Page 37 of Beguiled

Now he decided to give me the honor of his full attention. Even in his fighter, bad guy mode, he was still arrogant. “No, you killed the other when deciding to save my life. For that, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Saige.”

No. No.No…

“What did you call me?”

“You are Saige Mitchell, a woman I consider both an attribute and a caustic tale in stubbornness. After tonight, I’ll add recklessness to your list of accomplishments. Although I wouldn’t necessarily add tonight’s adventures onto your resume.”

He was completely casual about the moment and the discovery, sitting with his legs crossed at the calves, his hands locked together between his legs. His car was idling in a nasty alleybehind a club where dead bodies had been strewn around the basement like toy soldiers. Yet he was perfectly calm.

While I was ready to jump out of my skin.

“I’m not…” I looked away, uncertain what I’d been about to say.

“Do you honestly believe that I can’t recognize you even under all that makeup? I must admit, you did catch me off guard. Then again, I always suspected there was a darkness lurking underneath your very conservative clothes. That was proven the night on the terrace. I’m certain you remember.”

Oh, the bastard could get under my skin.

This was the most words he’d said to me at one time since I’d met him.

“I wasn’t trying to hide myself from you. You don’t know me.”

“And you don’t know me, which is partially why this leaves me in such a quandary. While I am filled with questions, they will need to wait. I assure you that once it’s learned the men sent to accomplish a task won’t be coming home for breakfast, additional soldiers will be sent to finish whatever they hoped to achieve.”

The possessiveness in his voice should create a desperate need to escape, but instead, a thrill skittered through my veins.

“Are you trying to scare me, Mr. Chertov, because after the night I’ve had, I doubt there’s anything else that could possibly put me on a steeper edge.”

His smile was faint, but I witnessed the corners of his mouth upturning. His armor had cracked, all for me. Maybe I should feel honored that I was the cause. “I’m merely stating facts, Ms.Mitchell, and as such, it’s prudent for me to make a decision on how best to move forward.”

“Such as?”

“Such as deciding that you are coming with me.”

Wait. Did he actually say I was coming with him, as in the man was kidnapping me? I took a step farther away, scanning the alley in hopes someone else was paying attention. With the noise coming from the surrounding clubs, I doubted anyone would hear me if I screamed. And the odds of anyone caring what was happening in a dark alley late at night in New York City were slim to nil.

That left few options.

“I’m not part of this, Mr. Chertov. In fact, I don’t care what this is about. You can go play with your toy soldiers all you want. I’m going home.” I backed away, concerned he might charge me as he’d done with one of the terrible men who’d brandished a gun.

He remained in position, the only movement from the light breeze tousling his already messed-up thick hair. I was used to seeing every inch utter perfection, not a hair out of place. If he didn’t carry such an aura of danger, he could almost appear approachable.

But I certainly knew what he was capable of.

I kept walking backwards for another few yards until I was convinced he would let me go. Then I spun around and took the chance, running toward the end of the alley. Why did I think that he would let me get away or that my heels wouldn’t prevent me from making good time?

When I looked back, I noticed him scooping up the knife and pocketing it. Every movement calm, no need to hurry.

His mannerisms reminded me of a vampire, silent yet deadly. While my crazy fantasies about the man had gravitated toward the ominous sense of him being a predator in disguise, I’d seen that in action already. And I felt it now as another wave of goosebumps swept down both arms. His presence wasn’t just electrifying.

It was sensuously deadly.

He was suddenly right behind me then easily cutting me off. While he didn’t grab my arm or throw me against a wall like one of the men from earlier, he didn’t need to. He appeared in front of me, his jacket open and his hands in his pockets. “I’m only going to say this one more time, Saige. You are coming with me.”

“What are you going to do with me, throw me in the Hudson River?”

Twice I’d caught him smiling. Obviously, the fact my body was trembling and my voice was wavering amused him. The bastard. Maybe I should openly call him that to his face. “Now, what good would hurting you do? I’m trying to keep you safe. I don’t know what those men wanted and I will guess you don’t either. Or am I wrong about that?”

“How could I know what they want?”