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He was going to kill her.

“Looking for the knives, huh? Yeah. About those,” he said, invading her personal space. “You see, I knew that you had found them last night. So, while you were in the bathroom getting dressed this morning, I got rid of them. I was hoping you wouldn't bestupidenough to go back for them, but once again, you’ve disappointed me, Sweetheart.”

Opening her mouth to respond, she was silenced as he slammed his hands down on the linoleum countertop. Jumping in fear, she whimpered as he used his arms to cage her against the old cabinets.

“You have failedeverytest I have given you, Lexi,” he seethed, leaning his face so close that his nose nearly touched hers.“Every single one.Our first kiss in the bunker...the cell phone...trying to escape at the diner...the knives.I gave you so manyfucking chancesand you failed them all. What am I to do with you, huh?”

A cold shiver ran down her spine as her body poised for fight or flight. She had severely underestimated her captor. Of course he would test her, why didn’t she think he would? Because of her hubris, she was now staring at a snarling wolf on the verge of snapping. There was no way she could overpower him physically; she was completely outmatched.

“I’m...I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean--”

“You’re sorry?” he interrupted, lifting his hands to roughly grip around her upper arms and giving her a hard shake.“YOU’RE SORRY?WELL THAT FUCKING DOESN’T CUT IT FOR ME!”

Let me out,Nikki growled.I promise to let you back in as soon as he’s dead. I promise, just let me out!

Not trusting her to keep her promise, Lexi struggled against Kade’s hold. Glancing around the space, she frantically tried to find something of use. She was just as capable of murder as the voice in her head. She could take her abductor down.

No. Shewouldtake him down.

“Please...I won’t try to run away again...I’m yours...I’ll...I’ll do whatever you want me to!” she pleaded, trying to distract him from the object she noticed from the corner of her right eye. “Please...I love you!”

Raking his livid gaze over her terrified face, Kade softened from her heartfelt confession. She was a liability, and would always remain one, but he couldn’t envision a life without her by his side. She truly seemed remorseful, perhaps he could let her live. Yes. He had to let her live.

“You do?” he asked, his voice strangled and gruff.

Nodding her head, she swallowed the bile rising in her throat. She was instantly disgusted with herself. The phrase may have slipped out in desperation, but it was the ugly truth.

“Yeah, I do,” she replied breathlessly. “I do love you, Kade.”

Closing his eyes, he smiled to himself. Relaxing his broad shoulders, he pushed out a long sigh. Relief flooded his muscles as he soaked in the knowledge that his plan had worked. He knew she would fall in love with him.

“God, I’ve waited so long to hear you say that,” he said.

“You have?” she asked.

Lifting his eyelids, he quirked his mouth into a cocky smirk. He could see disappointment forming over her face, he was sure shewas expecting him to tell her that he loved her, too. She would have to wait just a bit longer for that.

“Yeah, but it was worth the wait,” he admitted. “I’m so excited for our future, Lexi. We are going to be so great together.”

Locking her eyes on his, Lexi wrestled with her racing thoughts. Straightening her posture, she forced herself to ignore the part of her that wanted to cave. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter how she felt for him. They weren’t meant to be, and she would be a fool if she let this opportunity pass her by.

“I’m excited too,” she lied.

“That makes me happy to know, Sweetheart,” he said, releasing his hold ever so slightly. “So very happy.”

Feeling his tight grip easing around her arms, she seized the moment. Gritting her teeth, she called upon all the anger she had harbored since her abduction. Pushing out an animalistic growl, she gave into her rage and lifted her knee as high and fast as she could. In a split second, the flat plane of her toned thigh landed squarely between his spread legs.

Freezing in place, the air was knocked from his lungs as his mind registered the acute pain radiating from his groin. Letting out a strangled groan, his large form buckled. Releasing her arms, he doubled over in a mixture of shock and panic. Time seemed to stop for the dangerous monster. Nothing felt real. It was as if he was experiencing some sort of disordered nightmare.How fucking dare she.

Screaming out an obscenity, Lexi continued with her assault. Pulling back her balled fist, she released every single bit of her frustration.

With bewilderment dancing across his masculine features, Kade watched in stunned silence as she threw her fist into his jaw with enough power to make him see stars. Unable to react in time to defend himself, he felt her bony knuckles contact his face for a second time. This punch breaking the flesh covering his left cheekbone and effectively subduing him.

Screaming like an unhinged creature, she wiggled her naked body away from him as he dropped to his knees. Lunging to her right, she reached for the dense object sitting on the stove. Wrapping her hand around its metal handle, she lifted the iron tea kettle from the burner and swung it wildly. With a horrid“crack,”the teapot crashed against her captor’s temple, easily splitting his skin and fracturing his skull.

Blinking through her hazy vision, she watched in slow motion as his hulking body dropped like a pile of bricks onto the floor. Unsure of whether he was indeed dead, she threw the kettle on the counter and pulled back her foot to give her abductor a series of heavy kicks against his side for good measure. Not feeling him move or fight back, she fell beside him and dug her trembling fingers into the front pocket of his jeans.

Well color me surprised!Nikki praised.You actually did it, Lexi! I didn’t think you had it in you!

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