Page 86 of Elite Metal: Warriors

But he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Not until they got the file.

So, when Ralley shouted at her to tell him where it was, she pressed her lips together. She wasn’t stupid.

“This is getting us nowhere,” Jonas said, pulling out his luger and cocking it. “If I shoot her in the leg, maybe she’ll be more cooperative.”

The look she sent him said, No. Probably not.

“You’re not shooting her,” Ralley snapped. Michelle nearly slumped in relief until he added, “There’s always the chance you’ll nick an artery and she’ll bleed out. Knives are better.”

Jonas nodded and pulled a long blade from a sheath on his belt. He twirled it around. “Should I start on her face?”

Ralley put out a lip. “She has such a pretty face.”

“That won’t matter much when she’s dead.”

Ralley narrowed his eyes on his lieutenant. “What makes you think I plan to kill her?”

“Because she’s dangerous?”

A harsh bark echoed through the chamber. “She’s only dangerous if she can share the information she has. And I seriously doubt she’ll be contacting the authorities from a brothel in Shanghai.” He shot Michelle a sickly sweet smile. “Would you like that, darling? Living out the rest of your days as a sex slave?”

Something nasty bubbled in her belly. Bile rose.

“Well, not all your days, of course. I’m sure your beauty won’t last for long. Some of those clients can be brutal. Such…depraved tastes. You should probably get used to pain.”

Jonas flipped his knife and stepped toward her and then slowly, methodically, sliced open her sweatshirt. It fell around her in tatters.

It was far too mortifying, sitting there half-naked with all those male eyes on her, so she turned her head away. To her astonishment, she saw a flicker of movement at the hangar door. She focused on it and froze. Something leaped in her chest.

A man skulked there and, if she wasn’t mistaken, she recognized the silhouette. Relief and fear and anticipation warred within her.

It was Ben. It had to be.

He wasn’t dead!

She wasn’t alone.

Jonas stepped toward her with the knife.

“Wait. I’ll tell you where the file is.”

Jonas stilled. “Where?”

“If you answer one question for me.”

Ralley laughed. “Darling, I don’t think you’re in any position to negotiate—”

“How did you find me? At the cabin? It’s been driving me crazy.”

“Oh. That?” His smile was reptilian. He drew his finger over her upper arm. “Do you really think we care if you get the flu?”

The flu shot? Seriously? “It was a bug?”

“Technically, a GPS mini tracker, but yes. Very handy, wouldn’t you say?”

“Also, illegal.”

“Like I give a shit.”