Page 23 of Targeted By Desire

“My condolences.”

“Keep them.” Whatever tears brimming in her eyes were replaced with sharp knives as she met my gaze again. “I don’t need pity from a murderer.”

“Now, don’t be a hypocrite. How many people have you and your team killed?”

“Our circumstances are different: we act in self-defense against criminals.”

”Taking a life is the same no matter which angle you look at it. But you stick with whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“Do you enjoy killing people?” She asked.

“Depends. Personal grievances, yes. Professional, eh. Hard to take pleasure in a stranger’s agony.”

“Oh, so there is some emotional intelligence in there?”

“Not as much as you’d like to give credit for.”

“Hm.” She reached for one of the fried pieces of pita bread and scooped a small wad of spinach artichoke dip. “Why do you want to kill me?”

“The answer isn’t obvious?”

She shrugged. “Guess I wanted to confirm it was nothing personal.”

I stared at her for a moment, taking in how beautiful and comfortable she looked as she dined with death. She’s shown more courage with a gun at her head than men twice her age have in the same situation. Is she indifferent to the thought of dying? And if so, then what was she afraid of?

“What?” She asked as she chewed. “Why did you get quiet on me?”

“You’re too calm.”

A tiny smirk played on her lips. “Did you think this is the first time I’ve been held hostage and had my life dangled over my head?” She shook her head. “Trust me, you’re not special.”

“I will be,” I replied as I rose up from my seat. “And you wanna know why?”

Simone watched me like a hawk as I sauntered towards her side of the table. Despite the nonchalant look on her face, the vein in her neck pulsed quicker with every step. She didn’t turn her head as I walked behind her, desperate to uphold the facade.

Placing my hands behind my back, I leaned my face down towards her ear. The alluring smell of her perfume flooded my nose as I came close, and the thought of sinking my teeth into that vein crossed my mind.

Her shoulders tensed as my lips brushed against the sensitive skin of her ear.

Grinning at the reaction, I whispered, “Because I’m not just dangling your life. I’m going to take it.”

THE AGENT

How the hell am I supposed to get away from this asshole? I thought as we walked down the hallway towards the back exit of the restaurant.

Just after he’d gotten inches too close to remind me of his cruel intentions, he tossed my jacket back over my shoulders, hoisted me up out of my seat and pushed me toward the door. Cool metal pressed against the back of my spine before he opened it. “Behave,” he quietly warned.

Nodding, I made the silent promise not to scream. Complying to their wishes was always the hardest part of being held against your will. But the more time I had, the better. Especially since I didn’t have back up. If I wanted to survive, then I needed to stall for as long as possible.

We walked through the threshold and into the dark, cool night. The lights of the restaurant only stretched so far back here, leaving most of the terrain a mystery to the eye.

Glancing around, I sought for a better glimpse at the area beyond the parking lot. The restaurant itself stood off to the side, separated from other shopping centers by one or two miles by a few wooded areas.

If I move fast enough, I could make it to the other side of the main road. Get help. And if I was lucky, have the bastard close enough behind to knock his ass out and put him behind bars.

Squinting, I tried to make out where the lot ended and the trees began. I needed to be close if my plan was going to work.

“Don’t even think about it,” my captor warned as he noticed my wandering gaze. “You run and your boy toy gets a bullet in his head.”