Page 4 of Protected Hearts

She blinked to force her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting inside. When they drove up, she noted every detail about the huge home with too much square footage that Americans were so fond of owning. She noted the wrought iron fence surrounding the place and the mean-looking dog pacing the fence line. She noticed everything except the house number and the street she was on. Every house on the block looked to be a slightly different version of this one.

The first thing that hit her was the heavy, old-fashioned scent of furniture polish. The next was the long shadows cast along the floor, created by curtains that spanned over tall windows. As the door slammed behind them, air currents rustled the curtains, shooting slivers of sunlight through the shadows like darts.

William wrenched on her arm to drag her forward, and she barely managed to bite back a cry. She’d already learned if she resisted, his tough fingers would only bite deeper into her skin.

She took a breath, pushing down her building apprehension.

Why had he brought her here? Was he going to kill her? Why did he need to bring her all the way out here to do that?

When he shoved her toward a black leather sofa, her knees decided it was time to give in to her fear and she plunked down helplessly onto the seat.

Trying to compose herself, she folded her hands in her lap, precisely overlaying her fingers, and looked William in the eyes. “Why did you bring me here?”

She didn’t see anyone around, but distant noises from another part of the house alerted her that someone was here besides the two of them. That someone might be her only hope, an ally if she could appeal to their sense of humanity.

William ran his fingers through his hair. The action rearranged the mussed loose curls into a perfect coif. Damn him for still looking so poised.

“You know exactly why I brought you here.”

“Whatever illegal activities you’ve been involved in, I am not part of them. I don’t know why you sought me out since you made me sign the company non-disclosure agreement.” The dark stare he gave her had her gripping her fingers tighter.

“You and I both know that if you were subpoenaed by the feds, you could sayplenty, Shiloh.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been out of this for so long. I haven’t said anything in six months. Why would I now?”

He narrowed his eyes in one of those cutting glares he was so good at giving. The kind that sliced through a person and made them shiver in the face of the power he could wield. When she made her escape from him, that look had been the last he’d given her.

She’d hoped to never, ever see it again.

“I’m not taking any chances.” He looked up at the doorway.

She followed his gaze to see a tall man standing there. His shoulders took up the entire frame, and for a heartbeat, shethought it could be the man on the street that she’d asked for help.

Her heart leaped, then fell as the man stepped in to the room and she realized he was tall and pale-haired, unlike the dark-haired man on the street.

William waved a hand as if everything was all settled. “Russia is perfect for you. There’s no extradition policy. Once you’re there, you can’t be forced back to the States to testify against me.”

Panic was a wild beast beating at her ribs. She battled for poise.

When she tilted her head, her long hair tumbled over her breast. William’s gaze tracked the movement. He had a thing for her breasts, but she always thought her long, toned legs were her best feature. That difference of opinion wasn’t the only reason for their failed relationship.

That was it. She could appeal to the man who’d once wanted her.

“Breakups are hard, William. We had our whole lives planned. We thought we were getting married…”

He shot to his feet. “Don’t worry, Shiloh. You’re still getting married. You can honeymoon in Siberia.” He waved at the big guard. “Take her to get ready.”

Ready? For what?

Dread stretched its icy fingers through her body. The man stalked forward, and for a blinding flash, the urge to cower in the corner of the sofa took hold.

Instead, she took the upper hand and pushed to her feet under her own power, using her full height to her advantage to meet the guard’s stare.

A lot of good that did—she was tall, but the guy wasenormous. Well over six feet.

When he spoke to her in Russian, she didn’t even blink in surprise. After all, she knew who William cavorted with. There was no doubt they were Russian-born; whether they were mafia or an extremist group was the only real question left to ponder.

She had enough evidence of her ex’s actions to get him life in prison. But like she told William—she hadn’t talked. Every dotted i of that information was locked up in a file.

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