Page 5 of His Asset

Then he pushed a button and the lock to my cell door unlatched.I blinked, but didn’t move.Not even when he pushed it fully open and stalked inside.Warm air rushed in with him, before his very presence sucked the rest of the oxygen right out of the room, constricting my lungs, my heart even before he took off his jacket and drew it around me.

His fingers brushed my chin before he lifted my gaze to his, ensuring I looked directly into his brilliant, golden-brown eyes.“You’re going to be all right,” he said huskily.“Even if it takes me a month, a year—ten years—I’ll find a way to get you out of this hellhole.”

My body involuntarily leaned his way even as my mind screamed aversion.

I shook my head, bringing myself back to the present.

I’d experienced enough merciless behavior in my short life from humans to expect nothing less than retribution from Adam.That his payback would likely include physical release pushed my shiver straight into a hot shudder that settled deep into my core.

One thing I did know for sure, if he had the chance to take my virginity, I’d never escape from him again.I likely wouldn’t even try.He’d own me body and soul.

An embankment ahead caught my eye, my brain immediately whirling as an idea formed.Limping toward the muddy edge, I pushed my feet into the wet earth before I backed away, carefully stepping into my already made tracks.It wasn’t until the ground hardened and my prints faded that I turned and hurried to some trees, rubbing my back and arms up and down their trunks.

Doing all I could to mark my scent on them.

Then choosing a low-limbed, towering pine, I grasped its bottom branch and pulled myself up, climbing as fast as possible while the dogs barking grew louder.I stopped and tugged off my shoe.Pulling back my arm, I threw my runner just shy of the embankment.

Taking off my other shoe, my arm muscles bunched before I threw the other runner even harder.My breath caught as the shoe sailed high then bounced and skidded, before disappearing over the embankment.

I slumped, relief filling my body while the scent of pine filled my nose, spiky pine needles prickling my skin.With any luck I’d fool Adam’s men, though I doubted their dogs would be as easily duped.

Three canines materialized below me, their leashes stretched tight as their handlers held them back.

I pushed harder against the trunk, the needles of green foliage helping to conceal me.

The dogs barking and whining escalated as they sniffed beneath me.One of them, a tan shepherd, circled the base of my pine tree with its fluffy tail swishing.The other two dogs, a golden retriever and a brindle of indeterminate breed, strained against their leashes to sniff the tree trunks I’d rubbed against.

The retriever broke away first, its snout to the ground as it trotted to the embankment, then with an excited yip, picked up my runner and shook it.The other two dogs raced toward the find, leaving me behind.

The handler issued a command and the retriever dropped my shoe, all three of the dogs then sitting obediently, their tongues lolling.

One of the handlers spoke into his wrist-talker, then ended the conversation before looking at his comrades.“We have to wait here.”

“But his asset will get away!”another handler disputed.

The first handler snorted.“Do you really think Adam would let that happen?”

My mouth dried.Did Adam know I was here?Or did he not want the evidence disturbed any further?He wasn’t a scientist and investor for nothing, very little escaped his critical thinking.

It must have half-killed him having me outwit him.

Womp, womp, womp.

The returning helicopter and its rotors grew louder, my heart slamming against my chest while the branches on my tree and the ones surrounding it swirled and rocked as the chopper hovered overhead.

I stayed motionless even when Adam slithered down through the trees in a harness with a rope attached, his descent rapid and fearless.

Holy shit.

I’d had no idea he was capable of such a feat, but then I really didn’t know him at all other than what he’d inadvertently revealed, which wasn’t much.That he was still in his suit with his ruby tie flapping around his face couldn’t be safe.

I pressed a hand to my mouth.

Big mistake.

His eyes instantly flared and locked with mine.

Fuck.