“I don’t know you. Who areyou?”
This time, female, noaccent.
It felt damp and smelledmusty where he was. It was then he realized where he was. Katya haddescribed it to him. This is where she was kept when she waskidnapped. Christ, she must be terrified! He tried to move despitehis bound hands and feet, but the chair didn’t shift. It was bolteddown. Well, this wasn’t good.
He also felt like he washit by a train, so his mood wasn’t great either. Damn flimsyforeign cars. He quickly assessed the pain in his body to see ifanything was broken. So far, he didn’t have that kind of pain.There was a sharp knife twisting one when he finally took a deepbreath. Maybe a cracked rib. Not bad for what he’d been through. Heworried about Kat. She wasn’t as strong as him and could beinjured. That made him angry. At least he didn’t lose his courage.“Go fuck yourself.”
A granite fist connectedwith his jaw for his belligerence. He grunted.
“Now that wasn’t very nice.I asked you a question.” Female, again.
Ryan spit a wad of bloodout of his mouth and tried to focus beyond the bright lights. Helooked down at his chest. His feet were bare and the floor wascold—cement. He was also bare from the waist up. Well, at leastthey left his pants on. They may not realize it, but they gave himan advantage. Then his eyes went to the man who hit him. He stillcouldn’t see him, just a dark outline, but he knew where he wasstanding. “I’ll kill you if you do thatagain.” It was in perfectArabic.
The shadow actually took astep back and exchanged looks with, who he assumed, was the womanstill hidden behind the lights.
Ryan grinned at it. Then heturned his attention to the voice toward the bright lights. “Anna,I presume. Did you kill your sister this time? Because you sure ashell tried.”
There was a pregnantpause.
“Enough. This is useless.Turn the lights on,” the woman said irritably.
The spotlight went off andthe overhead light came on. He squinted his eyes until the blindspots started to fade. He was in a small room, cement walls andfloor, no windows and no bigger than a cell. There were three menin there, all of the same race; dark skinned, dark hair, blackeyes. His eyes focused on one in particular. He had a birthmarkunder his eye.
“You and I aren’t done,” hesaid to him. The other man didn’t even look slightly taken aback,but his eyes narrowed at the threat and the corner of his mouthpulled up mocking him. Of course he was tied up at the moment…forthe moment, but he was going to wipe the smirk off of that man’sface sooner or later.
Someone set a chair infront of him while his eyes were still adjusting, and Anna Nickolovsat in it crossing her legs. She wore a short black leather skirt,fashionable flower print blouse and high heels. She was so closethat her legs were in between his knees. Her eyes slowly went downhis bare muscular torso than back up to meet his, they were as coldas night, but there was no mistaking the admiration in them. “So,you know me. You’ve got my attention.”
Ryan never saidanything.
“I know everyone that worksfor my father, but you. You are new.”
He tilted his head keepingeye contact but not speaking. There was definite defiance in hisgaze.
She sighed answering hisquestion. “My sister is fine. She’s a little banged up but nothingbroken.”
Ryan felt instant reliefbut didn’t show it and kept his eyes on hers. Anna was just asbeautiful as her sister, in an evil bitch sort of way. She hadshort black hair, and icy green eyes, but again, that family traitof soullessness seemed to be inherited in them. The only one itseemed to have missed, was Katya.
“Because she is my sister,she is dear to me and I still need her. I wouldn’t harm her. You,however, don’t have that immunity if you don’t tell me who youare.”
Ryan smiled, unaffected byher threats.
“Now who are you to myfather, where did you come from, and why are you here?”
“I’m no one to your father.He hired me as Katya’s bodyguard.” It was obvious why he was withher so there was no harm in responding. Besides, he needed moreinformation from her.
She nodded studying him.“That makes sense. You are a hard man to kill.”
“Thank you.”
“Still, though, Mr. Casey,you are here, and where is Katya?” She looked amused. “You aren’tthat good.”
His brows rose.
“Yes, I know who you are.”She lifted her chin and smiled coolly. “I can find anythingout.”
He scoffed.
“I can.”
“My name is nothing MissNickolov. Don’t be so impressed with yourself.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Youshouldn’t be baiting me, Mr. Casey. Your fate isn’t in your handsright now.”
“This isn’t over.” His eyeswent past her to birthmark meaning he still intended on dealingwith him.
“I think it is.” Shestudied him for a moment. “However, you may be useful. I’ve seenyou protect Katya in the boutique even though it wasn’t her I wasafter. I will pay you twice what my father is paying.”
“No deal.” His response wasquick, quick enough to let her know that he wouldn’t even considerit.
She showed disapproval inher expression. Obviously she wasn’t refused very often. Anotherfamily trait. Then she leaned forward to look at him more closely.“Are you fucking her, Mr. Bodyguard?”
He didn’tanswer.
“I’m asking because, one,no one says no to me that easily, and two, she’s desperate to knowwhat happened to you. I’ve never seen her so frantic. She’spractically clawing down the door as we speak. My poor angelicsister.” She leaned closer. Their noses were almost touching whileshe looked him in the eyes. “I’m thinking she might just be alittle in love with you.” she clucked her tongue and leaned back alittle to see if she affected him. “My poor love starvedsister.”
His heart constricted inhis chest. Still, he said nothing and gave nothing away hisexpression. His eyes remained on hers.
She sat straight, sighed,and nodded to the big man beside him again.
Another hit to the jaw. Hewas sure that one loosened a molar.
“Again, who are you? Youare not the usual Chechenia born brute.”
“You can burn in hellbefore you get an answer
