Chapter Two
Ava
“No more questions,”he orders as he stands to his full height in a smooth unfolding of limbs. Jesus, he’s tall. His shoulders are broad and while he’s not overly bulky, I can definitely tell he’s nothing but muscles underneath his suit.
Dangerous. He looks so dangerous. Like a sleek, black panther.
My breath catches as he glides over to me in a smooth prowl. He stops directly before where I sit on the edge of the bed, and I have to tilt my head up to look at him.
I sit still, like the perfectly cornered prey. Just because I haven’t fought him yet doesn’t mean that I don’t have fight within me. I’m just smart enough to know that he’s at least twice my size and there’s no way I could outrun him or fight him off. I’ll have to outsmart him if I have any chance of escaping him. Better to play calm and meek, a complacent victim, so he underestimates me.
He said he didn’t know if he was going to let me go when he got what he wants. What does he plan on doing to me if he keeps me?
I can’t let myself think about it.
His hand moves to stroke over my jawline. His touch is jarring to my entire system. It’s surprisingly gentle and sends little buzzes running throughout all my nerves. I have to make a concerted effort not to flinch at his touch—or lean into it. Why the hell does a part of me want to nuzzle into his hand like a cat seeking a stroke from its master?
I don’t know what the hell’s wrong with me.
“The bath’s that way,” he nods his head in the direction of the en suite. “You should find everything you need in there. Wash up and get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
My heart leaps a bit in hope. He’s giving me privacy. I fight the urge to ask where he’ll be. I don’t want to appear too eager or tip him off that I’m mentally mapping out my escape.
His hand runs down my jawline and over the expanse of my throat, sending tingles of awareness throughout my entire body. I don’t know what his touch means, if it’s a caress or a warning. All I know is his fingers skimming over my skin causes every bit of blood I have to rise to to the surface like there’s a magnetic field pulling it to him.
I watch him carefully as his icy blue eyes follow the trail his hand makes down my neck. His expression darkens, and then he pulls his hand away, taking a step back from me.
I can finally breathe again, releasing the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.
“Are you hungry?” he asks me, clearing his throat.
I shake my head. “No, thanks.”
Thanks? I mentally berate myself. What the hell am I thanking him for? He’s holding me here against my will, yet I’m being polite and showing good manners for him.
He finds it odd too if the humor that sparks in his eyes and the tiny twitch of his lips are any indication. Fine, let him think I’m an idiot. It might actually work to my advantage when it’s all said and done.
“Goodnight, Ava,” he tells me before he walks over to the door to leave.
I can’t believe my good luck. My kidnapper is acting like this is just an overnight stay. Like I’m just a guest in his home. He’s not tying me up or manhandling me. Hell, he even offered me food and is giving me privacy for a shower and to sleep.
As far as kidnappings go, I’d say I lucked into the best one in the history of kidnappings.
I don’t return his “goodnight.” Instead, I just watch him, waiting for him to leave. He stops when he reaches the door and turns back to me with his hand still on the doorknob.
“Remember, no harm will come to you while you’re under my care. There’s no reason this has to be unpleasant for you. I—“ he frowns before he completes his sentence, almost as if he’s saying it despite his better judgement. “I want you to be comfortable.”
I just stare at him, disbelieving. He seems totally serious, but I’m wondering if this is some sick game he’s playing, trying to lull me into a false sense of security before he shows me what a monster he really is.
But then again, maybe he’s telling the truth. He obviously wants something from my father, so maybe if he gets it, he’ll just let me go.
So long as I’m good and don’t piss him off and make him want to hurt me or anything.
“Okay,” I nod my head at him to let him know I heard him, and then he finally leaves, closing the door behind him. I listen for the click of a lock and almost jump up and down and do a happy dance when I don’t hear one.
I don’t know where the hell in New York we are or how to get out of here, but I know now that I have an opportunity to try. It looks like playing it cool has paid off for me. Because I didn’t give in to fits of hysteria, Gage doesn’t see me as a flight risk, and I might just have a feasible chance of escape tonight.
I get up to go shower and go through the expected bedtime motions. I know I’ll have to wait until I’m pretty sure he’s asleep before I can put my rapidly forming plan into action.