Page 52 of Lethal Deceit

“You have any proof?”

I slam my mouth closed. I havenevermet a man who infuriated me as much as he does. My breathing is rapid, my hands are shaking, and I’m so angry I want to punch him. “If I show it to you, do I get to walk away?” I don’t know what I’m saying—it’s almost like some force has taken control of my mouth.

He tilts his head to one side, doubt growing on his face. “Where is it?”

Without thinking, I answer him truthfully. “In my bra.”

He flinches, bares his teeth slightly, then grabs my wrist again. “Enough with the games.”

Before I can explain I’m serious, he grabs my arm and drags me to the table. The metal chair scrapes across the floor as he yanks it out and pushes me down. Cold steel bites into my wrist as he locks the cuffs, chaining me to the frame like I’m nothing more than a threat to manage.

I gape up at him, breath caught in my throat. “You’re kidding, right?”

He doesn’t answer. Just walks away—calm, detached—like he’s done arguing. Like I’m not worth another word. The cuffs rattle as I tug against them, more out of disbelief than anything else.

“You don’t believe me?” I ask, voice sharper than I mean it to be.

He stops halfway across the room. Doesn’t turn around. Just lets out a long, tired sigh. “If you hadn’t tried to seduce me again, maybe I would have.”

The words bite more than the cuffs.

He turns his back to me, and just like that, I’m alone again—even with him in the room.

I sink lower in the chair, curling into myself like I can fold the edges in and disappear. My throat tightens. My chest aches in a way I don’t have language for.

I’ve felt a lot of things in my life—anger, fear, hunger, hatred.

But this? This is different.

This is shame.

And I can’t remember the last time I felt it.

Mick

If temptation could be bottled, I’m pretty sure Samantha would be on the label. If I hadn’t been praying right before she decided to turn on the charm, I might have fallen for it again. Even now, when she’s glaring daggers at me, that dress is stirring the most primal parts of me, fighting against what I know is right.

To be sure Samantha knows where I’m drawing the line, I pick up the Bible Silas left and read from it aloud. “‘No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.’”

The mocking is evident in her voice when she says, “Are you going to read the whole Bible until I’m converted?”

I flip through the pages, looking for inspiration and a means to keep my mind off her until backup arrives. “If I thought it would make a difference, I would.”

She laughs. “So I’m a lost cause then?”

I wish I had the answer to that. But I don’t. A few hours ago I was so sure of my trajectory, but one kiss and I’m struggling to separate my plans and God’s.

“No one is. God desires all to be saved and to know the truth.”

“Riiight.”

I ignore the sarcasm and try again. “Don’t judge God by how badly I’ve messed up. He’s perfect. I’m not.”

She rattles the cuffs against the metal chair frame. “How long do I have to stay like this?”

I start to shake my head, but a knock at the door makes me propel myself away from the chair. “Guess we’ll find out.”

I pull my gun from the holster and step to one side. “Who is it?” I call.

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