Page 10 of Destroy Me
No, she didn’t think so. He was only here to hurt her.
Green eyes still smoky with lust met hers. Before the memory of his touch could drown her again, she mouthed,Let me answer.
His eyes narrowed on her.
Please.
He stalked toward her, reaching for something on his belt. Her heartbeat tripped over itself when he flicked open a folding knife. Time slowed as he bent over her, his hands moving to her bound wrists, his mouth brushing her ear. “Play this right and no one gets hurt.”
Resentment spiked. The people she cared about had been threatened before, by Mansa.Do what we tell you and your Irishman will stay alive just as we promised.Look what agreeing to that bargain had gotten her.
But she would agree, one hundred percent. Anything to keep Sean out of this mess.
She squeezed her eyes shut as Fionn’s body brushed against hers, his warmth caressing her. The man had a knife, for goodness’ sake. Why was she struggling not to arch closer?
“I’ll be careful,” she whispered.
The zip ties yielded to his blade. When he sat back, the look in his eyes said her reassurance wasn’t worth trusting any more than the person who’d uttered it, but he released her legs anyway. A flick of the knife urged her toward the door. She tugged off her jacket and tossed it onto the couch as she crossed the room, not wanting Sean to be suspicious. Fionn positioned himself behind the solid slab of wood, the tip of his blade gleaming in the low light of a nearby lamp.
She gulped in a breath and opened the door.
Sean stared down at her, concern pinching his brow. A square container waited in his hand. “There she is. I was beginning to think you’d gone to bed and weren’t wanting me to see your panties,” he teased.
Despite the strain buzzing through her body, she chuckled. Trust Sean to lighten moods he wasn’t even aware of. “I think you have more experience with boxers than panties.”
He laughed. “Sure I do.” The concern returned to his eyes. “You’re not looking all right.”
“No.” She gave him a tired smile. “Definitely coming down with something.”
Sean stepped forward. “Let’s get you settled then.”
She put up a hand. Under no circumstances could she let him into the apartment. “And get you and your man sick? No way.”
“I never get sick. I’m disgustingly healthy, Cathal says.”
Of course he was. All the men in her life seemed to have superhuman genes. They really should stick to the movies and stop making the rest of the human race feel inadequate. “I’m not risking it, so back up.” She eyed the container. “Is that for me?”
“Chicken noodle.” He grinned boyishly.
She leaned against the doorjamb, trying to project fatigue when every muscle in her body was tight with tension. “You didn’t have time to cook that.”
“I did. Bella was at the restaurant. She helped me throw it together.”
Bella, the night manager at Sean’s restaurant. “Well thank her for me tomorrow.” She reached for the soup.
Sean hesitated. “Are you sure you don’t need help?”
Her throat tightened with emotion. “You’ve helped me more than you know, Sean,” she said, cradling the container to her belly. “Now go take care of Cathal.”
He winked. “I will. You rest.”
Highly unlikely, but…
“See you in the morning, love.” He waved as he descended her steps. She watched until he was in front of his unit, then closed her door reluctantly. After flicking the lock, she turned to Fionn.
His eyes glittered in the dim light, matching the glint off his knife. Lyse sucked in a deep breath. It was time to explain exactly why she’d brought him here. She moved toward the kitchen. “We need to talk. Want some soup?”
“No talking.” Fionn was right on her tail. “I’m getting you on a plane and taking you back to Global First.”
