Right before he’d murdered my mother.
He’d returned to my life to finish what he’d started. For all I knew, my father was already dead and it was only a matter of time before I was next.
That was then.
This was now.
With my body still shaking, I jerked away from him, determined to escape his clutches.
“I don’t think so. You’ve been enough trouble for one night. You’re coming with me.” He shoved me inside the awaiting SUV and I was certain I heard him growl.
As soon as the door was slammed shut, he snarled at the driver, “Get us out of here.”
With my mind still in panic mode, I threw both hands against him. He caught both easily, wrapping his long fingers around my wrists. “Just let me go, Navarro!”
With lights of various businesses flashing by at lightning speed, shadows floated across his face, but I was able to capture the possessive look in his eyes.
“That’s not going to happen. Not only did you attempt to kill me, but for some reason, you’re high on someone’s radar. That places me in the same position and I don’t like or appreciate having a target placed on my back, Fallon. You and I are going to have a long discussion about what the fuck is really going on.”
“To hell with you. I’m not telling you a single thing.” He was so holier than thou, playing the part of pretending he didn’t know me. Did he really think that was going to work with me? Was it possible he hadn’t authorized the threat and kidnapping like I’d been led to believe? I clenched my fists, struggling to remember every detail since returning home from the gallery showing.
I could tell by Navarro’s eyes that he was uncertain who I was, but there’d been a glint of recognition. Whatever was going on, I’d use his uncertain memory to my benefit. How? I had no clue, but I was smarter than he was.
The third goon was sitting in the seat just in front of us. His dark chuckle brought out the vixen in me. I struggled even harder, able to rip my arms from Navarro’s hold, managing to reach the door handle. It was locked. Out of frustration, I beat on the window.
“As you can see, you’re not going anywhere.”
Finally feeling defeated, I closed my eyes. The connection we shared continued to be intense. I had no clue why I was drawn to the man or why some crazy part of my brain was fractured from the thought he hadn’t been responsible for Brooke’s disappearance. I’d been led to believe otherwise, but had the source been reliable? Or had my father wanted me to believe a lie? At this point, everything I’d been through, all the information I’d discovered didn’t make any sense.
Why save my life if Navarro had taken hers?
Nothing made any logical sense. I’d been a woman who based her entire life on truths. Yet his reaction continued to trouble me.
Maybe he was innocent of the horrible deed, but the facts remained.
Navarro was a killer through and through. Nothing would change that.
When he reached out, I recoiled, but there was nowhere to go.
This time, the way he placed his hands on me was much gentler. Did he think he was going to fool me? He wanted me dead. He’d warned me and I’d refused to listen.
When I refused to look at him, he forced my head to turn. Now his fingers dug into my chin. “Look at me, Fallon. Look directly in my eyes.”
While I longed to ignore the fact he was speaking, there was no chance I was escaping the man or his tyranny. I opened my eyes, keeping a hard, cold glare. “What?”
He smiled hearing my hiss. “The sooner you understand and accept you’re going nowhere, the better off you’ll be. As of right now, you’re going to be my guest until we can figure this out.”
“We? There is no we. And you mean I’ll be your prisoner.”
“Call it what you will. The fact remains. You’re going nowhere.”
“You can’t take me with you. I won’t allow that to happen,” I shouted as if repeating myself would make a difference.
Navarro grinned in a way that sent chills down my body. When he pressed his hand between my legs, I shuddered but didn’t try to stop him. What was the point? Very slowly he removed the knife, turning it several times in the passing light. I bristled as he touched the dried blood on his neck before sliding the weapon into his pocket.
“I can do anything I want, Fallon, because as of right now, you belong to me.”
CHAPTER 6
