous. “It’s okay,” he said. At least now he knew that he had her on edge. That gave him an advantage toward getting the truth.

He moved to his side of the table, then tapped the butt of the gun before sitting. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m fast on the draw. And in case you’ve forgotten, I was a damn good shot when you knew me. Trust me when I say I’ve only gotten better.”

“You always were an arrogant bastard.”

He burst out laughing. “And that’s one of the things I always enjoyed most about you. The way you always surprised me.”

She looked at him then, completely deadpan. “Well, then, I suppose you must be loving today.”

Chapter Ten