Chapter 4 - Parker

Dreams, even my worst nightmares, had nothing on the fear that was coursing through my veins right now. I could barely breathe, my mouth covered, and my lungs forgot how to strike up a normal rhythm. What the hell was going on? Who were these people who'd just broken into my house?

I shoved harder against the man holding me, trying to pull myself down out of his grip, but the bastard was strong. I had a feeling in my gut that they were connected to organized crime, although I couldn"t quite pinpoint why. I'd come across a few injured lackeys at the downtown hospital. While it was always my Hippocratic oath to help anyone who came into my care, I wanted nothing more than to hurt these men. That's if I could break free.

"Really, that's not going to get you very far."

That man, obviously the leader considering his suit, spoke again, and again, I had to refocus myself after his voice hit my ears—too chocolatey and too intriguing. Stilling slightly, I looked up at the guy, really taking him in this time.

He was older but younger than my father, probably in his forties. Beyond the impeccable suit he wore, I could see a cold calculation in those dark eyes. Everyone around us gave him a wide berth, and his jacket was unbuttoned, a tie long discarded. This man had to be some type of higher-up in the criminal world, and the idea that I'd attracted his attention somehow made my stomach clench.

"That's better."

He smirked at me, and a strange combination of venom and heat licked through my veins. His voice was impossibly deep, and the way he looked at me like I was his to command to do whatever he wanted was infuriating.

What could I have done to piss off a criminal type? I stuck to my work, kept my nose down, and there hadn't been any issues at the hospital that I was aware of. Had we lost someone in the ER that was connected to these people?

I tried to speak against the hand over my mouth, my words muffled and unintelligible.

"I'll let you talk if you agree to keep it quiet. The second a scream comes out, he's going to knock you unconscious. Understood?"

The grip around my arms tightened, and I nodded. Why does this guy have to speak in such a way that makes my skin crawl? I can"t quite put my finger on it, but whatever it is, I don"t like it. I think...

Leader Guy took a step forward, meeting the eyes of the guy holding me, and then his palm was away from my mouth. I licked away the smeared saliva on my lips, and for a moment, I could have sworn the mafioso in front of me tracked the movement with his stare.

Closer to me, I could tell just how tall the guy was, and despite the suit, there were several obvious muscles plastered to his frame. You could easily see this man at a bar and completely lose your pants to him. The thought struck me, making me seriously question my sanity at this moment. Why on earth was I thinking about the person who was actively trying to kidnap me like he was just some hot guy?

Sure, a really, really hot guy with a dark aura that made my nethers tingle, but this was so clearly not the time.

Crossing his arms over his chest and holding my eyes with that impassive but amused expression, he raised his brows at me.

"So, what do you have to say?"

I considered screaming despite the threat, but I wanted to see if I could catch them more off guard when I did that.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?"

Cool appraisal filled Leader Guy's eyes, and my blood flamed through my cheeks. It felt wrong to be looked at like that—like he was sizing me up for the many things that he wanted to do with me. That's when I noticed the small swirl of some type of tattoo crawling up the right side of his neck. If his suit had been properly buttoned, I would have missed it, but as it was, I could tell the design dipped below the folds of his shirt.

I could see that he was indeed muscular, the defined curves of his upper chest standing out against the shadows. Light from my window hit his face, and I noted the intensity behind even this outwardly calm expression. His deep brown eyes bored into me, and a few locks of hair from his longer bangs fell over the side of his face. The man's beard was also well kept, giving him an air of sophistication—blanketed atop a honed carving knife.

"Right now," I stopped my study of his face, renewed terror blooming through me as I realized how his words implied there would be more beyond tonight, "I want you to come with me into the Escalade out back. Quietly is preferred, but if you have to be a little brat about it, there are ways to deal with that."

My mouth dropped open. Had he really just called me a brat? Why did I suddenly want to show him just how bratty I could be?

"Why?" The word tumbled from my lips. "Why do you want me to come with you?"

With a soft chuckle, Leader Guy stepped closer, and I felt that burn in my cheeks tick up another notch. "It's not important to know right now. I can tell you all the details when we get back home."

This fucker wants to take me home with him? Oh, hell no.

