To watch as the mercenaries fired on her parents, bullets ripping into her father’s body and slamming into her mother’s. The fear, the smell of their blood, the horrifying realization that nothing would ever be the same again.
Stalking to the wide windows overlooking the desert, she stared out at the rising hills and vastness of a land she’d once longed to see. She’d never been to the desert before. The heavy forests of the mountains were easier to hide in, her parents had always insisted. She had a feeling it wouldn’t have mattered where they hid; they would have still been found. They were destined to be found. They should have done as she’d suggested years ago and deserted her, saved themselves while they still could.
The sound of the door opening behind her had her swinging around. At the first glimpse of the Breed that entered the suite, her heart began pounding out of control before she could force back the terror rising inside her.
Rhyzan Brannigan.
Celtic green eyes, long pitch-black hair falling between his shoulders from the leather thong that held it low at his nape. Six and a half feet tall, he towered over her short five feet four.
He was dressed in dark, obviously expensive dress slacks and a white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled to the elbows, but the veneer of civilization did nothing to hide the animal beneath. Pure power and primal awareness filled his gaze as well as his expression. Those green eyes flicked over her, from her feet to her short hair, before turning from her as though she was insignificant. She didn’t matter; only the reason for her existence, the threat she might pose to the woman she shared the features of her face with, mattered.
As an individual, as a person in her own right, she meant nothing. He simply didn’t give a damn if she survived or not.
Those brilliant green eyes flicked to the wig, then back to her before he strode to the table at the side of the room.
“Would you sit down, please.” He extended a hand to the chair across from him, his expression forbidding as he watched her.
Crossing her arms over her breasts, she stared back at him mutinously. “I know how to stand and talk. I can even walk a
nd chew gum at the same time.”
His brow arched, the bland expression devoid of emotion.
“Aren’t you multitalented,” he murmured before those hard green eyes became chips of ice. “Now sit your ass down before I have you tied to the fucking chair.”
The clipped order, delivered with crystal-clear demand, assured her that he wouldn’t hesitate to carry out the threat.
Great. The son of a bitch was just as hard as her father had said he was. And likely just as cruel.
Watching him warily, she moved to the chair, pulled it out and sat down.
Kenzi remained silent as he followed suit. Once settled at the table, he placed the electronic pad he carried in front of him and activated it with precise, controlled movements.
Once he had a file pulled up, he went over it for a moment before lifting his gaze back to hers.
“There was no file found with any information on you in the heli-jet you were on, nor on any of the Breeds flying with you. Those we have in custody claim they captured you in the mountains and were picking up another young woman in the desert before flying to Argentina. Is this correct?”
Kenzi shrugged. Did he really expect her to cooperate that easily? She was terrified of him, but she was even more terrified of being forced to stay there.
After a few seconds the Coyote Breed laid the stylus he held on the table, folding his hands over the e-pad, and gave her another of those icy stares.
“Because of the young woman you look so much like, I’m willing to make this an interview rather than the interrogation I would personally prefer. Now, a few ground rules.” Ice dripped from his voice. “Shrugs are not answers. You will answer me. Lie to me and I will know it. Attempt any deception and I will know it. Now, shall we start again?”
She waited until she thought he was ready to ask the question again.
“What’s the difference between this and an interrogation?” she demanded, her one weakness, her temper, coming out to play.
He blinked. Once.
“No truth serum, no pain, and no cell where every time you go to take a piss other prisoners are watching and trying to jack off at the thought of catching a glimpse of your bare ass. Do you have any further questions?” The answer had her swallowing tightly, but she did have one more question.
“If I cooperate, will you let me leave?” she asked. “Today. Can I just walk out?”
His expression gave nothing away. Whatever he was thinking, there was no reading it. And that could be very bad for her.
“Answer every question honestly and provide me with what I need, and after that, I don’t give a damn where you go,” he assured her. “But I will have the answers I want first.”
Kenzi nodded hesitantly, praying he wasn’t lying to her.