Page 35 of Monster

He grinned. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

All right, so Mom isn’t his play. What is, then?

Teo slid his hands into his pockets. “Have you taken a look at any of the clothes I purchased? Are they to your liking?”

I held up my handcuffed wrist again. “If I could get to them, I’d let you know.”

He paused. “You have a point.”

I furrowed my brow tightly as he backtracked toward the door. And while he left the basement to walk back up the steps, he didn’t bother closing the door. I tugged at my handcuff, trying to see if I could break the metal frame on principle. But, Teo came back all too soon with what looked like a pair of handcuffs connected with a chain that was wrapped up into a massive ball.

“What is that?” I asked.

Teo walked over to the bedframe. “Handcuffs, but a pair that will allow you to travel. There’s ten feet or so of slack on these things. You should be able to get to the bathroom and the closet with ease now.”

“Am I supposed to thank you, or something?”

He grinned while he worked. “I’d never think such a thing from yourself.”

“The fuck does that mean? I’ve got manners, Teo. I’ve just got manners for people who treat me with those same manners. You know, instead of kidnapping them and keeping them locked up in a fucking basement.”

When he released my wrist from the handcuff, I tried to make a break for it. I pushed away from the bed as hard as I could, but it still wasn’t enough. I felt his hand grip my wrist, causing me to wince. The sharp pain shot all the way up to my shoulder as he ripped me around, his eyes darkening with anger.

Then, his voice growled in my ear. “Don’t make me regret doing this, Miss Pettigrew.”

His brooding voice stopped my heart in my chest, but for all the wrong reasons. My toes curled and my heart stopped. My eyes fluttered closed and I felt my knees growing weak. What was happening to me? What kind of sick hold did this asshat have on me?

It didn’t stop me from putting up a strong front, though.

“Regret what? Chaining me down here like a goddamn animal?” I hissed.

He pulled me against him, his eyes boring into mine. “There are forces out there that you don’t even realize you’re contending with. If I released you? You wouldn’t last two hours on the street before someone else scooped you up.”

I snickered. “So, you’re telling me that holding me in this basement is you somehow saving my life?”

His breath pulsed against my lips. “If you’d like to think of it like that, then yes.”

I swallowed hard. “How would you think of it?”

His eyes danced along my face as my hands started trembling. I felt his trim muscles beneath the suit he had on and my teeth ached to get a taste of them. I licked my lips mindlessly, drawing his eyes to my mouth. I felt him backing me up, his forward stride matching my backward one, until I fell against a wall. His leg pressed between my thighs. I felt my lungs panting softly for more air. He chuckled softly before the tip of his nose brushed against my cheek, causing me to shiver.

Then, I felt him click that fucking handcuff around my unburdened wrist.

“You really are something, Miss Pettigrew. You know that?”

I lunged at him, ready to sink my teeth into his jugular. But, just as quickly as I moved, he had his hand wrapped around my throat. He shoved me back against the wall, his leg still pinning me there. And as he slid his leg up, forcing his thigh against my clothed pussy, his entire face fell into one of sheer determination.

“Whether you like it or not, you’re staying. And if someone comes to find you? They better be prepared for me. You’re mine, Miss Pettigrew. I have the receipts to prove it. And I defend what’s mine with the whole of the arsenals I have at my disposal.”

I gasped for air. “You’re a monster.”

His back stiffened as he released my neck. “Maybe so. But, I’ve got more morals to my code than any other person out there that has a chance to scoop you up the second I release you. And I promise, if they get their hands on you? You’d be begging for me while they slit your throat.”

My eyes widened. “Who the hell are you?”

He backed away from me. “You already know who I am. Even if you don’t realize it.”

And as I slid my ass to the floor, I watched him walk away. Up the steps, through the door, and out of sight.

Only this time, he closed and locked the door behind him.

Tears of fear and worry and confusion blurred my vision before slipping down my cheeks. There was something so weird and so off about this entire thing, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I mean, I’d never worked a hostage case before, but shouldn’t there have been a ransom on my head, or something? A phone call placed to Mom in order to bleed us dry of money before they turned me over?

Or killed me?

What in the world does this man want with me?

And I had a feeling that the answer to that question would provide for me a way out of this situation.

I just had to get him to spill what the fuck was going on.

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