Page 21 of Brutal Ice

What is happening?

“Come with me.” An order from Royal. Or maybe an invitation. Hard to say for sure with the roar of the music. But he was suddenly curling his body around hers. Shielding her from the crowd and hurrying her through the darkness. They went right past a man who looked like a bouncer, then Royal was leading her up a spiral staircase. Up, up and…

Into an office. He shut the door.

Silence.

No more pounding music. No more laughter or voices from downstairs. It was almost as if they were the only two people in the world.

He was in front of her. The closed door behind her. But he’d let her go. Not touching her at all.

“We’ll pretend to be involved. That will get me access into your house. Access to the theater. Wherever you are, I can be.” His eyes narrowed. Hazel eyes. She could see them very, very clearly. A deep, dark combination of brown, green, and gold. “I’ve got plenty of experience playing bodyguard, so I can do the job. Trust me.”

“How can I?” Her head tilted to the right. Her hair slid over her shoulder. “I know nothing about you.”

“Except that I saved you.”

“The vineyard and its winery were in the middle of nowhere. Why were you there?” A question that haunted her.

He leaned toward her, put one hand on the door behind her head, and caged her. “Shouldn’t you just be glad that I was there?”

She was. One hundred percent. But… “Tell me the truth. Or I will call the police and inform them that I suddenly remembered all about my drive to the police station. My drive and my driver.” She had her phone tucked into the little bag that hung from her shoulder. Her phone. Mace. A taser. She always kept weapons close these days.

In the face of her threat, he laughed.

Damn him.

“They already think you’re lying, Violet. And I think they’re lying to you, too. Tell me, did you speak to any federal agents while you were at the police station?”

Yes, she had.

“But they never told you about the other three women who’d been taken? Women who look far, far too much like you.”

Her head shook.

“Women with beautiful, long dark hair. Fragile builds. Roughly the same age as you.”

No, she had not been told about other women.

“You need me. Because when the darkness grows around you, you need someone who isn’t afraid of it.” A muscle flexed along his jaw. “You shouldn’t be fucking dancing with those assholes downstairs. The men who wanted to put their hands on you. You should never drink what they offer. You should?—”

“Let some mysterious and dangerous stranger whisk me away and lock me in his office?” she finished sweetly.

That muscle jerked once more along his jaw. “The door isn’t locked. You can leave anytime you want.”

But she didn’t move.

“You don’t want to run, do you?” Royal rumbled.

“I want to scream.” A whisper. “I want to rage.” Even softer.

“And you want to fuck.”

She just wanted the tension within her to release.

“You’re wound so tight.” A growl from him. “You can’t sleep, can you? When it gets dark, do you think you’re back in that car?”

“Yes,” Violet hissed.

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