Page 88 of Anything for You
In another life, I’d Hulk out and rip my hands out of my restraints and slap him silly enough he saw stars. In reality, I strained against the zip ties, the plastic cutting into my skin, and took a breath before speaking.
“Where is my friend?”
He merely blinked.
“You realize this is illegal and you are going to jail for this, right? All of you?” I turned to look at the person who’d taken me, but he’d melted away, back outside the door.
“No need to worry about that. You’re here to help, and since you’re obligated to do no harm, you’re going to do it without me doing anything more than asking.” He smirked like he held all the cards.
Maybe he did right now, but in what world wouldsomeone not come for me? Did he really not understand the real world enough to know this ended badly for him?
Clearly, making such an argument wouldn’t register, so I didn’t waste my breath. “Is someone hurt? Is that why I’m here?”
“Calm down, okay? First, you’re going to meet Jeb, and then?—”
“Jeb?”
His eyes hardened. “Yes. Jeb. He’s in charge here. And when you meet him, you’d be smart to keep your trap shut and show him some respect. You remember how to do that, right?”
Eyes down. Soft voice. Respond when spoken to, otherwise be silent. Don’t be tempting. Always be willing to serve.
The mantra from my childhood echoed through my mind, and an involuntary shudder racked my body.
“I’m not getting involved in anything here, Hawk. Let me go.”
He sighed and shook his head. “Not an option.”
“Let me go now and I won’t report it to the police.” Total lie, I absolutely would, but it was worth a shot.
His sneer could’ve sliced me open. “Right. I’ll believe that the day I believe you’re living a righteous life.”
Great.Here we went with the nonsense. “I don’t think we have much to discuss. You wanted me to meet someone? Take me to them.”
I was not going to listen to him spout on about how I was wrong for living my life—how my long hair was tempting men or my pants were an offense to him and all his brethren. I was not about to listen to someone who’d orchestrated a kidnapping tellmeabout righteousness, especially knowing where we’d come from and all the horrible things that’d come along with the culture.
When you put women in cages, you lost the ability to say anything about righteousness.
“Fine. Come with me.”
He grabbed my upper arm in a tight, merciless grasp and began walking. He slowed after a few twists and turns in the hallways and arrived at a larger room where a man with dark hair tied back from his face in a low bun and a neatly trimmed beard stood with his hands pressed together, a pleased expression on his face.
My throat tightened, and my pulse ratcheted up. I didn’t know this man, but I’d known one like him. He had that energy that said he was in charge and everything would be fine, that he was loving and charismatic, but if anyone crossed him… good luck.
I wanted to be brave. I wanted to spit in his face and run out of here, get across the property line to Dorian’s farm and start screaming. Maybe Bear would hear me, or one of the farm hands might be at work early. Who knew. Anything would be better than this.
Except every muscle in my body had frozen at the sight of this man in his tunic-like shirt and slacks, a wolf in sheep’s clothes who embodied everything that’d haunted my nightmares as a teen. It was a man just like this who’d filled my father’s head with lies, and a man just like him who’d poisoned my brother.
They’d had their own choices to make, but I would never pretend there weren’t some people who had a little extra ability to sway weak-minded people. They were the wolves, and here I was, standing in front of one again.
“Welcome, Ms. Jensen. We’re so glad to have you as our guest.” His smooth, low voice would’ve been pleasant if I didn’t know any better.
“Do you kidnap and handcuff all your guests? That’s not a very kind way to treat people.”
Hawk’s grasp tightened around my arm, a warning.
But the man shook his head, his face showcasing dismay. “My goodness, my apologies. I was told you’d offered your assistance.”
His gaze cut to Hawk’s, and my brother’s hand instantly loosened. Then in another few seconds, the zip ties were cut.
