Page 6

Chapter Six

Grey

O nce I’ve finished the ramen, I push the bowl away from me on the concrete floor and lean against the wall. When you finally eat after days of going without, it does a number on your insides. My stomach clamps down in another cramp, and I try not to make a sound as I ride it out.

“Something bothering you?” she asks as she places my bowl beneath hers. “You don’t look so hot.”

I pull my legs up and wrap my arms around my knees. “Considering I haven’t used the bathroom since I got here, my bladder pains are pretty understandable.”

“Oh!” She hurries to stand, then leaves the room. A few minutes later, she returns with something blue in her hands. My stomach sinks as I realize what it is.

I shake my head. “I’m not pissing in a bucket.”

“Then I guess you’ll just piss in your pants. You aren’t going back upstairs. Not now that I know the police saw your car turn in here.” She drops the bucket and pushes it toward me.

“I told you. I’m not going to piss in a bucket. You have my gun. I’m not stupid. Take me to the bathroom.”

“No, I am not stupid. That’s why I refuse to take you upstairs. If you really wanted to overpower me and take the gun, there’s enough shit up there to help you accomplish that.”

“And where would I run? Do you think I want to be out there, dealing with cops at every turn? I’m safer here.”

It’s a lie. Kind of. I mean, this is still better than prison, I guess.

She disappears again and shows up with my gun in her hand. She aims it at me. “Upstairs,” she says, motioning up the basement steps.

I scramble to my feet and walk ahead of her. As I pass her, I glance at the gun. The safety is off, so she clearly knows what she’s doing. And she means business.

We reach the ground floor of her home, and she gestures to the left. I follow her directions to the bathroom, and I’m grateful when she lets me go in by myself, though she stays just outside the door. When I go to close it, she shakes her head.

“Leave the door open.”

I sigh and turn to unzip my jeans, pull out my dick, and piss. I hope she enjoys the view, since she can’t stop staring at me.

“Do you think you can keep me here forever?” I put my hand against the wall and lean into it.

“I don’t think I can keep you forever, but I’d like to keep you as long as I can. At least until your reward rises to a respectable level and I learn why you killed the woman.”

“Do they have any leads?”

“No. A lot of social media experts weigh in, though. Most people view you as a hero.”

I cock my head. “What do you mean? I killed someone.”

“You didn’t kill someone . You killed the epitome of a power imbalance. The head of abuse of federal institutions, like banks.”

I scoff. “She’s still a person. Well, was.”

“People think of you as a hero without a cape. They believe you were sticking it to the man at a time when the man really needed to get stuck.”

“Is that what you think of me?”

She offers a noncommittal shrug, and I pull my gaze from her. I’m no hero. I’m the villain.

“You’re a little bit of a psycho. You know that, right?” I shake off my dick and tuck it inside my pants.

“Yeah, I do.”

I’m being kind. Someone who holds a murderer hostage while his reward money rises is so far removed from psychosis. She’s in her own field of crazy.

Taking a moment, I glance around the bathroom, looking for anything that could help me escape this precarious situation. With her staring at me like this, that’s pretty hard to do.

“Can I take a shower?” I ask, hoping that will afford me some privacy. “I haven’t done more than wipe up in a gas station bathroom for ages.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I clear my throat and hold out my hands. “Any chance I could get a little privacy?”

The gun’s barrel rides down my body as she considers my request. She glances at the small window in the shower, then realizes I can’t squeeze through it. “Sure, but don’t do anything stupid.”

“More stupid than killing an elite?”

She smiles before removing my shackles and wrist cuffs, then leaves the bathroom. As soon as she closes the door, I look for a way to escape. Her beauty is only rivaled by her fucked-up mind, and I’d be lying if I said she doesn’t intimidate me. I’m probably safer outside with the cops, now that I think about it.

Despite knowing I won’t fit, I study the window anyway. Even if I had narrow shoulders, I’d have to break bones to fit through that gap. Not a bad option, considering the alternatives. Then again...maybe her fascination could play in my favor. Maybe I’ve been coming at this from the wrong angle.

She’s a single woman, clearly still upset by the breakup with her ex. I mean, why else would she keep the sex dungeon intact? If she’s lonely, I could use that to my advantage. I can get close to her, drop her guard, and make my escape.

I look in the mirror and frown. If I want to seduce her, I’ll need to clean myself up a bit. The rugged look is fine, but the homeless look? Not so much. I grab a razor and fruity-smelling gel foam and begin by lining up my stubble. When I come out of this bathroom, Briar won’t know what hit her.