He leaned closer, invading my personal space as he studied me, and I saw more ink on his fingers as he scratched his bearded chin. The delicate Roman numerals drawn into his olive skin were at odds with the obvious broken, healed, and rebroken knuckles they surrounded. Clearly, the guy had thrown several punches in his life. In fact…

I swallowed down the growing lump in my throat as I saw the flecks of blood dressing his flesh. The prey mentality in me swirled higher. Even without the obvious proof of his work, this guy was deadly malice wrapped in an attractive shell, oozing charisma and intimidation in equal measure.

It nearly caused me to lose my nerve, but then I registered that evil smirk again, and it doubled down my need to get out of there.

"I'm not going anywhere with you. You can't just kidnap me. There are plenty of people who will notice I'm missing."

I decided to use a logical approach and looked directly into Leader Guy"s eyes as I tried to make him understand. It was ridiculous; I wasn"t someone who drifted from place to place without any true connections. I would be reported missing, and their DNA would be all over this room.

However, taking in this man's presentation, a small voice in my head whispered that he didn't give a fuck about any of that. Just standing next to him was terrifying. I'd observed the human condition for a while now, becoming intimately familiar with my species thanks to my work in medicine. Sometimes, you could just tell something about a person at first glance.

This guy? He was a killer.

"Trust me, Parker." His bravado bled into his voice, and he cocked his head at me. "We know a thing or two about getting what we want and not being noticed. Now, as I've already had to explain once this evening, I am not a patient man. Get moving, or…"

My ears hummed with the rush of blood coursing fast through me, and I felt the telltale edge of panic creep up. This was a bit too similar to my father's demanding behavior for my liking.

But then the guy ducked closer to my ear, whispering so that the only people who would know what he said were me and him.

"Or I can drag you out of here myself, little one." He breathed deep against my skin. "Which would be such a treat, wouldn't it?"

Pressure welled up inside me as my entire body fought against several conflicting sensations. I hated to be restrained like this, but the tickle of Leader Guy's breath against my neck made me tingle all over. I'd never been spoken to like that, never been toyed with so obviously, and in front of a room full of thugs, no less.

My legs clenched together harder on instinct, and it brought my attention to them. I needed out of here. Whatever bullshit, charming magic this guy was working was not a sign that I'd be okay with him. These men had weapons, but if I was fast? Maybe. I had to take a chance—if only so I could look back on this later and say that I didn't just fold like a cheap suit and give him whatever he wanted. Which was clearly me.

Shifting my weight ever so slightly onto my left foot, I held his eyes as Leader Guy pulled back. This was it. This was my one chance. I definitely wouldn't be getting another.

In a quick jab, I kicked out hard when I had the space. My socked foot smashed against the thick muscle of his thigh, making him pull it away. The leader grunted slightly, and I knew I'd gotten a decent shot in. I yanked down, slipping free of the man holding me. I rushed forward. I knew I could get out of here through any window or the front door.

Just as I was hurrying past him, Leader Guy righted himself easily enough. His hand was like lightning, snagging my throat and stopping me in my tracks. I clawed at his grip, but it did nothing. When he finally made eye contact with me, turning to face me dangling from his hold, he laughed.

He's fucking laughing at me? Dammit! No, this isn't—

But my anger wasn't doing me any good. As we continued our battle of stares, I made a move to yell, but Leader Guy backed me up into the wall that was his buddy's chest, and that hand clamped down around my mouth again. The leader stepped back with a grin.

Then, my feet were off the floor as I was hauled up by the arm holding me. I kicked more, harder, flailing wildly to try to get this guy to let me go. At that point, there was no reason to play nice. So, I bit and screamed against the man's hand, glaring daggers at the leader, who just looked tickled by the whole thing.

He released an exaggerated exhale. "Well, fine then. But I did try to give you another option."

Leader Guy nodded to the man behind me, and then one of his hands went to his pocket. At least, that's what I imagined. I tried all the harder to break free of his iron grip on me again, but it was no use, and as soon as he'd retrieved what he wanted, that hand came over my mouth, abruptly silencing my tired screams.

There was a cloth in his palm. As it smothered my mouth and nose, I smelled something off—an oddly sweet chemical aroma that made my nostrils burn for the intensity. My vision immediately began to swim as I felt lightheaded and dizzy. No, no…shit…

I'd assumed he was going to hit me or something to knock me out. I may have preferred that if only because I could recover from it faster. But I was wrong. These assholes were prepared, and as my body went loose in the thug's arms, I realized they'd upgraded their toolkit of just a run-of-the-mill criminal to include chloroform.

Your head is going to ache after…after…

And then I passed out.