Cutter closed his eyes against the images prying at his brain. He could not let himself think of her in personal terms because he knew it would render him useless. He leaned against the wall, struggled to overcome the dark emotions building inside him. But the fear and rage were so powerful that for a moment he could do nothing but stand there and shake.
Then he heard a second heartrending scream, and tried to discern where the scream had come from. To his right a steel door stood ajar. Cutter walked to the door and found himself looking down a steep and dimly lit stairwell.
Beyond, he heard voices. Heavy footfalls against concrete. The clang of steel against steel. He’d found The Jaguar’s inner sanctum.
Forgetting caution, Cutter stepped into the darkness and started into a place he could only describe as hell on earth.
MATTIE HAD THOUGHT she had been mentally prepared for what she knew would happen. But as the men strapped her to the gurney, she knew no human mind could ever prepare for the horrors of torture.
She lay on the cold, hard gurney and listened to The Jaguar gather the tools of his trade. She struggled against the straps binding her, but the nylon restraints remained secure. Panic assailed her. But there was no escape. No hope. The best she could wish for was a quick end.
She’d vowed not to cry, not to beg. But the realization that her life was going to end at the hands of an evil man like The Jaguar sent a sob to her throat. So many things left undone. So many words left unsaid. She would never marry. Never bear children.
She would never have the chance to tell Cutter she’d fallen in love with him.
To find love now and never have the opportunity to say the words was bittersweet. The irony of it broke her heart.
“I believe we are ready to begin.”
Every nerve in her body drew taut at the sound of The Jaguar’s voice. Mattie raised her head. He stood facing her a few feet away, a tray in his hands.
“There’s still time to do this the easy way.” Crossing to her, he set his hand against her cheek. “It really would be a shame to mess up that pretty face.” His fingertips slid down her throat, pausing at the valley between her breasts. “You are so very lovely.”
Repulsed, Mattie shuddered.
“I was married once, you know. Her name was Monique, and she was every bit as beautiful as you are. Has Cutter told you about her yet?”
Mattie didn’t know what to say. Cutter had told her about Monique, but acknowledging that would likely only fuel his sadism, so she said nothing.
“No matter.” He waved the question away. “I loved her very much. I had to kill her, you know. You see, she slept with Sean Cutter and I do not share my women with anyone.”
Mattie could hear her labored breaths echoing within the confines of the small room. She couldn’t stop trembling.
Cutter, where are you?
“I want you to tell me about the next phase of the EDNA Project.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Playing dumb does not become you,” he said nastily. “It certainly will not buy you time.” To prove his point he touched her leg with an electrical probe.
The spark of electricity sounded like a gunshot. The pain wrenched a scream from her throat. Her body jolted violently. Her vision swam. Sweat beaded her forehead even though the room was chilly. Oh dear God, don’t let him do this…
“Just a little test,” he said. “You see, I can give pleasure or I can inflict pain. The choice is yours.”
“Tell me what you want to know,” Mattie said in a quivering voice.
“I want to know about the next phase, of course,” he said, picking up the probe again.
Mattie choked back tears. She knew even if she told him what he wanted to know he would not let her go. He would not let her live. The only thing she could do now was try to come up with a convincing lie so this wretched excuse for a human being could not use the technology she had invented against the free world.
“I-in the f-final phase of EDNA,” she began, “we were going to begin work on miniaturization.”
“Excellent. You’re an extremely intelligent woman, Ms. Logan.” The Jaguar put down the probe. “You see how it works? You speak to me, and the pain stops. Sean Cutter never got that.”
Hot tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them back. She wondered where Cutter was. If he was frantic with worry and trying to find her at this very moment? I’m sorry…
“Untie me,” she tried.
A cruel smile twisted his mouth. “I will release you after you tell me what I want to know.”
“Or maybe you’re a lying son of a bitch and plan to kill me even after I tell you what you want to know.”
Something utterly terrifying flickered in the depth of his eyes. “I am a man of my word.” He opened a drawer, pulled out a tiny hand recorder and turned it on. “Now, tell me about the miniaturization phase of EDNA or I will have no recourse but to hurt you. Next time I will not stop when you scream.”