He took a step away and leaned down to where his face was level with hers. “I’ll put it to you this way. I’ll tell you what’s in it if you do not cooperate: torture. Horrible, painful torture at the hands of six or so of my kind coming to insure I carried out my orders.” He ran his forefinger in a line from her throat, between her breasts all the way to her navel, then back up in a path that almost made her faint again. “And after they’ve all had you, and broken you, you will understand why you should have cooperated with me. Believe me when I tell you I’m the lesser of the evils.”
Stubborn? Yes. Stupid? Hell, no. She picked up the carton of OJ and took a guzzle, then another, and another, until she couldn’t hold any more.
“Let’s go,” she said, heading toward the kitchen door. When the cord pulled taut, she gave it a jerk to get him to follow, which he did, all the way to her bedroom. “What kind of clothes? Where are we going?” She stopped short when she saw the suitcase on the bed. She popped the latches and found it packed with everything from a Parka to red lace lingerie.
The death angel snorted. “Sorry to alter your previous vacation plans.”
“What? No. I didn’t do this.”
His eyebrow shot up. “Perhaps one of your lovers packed for you. An unexpected trip, maybe?”
She stared at the suitcase full of enough clothes to last a week in any climate. There was also cash. Lots of it. What was going on? The only one with a key to her place was Uza, and she was usually too out of it to even organize for a trip to the grocery store.
He slammed the suitcase closed and snapped the latches. “You’ll just have to disappoint him. Now find something to cover yourself.” He pulled her to the closet by the cord.
She held up her wrist. “This is going to make it tricky.”
“There’s nothing I can do about that. You are a clever girl. Figure something out.” He pulled out his phone and checked the time. “Now.”
She yanked a halter-top sundress off the hanger and stepped into it, then pulled the cord to get more freedom of movement. “Help me out here,” she said. “I can’t do it one handed.”
He moved closer to give her use of both arms. She hated him being this close because it made her body go stupid. Really stupid. He plans to kill you. At least that’s what he said. He could off her so easily, yet he hadn’t. Something was holding him back. Her heart beat a tad faster as it filled with hope. Maybe she could escape before he made good on his threats.
“Please turn around,” she said once the dress was pulled to her waist under the gown.
“For God’s sake, woman,” he growled, turning away. “I’ve seen your body all day. Don’t flatter yourself.”
His words stung, which was beyond ridiculous. She yanked the hospital gown off and pulled the halter up and tied it behind her neck. “Fine. Done.”
He put the suitcase on the floor between them and extended the handle. “Hold this and don’t let go.”
Bossy jerk. She grabbed the handle.
He placed his hands on the side of her neck and then started that unintelligible chant he had done at the hospital. The tingly warmth from his fingers emanated through her body.
“Think of a hotel in another city where you have stayed that you can picture well. In your mind, recreate the lobby or the parking lot, if possible. Do not imagine yourself in any position other than standing next to me.” He arched an eyebrow. “Are we clear?”
A loud crash and men’s voices downstairs caused her to jump. “Yes.”
“Imagine it now.” He closed his eyes and chanted.
The air warmed, and she felt as though she were dissolving—or more accurately, evaporating. Then, like before, it was as if her entire body were slammed by pressure from all sides at once. When everything stilled, she opened her eyes to find herself in the lobby of a Texas hill-country resort she had visited last summer. She and Nikolai stared at each other in the dark corner where they’d landed, suitcase clutched tightly in her hand between them.
He nodded. “Well done.”
She fought the urge to smile. God, she was pathetic to respond to his praise.
“You look terrible,” he said.
So much for praise. “Thanks.”
He balled the cord in his palm, then placed her hand over his, concealing it for the most part. To anyone else, it looked like they were simply holding hands. A huge, sword-wielding, bare-chested god with a scrawny chick. “Wait. You can’t just go prancing around with that thing strapped to your back.”
“Number one, I never prance. Number two, I’m concealed by a partial human Veil. What they see is me in a business suit.”
“What do they see when they see me?”
“You. Exactly as you are.” Grabbing the handle of her suitcase in his free hand, he pulled her to the gift shop near the registration desk and plucked the first baseball cap off of a souvenir display and passed it to her, dropping her other hand. “Put it on with your hair hidden underneath.”
She read the cap out loud. “Ride ‘em cowgirl?” Classy. She twisted her hair on top of her head and slipped the cap over it while he paid. A disguise, maybe? No telling. The guy was unpredictable.
He balled the cord up and pressed his palm against hers again. “Do as I say and follow my lead. Do not act out or let on that you’re unwilling, or I will not only kill you, I will kill everyone in this room. Are we clear?”
Giggles erupted from two little girls getting their faces painted at a table across the room near the door.