Page 47 of Irreversible

My mind falters.Well-trained?

That smile turns sinister. “Alas, while I would love nothing more than to begin your countdown, your buyer has been delayed.”

Exhaling with mock disappointment, I make a production of pondering his dilemma. “Well, I suppose you could count themas a no-show and just let me go. I won’t tell anyone, of course. And Idefinitelywon’t come back and kill you with a blunt object. Or a sharp one.” I hold up my foot, ignoring the pain as I wiggle it enough to rattle the chain against the floor. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind unchaining me, I’ll be on my way.”

“You really are set on being a pain in my impeccably clothed derrière, aren’t you?” His lips pull back to bare his teeth, and I’m not entirely sure whether he’s smiling or preparing to bite my head off. “Quite frankly, I would prefer to call this a wash and dispose of you right now. I even went to the trouble of procuring an alternate selection of challengers for my client to choose from. But, as it turns out, they’re rather enamored with your resume and won’t accept substitutes.”

“Well, don’t I feel special.”

“I’m sure you do.” Holding the hourglass between two fingers, he admires it longingly.“Unfortunately, no matter how grating I find you, I’ve been offered a price far too tempting to refuse.”

With his feet behind the invisible line that keeps him out of reach, he splays his hand like a magician performing a vanishing act. The hourglass plinks to the tile and rolls.

My muscles coil, preparing to spring, snatch, dismantle, and use it to my advantage.

But it’s not close enough. Not quite.

His foot comes down with a stomp that shatters the hourglass beneath. I get the distinct feeling he’s pictured doing the same to my head.

“Message received, cocksucker.” My tone stays even. “I know what you’re capable of.”

His shoulders stiffen. “Oh, but that’s the thing, my friend… You have noidea.” With the arrogance of a man who doesn’t appreciate being underestimated, he takes a step forward.

My body tenses.

“I know this, because if you did…” The sole of his shoe crunches splintered glass, his temper rising to a boiling point.

Come on…just a little closer.

His face twists. “You would have the sense to show?—”

Crunch.

“—a little?—”

Crunch.

“—RESPECT.”

The word explodes from him, echoing around the room. I half expect the fires of hell to rain down on me at any moment.

I poked the snake, but I may have awakened something much worse.

If he were any closer, I could yank him over that invisible line and snap his neck. But he knows. Every move is calculated, down to the centimeter.

“You see, my dear, helpless man.” The tone is part kindergarten teacher, part loose cannon. “Youhave no power here.”

I drop my eyes to the tile where shards of glass glint in the light, taunting me. Tiny, delicate looking slivers. The things I could do with just one…

Fingers laced, he slowly paces that intangible boundary. “I know you think you’re smarter, that you can sit there with your careless attitude and goad me until I make a mistake.”

Watch me, asshole.

He sneers. “But there’s a flaw in that plan.”

With raised eyebrows, I wait for him to enlighten me.

“I don’t make mistakes.”

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