Chapter 23
“Now’s not the time to play pretend.”
“A kiss is nothing compared to what they were going to do to you.”
I sigh and look away. I hate feeling indebted.
If a kiss is all he wants to clear the debt for saving me… why not?
It’s not like we love each other or have feelings.
We can’t even be in the same room without wanting to kill each other.
“Why do you want a kiss?”
He locks eyes with mine, still wearing that sexy, provocative smirk.
“Don’t get it twisted. I’m just curious what it’s like to kiss an ice queen.”
He called me an “ice queen”? No point responding-it’ll just spark a fight.
“I’ll kiss you… but not now.”
I see it only as a way to thank him, not a sign of affection.
“I could’ve asked for a night with you instead of a kiss, but we both know how that would end.”
“I’d rip off what you’ve got between your legs.”
“And I’d rip out your tongue.”
“You’re such an idiot, Alexander.”
“Not gonna argue with that insult.”
“You’re completely insane.”
“It’s your body that might drive me crazy, doll.”
I roll my eyes at his audacity and shoot him a death glare, then glance at the unconscious bodies of Anis and Franck. Alexander looks at them and gestures with his head:
“What are you going to do with those two?”
I’d love to crush every one of their bones, or play Russian roulette with them, or lock them in a cell and force them to shoot each other… Alexander cuts into my revenge fantasies.
“I suppose you’re gonna call your beloved daddy to send his guard dogs after them?”
He thinks I’m some spoiled brat who lives in a bubble.
It’s the exact opposite.
If I tell my father about this, he’ll make me pay. To him, I’ll look like the weakling he always believed I was-incapable of defending myself against two men, even after all the high-risk missions I’ve done.
For my own sake, it’s better if he never finds out-especially that Alexander saved me.
1/5
“I don’t need my father.”
“If you say so. So what do you plan to do with them?”
I walk toward the corner of the hallway where I hid my phone, under Alexander’s watchful gaze.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got everything planned to make sure they pay. You better go. If someone sees you with me, they’ll know you helped me and might extend your sentence.”
“I thought you were here to figure out what I’m doing-not to help me escape this prison.”
“I have my flaws, but I know how to be grateful.”
“You think the warden’s gonna believe you managed to take them both down on your own?”
“I can be convincing.”
“You planning to leave their bodies here?”
“They’re just unconscious. They’ll wake up soon enough.”
He shrugs and starts walking toward the exit. Then he calls out to me:
“What are you going to tell your father about your mission?”
He doesn’t even bother to turn around when he asks. I bite my lip, knowing what I’m risking tomorrow.
“The truth: I didn’t find out anything about you.”
“Good. And I hope you won’t tell him I know about his little schemes.”
I’d rather surprise him… spectacularly… when he least expects it.
Alexander heads for the exit after those last words. I sigh as images of the attempted rape scene flash through my mind.
I observe Alexander’s well-defined, muscular back-a treat for the eyes.
Get a grip, Inara.
I suddenly have a realization of those misplaced thoughts. I run to block his path so he doesn’t leave.
He looks at me, frowning like, “What do you want now?”
“You can’t leave!”
“Why? Do you want to kiss me?”
“Stop talking nonsense. If the others see you without your shirt, they’ll start asking questions.”
“No one’s going to bother me. Worst case, I’ll just tell the truth.”
Of course, Alexander! Why didn’t I think of that? Go ahead and say I was nearly raped by two of my colleagues and that you came to my rescue like some hero!
If he tells the truth, it could bring serious trouble for both of us—no one will believe it was a coincidence.
“No one can know you helped me. It could get us in serious trouble!”
“So what do you want us to do?”
2/5
Chapter 23
“I have no idea. But I can’t just walk around in your shirt.”
“So what? You’d rather give me back my shirt and walk around with your boobs out in front of everyone?”
I glare at him.
“What? I don’t think anyone would complain, far from it…”
“Go fuck yourself, Alexander. You hear me?”
He gives me a smirk and looks me up and down, biting his lip.
“I could just say I took you to cloud nine, and that’s why I’m shirtless-because you’re such a passionate woman.”
He adds a wink to his stupid idea.
“Can’t you be serious for once?”
“Don’t raise your voice at me. Try being a little more grateful.”
“With the way you act, it’s hard to be!”
“Take a breath or you might have a heart attack. Actually… go ahead. Works for me.”
“You’re even crazier than I thought!”
“That’s one of my best traits-it drives all the ladies wild.”
“Let me think of a plan!”
With that arrogant smile, he puts his hands in his pockets and just stares at me-completely throwing me off.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Scared you’ll jump me?”
I ignore his comment to focus.
“You’re coming with me to the staff cafeteria. I probably left one of my jackets there. We can just switch clothes.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, doll, but there are surveillance cameras in there.”
My name is Inara. Is it really that hard?
“How do you know that?”
“Just worry about not ending up half-naked. Don’t get into my business.”
I have a strong feeling I hit a nerve. Stop acting like an undercover agent, Inara, and think like a woman who doesn’t want to be naked in front of men who haven’t seen a female body in years.
“The problem is, there are cameras practically everywhere in this prison. If they see me alone with you, it’s bad news for
both of us.”
“In the hallways, yes—but not in the bathrooms. And there are some corridors with no cameras because they’re hard to access,” he says.
“That doesn’t help me in the bathroom.”
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Chapter 23
“Do you have the key to the guards’ locker room? You keep your civilian clothes there, right?”
“Fuck… I should’ve thought of that earlier! No cameras in there!”
“That’s why I’m in charge and you’re just the obedient woman.”
Idiot.
“No time to talk. Remember, those two are going to wake up soon.”
He grabs my arm firmly. I look at his hand, feeling my heart rate spike.
“Follow me. I know routes where no one will see us.”
We walk through corridors I’ve never been in. He must’ve spent a lot of time observing and analyzing the prison to memorize all these paths.
It confirms what I’ve been thinking-he’s looking for something in this prison, something he can only get here.
The real question is what? I assume he found it; otherwise, he would’ve found a way to extend his stay.
We arrive at the guards’ locker room. I go to my locker and pull out a basic black top I wore this morning. Just as I’m about to remove his shirt, I feel his eyes undressing me.
“Turn around so I can change.”
“Scared I’ll peek?”
“I’d rather avoid misunderstandings.”
“What do you take me for? A pervert?”
In reality, I’m the one obsessed with his body.
Of course, he’ll never know that.
“It’s been a while since you saw a woman’s body. I don’t even want to imagine the state of your hormones.”
“They’re boiling-but I can control myself.”
“Turn around before you do something you’ll regret.”
“Something I’ll regret? Or something you’ll regret? Afraid you won’t be able to stop me if I touch you?”
Exactly. The sexual tension in this room is suffocating. Things would be so much easier if I didn’t feel such a strong attraction to this man.
“You’re not as irresistible as you think.”
“If I wanted to do something, I would’ve done it long ago.”
“I just asked you to turn around, not hit on me.”
“You don’t even know what hitting on someone means. If I had, you’d be naked by now.”
I don’t respond. I just glare at him. He shrugs and finally turns around. I quickly take off his shirt before he can turn back, and slip into my T-shirt. I clear my throat to let him know I’m done.
I hand him his shirt, and as we exchange, he lightly brushes his hand against mine.
4/5
There, happy now? I’m finally dressed-and so are you.”
“I feel better now. I just need to go see the warden.”
“What are you going to tell him?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
He runs his hand through his hair as he looks at me. His beauty is unfair.
He smiles and leans in close to my ear-so close I can feel his breath. It paralyzes me.
“Come on, show me what you’re made of, doll.”
