Insatiable (Steel Brothers Saga #12) - Helen Hardt Page 0,5
Dominic said, “if you’ll hear us out.”
“I’m not sure you’re the one who should be making deals,” I said.
“Oh?” Alex said. “Seems like you’re tied up and we aren’t. Of course we’re the ones who should be making deals.”
“My brothers—”
“Aren’t here,” she said.
“They will be.”
“They will be,” Dominic said. “We’re counting on it. And when they get here, I think they’ll agree that this is the safest place for you.”
“Was this all part of your plan?” I asked. “Train me for my company at lunch? Huh?”
“Marjorie, if I were interested in holding you captive, why would I train you? Make you stronger?”
Okay. A decent point. But I still wasn’t buying.
“So you fake credentials to be a trainer, and—”
“Okay, I didn’t go to UCLA. I don’t have any college degrees, but I am a good trainer, and I do coach baseball, though not right now. Those two things just aren’t my primary income source.”
“No, I’m sure you’ll make a lot more when you demand ransom from my brothers.”
“Oh my God,” Alex said. “Is this worth it? To put up with her shit? Let’s dump her back where we found her. Give her a little roofie to forget she ever saw us. Anything is better than this.”
“Alex, I’ll ask you again to put yourself in her shoes. We just took her against her will. She’s pissed, and she has every right to be.”
“Uh…still tied up here,” I said. “You two can bicker on your own time.”
“This is our time,” Dominic said, “and we’re being very well compensated for it.”
“By whom? Not my brothers. No way.”
“No, not by your brothers, but by someone who cares for you very much.”
The only person other than my brothers who cared for me very much was Bryce, but he didn’t have the money for this. Plus, he’d never order my abduction.
My mother? As far as she knew, I was a perpetual baby named Angela, and Talon and Joe were still little boys away at camp.
Colin? No. He cared for Jade and, by extension, me, but he didn’t have the kind of money to pull this off.
“Who? Who, other than my brothers, can afford you?”
“I’m not at liberty to say yet,” Dominic said.
“For God’s sake. Untie me!”
“I will. If you promise to hear us out.”
Before he could respond, another man entered the room.
“How’s he doing?” Alex asked.
“He’s scared, of course. Who wouldn’t be after what he’s been through? How’s she doing?”
“She’s not scared enough,” Alex said. “In fact, she’s a pain in the ass.”
“She is right here,” I said. “You can address me as a human being, despite the fact that I’m trussed up like a pig.”
Alex ignored my remark. “Maybe give him something to help him calm down. It might be a while before we get—”
“Drug him? Whoever he is?” I yelled. “Are you nuts?”
“Marjorie,” Dominic said, “we’re trying to help him. And you.”
“Who is he?” I asked, but I knew the answer before Dominic replied.
“Colin Morse,” he and I said in unison.
“I want to see him,” I said. “He’ll listen to me.”
“You’re not listening to us,” Dominic said.
“Actually,” the other guy interjected, “she may have a good point. If he sees a familiar face, he might calm down.”
“Finally, someone who is talking sense,” I said. “Now if you’ll untie me, I’ll be happy to talk to Colin.”
“You’ll make a run for it,” Alex said.
Damned right. She was no dummy. Not that it took the brightest bulb to figure out what I had in mind. But I was also concerned about Colin. Having been through captivity and torture at Tom Simpson’s hands, he was most likely frightened beyond belief right now.
I was frightened myself, but though I didn’t trust Dominic—and I especially didn’t trust Alex—I no longer felt I was in any immediate danger. If they wanted to kill me, I’d be dead by now.
“I’ll untie your ankles,” Dominic said, “and we’ll take you to see him.”
I opened my mouth to complain but then shut it. I’d take what I could get. I could still run with my hands tied. Plus, I had to see Colin. Let him know I was here for him.
Dominic quickly unbound my ankles and pulled me into a stand. “Go with Dave.” He pointed to the other guy.
Dave was tall and thin and clearly not related to Dominic and Alex. He was fair and blond where they were tan and dark-haired.
“We’re not here to hurt you.” Dave guided me out of the room, touching my elbow.