Page 27

Her glare was hardcore, especially for a woman who’d just been saved from men who’d just as soon taste the merchandise as follow their bosses’ orders not to touch. Slave traders were all alike. A dirty, but highly profitable business. With her beauty, she’d fetch a high price.

My gaze drifted down her long legs. Even dirty and scarred, the sight of them created a bulge between my legs.

“Fine. I had to pee. Okay? And I wanted more water. Instead, I found an arsenal in your bag.”

I gritted my teeth. Carelessness in leaving my bag wasn’t like me. I was obviously out of practice after only a few years.

“Tank. Heel.” An ache pulsed between my eyes. I rubbed them as I thought about how to handle her.

Tank turned his neck and glared at me but begrudgingly obeyed. If only she’d do the same. I held out my hand for her to grasp and she looked at me as if I was going to dig a hole in the ground and bury her alive.

“Fine. Have it your way.”

Juliette snapped her hand into mine and I instantly pulled her onto her feet. Excess force was used and she slammed her open hand against my abdomen as she gasped. The closeness was close to debilitating, the shot of electricity unexpected. She licked her lips and damn if I wasn’t paying attention way too closely.

“We have a room. Come on,” I finally gritted out.

Her swallow was just as nerve-racked as the man in the office. Sure, I knew I put the fear of God into people. I’d done so from the day I’d turned eighteen. However, hers was mixed with determined defiance. There was no time to stand around lamenting over how I could handle her differently or if she’d respond to reason.

Backing away, I grabbed my two bags, nodding toward the building. She was still shaky, required to hold onto the railing as we headed to the second floor. I noticed she was also limpingslightly. One knee was battered as hell. My muscles tensed thinking about how the fuckers had treated her.

Before sliding the key into the lock, I surveyed the location once again. We were off the main road, the Jeep hidden. Unless the asshole inside tipped off the cops or anyone else, we’d be safe at least for twenty-four hours.

Hopefully, that would give me enough time to arrange for a way off the goddamn island.

As soon as I let her inside, she moved to the center of the room, saying nothing. Her shoulders slumped and she was staring at the wide-open window. After quickly checking the bathroom to ensure we were alone, I moved past her, yanking them closed.

“Rule number one. You don’t leave the room unless you’re with me. Number two, if I leave for supplies, I’ll have a key. Do not under any circumstances open the door otherwise. Even if you hear my voice telling you to open the door. Make sure the deadbolt is on. We don’t want any room service. Number three, stay away from the windows.”

She tilted her head, looking at me with wide eyes. “Anything else? Sir?”

As Tank moved beside her, I could tell she was still frightened of him.

“He’s not going to hurt you, Juliette. That much I promise you.”

“Whatever you say. I just… I’m just not used to dogs.”

Her contempt would eventually grate my nerves to the point we’d need to have a further discussion. But I reminded myself this wasn’t a war, and she certainly wasn’t used to being kidnapped. Although I hoped her father had provided her withsome understanding with his wealth and the business he was in, her abduction had always been on the table.

“I’m sure there will be additional rules, but they’ll do for now,” I mumbled and dropped the bags, noticing she eyed them with a flash of fear furrowing across her brow. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I know what I’m doing.”

“How can I be certain of that,Daddy?”

Her slight at the age difference forced me to clench my jaw. At least she’d stopped before eviscerating me with sharp words. I sensed she had that in her. The fact I’d saved her life had yet to dawn on her. Or maybe she considered me an extension of the men and the horrors she’d been through.

I’d experienced it several times in handling extractions, not that I’d been good at holding hands and singing ‘Kumbaya.’ That wasn’t me. I’d left that to my buddy, Maddox. He’d been good with people.

I gritted my teeth to keep from saying something that would further exacerbate the already difficult situation. Besides, we were at the kind of impasse that could escalate. Sighing, I looked around the room, happy to see a dorm size refrigerator and that the air in the room wasn’t stale like so many small facilities.

“How did you find me again?” she asked, her voice no longer holding the hint of arrogance. The adrenaline was ebbing, exhaustion taking over.

“You had your phone with you when you were taken.”

Her cognitive skills were also challenged. I knew the various stages of shock better than most. I moved toward her slowly, keeping my distance so she wouldn’t feel suffocated. Somehow, Ineeded to at minimum get through to her that I had no intention of hurting her.

“Yes,” she managed, looking to the side briefly. “I tried to use it, but one of the bastards noticed and tossed it out.”

“Fortunately, that helped provide a basic location. When I landed, I went to your condominium and Tank inhaled your scent. When I narrowed down the possibilities of your location, Tank took it from there. He was trained for search and rescue.”