While he’s distracted, I put a few more strides between us. I keep backing away until a metallic chorus freezes me to the spot.
Aclick-clickreverberates through the clearing.
Metallic barrels gleam between the dark leaves of the shrubs, almost invisible to the eye in the dying light.
Guns are poised to fire on me from every direction.
Shock, terror, and resignation form a toxic sludge in my gut.
No wonder Rory was so nonchalant in his pursuit. He knew the possibility of escape was basically zilch.
“You failed to mention earlier that you’re an Olympic marathoner.” Rory leans against a hedge, still breathing a little heavier than usual.
My head spins from fatigue, or defeat, or both. I drop onto the nearest cement bench, letting the soothing noise of the fountain calm me. “I’m not a marathon runner.”
“Could have fooled me.” Sweat glistens on Rory’s forehead as he slowly strides toward me. “You were only panting for about two seconds.”
I don’t answer right away. I’m too busy doom-spiraling from feeling trapped. Nothing freaks me out more than the helplessness of being caged. Visions of my last few months in confinement at the De Luca estate urge me to sprint five thousand miles without looking back.
But I took my shot and failed. Now it’s time to pay the piper.
I wonder how Rory will punish me. My brain helpfully provides images of tactics Matteo and Leo have tried in the past, and my stomach lurches.
“Why do you train so hard?”
When his hand suddenly reaches for my face, my reaction is reflexive. I cringe and raise my own hand in defense while anticipating the pain.
Several seconds tick by and nothing happens. Then Rory releases a stream of curses as I straighten and fend off a surge of embarrassment.
“I train hard because I’ve always had something to run from.”
Chapter 15
Rory
I clench my fists and glare at the grass, wrestling to control my fury. If I look at her again too soon, I’m afraid I’ll go postal.
She cringed. I reached out to wipe a smudge off her cheek, and she thought I was going to hit her.
Her reaction was too quick not to be ingrained.
That means some cocksucker’s struck her in the past. Took their hand tomypainter.
Generally, I consider myself to have fewer violent tendencies than Finn or even Darren. But put me in a room with whatever waste of life hurt her, and I swear I’d twist his head off his neck like a bottle cap and use it for soccer practice. And once I bashed his face and skull in too much to kick anymore, I’d piss down his open throat and mash his head inside.
Yeah, that fantasy isn’t soothing my bloodlust at all. I need to divert my attention.
I picture her hauling ass across the estate grounds. If I didn’t possess knowledge of the layout or have the labyrinth weapons network at my disposal, I never could have caught her.
Not that I’m going to tellherthat.
The distraction technique works. Imagining her legs shifts into recalling the sensation of her body pinned beneath mineon the ground. That helps tame the worst of my murderous inclinations, but if I continue down this path, it will also leave me with a whole new problem.
I reach the bench and lower myself onto the seat beside her. Before she can react, I pull the bracelet from my pocket and cuff it around her wrist.
She yelps. I take advantage of her surprise and tighten it until the device lays flat against her soft skin, exactly the way I designed it.
Kiara examines the smooth locking mechanism on one side.
