Chapter 10

“Oh, yes.” I wave my hand around in a flippant gesture. “I’ve managed to take two naps and walked at least three miles back and forth across the floor of this well-appointed prison cell, thank you, very much.”

His lips flatten. “Perhaps, instead of a prison cell, you might think of this as your…home away from home. A vacation, if you will.”

I laugh without humor. “If this were a vacation, I’d be sitting on the beach in the Maldives, under a large umbrella, drinking a stiff cocktail brought to me by a stunningly gorgeous Italian named Raffaele.”

Nathan cocks his head. “I don’t really picture you as a beach go-er. I see you more on a yacht, cruising around the Mediterranean, lying on the deck completely naked, soaking up the sun, while I bring you a large glass of red wine and rub lotion on your back. And front.”

The picture he paints appears unwillingly in my head. I can almost feel the sun heating my skin—I’ll ignore the fact that I burn like a lobster—and a dark shadow forming over me. Of shading my eyes as I peer up at him. Him—Nathan—kneeling at my side and the rough, but tender touch of his hands as they rub all over my body. A shiver rushes over me.

I shake my head and blink, pushing away the image and swallowing a moan. His smirking face says he knows exactly what had been going through my mind. Doing my best to ignore the tingles that still ripple over my skin, I cross my arms and glare.

“I assume you’re here for something?”

Nathan steps fully out of the doorway and into the room. “I propose a truce.”

“A truce,” I parrot. “And what exactly happens during this truce?”

“You remain civil and perhaps I’ll let you out of this room.”

I bite my tongue to keep my sarcasm—my civility—in check. Only, it doesn’t work. “I assume you mean compliant. Fawning. Grateful that you would bestow such generosity on me.”

Nathan’s fists clench at his side and a tight smile flattens his lips. Way to go Imogen.“Fine,” I huff. “I shall attempt to remain civil.”

He loosens his fingers and cocks his head. “Why do I not believe you?”

I toss up my hands. “Hey, I said I’d attempt it. That’s the best you’re going to get out of me.”

Nathan scans my face, perhaps gauging my sincerity. I didn’t lie. I said I’ll do my best, and I will. But it’s also on him to not be a dick.

“You may have free run of the house. If I’m away, one of my men will remain here to…make sure you stay out of trouble.”

Keep your mouth shut, Imogen. Keep it shut. “And my bag with my belongings?”

“Will remain in my possession. Speaking of, I attempted to have someone retrieve a few items for you. To ensure your comfort during your stay, but they were unable to gain access to your flat.” He places both hands behind his back and studies me with an intensity that almost makes me fidget. “I find it curious why you would need such a robust security system.”

I stiffen at the fact he tried breaking into my place as well as his probing question. But if I’ve learned anything in my short time here, it’s that Nathan will do what he needs to, to get what he wants. Better to give him something, at least. “I have an expensive computer in there that I use for work. I don’t want someone breaking in and stealing it. It carries sensitive information.”

While technically true, all the information I have on that computer is highly encrypted. It would take an extremely talented hacker to break my code. So, not impossible, but also unlikely. I’m one of the best for a reason.

“What sort of work do you do?”

“I’m a freelance contractor.” Amongst other things Nathan doesn’t need to know about. “Which is why I need my laptop. I have bills to pay, you know?”

He drops his hands to his side. “While you’re my guest, I’ll take care of anything that comes due.”

“Wow,” I draw out the word. “Does that make me your whore then?”

Nathan actually growls. Before I blink, he’s got me pinned me to the wall with his hand around my neck, tightening his fingers enough to provide a warning, but not hurting me. Yet. He leans forward, his face close to mine.

“Why do you have to keep pushing?” he grinds out, his breath hot against my cheek.

My chest heaves as I try to breathe and not panic. For the first time since his men took me, I’m truly afraid. You can never leave well enough alone, can you?

“I’ve shown you far more patience than anyone else who would dare speak to me the way you have, because it amuses me. But my amusement has its limits.” Nathan’s fingers tighten a fraction more, and I whimper. “I could have fucked you raw without giving a shit about whether you liked it or not. All I’ve asked of you is some polite discourse. This is the only warning you are going to get. Do not test my patience again, Imogen. I promise, your stay here won’t be nearly as pleasant as it has been.”

As quickly as he grabbed me, his hold loosens and he steps back. I don’t move. Only stare in fear as my body trembles. He tugs down the sleeves of his dress shirt and straightens his tie.

“Now that we have that unpleasantness out of the way, perhaps you would prefer a change of scenery. I brought back lunch from my favorite restaurant and thought you might like to join me.”

