Page 68 of Captured

“That I’m a dangerous, reprehensible man with a love of bloodshed and a need to destroy the competition? Yes. Given the war-torn country where she’s from, she understands the value of those who can take care of her and her entire family. That’s why she’s so loyal to me.”

My admittance brought about laughter, which was unexpected and delightful. “Interesting. A killer who looks after the families of those who work for him. At least you’re honest. Maybe that good side of you is trying desperately to be freed.”

“I am honest, Emily. I strive to be anyway. But I doubt decency is in my vocabulary. I know those in high powered businesses are supposed to be cutthroat. I am in certain aspects. My two brothers are as well. However, as my mother would have likely said, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. And loyalty.”

“Is your mother alive?” She seemed content in selecting more food, which in turn allowed me to relax and eat.

“Yes, she is. I keep tabs on her. She’s remarried to a very nice man, a doctor from Seattle.”

“She left your father.”

“Absolutely. He was a disgusting, horrible man who abused her.”

Her eyes lit up from my frankness. “My mother hated my father as well.” As soon as she made the statement, she slapped her hand over her mouth as if she’d said the wrong thing.

“It’s okay, Emily. You can be honest with me. I’m sorry about what happened with your mom. Girls need their mothers.”

“Boys do too. My father’s mother left him at the door to an orphanage, or so I heard when I was young. Fortunately, his father grabbed him just as my dad was placed into the system. I think that’s what made him such a horrible man who had no understanding of how to love anyone.”

I was surprised she was being so forthcoming, but grateful. “We are more alike than you want to admit.”

“Perhaps.” She grabbed a strawberry, using two fingers to slide it to her mouth. I was mesmerized by the way she sucked on it, taking a tiny nibble afterwards. She noticed I was watching her intently and, in another surprise, shifted her arm toward me, pressing the half-eaten piece of fruit against my lips.

The surge of need in my system was as unexpected as her actions. I took my time accepting the bite, but as with everything else up to this point, the taste was spectacular.

“But we are different people entirely,” she added.

Chewing then swallowing, I snagged a blueberry, repeating the move to her. While she accepted, as with everything else, her actions were tentative.

“How so, little sparrow?”

As her tongue licked her bottom lip, I took a deep breath and held it. My cock was already at full attention, pushing against the stupid trousers I’d selected for the day. At least I’d been smart enough to slide into swim trunks underneath.

“I’m hopeful for a bright future. You’re still living in your past. I can only imagine what you’ve been through, but you need to move on and try and see the beauty in life. It can be very tough but not impossible. The woman you lost would want that for you. She’d want you to find love and happiness, joy in the simple things in life. Nature. Food. Wine. The ocean. Whatever makes you happy.”

Goddamn, her words seemed to have some control over me. How odd. She was offering me advice when I’d done everything in my power, although it hadn’t been my intention, to take away her hope. “She wouldn’t understand me moving on. That’s not what we shared.”

She sipped her wine, never blinking as she looked at me. The search continued, as if she had a determination to find a diamond in the rough.

I found it interesting that no matter what situation we were placed in as humans, our true nature always shone through the muck. When she placed her hand on mine, it proved the case. She even squeezed my fingers, fighting the moan I could see attempting to slip past her lips from the electric connection.

“You don’t know women very well. We have remarkable resilience and always want those we care about to be happy. I have no doubt she would want you to find another reason to live.” She didn’t wait for my answer to continue with her psychoanalysis. “I know you don’t want to share the truth but I have a feeling the loss wasn’t about divorce. If that’s the case, she’s looking down at the heavens on you, wondering what’s taking you so long. And I assume she was the bright light in your world, which means she garnered a place in heaven.”

The ache in my heart continued, growing exponentially. “She was an angel just like you are. And actually, I am learning that lesson right now.” Why was it easy to be more than just honest with this woman? I was opening up, which was dangerous on every level.

However, I received a reward. Another bright smile.

“Tell me. What’s the most dangerous recreational sport you’ve ever done?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling lighter than I had in a long time. “I need to think about that. Hang gliding. I did that in the Fuji islands. I once was pushed into a hot air balloon. I wasn’t a fan. Oh, and I’ve jumped from a spiraling plane in a parachute. Of course that was unexpected, forced on me.”

“My, oh, my. You do live a dangerous life. Eventful.”

“Much of it not to my liking. Tell me, my little sparrow. What have you done or what would you like to do that might seem dangerous in your world?”

She snacked on several pieces of cheese before answering. “Bungee cord jumping across a beautiful ravine. White water rafting. Maybe jumping off a cliff, albeit a short one, into a beautiful crystalline lagoon of the bluest water in the world.”

“Have you done any of those?”

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