Page 82 of Red Rabbit
I knew trauma could cause that to happen. But deep down I knew it was him. Those gray eyes with the intensity of a winter storm were seared into my being.
The restroom was calm and muted and I spent a few minutes just steadying my breathing, practicing the techniques I’d learned in therapy to center myself. My hands still shook slightly as I fixed a curl in my hair but after a few minutes I composed myself enough to go back out there.
I cautiously scanned the crowd but still didn’t see him. Time passed and slowly I forced myself to admit maybe I really hadn’t seen him. I found another glass of champagne and while the drinking made my hands shake less, it was quickly giving me a buzz and I knew I’d need to slow down soon.
When everyone sat down to dinner, I relaxed enough to be present with the people at my table. Instead of sitting with the other executives I insisted on sitting with a few of my top team members. I had an amazing team of some of the best in the industry and I enjoyed getting lost in industry talk as only us tech nerds could do. I was so immersed in my team I didn’t think about Kraven until dinner was over and everyone went to mingle and put in their last bids for the silent auction.
I headed towards the silent auction myself, wanting to see what some of the final numbers were. I wondered who my painting would go to and stopped in front of it again.
The last bid on the paper was thousands higher than the previous one. In fact, it was such an absurd number, I knew no one was going to outbid it. I didn’t recognize the name.
Theron North.
“Admiring my newest acquisition?”
I froze and a shiver ran down my spine. Goosebumps erupted across my body and I turned slowly to see familiar storm gray eyes inches from mine.
I couldn’t seem to speak or move. I was lucky I didn’t have a glass in my hands because I would have dropped it again, my hands were shaking that badly. I buried them in my dress, clutching at the fabric.
“Kraven—you—what—” I was sputtering and a smile quirked his lips. He looked amused.
“You are quite a woman,” he said, looking me up and down in that lazy way of his. “Accomplished military tech developer with several notable patents, CTO of a world renown tech company, philanthropist and artist—even has her hand in biotech,” He looked at me pointedly and then chuckled at the shocked look on my face. “I came back into the country and your face was plastered all over the media. You can imagine how shocked I was so I had to do some digging.” He looked back at my painting in appreciation. “Like I said, you’re quite a woman.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked, finally finding my voice.
“Supporting a good cause.”
I audibly scoffed at the irony.
“You spend your money in interesting ways,” I said, eyeing him warily. I couldn’t organize the vortex of emotions I was feeling.
“I would say most of it is very well spent,” he said, looking at me again, his gaze searing as the thought of exactly what he spent some of his money on hovered in the air between us.
We stared at each other for a moment before I felt a hand on my elbow and I startled.
“Ms. Bennett.” It was my assistant. “Some of the board wishes to speak with you before they leave.”
I nodded and turned to Kraven. I didn’t have any idea what to say but he leaned closer to me, ensuring I was the only one to hear his words. I tensed as his breath brushed against my neck.
“I like you better like this—more wolf than rabbit.”
I blinked and took a step back. As I went to walk away, he stood with a hand in his pocket, watching me with a smug look on his face and before I lost him in the crowd, he winked at me.
35
KAELIN
Later that evening, I walked into my house and immediately knew something was wrong. I usually only left the kitchen light on but I could see down the hallway that my living room light was softly glowing.
I froze and a wave of dread rolled over me. I put down my keys and took a step into the dark side room. My gun was all the way in my bedroom. I took one more step into the shadows before a hand closed around my mouth.
For a moment, white hot terror took over my body and threatened to shut me down entirely. But then the training I had been taking kicked in and I slammed down on his foot in my heels. A grunt of pain escaped as the sharp stiletto dug into him. He loosened his grip and I shoved my elbow back into him and turned around and put a knee where I knew it would hurt most. Then I ran down the hall and into my bedroom.
I flung myself around the side of my bed and grappled with the nightstand drawer. I cursed the tracks as it caught before I dragged it open. I only had time to grab the gun and turn before the man was on me again. The gun went off and I saw him jolt but I must not have hit him mortally because he collided with me and we slammed into the wall. I lost my breath and thenI shrieked and thrashed about until my dress got caught. He twisted my arm and the gun fell to the ground.
He punched me in the stomach just enough to wind me again and I sunk down against the wall in pain before he grabbed me by my hair and half dragged me through the house into the living room. As soon as I found my breath I struggled and shouted, grabbing at the hand in my hair but he was too strong. We got into the living room and he pulled me up to my feet, an arm going around me and a knife pressed against my throat.
“Well, the rabbit found some claws I see.”
