Chapter 15: A Favor for a Favor
Liam
God, look at her squirm. Picking her words so carefully, I can see the axles turning—ensuring she doesn’t slip up, doesn’t give too much away. Every word, every breath is calculated. She’s a puzzle I can’t wait to solve. I hand her one of the coffees and bagel sandwiches.
“So, you were saying, Amara?”
Her eyes glass over and suddenly look heavy. She rubs her arm with discomfort, as if the weight of her thoughts is too much to carry.
“His reach was a lot deeper than I thought.” She lets out a heavy sigh.
“I see… You know, if you have a problem, I can take care of it for you.”
Her lips twitch, forming something between a smirk and a frown. “No, I clean up my own messes. Always have.” She forces a smile. “This is so good.”
“Indeed.” I tilt my head. “So this man—what’s his name?”
She sets her coffee on the table, looking me dead in the eyes. Brave. Stupid, but brave.
“I will answer any questions you have because you are right. I do need help from you. But I will not answer that one. I’d rather much like to keep breathing.”
“I see…” I lean forward, studying her. “You know, kitten, you’re perfectly safe with me.”
“Yeah…”
She doesn’t seem to believe that. The funny thing is, I’m already wanting to pull her into my arms, tell her she has nothing to fear. That I would gladly kill this man—whoever he is—just for her to feel peace.
Strange feelings… She makes me feel things. Things I thought were impossible. I may not be the best man, or have the best track record with women. My relations never went past the bedroom. Pleasure. Power. Nothing more. But this—whatever this is—feels different.
I feel protective of her. This overwhelming need to keep her safe, to touch her, to draw her closer until I can hear her heartbeat against my chest. This was starting to go beyond me simply wanting to tie her up and play a game. She was becoming something more. And I’m going to find out why.
“Well, kitten, I went ahead and approved of you having visitors starting Monday. Also, your new job assignment will be coming here each morning.”
Her eyes perk up, sparkling with hope.
“Really? I can have visitors?!”
“Yeah, starting Monday.”
“Wait, what will I be doing when I come here?”
“If anyone asks, just say paperwork.”
She raises a brow. “Okay… but what will I really be doing?”
I smile. “Well, kitten, I guess you’ll just have to show up every morning and find out.”
She lets out a small laugh, shaking her head. “You really like keeping me guessing, don’t you?”
“Where’s the fun in giving you all the answers?” I lean back in my chair, sipping my coffee.
“Thank you for the coffee and food,” she says softly. “The food here is terrible.”
“Of course it is,” I grin. “It’s a prison.”
“Yeah… I keep forgetting that,” she mutters under her breath.
I glance down at the folder on my desk—her file. Her life, or at least the parts I’ve managed to uncover. But even with everything in front of me, she’s still a mystery. There’s something she’s not saying. Something big. And I’ll be damned if I don’t dig deep enough to find it.
She stands, brushing her hair out of her face, and for a moment my gaze lingers longer than it should. There’s something haunting about her. Beautiful, broken, and defiant all at once.
“Now, you should be getting back,” I finally say, forcing my tone back into something neutral. “And I should be getting some work done.”
“Alright.” She hesitates for a beat. “Bye, Warden.”
“See you later, kitten.”
She stiffens slightly at the nickname but doesn’t argue. Her steps echo across the tile as she walks toward the door. When it clicks shut, the silence of the office feels heavier than before.
I run a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. There’s no denying it now. She’s gotten under my skin. I should be focusing on my business—on deals, control, dominance. Not on a woman with secrets and haunted eyes. But the thought of anyone else touching her makes my blood boil. Whoever this man is, whatever hold he has on her—it ends. Soon.
I glance at the clock. Monday isn’t far away. Soon she’ll be in my office every morning. Soon I’ll have the time, the access, and the leverage I need. She’ll talk. They always do.
And when she finally breaks—when the truth spills from those trembling lips—I’ll be right there to catch it.
And her.