A muscle flexed in jaw, but he didn’t turn toward Ivan.
Ivan continued with his sneered words. “My men will take care of them. Never knew why you were so scared of them.”
She couldn’t help it, Dianna barked out laughter. Instantly, Ivan scowled and stomped in her direction.
“You think something is fucking funny, bitch? I’m going to kill you but I can make it last a long time.”
“I’m dead anyway. And yes, I think you assuming this man is scared of anything is fucking hilarious.”
Ivan’s pale face turned mottled as his anger increased. Meaty hands fisted and he stepped closer.
“Stop.”
The predator crouched before her continued to watch her but again, he spoke to someone other than her.
“You don’t touch her. I want to keep this one.” He reached out one more time and dragged a finger down the side of her face and along her carotid.
Yeah, I didn’t miss understand that was a claw against my skin.
The man had incredible control over his animal if he could call forth one single claw and not change in any other fashion. An arrogant, sinister curl of one half of his mouth didn’t set her at ease.
“You and I will see each other again, Dianna Levitt.” His eyes hadn’t softened one bit. “And you will be in this condition, or better because if you aren’t, someone’s entrails will be food for the local wildlife.”
He pivoted on the heels of his heavy boots and strode off, not making a sound over the floor.
“Fucking bitch.” Ivan spat on her.
Dianna didn’t move. “Who was that?”
Ivan didn’t answer her right away, his gaze trailed back to the door. Almost like he needed to make sure the other man had left the room. She couldn’t even say building as she was stuck in a cave somewhere.
Warm. I’m warm and in cleanish clothing. I’ll take it.
His eyes snapped back to her and it hits her, before he can hide it, there was fear she spied in his gaze.
“You’re scared of him, Ivan. Whoever that man is, he fucking terrifies you.” Arrogance leeched into her tone. It wasn’t planned but damn it, she was a cop and knew how to push a witness, knew how to recognize weakness and utilize it to her advantage.
“Shut the fuck up, bitch,” he hissed, stepping in close and kicking her upper thigh.
Swallowing back her whimper of pain, she held his gaze. His eyes darted around the room before landing back on her face.
“He said I shouldn’t touch you but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
Dianna stretched her neck, popping it on the right side before sighing heavily. “If you think he won’t know, do your worst.” She rolled her shoulders. “That man will definitely know if you lay so much as a finger on me.” A chuckle. “But you know that. You know what he is.”
Yep, more of that fear snaked through his expression.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She shrugged. “Okay.” It took a bit as her limbs were still stiff and she could use about a week of uninterrupted sleep but she used the side of the cave to assist her up on her feet so she could look this man in the eye on a more level field. “Do your worst.”
He muttered something in a language she didn’t understand and lifted a fist. Dianna didn’t flinch. She jutted her chin at him, waiting for the strike.
Dumb?
Probably.
But the one thing she wasn’t about to do was cower before a spineless bastard of a kidnapper.