Page 106 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

“Until the other morning. I was lying awake in bed when it hit me. Why is a seemingly nice young woman like you in all the places I’m at? Why would someone with a squeaky clean background, such as yours, wander intomyclub, tour one ofmywarehouses, date one ofmymen?”

Anika could feel the angst rolling off him in waves. Muttering incoherent sentences against the tape, she tried to wordlessly explain herself. His head cocked, a wicked glint evident in his eyes. While every other piece of him was covered, all she needed was this—eyes told everything.

“No one with a decent personal history, or self respect for that matter, would date Levi—would come around someone like me. So, what are you hiding, Anika? What plans are you brewing up in this pretty little head?” A gloved fingertip tapped her temple. “I’m feeling nice and want to give you this moment to come cleanbeforeI read your file myself. A little test to determine your trustworthiness, if you will.”

Wiggling in the chair, she wrenched her eyes shut, desperately wishing to speak, to curse, toattack.But nothing. Mikko watched her struggle as if this was comical to him. Maybe it was, and that made Anika’s blood run hot.

“Did someone put you up to this?” he placed his hands on top of her forearms, pinning her in place even more than she already was. “One of my own men?”

With a furrowed brow, Anika shook her head. She would not allow for amanto take credit for her work.

“Persistence is as much a virtue as patience, Anika. And I will find out why you singled me out; it’s only a matter of time.”

“Time you don’t have,”she mumbled behind the tape.

Despite her wrists being leashed to the chair, she managed to fliphim off with vigor.

Leaning in, she had no choice but to stare into his emerald eyes, the irises glimmering in the light. His finger traced the outline of the tape on her skin, mocking her. His eyes dipped down to her covered lips, then back up. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.” His sarcasm made her grit her teeth. Her nails dug into the arm of the chair, leaving little marks. Her mind tried to focus on that—the wood grain beneath her hands, and not the hate she concealed behind her teeth. Her throat ached as a scream built.

“Care to try and repeat it?” he pressed, his covered face impossibly close.

Anika mumbled,“fuck you,”this time knowing he wouldn’t understand. Nonetheless, it made her feel slightly better, and he inclined his head farther.

“How badly do you want me to—”

Crack!

Anika knocked her head into his, their closeness making it easy. Pain radiated out from her forehead, her skull aching from the hardness of his own head. But his surprise made it worth it.

“Fuck!” Mikko backed away, gloved hand clutching his forehead. Hers currently pounded from the harsh contact. Despite the pain, she was relatively unscathed; Anika had a hard head in more ways than one.

“Why thefuckdid you do that?”

Smiling beneath the tape, Anika shrugged, cocking her head to the side as if to say, “no reason.”

As he turned away from her, his back was on display, and Anika wondered briefly if he had tattoos there as well.

Dangerous train of thought,she internally chided.

He gripped his head while trying to think of ways to torture her most likely. Anika squirmed in her chair. The ropes were tight, butif she could begin loosening them now, she’d be ahead of his own schemes.

Whipping back around as if remembering himself—and hiscaptive—Mikko’s hand lashed out. Anika wassurehis palm would connect with her cheek, a punishment for her own retaliation. But she was surprised when he ripped the tape free from her mouth.

A gasp flew out of her, the freedom tangible—the cool air brushing across her mouth ushering in a sense of relief. She could finally speak. “Ow.”

“Let’s try this again,” Mikko began, wadding up the tape and tossing it out of sight. His blatant disregard to her house pissed her off, but she kept her eyes trained on him. “I’m tired of playing these games with you, Anika. Why did you leave me the note?”

“If you’re tired of playing games, why do this?” She looked down at her body as rope rubbed against her flesh.

He sighed as if she exhausted him. “Don’t question me.”

“And if that’sexactlywhat I’m doing, what then? How far would you go for revenge?”

His eyes hardened, mind trying to unravel her so he could study her, but he’d find nothing. Anika was introspective, keeping everything to herself until she’d figured out what needed to be done.Then,she acted.

Until then, her secrets were just that.

Fire licked in her veins.