Page 115 of Defending You

“He wants you hidden while they clean up your boyfriend’s mess.” His voice carried casual cruelty.

“How thoughtful of him to be concerned about my well-being.” Behind her back, Cici stretched her freed hands. Souza had cut the zip ties to move her, and her fingers were still tingling as the blood circulated again. The last thing she wanted to do was draw attention to them, to have them bound again.

Souza stepped into the room, absorbing all the oxygen, and closed the door, then crossed toward her until he was close enough that she could smell his sour breath, see the way his eyes skimmed over her.

“You know what I think?” He leaned nearer, and she backed against the shelving. “I think Gagnon’s soft. All this negotiating, all this careful planning.” He reached out to tug a strand of her hair, and she jerked away. “Me? I would’ve put a bullet in your head the second we grabbed you.” He tipped his head back and forth. “Except…I do like to play with my food.”

His fingers grazed her cheek, and her skin crawled.

She forced herself to remain still, every instinct screaming at her to recoil from his touch. Instead, she lifted her chin and met his eyes with as much defiance as she could muster.

“You know what your problem is?” Souza’s hand slid down her arm and gripped her wrist. With his other hand, he brought her free wrist close, then held them tight in one meaty fist. “You think you’re better than people like me. Rich girl, daddy’s little princess, probably never had to fight for nothin’.”

“You don’t know anything about me.” She tried to pull away, but his fingers were like steel bands.

“I know enough.”

“You tell yourself these lies to justify the horrible things you do.”

His other hand moved to her throat, not squeezing but resting there like a promise. “You’re scared.” He spoke as if he hadn’t heard her. “I can smell it on you.”

“As well I should be.” She hated how her voice wavered. “What I don’t understand is why you’re not.”

Souza’s hand stilled against her neck, his eyes narrowing. “I got nothing to fear.”

“Gagnon told me himself that you’re a liability, and we both know how much he hates liabilities.”

Souza’s face darkened, his hands dropping as he stepped away. “Like I’m gonna believe you. You don’t know?—”

“Don’t I?” Cici gazed around, going for calm, as if her heart weren’t hammering in her chest. She scanned the floor, then the shelves that lined the room, searching for anything that could serve as a weapon.

“When you were out looking for Falcone and Mendez?—”

“How d’you know their names? How do you know me?”

“Traffic cams.” She shrugged like it was no big deal. “Your face was picked up outside the police station in Philly—yours and Gagnon’s, of course. And then again near the airfield in Massachusetts. Once those images were isolated, we were able to identify?—”

“Who’s we?”

“Do you have any idea who I am?”

Confusion looked a lot like rage on Souza’s face. Cici needed to tread very carefully.

“My father was a spy with the CIA. Now he’s a defense contractor.” She let that information settle. “My cousin is a spy. My sister worked for the NSA, and her fiancé was a spy. Another cousin of mine is retired Special Forces. Oh, and the person who owns those rubies Gagnon was showing off earlier? He’s a billionaire with virtually unlimited resources.” She shook her head, going for surprised and disappointed. “Gagnon knows all that. Funny that he didn’t choose to share the information with you.”

Souza said nothing.

Keep him talking. Keep him wrong-footed.Anything to keep his hands off her—and sow seeds of doubt.

“Anyway,” she continued, “when you were off looking for Mendez and Falcone, I asked Gagnon about his son. You remember, he mentioned him to Mr. D at the jewelry store?”

Souza nodded, listening. Processing.

“He told me…” Her gaze landed on a mug filled with pens. And a letter opener.

She focused on Souza again. “Gagnon said nobody knows about his son, that if word got out, his enemies could use him as leverage. Mr. D knew, and he’s dead. I heard Gagnon mention his son in the store, and…” She made a face, trying to communicate that her having overheard was the reason Gagnon had pursued her. “You know what his plan is for me. Think about this, though.Youknow about his son.” She worked for a compassionate expression. “There’s a reason you’re in here with me while other people fight the fight. You really think he believes Falcone is more capable out there than you would be?”

Souza’s eyes narrowed. He might’ve been uneducated, but he wasn’t stupid.