"Yeah, I’ve been focused on how to take down the bastards who fucked up our lives."
"Is that what this is about? This elaborate plan of yours to keep her close?" Weston asks.
"What else can it be?" I glower.
"Clearly, you can’t see what’s right there in front of you." He scratches his jaw.
"Which is—?"
"Saint?" Sinner holds up my phone. "Call for you." He reaches over the ropes, "It’s Meredith. She says it’s urgent."
Shit! My heart begins to race. It can’t be about her, can it? I did ask Meredith to check in on her after I’d left her in Selfridges. She has to be fine. Has to be.
I close the distance between us, then grab the phone from him.
"Meredith, is she okay?"
Anger twists my guts as I listen to her reply.
"I’m coming."
18
Victoria
"What do you want?" I tuck my elbows into my sides. Don’t lose it, not now. You’re in a public place, there’s nothing that he can do to you. You’re safe. Safe? Ha, when was the last time I’d gone to bed without waking up in the throes of a nightmare? When had I last walked down a street without looking nervously over my shoulder? Just because I am in the middle of a hotel, next to a crowded room packed with people, doesn’t mean I am safe from the man who'd kidnapped Nina. I will not let him scare me – for Nina's sake.
I tip up my chin, hold his gaze. "Well?" I ask.
"You're taking too long." Antonio stares at me with those dark eyes, so lifeless.
The first and only time I'd met him was when he'd informed me about Nina's situation. It had been the singular, most scary event of my life. I'd stared into the face of darkness and realized how lucky I was not to be in his grasp. Unlike Nina. Shit. "Is she okay?"
His forehead crinkles. Those dark eyes seem to reflect some kind of inner turmoil. Before I can process what I think I’ve seen, he schools his features into a mask. "Do you have what I need?"
A chill runs down my back. "I'm trying my best," I reply.
"It's not good enough."
"He's a billionaire." I clench my fists at my side. "Are you aware how many women seek him out? I can't throw myself at him; that would be counterproductive—"
"You're playing too hard to get." He frowns.
"I'm being true to character."
"We are running out of time." His jaw hardens. "You’ve lost a month already."
"I… I had no choice. Adam’s death—"
"Was unfortunate." He lowers his eyebrows. "I should have known better than to entrust such an important mission to him. He was weak. It’s not a surprise that his heart gave out, at the most inopportune time."
"How can you talk badly about someone who is dead?"
He widens his stance. "If you don’t deliver what I need, it will be Nina's turn."
"Please,” I beg him, “don't hurt her."
His eyes shift away from mine. Then, he straightens his shoulders, "Two weeks. I'll give you two more weeks to get me the information."
"You can’t be serious," I cry out. "I’m not a miracle worker, I need at least another month to win his trust, enough for him to give me access to his confidential information, I—"
"Three." He widens his stance. "Three weeks. Not a second more."
"That's very little time." I wring my fingers.
"Time you put your body to good use, hmm?"
The color fades from my cheeks.
He scrutinizes my features, "You didn’t expect to get away from this without fucking him, now did you?"
I swallow. "No…but…"
"What is it? Tell me quickly." He looks at the expensive watch on his wrist. "I’m running out of time, Victoria."
"I… I…" I am not stupid. Of course, I knew I’d have to go to bed with Saint… But that was before… I’d realized how much he affects me. Perhaps a part of me had hoped that I’d somehow manage to get away without being hurt. Who am I kidding? I had taken on this role knowing I’m likely to lose everything.
"It’s fine," I pull myself up to my full height, "I’ll find a way to do it."
He jerks his chin, "Good."
"And Nina?"
I can’t interpret the look comes into his eyes. "You don't need to worry about her." He rolls his shoulders. "Stay focused on your task. The faster you get the USB from him, the sooner you can go free."
He looks past me, "In fact, I’ll help you along in this charade."
His arm snakes out and he grips my shoulder.
"What… What are you doing?"
The hair on the nape of my neck prickles and an electric current runs up my spine. Oh! God, no. It can’t be. Saint's here; he's watching. "Let me go."
Antonio yanks me to him with such force that I stumble into him. He lowers his head and his breath mingles with mine.
The next moment he’s yanked away from me. Antonio’s body arches through the air. He hits the ground with a thud.
I open my mouth to scream, then clap a hand over it. I take a step forward.
"Leave, Victoria," Saint’s hard voice whips through my mind.
"But..."
He jerks his head around, and his blue eyes lighten until they resemble chips of ice. Did he overhear any of that conversation? No, he couldn’t have. I have to hope for that, at least. So why is he staring at me as if he wants to wrap his fingers around my neck and choke me…as he fucks me? As he buries himself inside of me, covers my body with his, merges his scent with mine, his lips over mine, those hard pecs cutting into the soft curves of my breasts as he fucks me, takes me, paints his essence on me and wipes out everything I have seen and heard and experienced—"Victoria."
I flinch.
"Go," he jerks his chin.
My gaze darts around him to Antonio, who jumps up to his feet.
Saint turns around, deflects a blow from Antonio, who steps back, knees slightly bent, fists balled.