All day I’ve been wallowing in my boredom, but despite the freedom currently being offered, I’m not sure I want it any longer. I’d almost rather stay safe behind the locked door.

“Okay.” It’s the only response I can make. Warily, I lift myself away from the wall.

Nathan heads for the door and stops when he reaches it, turning to stare back at me with a questioning glance. Forcing my feet to move, I cross the room, pass him, and continue walking, trying to ignore the feel of his eyes following me all the way down the hall.

Nathan

I want to punch something. There aren’t many things in my life I regret. In fact, only two stand out. As Imogen walks rigidly down the hall, I could add one more to the list. I’m pissed at her, but more at myself for letting my temper snap. It shows a lack of control. And I’m nothing if not in control.

I’m not a kind man. In fact, I’ve never claimed to be. But the terror in her eyes shifted something inside me. I refuse to apologize though.

We reach the dining room where our food waits. I stop at the same seat Imogen sat at last night and pull it out for her. Cautiously, she moves closer, pauses with a quick glance in my direction, and sits while I push the chair in behind her. I follow suit.

“I hope you enjoy fish and chips.” I reach into the brown bag for the two boxes inside. “No one makes them quite like Braden McCarthy does. No matter how many times I’ve asked, though, he won’t tell me his secret recipe.”

Ella hesitates opening the large white box I set in front of her. Gone is the smart mouth who spits fire at me with every turn. In its place is a shadow hiding her flame. Goddamn it. It’s my fault. Guilt is a useless emotion and makes me defensive. “I never took you for a coward.”

Her head snaps up and—there it is—that familiar flash of anger lights up her eyes. “I’m merely being civil. Providing you polite discourse like you requested.”

I have to withhold my smile. Thank fuck she found her spirit again. “Considering, until this moment, you haven’t said a single word since we came out here, there isn’t much discourse happening, now is there?”

Ella sighs and sags back against her chair. “What is it you want from me? You could have any woman you wanted without having to kidnap one. Why, out of all of Dublin, did you take me? To my knowledge, we’ve never met before. It’s not as though we run in the same social circles.”

“Do you know who I am?”

Her face crinkles like she’s confused. “Of course.”

“I don’t just mean my name. Do you know who I am?”

She pauses as though considering. “I know you’re the stepson of Dónal Sheehan and part of an extremely powerful family that may or may not abide by any man’s law.”

I chuckle at Imogen’s description. “Correct. Mostly, anyway. I’m not just part of that powerful organization. As of a few short hours ago, I’m now the head of it. And to answer your previous questions…yes, I can have any woman I want, although that wasn’t really a question. The fact remains that it’s true. However, it’s tiresome dealing with sycophants. Women who want the money and power that comes with being with me. I needed a challenge.”

Ella’s mouth drops. “You’re telling me that I’m here because you’re bored?”

“If you’d like to call it that. I’d like to think of it more as a game of strategy. One where I seduce you while you try—and fail—to deny me. In the end, perhaps, we both win.”

“Jesus, you really are barmy, aren’t you?” She shakes her head. “That still doesn’t answer why me out of the whole city?”

“Because you intrigue me, Imogen Walsh. Also, are you sure we’ve never met before?” I lean forward, fingers threaded, and rest my forearms on the table.

She harrumphs. “I’m pretty sure I would have remembered running into one of the biggest criminals in Dublin. No offense.”

I merely smile and sit back in the chair. “None taken. To refresh your memory, it was several months ago. I’d been coming out of a restaurant after a business meeting. Your head was down and you were staring at your phone, not paying attention. You ran straight into me. Most people would have apologized. Not you, though. If I recall correctly, you looked me up and down with distaste, called me an extremely colorful, and vulgar, name, and kept walking, while sending me the middle finger over your shoulder.”

Ella’s cheeks flush.

“Anyone else would have been…shown the error of their ways, but surprisingly, I was amused. I sent one of my men to follow you. Since then, I’ve learned a few things about you.”

She stiffens. “Like what?”

“Sadly, only the basics. Useless things, really. Which has me curious. Why can’t I find more out about you? You have no digital footprint to speak of. You have one of the most complex security systems at your home. You also have two separate cells phones, which in and of itself isn’t unusual, but combined with other things, has me questioning why.”

“I told you—”

“Yes, yes, you have sensitive data involving your ‘work’ on your home computer.” I pin Imogen with a stare. “Except something tells me you’re not being quite truthful with me. You see, in my line of work, it’s important to be able to spot when someone’s lying. There are tells. Over the years, I’ve become quite adept at identifying them.”