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Nathan paced back and forth across the tiled floor. Eventually, one of the men glared at him.
“D’you mind?”
“Sorry,” Nathan muttered. He walked closer to the table, where two of the men and the Master were playing a game of cards. “Look, mates, can we chat about something?”
“What?” Master looked up at Nathan with a cold stare. “What d’you want? Worried your little princess down there isn’t getting the right treatment?”
Well, the way you’re treating her is a bit rum. But he thought the better of saying anything. He tried to sound unattached and casual. “Just, tell me you’re going to let her go. Can you tell me that?”
Master threw his head back and laughed. “We’ll do whatever we bloody well please with the girl, mate. You knew that going in!”
“You did,” echoed one of the Only Human henchmen. “What’s it to you, mate? She shags those bloody beasts. She’s nothing.”
Nathan tried not to panic. Had he made a terrible mistake trusting these men? He’d agreed with their agenda when it didn’t include innocent bystanders like Cyn. If anything happened to her because of him, he’d never forgive himself.
Nathan swallowed. “She needs water and fo—”
“Shut it,” Master snapped. “Why not go down there and take her some nosh?” He gestured towards the stove—a pot of oatmeal had been cooked earlier, but now only the dregs remained. “Maybe she’ll warm up to you and you can have a bit of fun with her.”
Nathan grimaced. He took a greasy bowl out of the sink and looked around for a rag and soap. There was none to be seen. Gritting his teeth, he rinsed out the bowl under the feeble tap with his fingers, trying to get rid of the worst of it. When he’d finished, he scooped some cold porridge inside and stirred it around, trying to make it look more appetizing.
“Lover boy’s got it bad,” one of the henchmen cracked.
The Master started sniggering, and the other two men joined in.
“Why not bring her some roses, while you’re at it?” the other OH mercenary chimed in.
He ignored all of them even when the sniggers grew louder. Finally, he stomped out of the kitchen and yanked open the door to the basement. The sound of Cyn sobbing in the darkened basement tugged at his heart. He’d never meant for her to get mixed up in this—or at least he’d pictured it turning out differently when he’d concocted the plan in his head. He didn’t think they’d lock her down there. He’d thought she’d be tucked away in the bedroom upstairs where he might be able to reason with her.
“I’ll be back. Just going to feed this cow,” Nathan lied.
“Sure, lover boy,” Master called. He cracked a grin and the two henchmen burst into nefarious laughter. Nathan rolled his eyes and began descending the stairs, keeping one hand gripped on the bannister.
Being with Only Human wasn’t exactly like he’d expected. For one thing, they were an odd lot. And Master was a simple man. His goal was to kill Fallon once he arrived and post pictures, or a video or whatever, on the Internet. Nathan had envisioned the group being much more put together. He’d figured teaming with them would be better than anything he could have come up with on his own. They’re a bunch of arseholes who don’t even know what they’re doing. He gripped the railing and continued his descent into the basement. Master didn’t seem to have a diabolical plot for taking down the púca, beyond taking out their leader.
Cyn was sitting in the chair where he’d left her. That wasn’t a surprise—after all, she was handcuffed by one wrist—but there was an odd, tangy smell in the air. Nathan sniffed, then frowned.
He cleared his throat and tried to make his voice hard and cold. “I’ve brought you some nosh.”
As he set the bowl down in her lap, he stared. Something wasn’t right. It wasn’t that she’d been crying, it was the deadened look in her eyes. Nathan had never seen anything like it—all of her fire and spirit had drained from her body.
“Cyn?” Nathan leaned in close. She didn’t move or flinch. “Cyn, what’s the matter?”
Her face remained blank. “Nothing. And I’m not hungry.”
“Oh, come now,” Nathan said. He made his voice friendly and genial, the tone that his mother had used to use on him when he wasn’t eating his vegetables. “I know you’ve got to be starving by now, you’ve not eaten in hours, Cyn!”
“Fine,” Cyn said curtly. “Thank you.”
She glanced down at the bowl, tears welling up in her eyes again. Cyn sniffled, then wiped her face with one hand. Underneath her eyes were dark circles, and her skin was oily. He swallowed. Nathan hated to see her this way.
He sat down on the floor. “You’re welcome. Sorry it’s not much. At least, not by your standards. You still fancy yourself a bit of a gourmand?”
Cyn didn’t reply, wouldn’t even look at him. It was heart-wrenching. She dipped a finger into the grey porridge and then reluctantly sucked the tip in her mouth. “This is horrid. I don’t want it.”
“Oh, Cyn.” He felt something tighten, then snap in his chest. “I hate seeing you like this! Please try to eat. What’s the matter? Won’t you talk to me? We were friends once...”
Tears dripped down her cheeks, but this time Cyn didn’t wipe them away.
“Cyn, please,” Nathan begged. He reached out for her but drew back at the last second. “Please tell me why you’re crying. Please tell me what’s wrong. If you tell me, I’ll try to help you.”
Cyn shifted in the chair. She handed Nathan the bowl and crossed her shapely legs at the knee. She was still so beautiful, despite her dark, puffy eyes. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed her delectable lips. Chrissakes, even with a bloodied face, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. He winced at the bloody crack down the bottom of her full lower lip.
