Page 31 of Eternal Surrender

“But she’s ready for me,” he said.

“Tell Zachary to check on Sergeant Blake,” I said.

Marcus gestured for me to join him across the room. “Since when do you give me orders?”

“I’m getting results.” I glanced toward Ingrid. “She’s submitting.”

He curled his knuckles and rested them against his lips.

“By the time I’m finished with her,” I said, “she’ll be begging to be turned.” I left Marcus standing there and returned to Ingrid, lifting her chin again. “Good girl.”

Her eyes burned with fear and she was breathing rapidly, trying to think her way out of this. The door slammed shut. Marcus had gone.

Within seconds, I had scooped a cube of ice out of a drink and held it against the burn to soothe the sting on Ingrid’s forearm.

I flicked open Ingrid’s right shackle, easing out her wrist. She held back a sob, bracing herself for another attack.

“Do exactly as I say.” I had the other shackle open, and her left hand was free.

She rubbed her wrists, not trusting the moment, not trusting me, staring wide-eyed at the branded O on her forearm. I picked up what I assumed was her leather jacket and grabbed her hand, pulling her across the room, checking the outside corridor was clear. We made our way toward the lift. Ingrid tried to pull away forcing me to tighten my grip.

I punched the elevator button. “I’m getting you out of here.”

“Where’s Blake?” she asked, breathless.

“He’s not here.”

The doors parted, and I pushed her in. “Not another word, understand?”

The lift jolted and began its ascent.

She faced me with her back to the elevator doors. “Where are we going?”

I handed her Blake’s tie. “In less than a minute, you can give that back to him.”

“What the hell did you do to me?”

I tried to tolerate what seemed like an endless climb upward to the ground level.

“You assaulted a police officer,” she snapped.

I wanted to tell her she’d thank me later, but now wasn’t the time.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“A friend. . . of a friend.”

“Jadeon? Tell me where I can find him.”

“Have you any idea of the danger you’re in?” I asked.

She seethed. “My job is to hunt criminals.”

“What are you even doing in London?”

“What do you know about me?”

I punched the up button several times even though the lift was ascending, as though it would make it go faster.