If she hadn’t been already, she would soon be fired from her job. Not that it mattered, because kidnappers weren’t good people, and as much as Tessa hated to even think this, the reality was she might not need to provide for her daughter anymore.
Then there was Zy. The man who had dragged her underground wasn’t the man she’d fallen for. This version of him was harsh and unforgiving. Pure warrior. There would be no reasoning with him. He’d become an enemy combatant with no compunction about doing whatever necessary to compel her surrender.
As the minutes dragged on, worry warred with regret. Neither did her any good. She had to live with the reason she’d never told Zy about Hallie’s abduction. It was the same terror for her child that had prevented her from sleeping for days—until tonight.
Earlier, after Zy had fucked her with such desperation and anger, she’d showered and fallen onto the sofa, curled up and sobbing with Hallie’s blanket for all she’d lost. Then she’d fallen into an exhausted slumber. That was the only reason Tessa had to explain how Zy had transported her without waking her to wherever he’d stashed her.
Despite a few hours’ sleep, she still felt as if she’d been run over by a train. She was definitely too tired to hold up her shield anymore, especially to ward off Zy. She just wanted him to come back.
She would talk now—she didn’t have much choice—and pray her confession wouldn’t mean the end of her sweet little girl. Hopefully, Zy would understand why she hadn’t been honest with him, why she’d chosen to betray the bosses, and he would forgive her someday. But she didn’t expect him to.
He would probably hate her for the rest of his life.
Despite that, she would raise the white flag and offer up whatever surrender he wanted if he’d save Hallie. Afterward, she would leave and never darken his path again, even though it would break her heart into a million pieces.
She had no idea how much time had passed when she heard the scrape of metal and the squeaking of hinges. A chill swept in as the door to the bunker opened. Zy started down the ladder and slammed it behind him, locking it and pocketing the keys before jumping to the ground. Then he turned to face her like a demon with vengeance in his eyes.
Tessa’s heart rattled in her chest. She took an involuntary step back. “Zy.”
His smile turned nasty. “Imploring me won’t do you any good, Tessa. Neither will backing away. There’s nowhere to go. So let me tell you what’s going to happen.”
“I’ll do my best to explain.”
“No. I’m going to ask questions,” he insisted. “You’re going to answer directly and concisely. The minute you lie to me…” He shook his head. “Don’t. Sorry won’t even begin to describe how I’ll make you feel. That’s a vow.”
Now he was scaring her. “But—”
“Stop. Until I start asking questions, I’m the only one talking. Sit in the chair.” He pointed. “Now.”
Why? So he could stand over her and berate her without really hearing a word? That wouldn’t help her explain and it wouldn’t clear the air between them. “No.”
He prowled closer. “Sit. In. The. Chair.”
She side-stepped him—and found herself in a corner. “Don’t do this. Don’t keep me locked in here.”
Brow raised, he pursued her with a handful of slow, deliberate steps. “I told you to fucking sit.”
Even as she wondered where she was going, Tessa scrambled and tried to dodge past him—the flight instinct of prey looking for escape.
Zy made sure she had none.
He grabbed her arm and tugged her back to the corner. She stumbled on the blanket pooling around her feet. Zy caught her and lifted her free from the heavy quilt before she tumbled to the floor.
She was stark naked.
The moment he laid eyes on her, he froze and stared his way down her body. His gaze burned hot. His eyes raked her unrelentingly.
Tessa’s heart skidded to a stop before it began to thunder in her chest. She looked up at him. Their stares locked.
The hunger in his eyes stole her breath.
“Goddamn you,” he breathed.
Before Tessa could question why he’d cursed her, he yanked her flush against his body, arms banding around her like a vise, then he seized her lips with his own.
His punishing kiss was the last thing she should want, but now that they were pressed together, her body against his strong, solid form? She needed him. Craved him. Couldn’t stand a moment of not being with him. His nearness gave her strength. His closeness promised that all wasn’t lost. The passion of his lips shoving hers apart and his tongue forcing his way into her mouth said he was still invested in her. Whether he wanted to or not, he still cared.