Page 20 of Save Me

She tilts her head sideways, studying me. “You’re not going to answer unless I agree to eat, are you?”

The corners of my mouth kick up. “Depending on your questions, there’s a chance I won’t answer even after we share a meal,” I admit, honestly.

Frustration wrinkles her features for a moment, but then she smiles. Widely. “Do you know why I became an investigative reporter, Mr. Kim?”

I lift an eyebrow, anticipating her answer.

“My deep, unrelenting curiosity to know more. Because the stories of the people in this world interest me. As much as the fictional stories I grew up reading … no, scratch that, even more.”

She leans in closer.

“I haven’t come across a story yet that I couldn’t crack. Whether you give me the information I’m seeking or not, I will get the answers I’m looking for. That’s a promise.”

My dick gets hard from every word. Especially the way she looks me in the eye as she speaks with such confidence, it’s a foregone conclusion that she’ll get what she’s searching for.

My little fucking warrior.

I also lean in closer to her to ensure she hears what I’m about to say. “Are you aware that you’ve just sealed your fate with that declaration?”

Her eyes balloon.

I don’t follow up my question with anything else. I want my words to settle in. For her to absorb them. Because the sooner she does, the sooner she’ll recognize who she belongs to. Has belonged to for the past ten years.

“Are you ready for the entreé?” our waiter asks, breaking the silence.

I look back at Kennedy. “Perfect timing.”

CHAPTER 7

Kennedy

I’m on edge.

I’m not someone who gets nervous or on edge.

However, as I sit next to Dae Kim in the backseat of this town car, I can’t help but glance at his profile. Over dinner, I made absolutely no headway in the Blackmon investigation.

If it were anyone else, I would’ve walked out before our entrees arrived. From the moment I entered the private dining room, I could tell he had an ulterior motive.

So why didn’t I walk out?

That question has plagued me for the past few hours. Whenever I thought about leaving, he would say something that made me want to know more. I can’t help whatever it is that drives me to want to know more about this mysterious man. Yes, in part, it’s my inquisitive nature, but there’s more.

Every now and again, I get the feeling that I know him from somewhere, or that somehow we’ve met in another time and place. But Dae Kim has a face that anyone who meets him would remember.

“What are you thinking about?” His deep, sensual voice penetrates my thoughts, startling me.

“You,” I answer.

He shifts his body, turning toward me. I suck in a deep breath because having his full attention on me is a bit … overwhelming.

Squaring my shoulders, I meet his gaze. I need to figure out a way to shift this power dynamic. Up until now, Dae Kim has held all of the cards. Maybe that was my first mistake. I went to meet with him at his club.

Then I met with him at the dinner he arranged. He’s had the upper hand all along. Stringing me along for what, I don’t know.

“Where are you from?” I ask.

His head shifts backwards. “South Korea,” he answers, but his tone is clipped.

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