Page 163 of Deep Cover

I reached up and put my hand over her eyes. Startled, she didn't move. Moved it to cover her mouth. To her throat, vulnerable under my tightening fingers. Moved it down and took a nipple, squeezing until she pulled away, a sharp shake of her shoulders, not a sound out of her.

"Pull your jeans back down."

"No."

"Pull them down or get out of the car."

Confusion, racing across her features. She'd just refused to get out. Now I was giving her two choices neither of which she wanted.

"Annie."

She glared at me, nostrils flaring, panting breaths.

"Submit."

"Goddamn it, Cole – "

I slapped her. One time. A crack so hard her head twisted to one side. Before she could turn back to me – or lunge for the door – I wrapped my fingers around her throat and held her still.

"What you don't seem to understand is that I have an investment in you. I bought you from Samuels and it doesn't matter if you recognize his right to be paid for delivering you to me or not. I paid, he sold, you're mine."

I tightened my fingers. Just a little. She whimpered but didn't try to free herself. She was a black belt. She could have broken the hold. She could have easily hurt me in such close quarters and with the training she had.

Never once had she tried.

She wouldn't try now.

"As well as raw material – the drugs my pharma company has synthesized – I've invested my time in you. I've twice had you screw up formal events, the only two you've had to attend. I've dealt with you running off and your shows of temper and your – "

I ran out of words. "I'm not going to let you die."

Her eyes opened wide. Her mouth opened. She gagged on a breath and I let go of her throat. "Die?"

"I need to know you're safe. I need to know you're obedient. I need to know you're kept away from the things that can kill you. I need to know that the drug I've created that hasn't been through all the testing it should have yet is keeping you healthy and not causing some form of cancer or some other illness."

"What?"

Very softly, with as much menace as I could put in my tone, I said, "What, sir? And in answer to your properly phrased question, you accepted an untested cure from an unknown man who'd paid money to make you his prisoner and who has already sold you as a timeshare to another billionaire." I paused to let her think about what I was saying. "You do want to know you're healthy?"

Pause.

She swallowed.

Deadly quiet, I said, "Don't you?"

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