Page 52 of Betrothed
“Where the fuck are we going?” I barked after Cormac had been driving for longer than I thought necessary. Then again, patience wasn’t considered a personal virtue.
“Scarsdale,” Vivian said absently, answering for my soldier. She’d said almost nothing after our time together, barely acknowledging my questions or commands. I wasn’t certain the reason for the one-eighty change other than she wasn’t used to allowing a certain side of her to be seen by anyone.
Including some asshole who’d kidnapped her.
Dante twisted his head so he could glance into my eyes. Given my companion, both men had remained quiet during the drive, but there were items to discuss.
“You know the area,” I said while cutting my eyes in her direction.
With every mile traveled, she was becoming even more pensive. I’d found it unnecessary to bind her hands again as she hadn’t bothered to fight, another surprise after her performance in her apartment.
“You could say that. Scarsdale is considered the wealthiest community in the country. The people consider themselves villagers, the town government unique. There are eighteen thousand of the most pretentious people in the world living in a little over six and a half miles.”
The sneer on her face was a dead giveaway just how much she did indeed know of the area. Her attitude slighting all the wealthy people brought a smile to my face. “Now, what do you have against pretentious people?”
She dropped her hand from where her fingers had been acting as an implement to keep her head up as she’d glared out the passenger window during the entire drive. Taking her carnally once again hadn’t been on my mind when I’d forced her into her own apartment.
I’d been frustrated with the night, furious with myself for the way the situation had crashed and burned. The mishandling wasn’t like me. Even now, I was enraged that the entire scene had been a setup.
While Dimitri’s soldiers through Dante’s quick thinking had been inside the hospital and the stairwell holding the dead man within five minutes of my call, the fucker’s body had disappeared.
There was no evidence whatsoever that anyone had been dragged through his own blood and brains into some hidden location. The same men had scoured the hotel, keeping as lowa visibility as possible while searching for any sign of the other two.
Nothing.
No screaming nurses. No suspicious men in surgery.
And no police involvement. The two men had earned their keep while I’d been fucking Vivian like some crazed animal.
The ruse continued. The only difference was my instinct told me whoever was running the puppet show knew I had a less than willing partner with me.
I laughed seeing the caustic expression on her face. “You’re a very unusual woman, Vivian.”
“Unusual. Provided by an assassin, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should. How much further?” My question was asked of Cormac while keeping my eyes on her.
“Making the turn onto the street now,” he answered.
“I’m curious. Did you purchase a home in this neighborhood or more in tune to your personality, did you steal it?” Her question was laced with acute venom.
Dante was forced to clear his throat to keep from laughing.
“I’ll let you in on a secret. I can purchase any house I want in any country. No matter the price.”
She threw up her hands. “Oohh… Is that supposed to impress me?”
“Just a fact and I can tell you’re the type of woman who prefers dealing in facts.”
Cormac slowed the vehicle and as soon as he did, she dragged her hate-filled look to staring out the windshield. The sound of her laugh disturbed the hell out of me.
The tone was haunted.
There were already soldiers present, six men a shift who’d keep watch on the property both to keep a lookout for intruders and to keep a watchful eye on my guest when I’d need to exit the property.
“Have you been here before?” I asked since her face held a hint of recognition.
“Not on my salary.” Toxic venom laced her tongue.
