And he'd once been my lover.
"Sierra," Lorenzo said in a low-slung voice, his eyes opening wide. "My God. What the fuck happened to you?"
I didn't even remember placing the glass on the table, but I wasn't certain I had to strength to pick it up again and God, I needed the damn bourbon. What was happening to me? I wrung my hands, staring at the blood on the towel, horror wrapping its bony fingers around my neck. How in the hell had I gotten myself in this predicament? I shivered to my very core, my heart racing to the point the sound of the beats echoed in my ear. I hadn't intended on coming here but the moment I was in the cab, Lorenzo's address was the only thing I'd been able to remember or say.
I was dirty, filthy, and disgusted with myself, so cold that I could barely breathe. I darted a look in his direction, finding it entirely too weird that I found him so attractive at this moment. By all rights, I should fear him as much as the monstrous asshole I'd come across. I'd been chasing a story for almost six months, a series of horrific crimes I'd been able to link to one man. I'd just needed a last confirmation and nothing more, instead stumbling onto a murder scene. Not murder. Slaughter. And I'd frozen. A weak and helpless girl.
I'd known I was in over my head, but my adrenaline and drive refused to be denied. The informant I'd talked to had promised me a story of a lifetime. My fucking fifteen minutes of desired fame had almost cost me my life.
No, it likely would cost me my life unless a gangster agreed to help me. I didn't want to die but I also knew the chance I was taking in accepting any assistance from Lorenzo. Favors he didn't do. He merely took what he wanted.
Just like he had four years before.
Fucking me.
Spanking me.
Using me.
Oh, God. Oh, God. What was I doing here?
I looked down, trying to find the courage to even speak. I'd never been weak, had always been the girl to take chances, enjoying and savoring adventures. I was a black belt in karate, had a concealed weapons permit. Where the hell was my gun now? Taken. God, it had been taken from me. I was like some sniveling little girl unable to find her voice.
Lorenzo sighed and walked to the couch, keeping his distance yet sitting beside me. "Whatever happened tonight, you can tell me. I'll do everything I can to help you, but you gotta open your mouth, doll. There isn't another way."
I could only nod like some bobble-head doll.
He picked up my glass, gently tugging one of my hands from the cloth and positioning the tumbler so I could wrap my fingers around the thick crystal. When I didn't move, he lifted my arm for me, pushing the rim to my lips. "Take a few sips so you can calm down."
I obeyed him just like I'd done before, licking drops of liquor before taking a few tentative sips. Then gulps.
Lorenzo muttered under his breath as he eased the bloody rag to the table. "Okay, that's enough." He forced the glass away from my mouth and out of the corner of my eye I noticed him shaking his head. "Sierra, what the fuck happened?"
One. Two. Three.
Four. Five. Six.
I counted all the way to ten before I was able to answer. "I witnessed a horrific murder."
He issued another deep sigh. "If you only witnessed it then why are you covered in blood?"
"Because..." I started, shaking even more. After a few additional seconds, I was able to look into his eyes. "Because I was right there when he issued the killing blows, savagely plunging the knife over and over again into the guy. The poor boy was screaming, begging for my help. I tried. I really tried to help him, but I couldn't. I just..." I gasped for air, unable to finish the sentence. I could still hear the monster's laugh as he chased me, only I knew he had no intention of killing me then.
He would wait.
He would hunt.
And he would capture me.
And nothing I could say would sound plausible. There was no law enforcement agency who would believe me either. I'd gotten too close.
"Christ. Just take a deep breath," Lorenzo instructed, his tone emotionless.
There was such coldness in the man, except in his eyes. I would never forget his chocolate brown eyes from before as he fucked me over and over again. I'd hungered for him for months after the tryst, aching to have his cock filling me, his hand spanking my naked bottom.
Then I'd learned his true identity and swore never to think of him again.
But fate had other things in mind. The images of blissful passion filtered into my mind like a movie repeating itself.
Days spent together, obeying his every command. Remaining naked in his room, chained to his bed for a time. The harsh spankings. The brutal fuckings. Hell, I hadn't seen the sun again, except for in passing, until I left Cancun and I hadn't cared.
"The killer. Let me get this straight. You followed someone to Fuller Park in the middle of the freaking night for what reason? You're not a cop."
"No, not a cop, but I... I had to."
"Uh-huh. I don't take you for a stupid woman, Sierra. There is a reason and I already told you, I refuse play games. If this is some kind of ploy or if you lie to me, I will know and trust me, I will punish you."
"Ploy? No. I'm telling you the truth." The man was threatening to punish me now? I should be shocked, but this was the man I believed I could trust. Something had to be wrong with my brain for thinking I could come here and get help of any kind.
He seemed exasperated. "All right. Then go on."
Why was I terrified to tell him the entire story? I was exhausted, my stomach churning from the intense nausea. "I was stupid. Just stupid. Don't worry about it. I'll be fine."
"You must have a death wish, Sierra. Do you know what kind of criminals walk streets in that part of Chicago? They would kill you for the clothes on your back. Fuck." He abruptly moved to a standing position, walking toward an oversized window. "Jesus Christ. Whatever the hell you were doing there, you were damn lucky."
My God, he was so angry.
I watched him as he processed the fact I was here, let alone the reason. I knew at that moment I'd made a huge mistake coming to his house for any reason. I struggled to my feet, still swaying, lightheaded from the terror riddling every cell and muscle. The cab driver had tried to take me to the police, but I knew that was the last place I wanted to go. I couldn't trust them. Hell, I was no longer certain I could trust myself.