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She wanted to close her eyes, but they stayed open, fixated on his finger so casually draped around the trigger. One slight movement. A sneeze. A cough. Her life would be over in a nanosecond. Her brain splattered across the wall behind her.
Ryder couldn’t find her like that.
“Why do you hate him so much?” she whispered past the fear closing her throat.
The barrel dropped away from her face.
She wheezed, her hands shaking like leaves in a storm.
“I don’t hate him. Not really.” Robert’s casual tone sprouted goosebumps on the back of her neck.
As if they were discussing the weather.
“This,” he waved his gun toward the laptop, “was just business and had nothing to do with Montague. But imagine my surprise when he showed up as your bodyguard.” He shot her a sly grin. “It got even better when I saw Mr. Prim and Proper snogging you in his car like a randy teen. He was always Captain Mackay’s favorite, and Sergeant Barnwell’s too.” The man shook his head. “Thom, the poor bastard.”
His thoughts appeared to drift to another place and time before he brought his focus back to her. “Thought I’d take Montague down a peg. Show him what it’s like to fail. I imagine Mackay will have to sack him when it comes out that he was shagging his client and then couldn’t even keep her safe.”
Confusion creased his forehead. “I mean, the bloke had it all. A posh life, good education, a title, and a position in his family firm. Enough money to never have to work a day in his life.” Robert settled back in his chair. “Can you imagine never having to work? Not me. I grew up on charity, then joined the military. Ended up pretty good at soldiering, if I say so myself.” His face hardened. “Blokes like me never get a break. Someone like Montague can roll in shit and come up smelling like a bloody rose.”
Nathalie squinted at him in disbelief. “You’re doing all of this to make Ryder look bad?”
“No, luv.” Robert looked at her like she was an idiot. “I’m doing it because a very rich man is paying me a mind-boggling sum of money to acquire your technology. Making Montague look bad is an unexpected bonus. Don’t worry, give me what I want, and you’ll see lover boy again. You can tell him Robert said hello.”
“Didn’t you see the news this morning? The British arrested Liu Jianjun for industrial espionage.” She lifted her brows, forced herself to appear casual. “I sure hope he’s not your buyer.”
It was only a guess. A desperate shot in the dark, but it appeared to strike a nerve.
Robert’s eyes hardened. “Our little chat is over. Start typing.” He shot to his feet and fumbled for his phone.
“If it is Liu, you won’t get your money.” She had to talk fast. “Let me go. Get out while you can. I won’t—”
“Shut up.” He disappeared into the kitchen.
She’d rattled him.
Which seemed like a good idea in the moment. Now, she wasn’t so sure. Once he realized he might not get his money from Liu, what would his next move be? How much longer could she stall before she had to input the correct source code and complete the software program?
And then what? Would he really let her go?
Her stomach bottomed out. She wasn’t willing to find out. She clicked on the computer settings. The laptop wasn’t hooked up to the Internet, but it had the capability.
“Your mistake, asshole.” She sneaked a glance toward the kitchen, then turned on the Wi-Fi and checked the settings. Several network options appeared, all requiring a password.
If this was a vacation rental, the password would be located somewhere obvious—in a notebook, or a cute frame, or on the refrigerator. If she could access the Wi-Fi when Robert wasn’t looking, she could send Ryder a message. She didn’t know exactly where she was, but if she had to guess, with the type of neighborhood and how low that commercial airliner had been flying overhead, the house was in Arlington, close to Reagan National Airport. And there was a golf course nearby.
Robert strode back into the room, and, judging from his expression, he wasn’t happy.
Nathalie backed out of the Wi-Fi, opened a text file, and started typing, her heart beating a mad pulse in her throat.
Her captor ran agitated fingers through his short hair. A nervous energy emanated from him that only stoked her own anxiety. “It seems my luck is shite, as usual. We may be here for longer than I’d hoped while I shop around for a new buyer.”
“Robert,” she gentled her voice to keep him calm, “I’ll finish the program. Take it and run. Leave me here. By now, every law enforcement agency in the area will be looking for me. You stand a better chance of getting away if you leave me behind.”
He cocked his head and gave her a considering stare.
Take my offer, she begged silently.
His gaze shuttered. “Sorry, luv, but you’re my ticket to freedom. As long as I have you, Montague will move heaven and earth to keep you safe. Now, finish the fucking program—I’ll be having you run it for me to make sure you don’t pull a fast one.”