I had no doubt that since taking my wallet he’d discovered everything about me as I’d tried to do with him. It was only a matter of time before he knew portions of my story were a lie. While several were little white ones, he had enough power and influence to put the pieces together.
And I’d seen the look of recognition in his eyes. I’d noticed he was racking his memory banks in search of when we’d met before. What I wasn’t prepared to do was to offer him keys to the past. Maybe because in doing so I’d be forced back into the life somehow. Some way.
I certainly couldn’t trust him even though something deep inside allowed me to continue believing that he had nothing to do with my sister’s kidnapping. But I wanted to.
“Why are you such a control freak?” I demanded as soon as he was close. Too close.
He stopped long enough to debate his answer. I could easily tell by the intense scowl on his face he had no intention of delving too deep into his corrupt and jaded conscience. “Because that’s what is required in my world.”
“Your world sounds repulsive.” I knew that well enough.
“Are you certain about that?”
When he took another step, I looked away. “Please leave, Navarro. I just need some time. I’m sick with worry.” Although only a small part of me, the tiny portion wanting normalcy and conscientiousness wanted him to vacate the room. The other was far more egregious in her desires.
The way he was looking at me was unnerving, but his dark eyes weren’t undressing me or even attempting to determine whether I was lying to him.
He was trying to remember.
“Not until you tell me everything, Fallon. Hence the need to be a control freak. You’re holding out on me and the missing pieces are the only way to solve this dangerous mystery. They’re also the only way I can keep you safe and alive.”
I sidestepped him successfully, moving to another location in the room. If I could make it to the door, I stood a chance.
At what? At leaving again? Who was I kidding? There was no escaping this lavish prison. I’d played my last escape plan and lost. He was right in that I had nowhere else to turn and no one who could help me.
With a grin on his face, he took a step closer.
I shifted away, never taking my eyes off him.
He narrowed his eyes, his chest rising and falling as he studied me for a few seconds. When he took another step, it felt as if we were playing a game of chess and he was well on his way to making the last move.
Check mate.
The moment I shifted again, he countered me by realizing I was headed for the door. After cutting me off, he wagged his finger at me. “A very bad girl.”
“Coming from a wretched man, that’s rich.”
His deep laugh sent a series of thrills through me.
I watched as he began unfastening his belt. Very slowly. His eyes never leaving mine. There was no expression on his face, no reflection of his thoughts. I stood my ground, barely darting any glances at what he was doing.
Yet my heart was pitter-pattering and my legs were a little shaky.
Seconds ticked by as he began to tug on the thick leather, popping the belt free from one loop at a time. When he’d released it, he took his time folding the strap in half.
“And?” he pressed.
He hadn’t minced words. I realized that wasn’t his style. He also wasn’t used to anyone saying no to him, but that’s what I needed so I could maintain a safety net. “No. At least not yet.”
“No?” he repeated.
“No.”
Before I had another chance to object in a different manner, he had his hand wrapped around my throat, pushing me toward the bed. I managed to get free, even rushing to the door, but that didn’t last long. The powerful man had me in his arms.
Continuing to struggle proved useless, the man far too strong. I tried to trip him by using a taekwondo move, but he was too fastfor me. He sat down on the bed, immediately dragging me over his lap as he’d done at the club.
The difference was the belt he planned on using.
