Page 15 of Scarlet Mark
Killian chuckled. “Nah, she’s harmless. Doesn’t even need cuffs.”
The border patrol agent nodded and handed back his wallet. “Let me know if that changes.”
“Of course,” he replied smoothly, tucking the still-folded paper back into his pocket, followed by his badge. “Have a nice day.”
The man gave another nod and moved on to the next set of passengers several rows away.
“Officer Killian?” I repeated, arching an eyebrow. “And what trial am I attending in Berlin?”
“You speak German?” he countered.
I snorted. “That’s your question?” I didn’t speak it well, but I understood it. In addition to several other languages. “So you work for Europol?” I asked.
He smirked. “Today I do.” He dropped my bag onto the floor and turned toward me, his gaze boring into mine. “What was in the syringe?”
I chewed my cheek, debating if I wanted to answer that. Mostly because I didn’t owe him a damn thing. But it wasn’t like I’d spiked him full of an illegal drug.
“Ketamine. What they use to sedate horses and unruly patients, or in your case, headstrong men.” The last part was added in a saccharine tone meant to irritate him.
“I know what ketamine is, sweetheart.” His gaze glittered. “But I’ll admit to that being my first time on the receiving end of it. Talk about a hallucinogenic trip. Remind me to return the favor.”
“Well, unlike you, it wouldn’t be my first time,” I muttered, rotating to stare out the window, the weight of the situation finally falling on my shoulders.
He found me.
Again.
And not only that, but he’d also clamped some sort of device around my wrist. Solid steel, from the feel of it, but with something lethal encased inside the metal walls. What would it do? Explode? Emit a toxin?
A biological weapon?my mind whispered, sending a chill of a memory down my spine.He’s taking me back tohim.
Malcom.
My worst nightmare.
Oh, he wouldn’t kill me. No. He’d deliver me to a far worse fate. Maybe auction me off to the highest bidder, or pass me around to his friends, without rules this time. Because his favorite little toy had disobeyed him. That made me defective. Broken. A disloyal plaything.
I swallowed.This can’t be the end. I couldn’t just give up. I had to fight. Going back to Malcom was a destiny I refused to accept.
But how? I needed a new plan, a way to remove this device from my wrist, a way to get rid of Killian.
It wouldn’t be so easy this time. I’d already shown a handful of my cards, and he’d swept the deck right out from under me.
“Yes,” his deep voice said beside me. “Berlin.” I glanced back at him, frowning, then noticed the phone at his ear. “Six or so hours.” He glanced at his watch and nodded. “Yes.” Whomever he spoke to said something else that had him snorting. “Not a problem.” Another nod. “Will do.” He ended the call and relaxed into his chair. “I need a fucking nap. Be a sweetheart and don’t move for a while.”
“Where would I go?” I asked softly, returning my focus to the window.
This man had me in his custody until Berlin.
That gave me a few hours to come up with a plan, some way to evade him. I knew Berlin, had been there countless times.
I can do this, I told myself.I have to.
Because the alternative was unfathomable.
I’d die before I let Malcom touch me again.
Killian
