Page 170 of Exposé

"I'll explain everything. I need you to not act like I've kidnapped you and forced you to stay in a trashy hotel."

"Ha. At least you're aware of what you're doing." I raised a brow. "Guess we can rule out insanity for your trial."

"Always with the sarcasm." He withdrew the long knife he'd used to release me from the steering wheel. "Do you promise?"

"No." I took a step back with each of his approaching.

"Say you promise me, Ava."

"No."

"Ava." He gave me a pointed glare, his brow raised, causing a delicious warmth to rush through me.

"Nate."

"Don't make this more difficult than it needs to be."

Look away.

He's the enemy.

I turned my eyes toward the only exit harboring my freedom. "You know what's bullshit?"

He stepped into my line of view. "Besides the fact that I'm staying in a zero-star motel, stealing cars, and running under the radar, all for you?"

"Yeah, besides that." I moved to the right, towards the dark brown corduroy chair, its wooden arms scratched up. "I trusted you and opened up about things I haven't told anyone. And all you did was concoct some bullshit story to get closer to me."

He fixed the point of his knife to his fingertip and tsked. "Is that right?" He stepped closer, his knife pointed towards me. "Is that how low you think of me?"

"I do now." I swallowed hard, the lump choking me like ghostly hands wrapped around my throat. My calves hit the chair, and I shied away.

"Alright." He leaned in, his knife sliding closer to me. "That's unfortunate."

I closed my eyes and grit my teeth, my eyes pinched tight as I sucked in a heavy breath through my nose. "Just shoot me. Make it quick."

"Ava, for Christ's sake." He growled, rolling his eyes. "Stop it."

His hands wrapped around my wrist, and the cables jerked against my skin.

Snap.

His grip fell away, and my arms dropped to my sides. I peeked with one eye, then both.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I glanced up at him. "You're letting me go?"

A scowl formed across his face. "Don't be ridiculous."

I rubbed the tender flesh and steeled myself for the shoe to drop. Mildew filled my sinuses, the scent thick and dirty.

"If you don't scream or try to run, I'll explain everything to you." He released a heavy sigh. "Got it?"

I clenched my jaw and nodded.

"You're not going to be happy, but trust me, you don't want me as your enemy."

"Nate, you infiltrated my life under false pretenses. You're already my enemy." I gritted my teeth, my heart slamming against my chest for an escape.

He let out a cold laugh. "Things were different then than they are now." He sat on the edge of the bed and motioned for me to take a seat in the chair behind me. "Relax and listen to me. There's too much information to get through."

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