Under Pressure (Body Armor #1)(99)

“That’s nuts,” Justice said. “You need to stay here, run your party, deal with—”

“I’m going.” She paused for one second to say, “I already figured I’d be away dealing with Platt, so I have an assistant handling hostess duties. You just concentrate on that guard.”

“What about Platt?”

“Ignore him for now.” Her voice hardened. “We’ll deal with him later.”

Leese didn’t care enough to debate it. He was already on his way, leaving Sahara rushing to catch up.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

TESH KEPT HIS grip bruisingly tight as he hustled Cat along, out a side door, down an alley toward the street.

She fought him the best she could but it wasn’t enough. In comparison to Tesh’s strength, she was downright puny.

So she did what Leese had taught her and went limp.

Cursing, Tesh quickly readjusted his hold, wrapping one arm around her throat, the other around her waist. With a huff, he warned, “Keep dragging your feet and I’ll kill him. And her. Fuck, I’ll kill them all.”

No! Somehow, Cat would stop him.

But she knew she wouldn’t manage it with fear, so she gripped his forearm and managed to loosen his hold enough to gasp, “Not if he kills you first.”

Growling, Tesh turned and slammed her into the wall, knocking the wind out of her.

His hand landed at her throat, pressing against her windpipe. His nostrils flared and his gaze smoldered.

Between his choking hold and the way he’d slammed her, she couldn’t draw a single breath. Her eyes watered and her lungs burned and all she could do was wheeze.

He searched her face, no doubt looking for the fear he craved. A slow smile lifted his dark expression. “I was on to Sahara and your bodyguard.”

She shook her head, denying him.

“Yes.” He moved up closer to her, angling his body against hers. “I have men watching them both. They’ll shoot to kill if I give them the word.” To convince her, he asked, “How do you think I knew to find you in that bathroom? The senator’s guards are my men. Loyal to me. I was notified the second Platt went into that boardroom with you. Only other men were watching all of you too, and when Ms. Silver disappeared, and your bodyguard, I told them to check every door.” Satisfaction dripped from his tone. “Only that bathroom was locked, accessible enough. It made sense that I’d find you there.”

No, it wasn’t possible...

His thumb stroked over her fluttering pulse. “So wild,” he remarked, fascinated with the telltale sign of her terror. “You know the truth now, don’t you? There is no escape from me. Not ever.”

Fear pumped through her veins, destroying her attempts to conspire a strategy. Still barely breathing, she gave up and rasped, “Please.”

Oh, he liked that. She saw it in his eyes, in the shift of his posture. “Please what, Kitten?”

“I don’t want anyone else hurt.”

The smile spread over his face. “Then quit fighting me. It does you no good anyway.”

In a fog, Cat nodded. She couldn’t quite ground herself, couldn’t think of a way out.

Tesh stepped back just enough that his body no longer pressed hers. He reached into his pocket, whispered, “Sorry, Kitten,” and then slipped something over her head.

She couldn’t see a thing, but neither did she dare fight him. He lifted her roughly over his shoulder, jostling her as he walked at a fast clip. She heard the creaking of metal, an idling engine, and then she got dumped on a hard floor. Before she could get her hands under her, her head smacked awkwardly against something, dazing her anew.

Pinpricks of light danced before her. The covering over her head disappeared and Tesh stroked his hand through her hair, smoothing it.

She jerked away...and her head pounded.

“You struggle against your fate,” Tesh whispered. “Shh, shh now. You’re mine and you’ll stay mine.”

Dear God, he sounded insane. By instinct alone, Cat flinched away from his touch.

A firm hand brought her face back around. “Always so stubborn.” The pleasure in his soft laugh sent shivers down her spine. “Sometimes there will be pain. Sometimes not. It’s natural that you’d resist. I don’t mind too much. It’ll make taming you more fun.”

Don’t react, Cat told herself, knowing he enjoyed shocking her. She tried to get oriented and became aware of movement. Everything had happened so quickly, but...they were definitely on the go.

Tesh smiled down at her, superior, smug, even giddy.

Shifting only her eyes, Cat looked around and realized that she rode in a stripped-down cargo van.

“This,” Tesh said, “is the beginning of your forever...with me.”

Needing to be on her feet, away from Tesh, Cat wrapped her fingers into an empty cutout of the bare-bones vehicle and stood.

One man, a stranger, stared out the windshield as he drove. Other than his and the passenger seat, the van was hollow—metal floor, metal walls, metal ceiling. No windows in the back. The streetlamps they passed lit the interior with a strobe effect that made her stomach pitch. Two empty paint buckets, a metal ladder and tarps littered the floor. A single handle secured the rear doors.

Had Tesh stolen a painter’s van?

He, too, stood. “No, Kitten, no one will report the van stolen, and the driver will not help you. Resign yourself.”