Feisty. Had last time given him a thirst for something more violent? That’s if it even was the same guy. It was too hard to tell. The emails always came from a new account, and the details I was supplied with were minimal.
“Mace?”
I glanced over as Leet threw her hands up in the air in frustration. “See? You’re not even listening to me. That’s exactly what I mean.”
I handed her my phone, watching her mouth drop as she read the email.
“So, what now?” she demanded.
I shrugged. I didn’t want to say it.
Her eyes darkened. “No way, Mace. Not again. I swear, if you want there to be any chance of us getting things right . . .”
“What’s the alternative, Leet? I’m so close. I can’t just let this go.”
“Fine,” she said. “Then use me.”
“No fucking way,” I growled. “Leeta, you are not doing this—”
She threw the phone back at me and got to her feet.
“Come on, Mace. Brunette? Slim? I’m perfect for his sick little fantasy, and you know it. He wants feisty? I’ll give him fucking feisty,” she stated, stalking around the room.
It was pointless even arguing with her. I sat down and sighed. She walked around and stood between my legs. Tilting my chin up, she forced me to look at her.
“You know this is perfect, Mace. You know it. I can be of so much use in there with you. We have a real shot at getting this guy.”
I nodded and leaned forward, wrapping my arms around her hips. She was right. I knew she was right, but if anything happened to her because of me, I’d never forgive myself.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Leeta
Now we were getting somewhere. I’d expected Mace to put up a much bigger fight against me being the bait, but he had relented pretty damn quickly.
This was going to work. It was perfect. With me there, I could pick up so many clues that I just couldn’t get from those damn videos. And if Tim could track their IP address, we had such a good chance at catching them.
And then what?
The little voice in the back of my head kept asking those three little words. Once this is all over, then what? There was no way things could go back to normal, but could I forgive him? Did I want to forgive him?
I did. Every time I thought about this whole mess I found myself trying to think up reasons to defend his behaviour. And I actually admired his devotion to his family. I just wished it wasn’t occurring at my expense.
“Tell me what is going to happen,” I asked him as he set Chinese down on the table. He passed me my sweet and sour pork, frowning.
“You’ve seen the video’s, Leet,” he said quietly. “You know what to expect.”
“There is nothing missing from those videos that might shock or surprise me?” I asked nervously. God, I didn’t even want to know.
He shook his head. “Not really, I mean, walking in there you’re probably going to be terrified. The house is scary, old and abandoned, but that’s nothing compared to the feeling of walking into that room.”
I shuddered just thinking about it, setting my food down on the table. Suddenly I wasn’t that hungry.
“I’ll be there with you every step of the way, okay? Just remember that.” He sighed, reaching for my hand. “You don’t have to do this, Leet.”
But I did. What were my choices? Force him to give this up? Let him fuck another woman? I did have to do this.
#
I slept alone in the bed while Mace slept on the couch. By slept I mean I tossed and turned all night, stressing about Wednesday. Every time I closed my eyes I imagined myself in that room. Only it wasn’t Mace there with me. It was that voice.
I need a drink. Creeping from the room, I snuck into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Glancing over at Mace I watch as he stirred then rolled over. I pulled out an orange juice and carried it back to my room.
Picking up my phone, I checked the time. Four a.m. What time did that make it in the U.S? Not that it mattered. Laura was incredibly hard to get a hold of. I pressed dial anyway. Maybe today was my lucky day?
No such luck. The tone ran out, and then went to her message bank.
“Hey Laura, I know you don’t check your messages like ever, but if by chance you get this, call or email me. Anything. I really need to talk.”
“Are you okay?”
I looked up to see Mace standing in the doorway. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes took in his body. Except for a pair of briefs, he was naked.
He was also half asleep.
“I’m fine.” I smiled. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Yeah, I thought I heard talking,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
“I was just trying to get onto Laura.”
He nodded, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Hope you get some sleep.” He turned and began to walk out.
“Mace?” He stopped at turned back. “Will you…can you hold me?” My face flamed. I felt like an idiot. He smiled and walked over to the bed, climbing under the covers.
Sighing, I snuggled back into his embrace, my body relaxing.
“Course I will. Anything I can do, I’m here, okay?” I nodded, cupping his hand in mine. The warmth from his body, and the strength from his arms around me was all I needed. My heavy eyes began to close as I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Leeta
Stupid fucking idea.
What the hell had I been thinking?
Mace narrowed his eyes at me. I smiled and reached for his hand, trying to reassure him—or myself—that I was okay. I could do this.
“Leet, I’m not sure about this.”
“It’s a little late now, isn’t it?” I snorted. Wednesday night, and we were sitting in his car, on our way to the destination. “Look, you need to focus. You have to remain as impartial with me as you were with the others.” My chest tightened as I spoke. I hated thinking about him with anyone else other than me. It made me sick. More than that, it made me fucking angry as hell.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asked quietly.
I nodded and pressed my lips together. I wasn’t about to tell him that I was no stranger to kinky shit like this. Now was not the time to delve into my relationship with Ben.
The hardest thing for me was going to be separating myself from Mace. I had to play the victim. What if I enjoyed it? What if, in the moment, I lost myself, and it became obvious that I was aroused?
My reaction hinged on this going well. He wanted fear. That was what this guy lived on. I just wasn’t sure I could play the terrified, submissive role.
#
“We’re here.”
I jumped, Mace’s voice startling me. I looked out the window at what appeared to be an abandoned house. Here?
“It belongs to an acquaintance of my brother.”
Huh. I reached for my seatbelt as Mace’s hand closed over mine. I glanced up at him in surprise.
“Thanks. For this. For not going straight to the cops.”
I nodded. Why did my heart race every time he touched me? Why did I feel like I’d done something wrong by him every time he looked at me with those sad eyes? Why was I the one feeling bad?
The fact that I couldn’t hate him made me want to hate him even more.
I got out of the car, my heart pounding. Mace slipped his hand into mine and squeezed it. I smiled up at him, confused by what I was feeling. Apart from feeling like I was about to vomit, I felt dizzy and more scared than I’d ever felt in my life. I kept thinking about Anna—how scared she must have been.
Taking a deep breath, I took a step toward the house. Mace fell in line beside me.