Page 63 of Carnal Urges

“Hullo, Stavros.”

He’s tied to a metal chair with a black cloth hood over his head. Normally, I’d have him on his knees—freezing-cold cement is hell on the knees—but he was already like this when I got here.

The hooded head lifts. A voice with a slight Russian accent says, “Who’s there?”

“Sloane’s new best friend.”

After a short pause, he curses viciously in Russian.

Amused, I turn to Spider, standing beside me. “I bet he thinks I don’t understand his language.”

Spider chuckles. “I bet he thinks a lot of things that aren’t true. Stupid people are like that.”

“What have you done with her? If you’ve hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you!”

His angry shouts echo off the walls. He struggles against his bindings. His breathing is rough and fast.

“Relax. She’s still in one piece. But keep it up, and I’ll bring you one of her fingers for every time you shout at me.”

Streaming through the hood, his breath sends white clouds into the frigid air. His voice lower but still shaking with fury, he says, “You’ll regret this.”

I’m intrigued. From Sloane’s description of him as boring, I was expecting less energy. “Why? Is your master, Kazimir, coming to rescue you? You’re not high up enough on the totem pole, boyo.”

“I’m talking about kidnapping my woman.”

Hearing him call her that sets my teeth on edge. “Yourwoman? You seem to be operating under the misconception that she gives a shite about you.”

Or that she could belong to anyone. No man could ever really own her. Like all unbroken spirits, she can’t be claimed.

Stavros is undeterred by my sarcasm. “You have no idea how she feels about me.”

“I know she thinks you’re as interesting as curdled milk.”

“She wouldn’t tellyouthe truth!”

“She might. Under pressure.”

The insinuation that I’ve tortured her for information doesn’t faze him. He shakes his head vehemently.

“You don’t know her. Sloane’s not like other people. She won’t give anything she doesn’t want to give, no matter what it costs.”

I’m starting to get aggravated by his confidence. Could she have lied to me about her feelings for him?

“Everyone has a breaking point. You, for instance. How many fingers of yours will I have to remove before you tell me everything I want to know about your boss?”

His reply is instant. “None. I’ll tell you anything. I’ll tell you everything about him that I know.”

Spider is astonished. “This is the loyalty you show your king?”

“I don’t care about him. I only care that you don’t harm Sloane. If you let her go, I’ll do whatever you ask. I’ll spy on him if you want me to.”

Disgusted, Spider spits on the cement. “Unfuckingbelievable. For a woman.”

I turn and give him a cold stare. In Gaelic, I say tightly, “That’s a mighty high horse you rode in on. Have you already forgotten how easily the same woman tested your loyalty,Homer?”

He freezes. A look of guilt comes into his eyes.

“Take off his hood. And get me a chair.”