Page 150 of Kiss of Deceit

He pushed me into my office chair before rolling it to the side so he could reach the keyboard. He turned on my computer, looking at me as it booted up. “What’s your email?”

I lifted my lip into a sneer. “If you’re such a good hacker, why don’t you just do it?”

“Because the internet in this place is nearly nonexistent. It would take too long. Tell me your fucking email.” When I didn’t say a word, he sighed. “Are you really going to make me hurt you?”

“You think I can’t hold up under torture?” I asked mockingly. “I’m sure your father would disagree.”

He scowled. “How about he hurts Kole instead?” He pulled the walkie-talkie from his pocket. “One word from me, and he’ll be begging for his life.”

My heart panged. Kole would never beg for his life. He would stay silent until they killed him. He was so damn strong. He got away from a life that could have ruined him, and now I was going to get him killed.

Straightening up, I rambled out my email address, watching as Miles began typing it in. While he was focused on the keyboard, I leapt up from the chair and rammed into him. He let out a yell in surprise as we both went flailing to the floor. I twisted, my side taking the brunt of the fall. My shoulder screamed in pain, but I fought through it, kicking Miles in the ribs before he could get up.

I rolled onto my back, lifting and tucking my legs, trying to slip my bound arms around them so I could have my hands in front of me.

“You really shouldn’t have done that,” Miles growled, jumping on top of me. My arms stayed trapped under my thighsas he straddled my hips. His hand went to my throat, and he squeezed, cutting off my air. “We’ve been planning this for fucking years. There is no way out. No freedom. Stop fighting or it’ll be much worse for you.”

“What in the world is going on?”

Susan’s shocked voice had both Miles and me going still. My heart dropped when he looked away from me. His hand relaxed on my throat, and I sucked in choppy breaths.

“Run,” I choked out hoarsely, coughing before speaking again. “Get out of here. He’ll kill you.”

Her frenzied footsteps proved she listened, and Miles climbed off me, darting across the room. With a groan, I bent my knees again. My battered wrists were in agony as I pulled my arms tight, slipping my bent legs between them. I let out a cry when I finally got my legs through, and my arms were in front of me. I staggered to my feet, seeing Miles dragging Susan by her hair.

“Stop,” Susan cried, pure terror in her voice. “Please?—”

“Shut up,” Miles roared, stomping back toward me. “This was not part of the plan.”

He was frazzled. His personality was completely different than he’d shown when I met him, but it was clear now. He was a hacker, good with computers. He likes order and plans. One little misstep would irritate him. Which worked to my advantage.

I sprinted toward him, and he didn’t see me coming until it was too late. This time when I rammed into him, I was prepared. I slammed my open palm into his nose, hard enough to hear it crack. Susan let out a shriek when he lost his hold on her, and she stumbled away. Miles spun away from me, protecting his face, and I jumped onto his back, wrapping my arm around his throat. I locked my legs around his waist as I tightened my arm.

I was sure my hit to his nose was still making it hard to focus, but he grabbed my forearm, trying to free his neck.

“The night we fought, when you broke into my home, I knew I could beat you,” I breathed in his ear. “I didn’t because Kole was there. He saved your life that night. He’s not here to protect you now.”

My hold was too tight for him to speak. His moves became more frantic as he lost air. He backed up, slamming my spine against the wall. Pain shot through my body when he did it again. He lashed his elbow back, ramming it into my ribs. My hold slipped slightly, and he sucked in a short breath. I let out a grunt when he elbowed me again. I might be a better fighter, but he was strong enough to do damage.

I didn’t let up, squeezing until his body began weakening. He slammed me into the wall again, but he was losing the fight to stay conscious. A few seconds later, he dropped to his knees, his grip on my arm falling.

“How does it feel?” I whispered, loathing swimming in my voice. “To know I’m going to kill you?”

He went limp, passing out, and I kept my hold a little longer before rolling off him. I ran to my desk, grabbing the scissors out of the drawer.

“Cut me free,” I demanded, looking at Susan. Her hand was on her chest as if the entire scene was horrifying.

“Is he dead?” she choked out, taking the scissors from me and cutting through the zip tie.

“Not yet.” I snatched the weapon back, ignoring my throbbing wrists. “He has answers I need.”

Miles was already waking back up, his hand going to his bloodied, broken nose. I grabbed his hair, yanking him up. He jerked in surprise and pain as I dragged him to the closest desk. He was attempting to gain his footing, which helped managehis weight as I threw him onto the wood surface. Papers flew everywhere, the computer toppling to the floor.

Gripping the handle of the scissors tightly, I slammed the blade into the soft skin right near his right shoulder and collarbone. An anguished scream tore from his throat, and I didn’t give him a chance to react before ripping the blade from his body and doing the same to the other arm. Blood poured from his wounds, his arms now laying uselessly at his sides.

I moved the scissors to his throat, keeping my hold on his hair. His eyes were still dazed slightly, but he was more than aware that I was pressing the tip right against his artery. He went utterly still, his lips parting in shock.

“You’re going to tell me where the meeting spot is,” I said, letting threat enter my voice. “Or I get to see how well you hold up under torture.”