Page 26 of The Vigilante's Lover
It’s been a good life, even though my parents left the program when I turned thirty.
Or at least itwasgood, until this past year and my imprisonment.
I assess my scruffy face in the bathroom mirror. I’m not sure what Mia sees when she looks at me. Her kidnapper, no doubt. But she is such a case in opposites. Frightened, then brave. Angry, then cunning. Innocent, then seductively standing naked by a bed.
Who is this girl I have taken into my possession? I’m not sure if I should be protecting her or keeping up my own guard.
I have concerns about entering a high-security silo. There might be hostility. If they do finally arrange a tribunal to hear the facts surroundingmy murder of another Vigilante, it could take days. I probably should leave the girl out of it.
But if I enter the facility, I will learn more about Mia’s past.
I want to know who she is, where she comes from, what the Vigilantes plan to do with her. She should have a career path, a training regimen. Maybe I can influence it, or at least know where she is.
Unless she’s an enemy. In that case, she can rot along with Jovana and her ilk.
I open the bedroom door carefully, quietly.
Mia sleeps soundly in the bed. The red ropes loosely hold her in place, tied by the two women per my instructions. The knots are rough and unpracticed, but they do their job.
Mia’s honey-brown hair spills over the fluffy pillows like strands of fine silk. Even though her arms are tied, she has managed to pin the covers with her elbows. The sheet is pulled to her chin, but I spy the strap of a red negligee.
Armond must have sent word of my favorite color. Against her pale skin, the swath of crimson stands out like a warning flag.
As it should. The last time I inspected a woman this closely, she got me sent to prison.
Mia stirs as I cross the room. Her eyes flutter for a second before awareness hits and she wakes with a gasp.
“Good morning, temptress,” I say.
She stares at me and pulls against her bonds. A grimace creases her brow.
“Are you going to let me up?” she asks. “This isn’t exactly comfortable.” Her words carry a hint of accusation.
“In a moment. First, we talk.”
She looks down for a moment as if to ensure her modesty, then lets her gaze slide back my way.
“I am going to a Vigilante stronghold. There I hope to find out where Klaus might be and start the process of clearing my name.”
Her eyes shine with some thought. Hope of being left behind, alone?
“You are coming with me,” I add with a smile.
“Why?” The shine is gone.
“Because I need you. And I’m curious. The Vigilantes have info on everyone. Everyone except you. If I can’t find the answers I seek at the silo, I will extract information from you. I can make you talk.”
Mia visibly swallows. She probably thinks I’m talking about torture. Poor girl.
“Don’t worry, Mia. I like you, remember?”
“Parts of you do,” she says blandly.
Now she is behaving more like I expected.
I approach the bed. Mia stiffens a little, which makes me smile. Back to her training. The frightened act.
I know better. She stood naked before me last night and waited for me to kiss her. I didn’t give her the satisfaction, although I sorely could have used it myself.
