like you being here against your
will. That aside, our mutual friends are very highly decorated soldiers and the best
men. If they say you’re in danger, then you are, and I would caution you against making
yourself an easy target for killers.”
She didn’t have any reason to believe him. For all she knew, Thorpe and Joaquin—the
name fit his rugged, macho kind of vibe—had a good cop/bad cop thing going on. It
might all be an act, and the pair of them might be playing her. But her gut told her
no.
Spearing some asparagus, she popped it in her mouth. She had to believe that they
wouldn’t talk until her ears bled about keeping her alive, only to then poison her.
“I’m not eager to be an easy target. But Joaquin didn’t say a word to me before shoving
a needle in my neck and dragging me here.”
Thorpe’s lips pursed in disapproval. “We’ve exchanged words about his methods. He
knows I’m not happy. This place is mine, and I made it clear that while he’s under
my roof, he’ll be playing by my rules. I’ll make you a promise, too. Nothing will
happen to you that you don’t want.”
“I don’t want to be here at all.”
“I understand. Give him two days to work this case and see if he can solve the problem
so you can walk out of here without a threat hanging over your head.”
“I can’t put my life on hold for two days.”
“I’m sorry. I know this is difficult.”
But Thorpe wasn’t going to change his mind or help her escape. “I have a rehearsal
today. I never miss them. Then my friend Blane is coming over tonight, and I’ll need
to let him know I won’t be there.”
“That’s not my decision. I’ll speculate that Joaquin won’t give you a phone so you
can tell the world where to find you, but you’re welcome to ask him.”
“How could I tell anyone where I am when I don’t even know?” she pointed out. “How
do I make you understand? Blane will report me missing if I don’t show up or tell
him I’m somewhere safe.”
“And maybe that’s for the best.” Thorpe stood. “These killers are watching. If you
disappear, maybe they’ll hesitate or make a mistake. You don’t want to give them any
reason to pay Blane a visit and try to extract information from him, do you?”
After that photo Joaquin had shown her on his phone? “No!”
“That’s what I thought. Now I’ll leave you in peace.”
She recoiled from the urbane man. As
GQ
as he looked, she sensed there was far more under his surface and that she’d just
been manipulated.
“Wait!” Bailey bit her lip until he turned to face her with an inquiring brow. She
got the distinct impression he wasn’t used to taking orders from anyone. “Why should
I trust you?”
A little smile broke across his face. “Let me put it to you this way: I have no reason
to lie and everything to lose if I don’t keep my promise. You may not believe me yet,
and that’s fine, but you will be safe.”
* * *
ABOUT twenty minutes after Thorpe’s departure, Bailey heard a click of the door again
and spun around to see Joaquin enter, a plastic grocery sack in hand. God, it was
stupid, but she almost gaped at him. It felt ridiculously schoolgirl of her, but he’d
showered and shaved, and the absence of stubble showed off every sharp angle of his
jaw and chin. He wore another pair of jeans and another tight T-shirt that showed
off his muscled physique. The fact that he was physically gorgeous wasn’t enough to
interest her, though. Her reaction now was about the totally new warmth in his eyes.
“Hi.” He entered, setting the bag down on a nearby bookcase and locking the door behind
him.
“Hi.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“I’m sorry about earlier, if I scared you.
If.
” He snorted. “I’m sure I did. Whether you believe me or not, I don’t want to see
you wind up like the others.”
“So it’s okay to abduct me?”
“Strictly
will. That aside, our mutual friends are very highly decorated soldiers and the best
men. If they say you’re in danger, then you are, and I would caution you against making
yourself an easy target for killers.”
She didn’t have any reason to believe him. For all she knew, Thorpe and Joaquin—the
name fit his rugged, macho kind of vibe—had a good cop/bad cop thing going on. It
might all be an act, and the pair of them might be playing her. But her gut told her
no.
Spearing some asparagus, she popped it in her mouth. She had to believe that they
wouldn’t talk until her ears bled about keeping her alive, only to then poison her.
“I’m not eager to be an easy target. But Joaquin didn’t say a word to me before shoving
a needle in my neck and dragging me here.”
Thorpe’s lips pursed in disapproval. “We’ve exchanged words about his methods. He
knows I’m not happy. This place is mine, and I made it clear that while he’s under
my roof, he’ll be playing by my rules. I’ll make you a promise, too. Nothing will
happen to you that you don’t want.”
“I don’t want to be here at all.”
“I understand. Give him two days to work this case and see if he can solve the problem
so you can walk out of here without a threat hanging over your head.”
“I can’t put my life on hold for two days.”
“I’m sorry. I know this is difficult.”
But Thorpe wasn’t going to change his mind or help her escape. “I have a rehearsal
today. I never miss them. Then my friend Blane is coming over tonight, and I’ll need
to let him know I won’t be there.”
“That’s not my decision. I’ll speculate that Joaquin won’t give you a phone so you
can tell the world where to find you, but you’re welcome to ask him.”
“How could I tell anyone where I am when I don’t even know?” she pointed out. “How
do I make you understand? Blane will report me missing if I don’t show up or tell
him I’m somewhere safe.”
“And maybe that’s for the best.” Thorpe stood. “These killers are watching. If you
disappear, maybe they’ll hesitate or make a mistake. You don’t want to give them any
reason to pay Blane a visit and try to extract information from him, do you?”
After that photo Joaquin had shown her on his phone? “No!”
“That’s what I thought. Now I’ll leave you in peace.”
She recoiled from the urbane man. As
GQ
as he looked, she sensed there was far more under his surface and that she’d just
been manipulated.
“Wait!” Bailey bit her lip until he turned to face her with an inquiring brow. She
got the distinct impression he wasn’t used to taking orders from anyone. “Why should
I trust you?”
A little smile broke across his face. “Let me put it to you this way: I have no reason
to lie and everything to lose if I don’t keep my promise. You may not believe me yet,
and that’s fine, but you will be safe.”
* * *
ABOUT twenty minutes after Thorpe’s departure, Bailey heard a click of the door again
and spun around to see Joaquin enter, a plastic grocery sack in hand. God, it was
stupid, but she almost gaped at him. It felt ridiculously schoolgirl of her, but he’d
showered and shaved, and the absence of stubble showed off every sharp angle of his
jaw and chin. He wore another pair of jeans and another tight T-shirt that showed
off his muscled physique. The fact that he was physically gorgeous wasn’t enough to
interest her, though. Her reaction now was about the totally new warmth in his eyes.
“Hi.” He entered, setting the bag down on a nearby bookcase and locking the door behind
him.
“Hi.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“I’m sorry about earlier, if I scared you.
If.
” He snorted. “I’m sure I did. Whether you believe me or not, I don’t want to see
you wind up like the others.”
“So it’s okay to abduct me?”
“Strictly
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