Page 135 of Inception

The only way I could even begin to think of a way out of here was if I knew what I was doing here in the first place. Unfortunately, Dominic seemed intent on keeping a tight lid on everything and it was starting to get on my nerves.

“Any day now,” I said when he didn’t say anything.

Dominic dropped his hands on the armrests and leaned into me. “You have quite a mouth on you, angel. You ought to learn when to shut it as you’re making it far too tempting for me to do it for you.”

I swallowed hard, my bravado dissipating into dust.

“That’s better,” he said with a stony smile before straightening out. He looked down at me again; his eyes sharp as knives, expression hard and chiseled to the bone. “You truly are an infuriating creature.”

I wanted to tell him the feeling was more than mutual but pressed my lips together instead, afraid of what else would come bubbling out if I didn’t.

“As much as I long to purge you, I find myself equally desiring to possess you—tobreakyou in and own you.”

Purge me?Own me? My mind flatlined. I didn’t know which part of that to process first.

“I may have underestimated the degree of distraction you would pose,” he went on, undaunted. “It’s not something I’m prepared to deal with.”

“What are you talking about? Are you threatening me?”

A crooked half-grin flashed. “It just means you should tread lightly.”

“Or what?”

“You have something I want,” he explained, ignoring my question as he walked around my chair with his hands crossed behind his back. “And I intend to have it.”

“Me? I thought this was about Tessa and Gabriel?”

He laughed dryly. “Your first mistake was assuming you understood my motives. My reasons for returning here had nothing to do with my past paramours or my desire for revenge. Both pale in comparison to what I truly desire.” His eyebrows arched with a brand of arrogant mischief that was uniquely his.

“Then what is it youdesire?” I was almost too afraid to ask, but I had to know.

“Power.” He smiled at my confusion. “Which leads me to your second mistake.”

“And that is?”

“Coming here.”

The danger hit me like a freight train. With terror permeating inside me, I jumped up from my chair and tried to make a run for the door but he quickly snagged my waist and pulled me hard into his chest.

“Let me go!” I yelled as I fought to break free.

“Sit down, angel. We’re not done,” he said, pressing his mouth to my ear. “That is, unless you’d like me to mail you your friend's heart in a box tomorrow morning.”

My stomach retched. God, what had I done? What had I gotten myself into?

“The Amulet, love.” He spun me around and pushed me back into my chair. “You have it. And I want it.”

“What Amulet? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, doing my best to appear confused—innocent.

“I’m going to say it one more time, and then I’m going to bring your friend out here and drain a pint of her blood every time you answer incorrectly.” His steely eyes were darker than night. “The Amulet. Now.”

My heart pounded hard in my chest as I struggled to form a cohesive thought. I didn’t know what to say—what to do. I knew he couldn’t hurt me as long as I was wearing the necklace; my sister made sure of the fact. But what about Taylor? What would stop him from draining her to death?

“Dominic, please—”

“I warned you, angel.” He was at the door within seconds, pulling Taylor out from her makeshift prison. He lugged her back to me by her arm, his expression unmoved—unflinching. In an instant, he was before me, crooking her head to the side. His long, pointed fangs piercing through his wicked grin.

“Hold it,” shouted a familiar voice.

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