Page 29 of Collide

Riley gaped at me, a million questions running through her head. I’dshocked her, whether it was with my job offer or the fact I knew so much about her and her sister’s life, I didn’t know.

I gave her a minute to compose herself, using the opportunity to takein her gorgeous features.

She had a cute heart-shaped face, with gorgeous big brown eyes, thecolor of melted chocolate, framed by perfectly sculpted eyebrows. Being this close to her, I could see the light spattering of freckles across her button nose.

I’d stared at her photos over and over again but they did not compareto the real deal.

I was fuckingobsessedwith the girl sitting in front of me.

Her long chestnut hair was messy from where she’d been sleeping,when I first came into her room, her hair was fanned out across the pillow. I’d watched her sleep for two hours, nursing my glass of neat vodka so I didn’t have to leave her for a moment to get a refill.

Was I a creep for watching her?

Maybe, but I didn’t give a fuck.

My Star was a vision of beauty.

“H-how do you know all of that?” she finally responded and stretchedher legs out in front of her, her chest hidden under a gray jumper that swamped her. Her clothes had seen better days, the sleeves were frayed and the color faded. If she agreed to my offer then one of the first things I’d be doing is getting her some new clothes.

“I told you, I know everything about you.”

She glared at me then before opening her mouth to reply but I heldout a hand stopping her from speaking.

“Look, Riley, let’s not fuck around. You know who I am and what I’m capable of.”

It wasn’t a question, yet she nodded her response, confirming sheknew exactly who I was.

“Good, then you’ll know if I want to find information aboutsomeone, I have the means to.”

“Why me?” she whispered, all her vulnerability shining through.

She acted tough, and she gave as good as she got, but the reality ofit was that underneath the façade, she was an insecure young woman, probably still trying to process the abandonment of her parents, desperately trying to keep things together for the sake of her sister, and completely unaware as to how damn stunning she was.

“From the moment I laid eyes on you, Riley, you intrigued me.”

That was all she was getting for now, I’d eventually let on just howfucking obsessed with her I was, but not now. I didn’t want to scare her off even though kidnapping her had probably done exactly that.

She didn’t reply, merely gazed at me intently, waiting for more.

“I want to show you something which might help you to make up yourmind.”

I stood from the bed and held my hand out to her. She hesitated,indecision marring her features, but slowly, she reached up and took my hand. I helped her off the bed and then dropped her hand as I walked across the room.

Grabbing the bag I had brought with me, I turned back to Riley andheld it out to her. “Here.”

“What is it?” she asked cautiously, eyeing the bag as if I was handingher a bomb that could go off at any minute.

“It’s a change of clothes. Unless you want to carry on stinking likerotten food?” I replied with a raised brow.

She looked as though she was going to tell me where to go, but thenher eyes dropped to her body, and on realizing she had dirty stains all down her, she sighed and took the bag.

“Thank you,” she muttered, before disappearing into thewalk-in wardrobe to change.

When she appeared moments later in a clean shirt and jeans, I usedmy thumb on the scanner to unlock it and the locks quickly disengaged. I pulled it open but turned when I realized Riley wasn’t behind me, but standing with her hands on her hips, glowering at me.

She really was cute when she was pissed and it took all of my controlnot to chuckle at her.

“Was it necessary to lock me in?” she grumbled.

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