Page 101 of Break Me

She coughed, fighting with me and given her strength and the fact she almost managed to break free from my hold, I’d say she’d had some training.

Yet I was far too strong for her.

“Talk to me or I will kill you.” I pressed the barrel of the weapon against her temple.

“No, you won’t,” she hissed. “Even you won’t be able to fight a murder charge. Plus, that’s not who you are any longer.” Her laugh pissed me off and while I’d never killed a woman before, even though I’d faced female enemies over the years, I couldn’t lie that it was tempting.

“Far too many people underestimate my influence.”

“Then go ahead and pull the trigger. I’m no one.”

“That’s right. You aren’t.”

CHAPTER 23

Halle

My little girl had been brave.

More so than I’d been.

After the police had the two kidnappers in handcuffs and I’d handed Emily off to ‘Mr. Boyfriend’ at her request, I’d ignored the police and slapped the woman across the face. While I’d hoped it would make me feel better after what had occurred, I was beginning to realize almost nothing would.

Safe.

I remembered when I was a child, my father had checked the closet and under the bed for me just to ensure I felt safe in my own room. In truth, I’d never been as terrified of monsters or boogeymen like my friends had been. Maybe because I adored the gnomes and warlords in the fantasy stories that had always been my favorites.

It had taken me until I’d gone to college and had been assaulted outside my favorite coffee shop to realize there were true monsters in the world. The only difference was that they were very human instead of beasts of the night.

A part of me had tried so hard to believe the uglier stories I’d read about Alexsey. That would make it much easier to push him aside. Then he’d saved my daughter’s life, the only man capable of doing so.

He’d dropped everything and come to my rescue.

While a part of me was still numb, shaken by the events, I’d never felt so safe as I did being around him. Even if I was furious inside, wishing he would have pulled the trigger killing the woman. I’d wanted to do it myself. Maybe that made me a bad person, but I just didn’t care.

My daughter had been kidnapped, taken and why? Because I’d been out on a date with the man, allowing him into my house, or because I’d saved his life?

What did it matter? My instincts told me whoever they were wouldn’t stop. I wrung my hands, taking another look at my little girl before partially closing the door.

As with all aspects of Alexsey’s personality, his instinct had been to take control of the situation.

He’d barked at the police officers, berating them for how they’d handled the two suspects. He’d insisted we be allowed to wait inside the small coffee shop, protected by the two men who’d followed him like dutiful soldiers. He’d even insisted what few customers the tiny place had inside left. Although I did notice he was on his phone just before we left after talking with him. I’d snooped, looking over his shoulder. He’d sent a cash paymentto the small store owner for taking away business for two hours. He’d been rough around the edges when dealing with everyone.

Except for me and my daughter.

That’s when I’d seen the same tenderness he’d displayed while being in my house making pizza. I’d been so numb that I hadn’t fought with him. I’d allowed myself to be protected, including by having his jacket draped around my shoulders given I’d been freezing inside the tiny store.

What topped off his dominant personality was refusing to allow me to return to my house. He’d taken the same vehicle as us and he’d chatted with Emily the entire way, asking her about her first day of school.

Like a father would do.

It had been pointless arguing with him. He’d simply given me one of his authoritative looks. Maybe I’d still be shell-shocked enough that I hadn’t had a single bit of energy to fight him. Now I was much calmer, reflective. Eager for retaliation.

Even more than that, I was longing to curl up in my bed under the covers with my daughter beside me. We’d binge watch whatever she wanted with a huge bowl of popcorn. Maybe then the fact I was beginning to truly believe monsters existed would fade to black.

As I walked down the hallway of the man’s condo, I was finally struck by how insanely gorgeous it was. There were floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, the vantage point on the twentieth floor allowing a perfect shimmer of the brilliant orange and pinks of the afternoon sun. And the incredible view of the several gorgeous resorts. Including Ecstasy, which the family owned.

Whoever had decorated the rooms had created a world of beauty and luxury.