“You still havememories.”
She nodded. “My last onesare not something that I want to hang onto.”
He walked over and satbeside her. “And what memories are those?”
“I thought this wascrossing lines?”
“Talk.”
She looked at him andpursed her lips into a thin line. “At first, I was blindfolded andmy hands were tied behind my back. It seemed like hours I was leftlike that on a cold cement floor. Someone finally came, untied me,and took off the blindfold. I was in a cold, dark room. It wasalways dark, no lights except when they came to—to—”.
He held up a hand cuttingher off. He knew those memories were painful and she honestlydidn’t have to describe what they did to her. He knew from thebruises she still had. He was already disgusted and angry over it.He needed to stay on track and remember why he was here—Georgy.“Besides that. Anything significant?”
“It also smelled bad—moldy,and musty. The only time I really saw anything was when we weregrabbed off the street and they blindfolded us. I saw a bit underthe blindfold when we were laying down in the back of a van. I sawa man. He was the same one who came in the room and hurt me. Healso brought food, water.”
“Would you recognize a mugshot?”
“I would never forget hisface. Dark skinned—he had a birthmark here.” She pointed to herright cheek, under her eye. “It was darker than his skin and aboutthe size of a dime. His eyes were unfeeling, dark, and they hauntmy dreams. I won’t ever identify him though, so don’t ask me to. Hehad a deep voice with an accent. I could barely understand him. Hethreatened to come back and finish me like my sister. I believedhim.” She shuddered and hugged herself.
“He’d have to get throughme first, Katya.”
She tilted her head andstared at him. “I know you have skills Ryan,” she used his name forthe first time, “But you don’t know what I’ve been through, or whatthey are capable of. It does damage.”
“You don’t know me enoughto say that.”
Her eyes studied hishandsome features. She supposed he was right. “Does anyone reallyknow you?”
“No.”
“Why is that?”
“I only let them see what Iwant. It makes things less complicated, and gives me the element ofsurprise.”
“I figured that out afterten minutes of meeting you.” Her eyes searched his. “That must be avery lonely existence.”
“You get used toit.”
“Again, why do you do thatto yourself?”
“I like things simple.Uncomplicated.”
“Really?” shechuckled.
“What’samusing?”
She stood up. “Ryan, youare the most complicated person I’ve ever met.” She turned and wentback to her room.
He stared at the emptydoorway thoughtfully.
That night, the terrorsreturned. She was suffocating and suddenly felt strong, familiarwarm arms around her. Again she clung to him. “God, did I screamthis time?” she buried her face in his chest and took a weepingbreath.
“No.” He tightened his armsaround her and lowered his face into her hair inhaling deeply. Shestill smelled like roses.
“Good, my father won’t comethen.” She muffled against him. She could detect the faint scent ofmasculine cologne. It was actually quite soothing. Her handspressed against his abdomen, and the muscles tightened and movedunder her fingers. He was hard everywhere. She could feel the bulkof his biceps against her upper arms, and the heat of his hands onher back. Safe, she felt safe. She breathed deep again, slower thistime. Gosh, that had to be a record on eliminating her nightfears.
He’d heard her soft criesfrom his room and was able to reach her before she cut loose likethe night before. He sat on the side of the bed and touched herface lightly. She bolted upright and gripped him tight. Sheactually recovered quicker this time. “What was your dreamabout?”
She moved back and staredup at him. “It’s my sister. It’s always my sister. She wasscreaming in terror and there’s nothing I could do.”
Jesus Christ.
“It’s so horrific. I justdon’t know how to get that out of my head.”
Ryan knew the screams ofthe dying. He’d seen the senseless slaughter of people fromwar-torn countries, from factions claiming right to rule. He knewthe pain of seeing children die and anguished screaming mothers. Heclosed his eyes for a moment to wash it away. She noticed. A softhand touched his cheek and he opened his eyes.
“You know, don’tyou?”
He stared at her for amoment. “I’ve seen some horrific things in my line of work. Yes, Iknow.”
“Do you have any idea howmuch better that makes me feel? No one here understandsanything.”
“That’s why you need totalk about it, Katya.”
She nodded and releasedhim. “I’ll be okay now.”
He stood up. “I’ll leavethe door open all the way.”
“Thank you.” She laid backdown and rolled to her side, away from him.
He looked down the lengthof her, his expression unreadable, before he turned and left theroom.
Katya stared at the wallfor a long moment before she shut her eyes and drifted into arestful sleep. The first time since her kidnapping.
The next morning she feltsurprisingly restored. She showered and pulled on a pair ofdesigner jeans and light patterned blouse. She was going to go signup for her last year of college today, and even though she wasfighting that familiar terror of going out, she had to push throughit. Besides, she had a very capable man protecting her. Speaking ofwhich, he had been moving about in the room next to hers, then heleft for a moment. When he returned she could see through the crackin the door that he was dressed in an expensive dark grey suit,blue shirt and matching tie. He turned and saw her, and her breathstilled. Oh, this just wouldn’t do. She couldn’t be attracted tothis man. He’d be gone just as quick as he came into her life, andshe knew he wasn’t a commitment type of guy.
“I’ve got the carwaiting.”
That was thoughtful. “Thankyou.”
“Ready?”
“Yes.” She grabbed herpurse off a nearby table and walked toward him. He took her elbowand opened the door leading her down the stairs and out of thehouse toward the car.
It was the dark greylimousine. Her father had several cars, but this was the one sheusually had. The driver was not one of his henchmen, but just
