Page 37 of Captured

I swallowed another round of bile and headed for the stainless-steel side by side. The fridge was stocked with food, fresh meats and cheeses, fruits and vegetables. There were several kinds of juice as well. It was obvious the man was rich, which aided in his vile needs and actions.

I pulled out a bottle, cracking the top and chugging almost the entire contents. By the time I placed the plastic on the island, he’d walked closer, never blinking as he studied me.

“Good girl,” he breathed as he handed me a glass of wine.

I accepted, doing everything I could to avoid touching his skin. He was having none of it, fingering the top of my hand, breathing in deeply as the electricity soared. I couldn’t stop shivering, pulling my hand away and taking a step in the opposite direction.

He took a sip of his wine, his eyes half closing as he did. “Chateau Lafite Rothschild, a two thousand and nine Pauillic. Of course, it’s more of a Bordeaux, but I had a feeling you would enjoy it.”

Enjoy it? The wine was somewhere in the neighborhood of thirteen hundred dollars a bottle. I could only imagine the cost of his preferred wines in his collection.

“And what would you say the notes are with this one?” He swirled the dark liquid in the glass, prompting me to take a sip. He was playing a game of some sort, testing me. I could only imagine what would happen if I lied.

I stood frozen to the spot, staring into the glass as if the face of the devil was inside. No, that was right in front of me.

“Come, child. I am fully aware your father is a wine connoisseur. He must have taught you a thing or two.”

“How do you know so much about me and my family?”

His smile could light up a room, his presence bold and unforgettable. “Because in my business, I’m required to learn everything I can about my marks, even those I’m merely considering handling.”

Handling under contract. That was his nicer way of saying he murdered people for hire.

“So you are an assassin.”

“Yes, a damn good one. Now, answer the question.”

I wasn’t certain I could drink the wine, but I took a sip, fighting all the terror that threatened to turn me into a puddle. At least the single sip was incredible. “Um. Blackberry. Kirsch. Leather. A hint of vanilla bean and espresso and…” I couldn’t quite place the subtle yet powerful smell. I glanced in his direction as I took a deep whiff, holding the breath in my lungs, noticing the thick bulge between his legs. I was going to be very ill. I knew it. I could feel it. “A cigar box and licorice.”

“Bravissimo. Perfect. I knew you were perfect.” He threw back half the glass as if it was rotgut before placing it on the counter. Then he rubbed his hands together before grabbing an apron from a small door.

I was caught in a toxic nightmare watching my abductor donning the black material. While he tied it around his waist, he told me what he intended on preparing. Every word now echoed, the dull tapping sensations pushing another wave of nausea into my system.

He was so matter of fact, even jovial as he pulled out items. The finest canned tomatoes, peppers, shrimp and scallops, garlic cloves, and even fresh linguini. I found myself forced to lean against the edge of the island to keep from falling to the floor.

While he continued talking, I sipped the wine, noticing the moon was full, the bright orb illuminating a huge backyard, a forest of trees of an undistinguishable type. The ringing in my ears increased and I only hoped he wasn’t asking me any questions.

I took another sip, tingling all over. Tears formed in my eyes, but I blinked them away. Crying wouldn’t solve anything. Nothing. This wasn’t happening. This was nothing but a horrible dream I’d soon wake up from. It had to be. It just… had to be.

I was jarred out of the horrible lull seconds later, the sharp sound catching my attention fully. It was a phone.

As I jerked up my head, I could immediately tell he was furious at the interruption.

“Excuse me, angel. I’ll just be a second.” He whipped out a phone from his back pocket, turning off the burner before heading around the end of the counter toward the floor-to-ceiling kitchen window.

I stared at him for a few seconds until my mind finally awakened from the deep slumber it had been in. At that moment, I did what any red-blooded captive would do.

I ran.

CHAPTER 11

Styx

I’d never been considered a tolerant man, and was becoming less so the more I was pushed by the bastard wanting something he wasn’t going to get.

“You will do what you were hired to do,” Zeus barked.

I laughed, trying to rein in the rage that was threatening to derail my joyous evening. “You should learn that threatening me will only result in your death and those of your colleagues. Besides, Liam. I didn’t accept the contract. However, I understand you’re considering hiring an inferior person for the job. I’m here to advise you not to do that.”

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