“Please, talk to me.”
Cyn sighed, then shifted in the chair. “Nathan...”
Nathan’s heart leapt at the way she said his name—it wasn’t angry or spiteful like it had been before, but kind of sad and pleading. His heart warmed.
“Yes? What is it, Cyn? I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what you need.”
“I’m just so uncomfortable...” She swallowed, then coughed a little. “Being in this chair.”
Nathan was entranced as she licked her swollen, plump lip.
“I’ve been sitting for hours... Could you maybe let me out, just for a while? Just to give my wrist some time?” She pointed toward her hand, which was cuffed to the chair. “I think I’m losing circulation.”
Nathan bit his lip. He wanted to free her—hell, he wanted to do more than that. Take her home to his flat, draw her a nice bath, and then take her to Thai Thai for a reunion dinner. How had this spun so out of control? All he’d wanted was Fallon out of the picture.
“I don’t know,” Nathan said. “Those blokes upstairs, well, they’re pretty keen on you staying put, I’d say.”
“Please, Nathan?” Cyn met his eyes, pleading. “Please, can’t you just uncuff me for a few minutes?”
He was transfixed by her face. It was like the day he’d first seen her. His skin was hot, and he found it hard to say no to her, but he really had no other choice. Master wouldn’t like it if he uncuffed her. He was wracked with guilt, but he was weak. There was no telling what those crazy arseholes would do if she tried to escape on his watch.
“I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m under orders from those Only Human blokes, and they want you to stay put.”
Cyn licked her lips again. Nathan sucked in a sharp breath. The way her pink kitten tongue flicked across her swollen lips was appetizing in a way that made him feel even guiltier. He couldn’t tear himself away from her curves when she crossed her legs again. Was she doing this on purpose? Trying to seduce him? An erection tightened his trousers. Bloody hell, what was she doing?
“Well,” Cyn said softly. “Can you at least get me some water? And maybe something better to eat? Please, anything but that. I’d really like some fruit, or a piece of bread with butter. Please, Nathan?”
Nathan sighed. “I’ll try. I hate that you’re not eating. I want to take care of you, Cyn. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Cyn looked like she might start crying all over again. It broke his heart. Her lashes rested on her round cheeks and Nathan fought the urge to stroke her face and kiss her.
“I’ll go speak to that lot now.” His eyes lit up. “Hey, here’s a thought! What d’you say if I run out to the kebab place around the corner and bring you back a sandwich? You’d like that, right?”
He desperately wanted to please her. Make her smile. Anything was better than a woman’s tears.
“Sure,” Cyn said.
Her voice sounded weak. Nathan cringed—listening to her made his insides feel like they were being wrung through a cheese grater.
“I’ll be right back, love.”
“Thanks,” Cyn said softly.
In a sudden burst of inspiration, Nathan turned around as soon as he was at the foot of the steps.
“Everything’s going to be better. I’m sorry things are so rough right now, but I promise it won’t be like that for too much longer.”
Cyn blinked.
“When this is all over, and you move on and get back to your old life, here where you belong, you’re going to see what a big mistake you made.”
She frowned. “What’re you saying?”
Nathan laughed. Of course Cyn’s confusion could be forgiven—after all, she’d been kidnapped and held with little food or water. She’s probably not thinking straight.
“I mean, you’ll see what a mistake you made by mating with a púca,” Nathan said slowly as if explaining to a child. “I hope one day you’ll forgive me, and then we can finally be together.”
A broad grin stretched his face. It mingled with the guilt, but he couldn’t push it away.
* * *
CYN’S EYES WIDENED as Nathan turned away, climbed the stairs and shut the door behind him.
When she was alone again, Cyn’s heart pounded. She was shaking with fear and anger. Her stomach cramps were still on her mind, but she couldn’t believe Nathan. And then we can finally be together? She shuddered. How could he even think she’d forgive him, let alone want to be with him?
Suddenly, her eyes flew open again. Nathan’s the reason behind all of this. He’s the reason I was kidnapped. He went to Only Human and helped them take me! A sharp wave of nausea crested over her, and she leaned to the side so she wouldn’t be sick. It was no use. As the hot, sour bile poured out of her mouth, she closed her eyes and wept bitterly. Fuck’s sake, he’s lost his mind. Her growing fear and despair were almost overwhelming. And I don’t know how I didn’t see it before!
She remembered how disgusted Fallon had been by Nathan, the book, and his betrayal. All of it was unforgiveable. Even Felicity said there was no redemption, no coming back from that, and he’d never be their friend again. Cyn cursed herself for beating herself up and feeling responsible for his bollocks. It was stupid.
Upstairs there was a loud thump, followed by peals of laughter. The sounds frightened Cyn. They reminded her of where she really was—trapped in a house in God-knows-where, with a bunch of racists and her crazy ex-best mate. She needed to figure out a way to escape. Cyn tried to crush her thumb into her hand and squeeze through the cuff. Even if her efforts were in vain...she had to try.
