Page 12 of Stiletto's Savior

“Ooo, I’ve rattled you up.” he teases with a chuckle before turning away from me.

His footsteps echo in the dank room as he moves towards a rickety table near the back.

The rusty chain around my wrist rattles as I pull against it, the sound harsh and grating in the quiet room.

“I was wondering when you would try that,” he says, the cruel amusement back in his voice. “Go ahead, wear yourself out.”

“Asshole,” I spit out, pulling again on the chains.

The metal bites into my skin, leaving angry red marks, but I don’t relent. I can’t.

“Quite feisty,” he muses, turning back towards me with something gleaming in his hand.

My heart clenches as my eyes focus on the object—a wickedly sharp knife.

I suppress a shudder, forcing a smirk onto my face.

“Oh, a knife? Now we’re really getting cliché.”

He chuckles lowly before stepping closer, the blade glinting in the dim light.

“Feisty and funny,” he drawls, tracing the blade along my bare arm. The cold

steel sends a shock of fear through me, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch.

“Your mouth will be the death of you, Stiletto,” he whispers in my ear, his breath hot and rancid.

“Big talk for a man who couldn’t catch me without a trap.” My words are bite back, icier than the blade against my skin.

“I caught you though, didn’t I?” His laughter is like nails on a chalkboard.

I clench my jaw, refusing to respond.

He might have tricked me into this situation, but I won’t let him see the fear coursing through my veins.

“You know, you’re pretty when you’re angry,” he drawls out lazily.

“Oh? Are you hitting on the chained up girl now? That’s a new low, even for someone like you,” I spit, but before I can say anything else, his closed fist collides with my face and darkness consumes me.

CHAPTER THREE

Miles

The plane touches down, a jolt that bounces me in my seat.

I grip the armrests, knuckles white.

Billings, Montana—a world away from the Bronx.

As we taxi to the gate, I glance around.

The cabin hums with chatter, holiday cheer spilling over like a cheap bottle of wine.

People smile, laugh, and I can’t help but feel out of place.

My mind’s elsewhere.

I unbuckle and stand, pushing through the narrow aisle.

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