Page 51 of Unrelenting
Hearing the bleep of a car door unlocking, I lift my head and see he’s driving a sleek black Mercedes tonight. The minute he sets me on the passenger seat, I am going to bolt.
He must sense that because the asshole doesn’t put me in the car. He drops me none too gently into the trunk and slams it shut before I can react.
Though I should probably kick and scream, I choose to conserve my energy for when he lets me out of here. I curl onto my side, trying to make myself comfortable by using my arm as a pillow. It doesn’t help. There is no way to make this experience any better.
We drive for what feels like an eternity. I try to pass the time by thinking about recipes, but nothing distracts me from the fact that I’m being abducted. I can’t believe Lorenzo would do this to me.
After a while, I realize we’re heading out of time. The roads are winding, and I don’t hear traffic anymore. It’s stuffy andunpleasant in here, but one thing I’m grateful for is that I’m not being thrown around too much.
Lorenzo seems to be driving cautiously, trying not to make sudden sharp turns or brake too harshly. I won’t be giving him points for being a considerate kidnapper, though.
The car tilts, presumably as we go uphill, and I slide toward the rear of the trunk. Gravel crunches beneath the tires, and we draw to a stop.
A moment later, Lorenzo opens the trunk and drags me out. He sets me on my feet before him. Though it’s dark out, the moon is shining brightly enough that I can see the smirk twisting his lips.
“You fucking psychopath!” I yell. “How dare you do that to me?”
Lorenzo unapologetically sucks a breath in over his teeth. “You know, you could have got out of there if you really wanted. You just had to kick out the taillight and signal for help.”
“I know that.” I’ve watched dozens of self-defense and escape from danger videos, not that any of that occurred to me in the heat of the moment.
Lorenzo curves his hand around my cheek. “So why didn’t you? Could it be you didn’t want to escape me?”
“Of course I did.” My words don’t ring true. Despite my revulsion at his casual attitude toward killing people and my fury at the way he transported me here like a piece of luggage, I want to be with this man. I’m not sure what that says about me.
A sinister smile twists Lorenzo’s lips. “Go on, then. Run.”
“What?” My voice comes out in a high-pitched squeak.
“You heard me. Run. Who knows, you might escape me?”
I scan our surroundings. It seems Lorenzo brought me to his vineyard.
We’re on a hill. There’s a large house behind and beyond that, an enormous building. In front of us is the access roadleading down to the main road. To the right, there’s nothing but open fields, and on the other side there are rows of vines. Several buildings are dotted about the property.
“There’s nowhere to run,” I point out.
Lorenzotsksand gives me a sympathetic look I don’t buy for a second. “Then I guess you’re screwed. You’re just going to have to submit and accept your punishment.”
My eyes narrow. “Punishment for what?”
“For thinking I would send some lawyer to intimidate you.” He tilts his head to the side. “If I wanted to scare you, I’d do it myself.”
My heartbeat accelerates. Does he want me afraid? I’m not sure. What I do know, however, is that running from him is futile. I’m fit, but he’s taller, more muscular.
As pointless as running may be, there’s not a chance in hell I’m going to simply submit to him.
I glance past Lorenzo toward the vineyard below. His eyes light with excitement. He wants to chase me.
“Go on.” It’s a dare. “I’ll give you a head start.”
I don’t hesitate a moment longer. Grateful I wear sneakers when I’m working, I take off running. My feet slide on the grass as I make my way downhill. Luckily, I don’t fall. It would be embarrassing to get caught after five seconds.
Lorenzo probably expects me to head for the rows of vines where I might be able to dodge him. Instead, I make my way toward the warehouse on the edge of the vineyard.
Outrunning Lorenzo is impossible, but if I can get into that building, there might be somewhere to hide. If Lorenzo wants my submission, I’m going to make him work for it.
As I reach the front of the building, my pulse racing and excitement flowing through me, I see the doors are padlocked. I run around to the side, hoping to find another way in. I glanceback over my shoulder but don’t see Lorenzo. Surely, he can’t be that far behind me?
