Corrupt Kingdom

“Are you coming?” he says over his shoulder.

“No.”

“Not a very smart answer. A storm is coming. If I were you, I would take shelter in the house.”

“And you? Will you be taking shelter in the house with me too?”

No way in hell am I getting stuck in closed quarters with him. Who knows what this man will do.

“No.”

The breath I didn’t know I was even holding releases, but then another thought hits me. If he’s leaving . . .

“So, I’m stuck here alone?”

That makes him stop walking and turn to face me.

“Would you rather I stay?” He lifts a seductive brow.

“You said you wouldn’t touch me.”

“And I won’t. Not unless you ask.”

“Well, then, don’t hold your breath because I’ll never ask for that.”

“If you say so.” And with that, he keeps heading toward the house, his dog beside him. Although, I’m not sure I would call that thing a dog. More like a beast that wants to kill me.

Weighing my options, I can either try to escape again or follow him.

I shouldn’t trust him, and I don’t. The options are limited, though.

The truth is, I don’t know if he will keep his word . . .

Then another thought hits me straight in the stomach. My legs almost give out under the weight of the train of thought driving through my head.

I have seen his face.

Multiple times.

If asked, I could sketch it, describe it. I could tell the police who he is. I’m a liability, a potential loose end to a crime committed.

Kidnappers only show you their face if they’re planning to kill you.

My feet stop, no longer able to walk a step.

I pray he doesn’t look back, but he does. Staring at me intently, but it’s not a normal look though. It’s dark and predatory, and if I don’t move, he will make me, but my fear has me stuck in quicksand.

“Let’s go.”

“No.”

He arches an eyebrow, and it’s almost as if he’s smirking at me. The line of his lips is a flat line, but it appears the right side is lifting a little bit higher. Or maybe I’m just reading into things, probably from dehydration and desperation.

“I’m not coming with you.”

“Don’t make me come get you. You won’t like it if I do.”

We are at an impasse, but I have no choice but to succeed first.

“Will you kill me?”

“No.” I don’t know if he’s telling the truth, but I guess I have no choice but to believe him.

7

Cyrus

When I showed up this morning and she wasn’t in her room, I thought she had maybe escaped. That faded fast when I realized there was no way off this island.

No one could come or go without my permission.

The island sits close enough to the land that it isn’t in the direct view of passing boats, and my property is large enough that the nearest neighbor is too far to see what happens on the island.

They would have to be close, and anyone who gets that close will be noticed. I have men watching the waters now.

Normally, I don’t.

But this isn’t a normal occasion.

I’ve never taken a woman captive before, so the added security is necessary.

It doesn’t matter why she’s here; her obedience is required, and trying to escape will not be tolerated.

I turn around and watch as she trudges after me. She’s disheveled from sleeping outside. The beach was the last place I looked when it should have been the first.

If I was taken—obviously, that would never happen, but if I was—you bet the first thing I would do is try to escape. I just figured she was in the house somewhere.

But after I looked everywhere, and it was obvious she wasn’t there, I went to the front door. Nothing was there to indicate she had left.

The door automatically locks from the outside.

A part of me wonders if she ever tried to come back last night. Her quest would have been fruitless.

She wouldn’t have been able to get back in, even if she tried, but something tells me this girl didn’t even try.

She would rather freeze to death sitting outside than admit it was safer inside.

I stare at her as she makes her approach. Standing by the large front door, I dangle the metal key from my hand.

“After you.” I swing it open and step aside for her to enter. When she doesn’t move, I lift my hands in surrender. “I will not hurt you.”

Meeting my stare boldly, she doesn’t flinch, just speaks. “Like you would admit to it.”

I could answer her, but I don’t. It would be easy to put her mind at ease. I don’t do easy, and I don’t explain myself. “It’s your choice. Stay outside and freeze or take your chances inside with me.”

She looks back toward the beach, unsure of what to do. She’s weighing her options, but from the way her jaw hardens, I know she’s come to the conclusion she doesn’t have any other option.