His to Take by Shayla Black Read Free Book Online

it would satisfy his weird curiosity so he’d
     release her . . . “Falling on the playground and losing a tooth.”
    “How old were you?”
    “Five, I think. What does this have to do with anything?”
    “Who was with you?”
    Why did it matter?
“I don’t remember.”
    He stared at her with eyes narrowed, dissecting her. She didn’t think he believed
     her.
    “Look,” she began. “I hope you find whoever you’re looking for, but I’m not her. I
     really am Bailey Benson from Houston, just like the records state. I’m preparing nonstop
     for the biggest audition of my career. I’m also expecting company tonight, and he’s
     really special, so—”
    “Blane?”
    When he ground out her friend’s name, she froze. “How did you know that?”
    “I was in your house for a few hours last night. You really should lock your doors
     and windows better.” As she gaped at him, he sent her a little smirk. “By the way,
     I secured your house as much as I could before we left. You need better locks and
     a security system going forward.”
    Bailey wanted to ask why he even mentioned it, but that wasn’t the most important
     question of the day. “So you were the one in my room, hovering over me in the dark?”
    She remembered that heavy presence, just before she’d felt the prick of a needle in
     her neck.
    “Yes. Why did you have a reaction to Viktor Aslanov’s picture on TV?”
    “Who?”
    “The infamous scientist. He was murdered. They showed his photo in the montage during
     Callindra Howe’s interview.”
    Bailey couldn’t answer her captor’s question. She’d seen Aslanov’s image before. Every
     time, it upset her in a way she couldn’t explain. “I don’t know. Why did you take
     me from my house in the middle of the night?” Another terrible thought occurred to
     her. “Are you going to rape me?”
    The big man reared back. “The idea of forcing a woman makes my skin crawl. Besides,
     I was mostly raised by a single mother and I have two sisters. They’d all have my
     balls if I even tried.”
    “A-are you going to kill me?”
    He tossed his hands in the air. “Were you listening earlier when I mentioned that
     I’m trying to save you from winding up six feet under?”
    “And what? I’m just supposed to believe you?” She gaped at him. “If you’re such a
     stand-up guy, why are you drugging an innocent woman—you did drug me, right?”
    “Sedated. It wasn’t like I spiked your drink at a bar to take advantage of you.”
    No, he’d just injected her with some unknown substance that left her unconscious for
     half a day. Because that was so much more virtuous. “What exactly do you want from
     me, Mr. . . . What’s your name?”
    “Not relevant. The only thing that matters is that my goal is to prevent you from
     winding up like this.” He shoved the screen of an iPhone in her face, and from corner
     to corner it was filled with one of the most gruesome images she’d ever seen.
    Bailey screamed. “Oh . . . What the hell?”
    Someone had punctured a young woman’s rib cage multiple times with something that
     made symmetrical, seeping holes. They’d cut off her ears, ripped out teeth, snipped
     off toes. God, she couldn’t look anymore. Why would anyone do that to another human
     being?
    “She’s not the first victim. In fact, she’s the fifth. They should find number six
     soon, sadly. I was just hours too late to save her, but you . . .” He swallowed as
     he pocketed the phone again. “I refuse to let that happen to you.”
    “Why would you think anyone would want to hurt me? How do I know that’s not your handiwork?”
    “You mean besides the fact that I’ve already told you I’m busting my ass to save you?
     If I wanted to torture you to a slow death, why would I show you my intentions first
     so you’d fight me more?”
    “I don’t know! If you’re a deranged killer, you’re not exactly logical.”
    He shook his head, looking as if he