Fuck. I pinched my eyes tight. A soft moan escaped from my lips.
My awareness returned at the price of a throbbing head to go along with it. The fog of unconsciousness started to lift, but even after opening my eyes everything remained dark. Blindfolded, I felt my hands bound again only this time with rope instead of tape. I almost said something, asked where I was and what the hell was going on, but before I could I heard voices nearby.
I recognized both of them immediately.
The first was the man I talked to on the phone. The second, even though I only heard it a single time - there was no way I’d forget it.
It’s like it imprinted on my soul.
It was the kind of voice that commanded respect and conveyed authority. A deep, throaty baritone traveled across the room and reached inside of me, sending vibrations across my body.
Still not with it, I struggled to stay focused for the first couple of minutes. They discussed what happened at the scene. The man with the baritone voice demanded to know if it was cleaned and secured after he’d gone.
“Yes, Dorian. It’s been taking care of.”
Dorian.
“Excellent work, Kendrick. That will make things with her much easier.”
Who, her? Me, her?
I swallowed hard, the haze surrounding my brain clearing in an instant.
“If you don’t mind me asking… Why do you insist on having her here? It’s not worth the risk. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Dorian didn’t respond right away. I imagined the handsome face I saw through the window of the Rolls-Royce turning serious.
“That’s not something you need to worry about. You’re goddamn lucky we were able to get there in time and get that situation under control before the police showed up.”
Kendrick uttered a sound like he was trying to interrupt. Dorian didn’t let him.
“As far as Tempest is concerned, I’m going to keep her as long as I need to. I don’t give two shits if you think having her around is risky or not. We clear?”
A sudden surge of exhaustion coursed through my body. Whatever they’d used to knock me out still had hold of me. Uncontrollably, the image of Todd being murdered flooded into my mind.
“Todd… Todd,” I muttered.
The men stopped talking.
Holy shit. Oh, shit.
I struggled to keep my composure, maintain a steady breath. My hearing seemed like it was a thousand times more sensitive than normal. I noticed someone walking towards me, their feet squishing on thick, firm carpeting, until at last I sensed a presence between my knees.
All movement and sound stopped.
I panicked. “Please don’t kill me!”
After a couple of horrifying seconds, Kendrick responded.
“No one is going to kill you. Actually, it’s quite the opposite.”
A pair of hands closed in around my face and with a few gentle pulls, undid the ties of the blindfold. Once it fell away, I blinked my eyes several times in a row, looking at Kendrick. He had an average looking, slim build. With a pair of wire rim glasses set low on his nose, he looked more like an accountant than a criminal mastermind.
He continued. “You’re here for your own protection.”
Trying to orient myself, I looked around the room and noticed I was in an office. It wasn’t like the kind you’d find in a building though. It was more like a home office. I glanced at Kendrick again.
“Who am I being protected from?”
Without saying a word, Kendrick stepped to one side and it was then I saw him.
I felt my eyes widen right in their sockets.
Seriously, like moons.
I’ll never forget those words he said… ‘You’re safe with me now, Tempest. I’ve got you.’ In the chaos of the desert, part of me wanted to believe him, but now, in this calmer setting, I began to have second thoughts.
After all, having my hands and feet bound wasn’t exactly reassuring.
He was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. If it wasn’t for the fact I was being held against my will, and the fact these men were probably responsible for Todd’s death, I might actually give a shit.
As it stood I wasn’t in a romantic mood. I looked away from him and back towards Kendrick, yanking against the restraints at the same time. He stepped in my direction and placed his palm on my shoulder.
“Relax.”
After a deep inhale, I blew out a long breath and looked at him.
“What makes you think I’m not? Wouldn’t you be if you were me? Let’s see, I’m driving along minding my own business with my fia– boyfriend… When, out of nowhere, two masked men run us off the road, kill him, kill each other and leave me all alone in the middle of nowhere until you call. The next thing I know, I’m knocked out and dragged to who knows where? Relaxed? Yes. I can honestly say I can’t remember a time I’ve ever been so relaxed. Thank you for your concern, Kendrick.”
The narrow-shouldered man looked at me and frowned. In contrast, Dorian chuckled, grumbling a low rolling sound that filled the room.
I never broke eye contact with Kendrick. Not that it mattered, but it was obvious from the way he stared at me he didn’t appreciate my response. We looked at each other in silence until Dorian spoke.
“That’s enough, Kendrick. Untie her.”
“Yeah, Kendrick.” I nodded, narrowing my eyes at him. “Untie me.”
While he undid the restraints, my gaze met Dorian’s once again. I wanted to keep my composure, keep a straight face. He might have been the one who saved me, but that still didn’t mean I could, or should, trust him. Kendrick circled around behind me. I turned my head a fraction to follow him before returning my gaze to Dorian.
He was not what a killer is supposed to look like.
Worse yet. I felt the sudden swell of an unwelcome emotion stirring inside of me. It was something I shouldn’t have felt.
Was it attraction? Oh God. Lust? What the hell is wrong with me?
I broke eye contact with him. The restraints fell away, pooling around my feet and ankles. I had to find a way to get these urges under control and fast. It didn’t matter what Todd had done to me –– two wrongs don’t make a right.
That’s what dad always said.
Kendrick walked around in front and stepped between Dorian and me, mercifully breaking the staring competition.
“There. Better?” Kendrick asked.
His tone pissed me off. I don’t know why. Exhaustion maybe. Anyway, it did.
“Fuck you. Fuck both of you. Let me out of this office.”
“I told you…” Kendrick said, sarcasm dripping from his tongue.
He turned and looked at Dorian.
Dorian eased back in his oversized chair but didn’t say a word, just glared at Kendrick. For several seconds the two of them exchanged silent stares of displeasure until the door to the office opened.
A woman entered. She was gorgeous, and I mean, stunning.
Seeing her, Kendrick nodded and stepped to one side, allowing her to pass. She walked in the direction of Dorian, who got to his feet when she approached. Reaching for her hip, he placed his hand on it and leaned in, kissing her once on the cheek.
Then, he pointed at me. “Ainsley, this is Tempest. The woman I mentioned to you.”
Ainsley reached towards her forehead, gliding a couple of fingers through her glistening brunette hair before whipping it away from her face and glaring at me. The look didn’t last long, maybe a second, but it was unmistakable.