Captured by the Criminal (Taken)

What planet is he from?

Does he believe the crap that comes out of his mouth?

When he returns with my bag, I snatch at it. “So, how long until I get handed over to Bishop?”

Costi yanks on the handle of the bag, tugging me closer. “You’re not.” And then his full lips fall down over mine, erasing any distance between us.

He drops the bag and pulls me closer.

I scramble to get my hands into his thick hair as his body hardens against me. I’m dangerously close to ripping this towel off, so I push against him and break the kiss. “What do you mean? You’re not handing me over to him?”

“Bianca, I can’t tell you what’s going on, but you have to trust me.”

“Trust you?” His audacity irks me. “Trust the man who took me from my home? The man who never kept in touch with me when he promised he would?”

“What?”

Tears fill my eyes. “Nothing.” I grab the bag off the floor and take off down the hall, slamming the door to the guest room.

Trust him? I don’t think so, buddy.

Trust the man who promised me he’d always protect me? He’s not protecting me now; he’s looking to collect a bounty on me.

I rummage through the bag and dress in jean shorts and a red blouse. Costi said I can roam the house, so I will. I step out of my room, checking the hall, making sure Costi is nowhere to be found. He stays out of sight as I move through the house, getting the lay of the land. It’s gorgeous, no doubt. The rooms are airy with high ceilings and tall windows. Any other circumstance and this would be my dream home.

It even has four columns on the back patio, overlooking an ice-blue pool that looks like it’s falling off the side of a cliff. The ocean in the distance calls to me. Its sapphire color looks inviting, but I don’t plan to go back into the water soon.

I memorize the layout of the house. It just might come in handy. The kitchen is in the center, with the living room and library off to either side. The glass wall highlights the furniture-filled patio, overlooking his infinity pool that I bet looks even better at night.

My mind, for one quick second, imagines Costi and I swimming at night, his arms around me as he pulls me in close.

God, that kiss. What happened earlier was even better than our first. There was more passion. More burn. More everything.

I’ve never been kissed like that before. Like he had an overwhelming hunger needing to be satisfied.

“Enjoying the view,” Costi says from behind me.

“It’s perfect.” I spin around to face him.

He looks the same as earlier. He still has that hunger in his eyes, like I’m a five-course meal and he wants to savor every dish.

It throws me off-kilter. Makes me nervous and excited all at the same time.

No, I will not develop some lame version of Stockholm Syndrome. I shake my head. No falling for him.

“Bianca, I didn’t mean to upset you earlier. But you have to trust my plan.”

“Does your plan involve me being handed over to Bishop?”

He doesn’t answer right away, probably stalling to find the perfect answer. “Yes, it does.”

“Then I trust nothing.” I step out onto the patio, walking further away from his house.

He doesn’t follow, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I don’t trust him.

But I don’t trust myself around him either.

Because all I want to do is rip his clothes off.

Thirteen

Costi

* * *

Dammit. I head to the security building on the edge of my property. “Any word on Bishop?” I ask Zane, head of my security.

“Not yet. But he just got word you’re back in town. Give him some time.”

I step closer. “Listen, if this plan doesn’t go off perfectly, I’ll probably murder Bishop myself.”

“It’ll work, Cap.”

“It better. Let me know the minute Bishop’s men contact you.”

“Will do.” Zane shifts in his seat. “What about her, Cap? You think she’ll behave?”

I rub at the stubble on my chin. “I’m working on that.”

I leave the booth, heading back up to the main house.

Behave. That’s exactly what I need Bianca to do. I need her to behave so my plan will work. I’ve spent years putting this plan into place, and Bishop wanting to kidnap Bianca worked in my favor.

Of course, I’d be the one to take on that bounty. Of course, I’d be the one to pick her up. Anything to get close to Bishop.

“Making sure your men are watching me?” Bianca asks as soon as I make it back inside.

“Something like that.”

She sits on the couch with a book in her hand. “I just want to say something.”

I stop walking and give her all my attention. “Go ahead.”

She points her dainty finger in my direction. “Never try to kiss me again. Next time, I’ll bite off your tongue. I’m not here for your entertainment. I’m your prisoner, and don’t think for one second we’re friends.”