Page 20 of Drowning in Darkness

“Because you’re leaving.”

Fuck my life. Fuck Christopher Burnside. Most importantly, fuck overbearing males and their unwavering belief in their way or the highway.

I throw my phone on the sofa and stand my ground. “Absolutely not. You heard me say no to my brother, so why would the answer be any different for you?”

He shrugs. “Your brother has a moral compass I lack. Pack a bag, Stephanie, or I’ll pack one for you.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

He points at the duffel. “I’ve already started.” He flicks his wrist. “You have fifteen minutes to gather everything you need.”

I huff and don’t move in answer.

“Remember, I gave you a choice.”

Then his hand swipes out, and a cloth covers my mouth. Chemical sweetness fills my lungs.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he mutters as my world goes blank. And my last thought as my body crumples into his waiting arms is why I couldn’t have fallen for someone normal. The answer? Because there’s a darkness that lives in me too, and normal couldn’t handle it.

NINE

JAMES

Stockholm Syndrome probably starts with road-trip snacks and good music.

She’s beautiful when she sleeps. She’s arresting all the time, but like this? Relaxed, free from whatever chases her in her waking moments, the thing that makes her look over her shoulder when walking down the street, the reason she shies away from the limelight when she should steal it, it gives me a glimpse of everything she should be.

However, she is also stubborn. Ridiculously so. I could have spent the rest of the day arguing with her about how much danger she is in, but the result would still be the same. Stephanie King has been marked, and the FBI is playing a dangerous game, so I took out an unwilling participant. Now it’s time to deliver her into Camryn’s care so I can distance myself from this enticing woman. I have a couple of engagements where I know Burnside will be. I want to assert myself into his orbit, remind him of his ties to my organization so that he knows every move he makes is being assessed and that going after Stephanie will not be tolerated.

But if I thought that would work, then I would have done it already. He’s the type to believe he’s untouchable, and the more forbidden the fruit, the more enticing it becomes.

She stirs in the passenger seat next to me as a call echoes in the small space. I flick the button to answer.

“What did you do?” Camryn snaps.

“Whatever do you mean?” I drawl.

“Tell me why I’m intercepting a police call for a missing woman named Stephanie King from the Alderidge residence?”

Damn, that was quick.

“How did you know it was me?”

“You made a point of leaving your car in full sight of the house cameras.”

My lips twitch. “It’s almost as if you’re a real detective.”

“I’m an agent who is going to nail your ass to the wall if you’ve done what I think you’ve done.”

“Kinky, Camryn. But I’ve only done what you already should have.”

“We had an agreement.”

“We did, and you broke it.”

She sighs as Stephanie mutters something under her breath.

“Where are you taking her?” Camryn demands.