Stolen Heart by Sawyer Bennett Read Free Book Online Page B

look on his face clearly said, “Gotcha.”  That irritated her for some reason.
    “The answer is still no Kieran.”
    “Please don’t make me have you eat those words, Annika.  I suggest you hear what I have to say first.”
    There was a threat in that statement and Annika had a sinking feeling in her stomach.  She watched as Kieran walked over to her couch and settled in it gracefully, stretching those long legs out in front of him.  He leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. He looked too relaxed by half.
    “How did you even find me?”
    “It wasn’t hard.  Public records are very easy to access.  Plus, after last night, the name of your nightclub made more sense to me.”
    Annika didn’t know if that was an offensive statement or not.  She decided to be offended.  “What the hell does that mean?”
    Kieran gave her a lazy grin.  “Just that I think you had an itch last night and decided to use me to scratch it.”
    Annika gritted her teeth.  “I told you why we had sex.  It was simply to read your emotions.”
    “Whatever.  I still need you to help me retrieve The Scepter.”
    “The Scepter?”
    “The object that was stolen from Ava.”
    “So what is so important about this scepter anyway?” 
    “That’s not important for you to know.  What’s important is that I need your help to get it.  And there is no doubt that you are going to help me, Annika.”
    That was a threat .  Annika did not like the way this conversation was going.  While she felt completely in control of Kieran this morning, she felt all that supremacy just slip way, like a palm full of water sliding through her fingers.  She had a dreadful feeling that he had found some means by which to convince her to help and that made her sick to her stomach.
    “Go ahead and tell me why you think I will help you.”  Annika hoped her voice sounded strong and sure.
    “I’ve come to learn a lot of things about you today, Annika.  You are quite the surprise.” 
    Kieran paused, maybe to see if Annika would react to that statement, but she just stared at him as impassively as she could possibly muster.  But her heart was beating as hard as a jack rabbit’s legs. 
    “It seems you are quite the philanthropist.  I never would have guessed.”
    Kieran just left that hanging there and said no more.
    “Your point,” Annika gritted out.
    Kieran laughed.  “Okay, I’ll get to the point.  Here it is.  It seems you have quite an interest in helping people.  Not just any people, specifically abused women.  I’ve learned that you lead a non-profit agency here in the city called Saving Grace .  It is a secret, safe haven for abused women.  I’ve also learned, through careful examination of your finances…”
    “My finances?” Annika fairly screeched.
    Kieran held up his hand to stop her. “Please. Don’t even get offended.  Not after what you did last night.”  Annika held her tongue.
    “As I was saying, your tax returns were quite interesting.  It seems you’re the main donor who finances Saving Grace .  Looks like after paying yourself a paltry sum of money to rent the crappy apartment above this nightclub, you give all of the profits from Itch to Saving Grace .  Which is a considerable amount seeing as how Itch makes you quite a bit of money.  And you give it all away.  I find you fascinating, Annika Foss.”
    Annika felt a buzzing in her head. She was beyond furious that he had delved into her private life.  Normally in control of everything, she felt herself spinning.  And she still had no clue where he was going with this information.  Yes, it was all public record.  But the way he related it to her just now was threatening…manipulative.
    “I can see you are wondering where I’m going with this,” Kieran said, as if reading her thoughts.  The amused grin on his face had melted away and now his eyes glittered with resolve. 
    “I purchased today the deed to the building that rents to