Page 65 of Hunted Temptation
I pretend to begin working, looking around for the cameras in place. I notice several blind spots, much like the ones at Elodie’s father’s place. The house looks as if it was built in themid-nineties, so it’s possible that’s when the surveillance was set up.
The cameras don’t look new in the slightest. Granted, they’re outside, so they appear more worn than if they were indoors anyway.
THERON: THAT’S NOT THE CLIENT’S NAME.
The incoming text causes my heart to slam against my chest. I quickly begin typing my response, but it doesn’t get sent because I hear my name being called. I shove my phone in my pocket and turn my head to look in the direction of whoever is calling my name.
It’s Lucius.
Turning toward him, I give him my attention. “Yes?”
He moves toward me, not speaking until he’s standing directly in front of me. He tilts his head to the side, his gaze searching my own, then he gives me a smile. It’s a slick oil, used car salesman type of smile. And it sends a chill down my spine.
“Where is she?” he asks.
“She?” I ask.
His smile turns into a cocky smirk. “Where is Scoggins’s daughter?”
“So you’re the one who hired a PI?”
He snorts. “I am. But he said he has nothing on you. He also said that he’s seen the girl. Pretty young thing. I think it’s time you hand her over to me.”
“Why?” I ask. “What do you think she’ll give you?”
“Everything,” he states.
He takes a step closer, his gaze searching mine for a long moment. He is watching me, waiting, and I can’t help but wonder what the fuck he wants. He’s playing mind games, but he doesn’t realize that my entire life has been nothing but games.
“Let me guess?” I begin. “You’re into sick shit like your brother.”
His lips curve up into another sinister grin. This time, he hides absolutely nothing from me. He gives me everything as he leans forward, and if I were a man who scared easily, it would probably terrify me, because he clearly has nothing but black tar that makes up his fucking soul.
My phone is buzzing inside my pocket, but I ignore it. Not like I could speak freely to whoever is on the other end of the line anyway. Lucius lifts his hand, and I hadn’t noticed it, but there’s a knife in his palm. He touches the point to the center of my throat.
“I created him, Vaughn, and that little bitch was meant for me. He was supposed to have his doctor examine her and bring her to me. She is mine. I fucking paid for her.”
His doctor.
What the actual fuck?
Before I can say anything, before I can respond, something pinches the side of my neck. I know what it is without having to even reach out and touch the spot. Not that I can, because seconds later, I’m surrounded by darkness.
ELODIE
My stomach clenchesthe moment we walk back into the office. We went through all the security points to get into the building and upstairs, but something is wrong. Nadine, Colette, and Lucille are chatting among one another, but I can’t concentrate on their words.
I haven’t been able to all day.
Distraction, gut feeling, whatever you want to call it, I need Vaughn to come back.
Theron steps out of his office almost the moment we move into the main room as a group. It seems like we’re all walking as one, which is probably hilarious to watch. But the moment my gaze connects with Theron’s, all humor vanishes.
The seriousness on his face, the expression he wears, is one where I know something is wrong.
I knew it.
“Where is he?” I demand.
