THE CRAZY GOOD SERIES - Rachel Robinson Page 0,346

I would have previously thought possible. I’ve killed for much less. He has a world of hurt coming to him.

“Is that any way to treat me? I have all the power,” he exclaims, picking up a pair of rusty scissors from a table. “I can free you from those restraints.” If he does, I’ll fucking kill him with my bare hands. And then what? my subconscious asks. Kill all of the other men on the other side of the door with your bare hands? Get out of here alive? Probably not. Playing it cool is difficult when you’re being held against your will in a disgusting place without food, water, or any glint of promise of a future.

“What do you want? Information? Money? Power? What do you want?” I ask through gritted teeth. My mouth burns from the tape residue and the fact that my lips are raw from being gagged. The assholes don’t like when I speak. So I yell any chance I get. V wants all of these things, I’m sure. Why else do you kidnap a fucking Navy SEAL unless you have a death wish?

He shrugs. “Nothing really. You’re merely a pawn for revenge.” What does that mean? I’m surprised.

“They’ll look for me. They’ll find you,” I threaten. My brothers won’t give up. They’ll come and pop me out of this hellish place at some point. I hope it’s soon. V can’t have been that thorough. He messed up somewhere along the planning line. My kidnapping was well-thought-out, but the problem isn’t how he took me, it’s that he took me hostage. Not some average Joe. Not only am I important, I’m lethal. Give me the fucking chance. I’ll never stop fighting. For my life. To get back to her, I’ll do anything. I can’t give up, but I’m tired.

With a closed fist he punches me in the face. The force knocks my head to the side. I feel warm blood trickle from my nose and down my lip. The stinging on my lips worsens. I clamp my jaw shut and add this to the list. “They’ll never find you. Give up that dream now, X.” The letter irritates me. This man infuriates me. If anything, I’m glad because it dulls the pain.

I spit blood at his feet. I just miss his scuffed up dress boots. “Fuck you, asshole. When they do come, I’ll make sure they know exactly who is responsible for fucking up my face,” I reply, smiling. Blood sprays out of my mouth as I speak. It drips down my chin.

I’ve pissed him off more than usual today. His left eye twitches as he takes three measured steps toward me. He’s cautious. He knows how dangerous I am. He grabs my chin with one hand and leans his face close, uncaring that my blood is getting on his hand. “There will come a day when you don’t even remember your name. I will take the life you once knew and loved and bury it so deep that you’ll never even dream of it. You will be one of my men. Your life as you know it is over. The sooner you accept your new fate, the easier your life will be. Do you really not know why you’re here?”

I wish I did. Hostages are taken all the time with no good fucking reason. It’s usually a power play. Or for intelligence. I cringe thinking of the power this asshole feels knowing he’s successfully kidnapped a goddamn Navy SEAL. It makes me fucking sick. The blood is falling at a steady pace out of my nose and down my face. It’s broken. “Why would I know?” I ask. The draw for information is strong. Along with my physical strength, he also has this to hold over me. I may be tied and bound, but I won’t let him see my curiosity outright.

He grins. His crooked, dirty teeth peek behind cracked lips. “Because it’s all her fault.”

“Don’t play games with me,” I growl. “Who do you mean?”

“Why, Elena Rostov, of course. Who else?” My body melts into the wooden chair. A chair many a man have died on, I’m sure. He’s said the only name that could illicit a reaction. Lainey. I choke on my own blood and spit a mouthful on the floor beside my chair. Anything to break eye contact from this monster.

“Taking you is her punishment. She loves you, no?” he asks. I can’t respond. My breaths are coming too fast and I