Page 106 of Never and Always
My panic hit the red zone. He was dressed all in black, and in the next framed-out room, doing something near a pile of construction gear. He had a toolbox open and was clunking around inside it. There were a few icy puddles from melted snow off peoples’ work boots lying around. I’d know since I was sitting in one. Cold was crawling up my back.
I shifted my legs, wondering how quickly I could get to my feet and run with my ankles tied together.
Probably not fast enough. Especially not in high heels.
I could scream for help, but the noise of the equipment and the fact the workers wore earmuffs would make it impossible for anyone to hear me.
Before I could even move, Corvo glanced my way. His lips moved in what I guessed was a smile, his scar puckering.
He prowled toward me. “Nice to see I didn’t hit you too hard.”
I lifted my chin. “What are you doing? My brother’s debt to Rocha has been paid.”
He smirked. “I know.”
I frowned. “Then why did you attack me?”
“I don’t give a fuck about the debt.” He flung a gloved hand in the air. “Rocha promised me I’d get to work, and all I’ve done is play with you and got in a minimal beating on your brother that got interrupted.” He leaned down. “That’s not what I came here for.”
Pure ice slid down my spine.
He straightened. “This job’s been a massive pain in my ass. I had to come to this bumfuck town?—”
“It’s a nice town,” I bit out. “Picturesque, good shopping, too much snow, but it’s filled with good people.”
He made a scoffing sound. “It’s a speck of nothing in the middle of nowhere. I’ve had to chase your idiot brother around.” He smiled. “Now, I want my payoff.”
He wanted to cause pain, he wanted to hurt someone. My stomach did a sickening somersault. “You should just leave while you can?—”
“Shut up.” He backhanded me in the face.
The pain was horrible. My head whipped to the side and I gasped. My chin lowered to my chest and I tasted blood. My cheekbone throbbed.
“I really, really wanted to kill your fucking brother, but since he’s safe in the hospital, you’ll have to do.” He grabbed a fistful of my coat and dragged me across the floor. “Would have liked to finish beating the hell out of your brother.”
Fear rocketed through me and I flailed, trying to fight him.
He dragged me over to the tools. That’s when I smelled the smoke.
What the—?My eyes widened. Some gear was burning. He’d started a fire.
He tugged me over to the nearest wall frame and pulled a rope from his coat pocket. Then quickly—and far too expertly for my liking—he wrapped the rope through the zip ties on my ankles and tied to me the frame. He tested it, then straightened.
Now, I could see the flames growing, licking at the wooden framing. My throat closed.
He smiled at the fire, and I realized he was broken. Something inside him got off on violence and destruction.
He snatched up my bag, pulling things out. My wallet hit the concrete, my lipstick, a packet of Kleenex. Everett’s flannel shirt fluttered to the ground beside me.
“No phone,” Corvo said.
“I…must have left it in the SUV.”
He suddenly tossed my bag down, strode away, and disappeared from view.
Was he leaving?My gaze snagged on the growing fire.Oh, God. I needed to get out here.
I tried to loosen the zip ties, but it took me three seconds to realize that wasn’t happening. I reached for the rope and grabbed it the best I could with my wrists tied. I tugged on it, air exploding from my lungs from the effort.
