Page 21 of Savage Sin

“Let me try again. The way I see this going is you returning the favor of me saving your life by giving me one in return. Your father for your life. Easy deal.”

The magnitude of her situation does not dampen her attitude. “Or?”

There’s no missing the challenge to her tone.

I shrug and move to the corner of the bed and take a foot in hand. She fights and kicks, but she’s weak and in pain, so gives up quickly. The ties around her ankles don’t help much either.

“I have an endless supply of boxes to send body parts back to your family.” Touch each of her toes and love the trembling I feel rocking through her. “One toe? Or two? The mail person will be by shortly. I should get started.”

I reach for the surgical knife Seth left behind. “Espera. Wait, okay. My God. Give me a minute to think, okay? Are you serious? You wanna cut me up? What kind of monster are you?”

“Monster?” I don’t know why that word settles heavily on my chest. “A grieving one, I suppose,” I answer honestly.

“Untie me and let’s talk. What is wrong with being civil?”

I pull the edges of her shirt down like I care she might get cold. Fuck me. “You’re not getting untied unless it is to give me what I want.”

I put her foot back on the bed and light up a cig. She watches me and then says the damnedest thing.

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

I blink down at her and then pull up a trash can.

“You’re kidding. And what about a shower?”

She doesn’t look like she can stand up for over five seconds. Not yet anyway.

I pick up a water bottle from the nightstand and her mouth hinges open.

“I will break free and when I do—”

“You can try and see how far you get.” There’s about fifty acres of woods between here and any other civilization outside the cabin.

“I’m a good runner.”

“I bet you are.” I take a seat beside her and lean my weight forward and rest my elbows on my knees.

“Who changed me?”

“Who do ya think?” I rasp and blow smoke through the open glass door.

“Did…”

Her voice breaks, and I turn my head back to look at her.

“Did you…touch me?”

“Believe me, baby. I have no need to rape a half dead woman.”

She considers me and I guess sees something that rings true because she settles back on the pillow. “You saved my life twice. I guess that puts me in your debt. I know how your world works. I will repay you. Simple as that. But you will have to ask for something else, because I can’t give you my father’s location.”

“It’s your world too, baby.”

“Stop calling me that.”

My lips quirks up at the corner. “I don’t see what you can do about it.”

She huffs out a heavy sigh. “What else do you want?”

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