standing in front of me.
Chloe remained against the sink, staring at me with hatred in her eyes.
I grabbed my weapon, securing it once again behind my back. All the while she studied me, realizing she’d just been taken by a brutal man. Maybe now she understood just how dangerous I truly was.
Not one of my students had any idea of my real identity. I’d never had a student or another faculty member at my house. I rarely provided any personal details to anyone. That had been ingrained into me since day one. If captured by anyone, never tell them a damn thing. I’d gotten very good at doing so, even during times of torture.
Reaching down, I pulled her panties from the floor, holding them in my palm. At first, she was tentative then snatched them away. Chuckling, I walked closer, crowding her space.
“Did you kill those men?”
Her question seemed out of the blue. “No, not this time.”
“Not this time,” she repeated. “You’re not a real professor. Are you?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then I don’t…” Her words trailing off, she looked away. It was easy to see she was fighting her emotions. By all rights, she should get the hell away from me and call the police.
Somehow, I knew that wasn’t going to happen.
I’d brought the girl alive, fueling the fire in her belly. While there was nothing I wanted more than to keep her, it wasn’t possible. However, I had to find a way to make her understand that she needed to get the hell away from me. Hopefully, the fact the semester had just ended would solve the problem.
Then I’d follow through with hunting down the fuckers who’d entered my world.
“They were not the kind of men you want to fuck with, Chloe. I’ll leave it at that.”
“I would say you’re the same kind of man.”
“And you would be right. Are you leaving for the summer?”
She gazed into my eyes again, shaking her head. “I live here. Well, at least until after I graduate.”
“What about family? Is there someone you can go spend time with?”
“I have no family and I need to work. There is no other choice for a girl like me.”
While her words were laced with defiance, I could tell it haunted her to be forced to say them. There was no time to ask why.
Not that I cared.
“Then you’re going to follow my directions. There are no other options. If you don’t, you could die. Do I make myself clear enough for you to understand?” I could smell a hint of fear but to my surprise, she held her resolve, refusing to fall apart.
“Yes, I understand that in some crazy way you think you’re protecting me.”
“I’m the only one who can do that. The only hope you have.”
“Why would these men hurt me? What do they want? I have nothing. No money, no connections to anyone important. I’m just a hopeless girl with a limited future.”
Whether or not she was trying to play to my sympathies, I wasn’t certain. I would hate for her to realize that I had no empathy for another human being. “Because they want to get to me.”
“And who are you really? What are you hiding?”
“Enough that you would have nightmares for the rest of your life.”
Her mouth twisted but she gave me a single nod.
“Is your car in the parking lot?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then I’m going to walk you outside and make certain you’re safe. You will do what I told you last night. Do you have a weapon?”
Now she was flustered. “Do I look like the kind of girl who owns a gun?”
“As long as you have a sharp knife, you will be surprised at what you can do. Sleep with it by your side.”
“I… Okay.”
I took her by the arm, pulling her close to the door then pushing her aside, placing my finger over my mouth to keep her quiet. When I opened the door, only then did I realize just how long I’d kept her behind closed doors. There was no sign of anyone in the joint. While I’d closed on more than one occasion for Travis, even owning a set of keys to the place, I was surprised he’d left while I was still inside with the girl.
When I got to the locked front door, I cocked my head. “You’re not going to fight me. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I get it. Okay?”
I opened the door, scanning the parking lot. At least the cheap strip mall was well lit even if