Is he trying to piss me off?
I steel my spine. “I’mridiculous? How so?”
“Your brother was a big boy, Sasha. His death isn’t on my shoulders.”
“My brother was a drug addict…and you are a drug—” He steps closer to me, his formidable frame too big for the small space.
“Careful what you say, firefly…I’d hate for you to lose your spark.”
I grit my teeth together. The man doesn’t make idle threats. “What do you want?”
His eyes explore my body up and down, and I have to force myself to remain still and not buckle under the weight of that heavy stare. It’s not sexual. If anything, it makes me feel inferior. Like he finds me wanting.I hate him.
“I need you to come with me,” he says, so nonchalantly I think I’ve misunderstood him for a moment. “Now.”
My mouth drops open at his words. No way did I hear that right.
“Are you insane?” I reply before I can think better of it. Surprisingly, he doesn’t take out a gun and shoot me in the head. Instead, he moves until our bodies are almost touching. I swear we are so close I can feel the way his chest vibrates as he breathes.
I should retreat. But like a moth to a flame, I want to move closer.
My reaction to this man is concerning.
“I promised your brother I’d protect you.”
My head snaps back. “You’re lying. Roman didn’t care about me. We didn’t have a relationship.”
His eyes narrow slightly as if this is news to him.
Maybe it is. Who knows what, if anything, Roman shared with this guy.
“We don’t have time for this,” he grunts. “You need to come with me now. I made a promise, and I will keep it, Sasha.”
“Fuck your promises,” I say, brushing his shoulder as I walk past him to the kitchenette. Sometimes I don’t know what comes over me.
You have a death wish. That’s all. This is old news.
I know this man is dangerous, but at this moment, I’m tired, cranky, and in desperate need of a shower and bed. He’s only managing to piss me off.
“It’s not just about promises, Sasha. You’re in danger,” he says, coming up behind me.
He’s close. Too close.
“If you think I’m a bad man, you have no idea what awaits you out there. What hunts you now as we speak.”
I swallow, dreading the grim picture he’s painting.
Who could be worse than this man?
“I can protect you,” he promises.
“I want nothing to do with you.”
He laughs, but it lacks humor. He’s mocking my bravado, and it stings. “You don’t have a choice.”
I’m about to object some more, but I don’t get the chance. Before I can voice any more rebuttals to his offer of safety, I’m being thrown over his shoulder and forced to bend to his will. He stalks out of my apartment without a care in the world who sees.
“Put me down,” I yell, hitting his back and kicking my legs. But my attempts to stop him are futile. He marches all the way to the back entrance of my building before stopping abruptly and dropping me on my feet.