I slipped the gearshift into drive and slowly pulled out of the parking lot. The automatic gate arm lifted to let us pass and I wished there were old school security guards instead of the transponder on my dashboard.
So many thoughts whirled in my head. I could steer us into a tree and hopefully escape. That was if I didn’t kill myself. Or if I went over the speed limit, maybe we’d pass a cop and get pulled over. Or I could….
“You’re beautiful.” His deep voice caused me to jump and the car lurched forward. “But when you’re contemplating escape, it’s rather… adorable.”
Adorable? I didn’t even think that word was in his vocabulary. “What do you want with my father?”
“Aren’t you concerned about what I want with you?”
“No.” I was, but he was so arrogant that I had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of knowing I was completely terrified of that exact thing.
I caught his reflection in the mirror and he grinned. For a brief second, a flicker of relief warmed me because his grin was mesmerizing. Not evil or malicious, it simply made him look engaging. And that was why he was even more dangerous—because it was deceiving.
“And you heard enough to know what I want. You’re clever, London. Maybe even too clever for your own good. And, I understand, about to graduate with full honors in pharmacology and toxicology. Impressive. Following in your father’s footsteps. I’d advise not to follow too far.”
Whatever the hell that meant.
I glanced at my speedometer, slowly pressing on the gas and now going twenty over the speed limit. I needed to keep him talking so he didn’t notice how fast we were going. “I’m going to be late for class.”
“Classes are done for the day.”
I stiffened. How the hell did he know that? “It’s a yoga class.”
He chuckled. “You don’t take yoga.”
Holy hell. Who was this guy? “Well, I didn’t, but I do now.” Of course, that was a lie, because I could barely touch my toes never mind curl into a pretzel.
“Mmm, I do believe you are lying, but I’ll let it slide… for now.” He moved and it was quick, agile like a sleek panther. Deadly. He had his hands on my shoulders, squeezing, but it wasn’t painful. “Slow down and take the dirt path up there on your right.”
Path? It was hardly a path, more like a parting of trees that led into the woods. All I could picture was my body being found in the middle of nowhere, ripped apart by wild animals. I wasn’t ready to die. I wouldn’t. I may not be a fighter, but I sure as hell would fight with everything I had to survive. “Are you going to kill me?”
He sighed. “You’re letting your imagination run away with you. I have no intentions of hurting you—unless of course you hurt me first.”
I inwardly huffed at the thought. I couldn’t imagine anyone being able to hurt this man.
I did as he instructed and the car bounced as it crept along the wooded path until I saw another car parked ahead. “Pull up behind it, then give me your keys.”
As soon as I did, he got out of the back seat, but didn’t shut the door and I knew why, so I didn’t lock him out. Not that it would stop him for very long as he had the keys.
I did have my cell though. I quickly reached for it just as he politely opened my door as if he were my date. “Out.” He held out his hand to assist, but I ignored it. He took my hand anyway, his fingers curling around mine.
When I stood, I almost collapsed—my legs were shaking so badly. He must have noticed because he leaned me up against the car.
“Toss the cell back inside.”
I gritted my teeth, but I did what he ordered and he shut the door.
“Don’t move,” he said.
He strode to his car, his expensive suit making him appear completely out of place in the middle of the woods. I glanced toward the road and wondered if I could make it before he caught me. He was wearing dress shoes and I was in my running shoes.
I could make it.
“My knife is faster than you,” he said without even glancing over his shoulder at me.
Shit.
He opened his car door, bent and reached inside. I expected him to pull out a gun, but instead, he held a cell phone—another one. He’d had one in his pocket that he’d been texting on in my car. He tapped on the screen then placed it to his ear.
“He wants two months.” He slowly walked toward me and with every step closer, my heart pounded harder. “I know what I have to do.” He stopped in front of me and so did my breath as I stared up at him.
God, there wasn’t a flicker of uncertainty in him. It was like the world worked around him. He owned it. Owned me. Owned my father. Owned the bloody ground.
He stood inches away, his eyes locked on mine as he listened to whoever was on the other end. I couldn’t hear what was being said and his indifferent expression failed to give away whether he was pleased or pissed off at their words.