Page 91 of Taken With Trouble

Sebastian grins wider, rubbing his palms together. “Little Seraphina has come out to play.” He looks at Ford. “Cut her free. I’m going to enjoy this.”

Ford hesitates before walking toward me. I set my jaw, refusing to plead with him again. He’s made his choice, and he’ll get what’s coming to him. He helps me up, more gently than I expected, and cuts my wrists free.

I rub my arms, shaking them out as adrenaline courses through my veins. For the last seven years, every round of fighting, every hour spent training has been for this moment. I knew that someday it would come, and when it did, I would be ready.

I’m stronger now than I was then, in so many ways.

Sebastian takes his time, rolling his sleeves to his elbows. I used to love how manly he was, his strength, and sophistication. But those things can be faked. He’s just a bully.

I study his frame. The definition is still there, but he’s forty now. Will that help me or not?

“I’ve missed our little rows,” he says, his dark eyes dropping to my mouth, likely remembering how our little ‘rows’ used to end. He grew up boxing and taught me how to fight, and each time I perfected a move to his liking, he’d reward me with a kiss. How young and stupid I was. How naïve.

“I didn’t miss you at all.”

“Always brutally honest.” He steps around me, and I match his step but in the opposite direction. “Which begs the question, do you love him?”

I glance at Ford. “Not one bit.”

He slips his phone out of his hand and holds it up. A picture of me and Liam appears. It was when we first got to Paris, on our way to the Winthrops the first day. “Him.”

“I dislike him more than you.”

“I don’t believe you, but perhaps you could prove it.” His eyes drop to my lips again.

“In your dreams.” I kick him right in the crotch.

He grunts, doubling over. “That was a cheap shot, doll.”

“Don’t call me doll.” I kick at him again but he snatches my leg and pulls it up with him.

“I’ll call you whatever I want.” He digs his fingers into my thigh and yanks my body into his. “Because now you’re mine.”

“I’m not yours. I will never be.” I spit in his face, then slam my fist into his chest. It bounces off like I hit a rock wall. My knuckles scream in pain, but I pretend it doesn’t hurt.

He snatches my hand and pins it behind me. “You will if it’s your only choice.”

“I’ll never choose you,” I grunt under his rough grip as I struggle to free myself.

“We’ll see about that.” He drops his hold on me and shoves me into Agent Ford, who thankfully catches me. “Come. It’s time to meet The Boss.”

Chapter 39

Liam

I park the carin an empty lot across the street from the abandoned hotel where Serena is being held hostage. I slip from the car quietly and hide behind a cement barrier, studying the nearly lifeless building. Only a few dim lights are on, and I pray one of them will lead me to her. Ford’s car is here, but for all I know, he could have ditched it and got another one.

A car pulls up beside me, its lights off, and Caleb hops out and crouches beside me.

“Tell me something,” he grunts, his gaze trained on the building across the street.

“I got here one minute before you,” I say.

“So you work slow, is that it?”

I scowl at his doubt in me. “I’m eighty percent sure she’s in there.”

“I’ll kill them,” Caleb says.