He chuckled, his eyes lighting up at the same time. “I thought I was being a nice guy by bringing you breakfast. Should I have brought flowers instead?”
“You should have brought cash and a passport.”
He smiled, amused by my smartass comments. “You’re smart. I guess it makes sense since you’re a doctor.”
“I’m not a doctor. I would be training to become one right now if you hadn’t kidnapped me.”
“How far along were you in school?”
I ignored the question, not wanting to chit-chat.
He slid his arms through the bars as he relaxed, probably daring me to try something. He wanted any opportunity to exert his power over me. He baited me into making attacks so he could squish me like a bug. “If you calm down, I’ll invite you upstairs. It’s a beautiful house. It’s been restored but the natural history of the castle has been preserved. You seem like someone who would appreciate it.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’ve been living in a rat hole for a week.”
I nearly laughed at his wit.
“So, what’s it gonna be? Are you gonna play nice?”
“What does that mean, exactly?” I sat on my cot and kept my knees together so he wouldn’t see up my dress. “Because I’ll never be pleasant company.”
“That makes two of us. I just don’t want you to attack Finley or Ariel. They’re good people.”
“Who’s Ariel?”
He grinned like I said something particularly interesting. “Jealous, lovely?”
“No, idiot,” I snapped. “I’ve met Finley. I haven’t seen this Ariel person before.”
“She’s my business partner.”
“Oh.” My insides turned in anger. Another woman was in the house, knowing I was locked up down here. How could she stand aside and not give a damn? How could she call herself a woman and do nothing? I hadn’t even met the woman, and I hated her. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that. If I’m gonna make a move on anyone, it’ll be you.”
“Ooh…I hope it’s the kind of move I like.” He winked.
The fact that I thought he was charming—even for an instant—irritated me. This guy was a psychopath with a good sense of humor. That was it.
“I can settle for that.” He unlocked the door and opened it. “Grab your breakfast and eat at the table upstairs.”
I stared at the open door, unable to believe he was actually letting me out. “You’re really so naïve to think I won’t try to hurt you?”
He grinned like my words had no impact. “Lovely, I’d like to see you try.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Would you prefer Slave?” he asked. “Because that has a nice ring to it too.”
I couldn’t handle a title like that, so I shut my mouth. Lovely was much better.
“Lovely it is.” He nodded to the stairway. “After you.”
I stopped myself from rolling my eyes and reached the next floor. With my plate still in hand, I walked to the table. My plate contained scrambled eggs, a slice of toast, and a piece of bacon. It wasn’t much, but since I wasn’t eating much anyway, it was perfect.
I didn’t see much of the first floor last time I was released from my cage. I’d been too terrified of Crewe to think about anything besides him. I concentrated on how close he was to me, the way he moved his hands as he walked. In anticipation of a strike, I kept my eyes on him.
But now I knew I was safe—for the time being.
“This way.” Crewe led the way into the enormous kitchen. It had two ovens, two microwaves, and enough kitchen space to prepare dinner for dozens of people. A kitchen table sat beside the large window that took up most of the wall. “Would you like some coffee?”
I set my plate down and immediately looked outside, wanting to get an idea of where I was. But I only saw rocks jutting out until they disappeared over a cliff, and the ocean sea in the background. Beyond that, it was only blue. Infinite blue. The sight was beautiful, but it made me realize just how alone I was.
There was no escape.
Crewe studied my face, watching my expression change. His brown eyes contrasted against everything around the property, from the green of the grass to the deep blue of the sea. “Don’t make me ask you again.”
The tone in his voice brought me back to reality. “Yes, please.”
“So you do have manners.” He walked to the counter and poured hot coffee into a mug. “I was beginning to think you didn’t with all those smartass comments.” He returned and placed the mug next to my plate. “Cream or sugar?”
“No, thank you.” I growled when my automatic response came out, wanting to be as rude to him as possible.
He smiled. “I’ll be in my office if you need me. Enjoy breakfast, and feel free to take a walk.”
Was he serious? “You’re just going to leave me alone? Outside?”
He stepped away with his hands in his pockets, his shirt tucked tightly around his waist. He had a wide chest, obviously powerful by the way he held himself. He had lean and long legs, the kind with muscled thighs that filled out his slacks well. “What are you going to do? Swim to Scotland?”
“We’re in Scotland?” I blurted.
“No.” He shifted his weight, his shoulders remaining straight no matter how he positioned his body. “We’re in the Shetland islands—north of Scotland. About four hundred and fifty kilometers away. So, if you’d like to swim there, best of luck to you.”
My jaw dropped inadvertently, the stress of the situation falling heavily on my shoulders. I was far away from home, across the Atlantic, on a remote island. No wonder why it was so freezing.
“We’re on Fair Isle, the most remote island of the archipelago. My one and only neighbor lives on the other side of the island. It’s a vacation home, so they only come to visit once a year.”
“For the holidays?” If I knew when they were there, I could pound on their door and demand they call for help.
He gave me a cold stare, knowing exactly what I was trying to do.
Now I felt like an idiot for thinking he was an idiot.
“There are no landlines here. We only use satellite phones. There’s Wi-Fi, but all the electronics are synced to my thumbprint. So don’t bother.”
“Wow…you’ve obviously kidnapped people before.”
He didn’t smile at the comment. “Enjoy your day.” He walked around me, his masculine scent washing over me as he passed. “And if you hurt Finley or Ariel, I’ll do the same to you. Finley is an innocent old man who is simply looking for peace. And Ariel isn’t a woman much different from you. Don’t. Touch. Them.”
“But you have no problem with me trying to kill you?” For a man so cold, it was odd that he had affection for two people he wasn’t related to.
“Do your worst, Lovely. I’ll enjoy punishing you for it.”
I stood on the cliff with my arms wrapped tightly around my stomach. The wind was mild, but the closer I got to the edge, the more the wind picked up. My hair flew behind my shoulders, and my arms prickled with goose bumps.