Page 53 of Captured

I took a deep breath, trying to keep the nerves down. The note was familiar, as if I was working for him, or we were lovers. I took a sip of coffee, resisting the same agonizing sob that had furrowed into my system the night before. It wasn’t going to do me any good.

I had no choice but to follow his rules.

So I enjoyed the coffee, even having a second cup. It was freshly ground, so aromatic that my nostrils were filled with the sweetness of the nuts. After that, I grabbed the juice, one taste telling me it had been freshly squeezed. And the moment I bit into a banana followed by a partially peeled avocado, my taste buds exploded.

Why was he doing this for me? Why?

If he couldn’t terrorize me into surrender, he was going ply me with delicious food?

Fuck him.

Well, I did need to eat if I wanted to keep my strength up.

I leaned against the window, peering out, straining as far as I could see. A guard appeared in front of the lush forest, an assault rifle attached to his shoulder. It was the stark reminder I needed that this place and this moment is time wasn’t every girl’s fantasy. It was more than just a nightmare. It was a march straight into hell.

After finishing my second cup of coffee, I headed to the bathroom. A long hot shower sounded perfect. The rest I’d need to take a day at a time.

Including securing a weapon and finding a way to communicate with the police.

At least this morning I could smile slightly, a plan forming in the back of my mind. I’d allow my captor to think I was falling under his spell. Until I was ready.

Then I would crush him and his entire empire.

Styx

“Should I ask what happened last night or is that not a good question?”

I heard Rico’s voice behind me and didn’t bother looking in his direction, continuing to sweep up the glass. I’d created the fucking mess; I had full intentions of cleaning it up. I’d asked my housekeeper to take my lovely captor a few items while she was still sleeping, fearful that I’d be unable to keep my hands off her and at this point, I needed to concentrate on business.

“What did you find out about Gideon?” I dumped the shards of glass into the trashcan and shifted the dustpan and broom against my credenza. Hearing an incoming email, I shifted my attention to my laptop. Fucking Chase Baxter had better be the source of the ping or I would make good on my threat. Today, I was in no mood to take any shit from anyone. After breaking down over my past, I’d paced the hallways, visiting my sweet captive more than once.

She’d heard me. She’d been awake.

Either that or she was capable of crying in her sleep.

A decent man, a good man would feel bad about abducting her, but of course, there was no level of humanity left inside of me. She was my possession and that was final. No going back. Even if I wanted to or felt inclined to reverse the clock, she already knew far too much about me and where I lived. My sweet Emily was resourceful as well as a damn good actress. I’d need to keep that in mind.

I pulled up the email as Rico approached, smiling since the fucker hadn’t taken my promise lightly. He’d sent me everything I’d asked for and more. I certainly didn’t need to be a forensics expert to realize that I’d been right in my assumptions. Kendall Martin had been killed somewhere else, her body dumped at the Martin house and made to look like a robbery. Meanwhile, her husband, the man who’d professed to love her through thick and thin had a solid alibi.

However, I was certain there was something unknown about the reason he’d up and killed her out of the blue, taking a significant chance his story would be picked apart. It was up to me to figure out what that was. I flipped through the photographs, half laughing.

“What are you looking at?” my Capo finally asked.

“Blackmail material. Now, what did you find out about Mr. Martin?”

“Well, he’s made overtures about running for office. In fact, he has a press conference in a couple days, and I fully suspect he’s going to announce his bid for president.” He acted as if I didn’t know, the smug look on his face almost amusing.

“That much I heard from our good friend Chase Baxter.”

“He has a sordid past, his former father-in-law once determined to out him as a mafia guy. Of course that was before Kendall Martin was killed in a home invasion. Her father has been quiet ever sense.”

Interesting. Rico had delivered some juicy information. If Gideon was being pushed, maybe by Kendall as well, he’d felt he had no choice but to have her killed. I put that tidbit into the back of my mind for future reference.

“What about his friends?”

“Well, if you were looking to find out if he’s tight with Liam Jacobs, there is no outward indication of that. In fact, they’ve sparred in public a half dozen times,” Rico answered.

“But?” I lifted my head, tapping my fingers on my desk.

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