Page 25 of Captive

I'm in such a heightened state of arousal, I'm ready to say yes to anything he asks. The blindfold helps me refocus and find some shred of reality. "How do I say yes, when there's noquestion?"

"Yes or no," he repeats. "You can walk away from here, return to your life on the street and this will go no further. It's yourchoice."

The blindfold, the cryptic words, it's no wonder so little is known about the LaceUnderground.

"If you wish, I will call Rowan in to untie you. He'll arrange a ride back to the drop off point. And you can put this behind you. Or you can say yes and your life will start afresh. No more sidewalk tents or grimy park bathrooms." He sweeps his finger alongside my cheek to brush the hair off my face. "I need ananswer."

This was my assignment. Go undercover and find a way into the Lace Underground. It seemed an impossible task, a long shot and yet the opportunity is right in front of me. I could bring this whole thing down on my own, without men like Clark or Maddox to stand behind me. Or I could walk away and go back to the park and back to the precinct as Detective Tennyson. But then I would havefailed.

His phone beeps. "Have my car brought around, Rowan. I think we're donehere."

"Yes." The word blips off my lips in a quick succession of letters. "Yes," I sayagain.

"Good choice." The door opens and shuts. It seems the room isempty.

I take a deep breath and try to process the intensity of the last few minutes but Ican't.

17

Kane

Rowan is grinning.He knows he made a good choice. I only hope he'sright.

"Bring her to the Underground," I tell him withoutstopping.

"The club members will be fighting over her, don't you think?" hecalls.

"They won't get a chance," I answer without looking back. "This one ismine."

18

Maddox

The hot waterrunning over my head does nothing to ease the tension. The bathroom door opens and shuts, bringing in a rush of cool air to temporarily erase the steam. Tiffany is still in her panties and bra as she combs her hair up intoclips.

I smear the condensation from the glass to watchher.

She giggles. "Are you being a peepingtom?"

"Don't know. Is it creeping you out? Because if it is, thenyes."

She turns around and throws a clip at the shower. "Stop, you know I like it when you watchme."

"Then join me," Isuggest.

"I can't. I just dried my hair and I've got to meet my mom and sister for gown shopping in twohours."

"This won't take two hours. Hop in. You can dry your hairagain."

"Says the man whose grooming routine is ten seconds with a comb." She continues with her hair brushing. Just once I would like her to do something as sexy and spontaneous as jumping into the shower withme.

I shut off the water and climb out. I lean over to towel dry myhair.

She kisses my back. "Don't bemad."

"Not mad," I say sounding mad. "I've got to get to the station anyhow." I dry myself partially and walk out to the bedroom stilldripping.

"You're going to get the carpet wet," Tiffany calls from thebathroom.

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