Page 15 of The Vigilante's Lover
I scoot to the edge of the bed and manage to get on my feet. The tattered gown falls around my legs.
“Almost perfect,” Jax says. He reaches for the collar of my gown. “But let’s not forget exactly who and what you are.” He rips the lace neckline, pulling it wide until the cleavage created by the ropes threatens to spill out.
“That’s more like the vixen I expect,” he says.
I can’t be insulted. He’s right. I wrote him those sexy things. I told him this is what I wanted. He’s only doing what I asked him to. I had begged to be tied up, treated like a whore. And taken roughly, passionately, until I screamed.
Good God. Was that next?
For a moment his fingers slide along my collarbone, then down to the hollow between my breasts. I can barely breathe, suspended between terror and wild attraction. He could have done anything to me, yet he hasn’t. I don’t know what to think of him. Gentleman or rogue? Killer orhero?
The beeps from his device come faster.
“Time to fly,” he says. He slides the end of the rope through the binding in front and leads me out of my bedroom like I’m a slave. I don’t even have a chance to look back. Whatever future I imagined when I went to bed last night is long gone.
For now, at least, it seems I belong to Jax.
9: Jax
I drag this Mia person through the house. I’ve already been through most of it. Aside from the emergency stockpile that looks fairly untouched, hidden beneath the floor of the kitchen pantry, the house contains nothing tying it to the Vigilantes.
The detector in her bedroom is old, decades old. Still, it tells me the safe house is being monitored. This woman has to know it was there.
Unfortunately, the house holds no clues regarding the possible whereabouts of Klaus. Where could he have gone? Did he skip out with Jovana on his heels? Did she catch him and leave this tartlet behind to trap me? My anger flares again at the thought. Jovana must think me stupid to fall for such a ploy. Again.
I jerk the rope and Mia protests with a startled “Hey!”
“Dragging you is just as easy. Less comfortable for you, though. I suggest you keep up.”
She glares at me, the innocent vixen act gone. This girl has some toughness in her. I’m going to enjoy learning every facet of her training and personality. But Iwillget the facts from her, one way or another.
We cross the living room and I realize that Klaus must still be free,but Jovana obviously knew he was here at one point. She must have left Mia behind to keep watch.
The records say Powers left six months ago. Shortly before my first letter to Klaus. I puzzle the timeline together in my head. Powers leaves, my letter arrives, Mia intercepts it and responds as Klaus. A trap to extract information from me, either through the letters or in person.
Clever, Jovana. But you’re slipping. Your lackey temptress needs work.
I pause by the back door and peer out the small window. No movement.
I look back at Mia. Her wide green eyes stare back. I wrap the rope around my fist and pop my knife from its wrist sheath. To her credit, she doesn’t flinch as I slice off one of the tattered scraps from her nightgown.
“Turn around,” I order. She complies and I catch a glimpse of her thighs as the strips of cloth sway with her movement.
Focus, Jax.
“Hold still.” I knot the center of the strip and gag her with it, tying the cloth around her head. It’s tight enough that she can’t work it free, but loose enough not to cut into her cheeks. She may be wearing it a while. I can’t have her alerting her allies to our departure.
“We’re going to take a little walk now. We can’t slow down. I was not kidding about dragging you if I need to. Nod if you understand.”
Mia nods and a tremble passes through her. Well played. I almost feel sorry for her.
Almost.
Back at the door, I strap on a night-vision monocle. Too bad I don’t have a tracer. The car is across the field, a long way to walk in the open. Plenty of opportunity for anyone to spot us.
No time to worry about that now.
Mia mumbles something and gestures with her bare foot at a pair of Crocs by the door. My first thought is to make her walk barefoot, but the rocks and sticks in the field may cut her feet. That would both slow usdown and leave a trail of DNA blood evidence.
