Page 35 of Rafe’s Future

Reaching inside, she grabbed two of the glass bottles by their necks. They clanked noisily together as she held them in one hand.

“Planning to get the bloke drunk?” Rafe arched a single brow.

Lena shut the fridge door with her hip and a smile.

“I’ll come back out once I’m done.” She headed toward the door leading to where the assassin was being kept.

As she passed by Rafe, it was nearly impossible to ignore the spice of his masculine scent. But she forged on, kept her head in the game and her concentration on the door before her. Lena didn’t hesitate before turning the knob with her free hand and stepping inside.

She was greeted by a dimly lit hallway leading to two additional doors on her right. Both were closed, but Lena had already been inside each of the rooms.

The first was smaller with a large, two-way mirror on the wall facing the adjacent room. The better to watch you with, my dear. A few steps farther, she reached the space where their would-be killer was being held.

Rafe appeared at the hallway’s entrance. They shared a look before he vanished into the room next door to watch and observe.

She reached out, turning the knob and pulling open the door before her. The air filling the windowless room was stale and thick with the scent of mildew and fresh, male sweat.

The man in the chair turned her way with a cold, sinister gaze. Dried blood marred the left side of his face from earlier, when he’d hit his head on the driver’s side window during the crash.

“Oh, good.” Lena smiled. “You’re awake.” She casually walked toward the small, rectangular table positioned in front of him.

When he saw the beer in her hand, the man’s thick lips curled into a sly smirk. “That’s your big play, huh?” His voice was deep without even a hint of an accent detected. “If you think we’re going to become best buds over a couple of drinks, you’re wasting your time.”

American. Fit. Unintimidated and without fear. Former military, perhaps?

“Oh, I have no intention of bonding with you.” Lena placed the bottles onto the table’s smooth surface.

She dug a hand into the front pocket of her jeans, and when it returned, there was a tiny set of keys nestled against her palm.

Rafe is going to be pissed.

In an approach that had proven successful in the past, Lena walked behind where the hitman sat. She kept the plastic ties holding his ankles to each of the chair’s legs in place but released the set of cuffs from his wrists.

The stranger groaned as he brought his arms to his front, rubbing the tender skin at his wrists. “You letting me go?”

“Sorry.” She set the cuffs down onto the table with a grin. “I’m afraid I can’t do that just yet.”

“Yet.” The guy scoffed. “Right. Like I’m ever leaving this room alive.”

Keeping her cool, Lena started to offer him one of the bottles, but at the last second, she pulled her hand back.

“Oh, wait. Your hands are probably weak from lack of blood flow. Let me help.” She twisted off one of the metal tops. The thin cap clanged loudly as it fell onto the table. “There you go.”

He took the opened bottle from her hand but didn’t drink.

Lena chuckled. “I can appreciate your hesitation, but I promise it’s not poisoned. Look. I’ll prove it.” She grabbed the bottle out of his hand and took a healthy swig. “See?” She slid the cold beverage back toward him, the tip of her tongue giving her lips a quick swipe. “It’s perfectly safe.”

His eyes remained locked with hers as he retrieved the bottle. She watched as he brought it to his mouth. Tipping his head backward, the thirsty man began to unceremoniously chug. Seconds later, he set the empty bottle back down onto the table with a decidedly disgusting belch.

“Better?” Lena pulled the glass out of his reach so he couldn’t use it against her later.

“That was good, but I’m still not going to talk.”

She shrugged with an unbothered, “That’s okay. I’m not here to bust your balls.”

“Too bad.” His light brown eyes fell to her chest. “You strike me as a woman who likes it rough.”

“I’m a woman who likes making deals.”