Chapter 3 The Stupid Plan

I didn't sleep.

How could I, knowing I was locked in a stranger's mansion with the man who'd just shot someone?

When the first hint of dawn lightened the sky, I had a plan.

It was stupid, sure, but it was all I had.

I waited until I heard footsteps outside - one of his men bringing breakfast.

The moment the door cracked open, I shoved it hard and slipped through, nearly knocking the tray from his hands.

"Hey!" he barked, but I was already running.

Bare feet pounding the marble, heart racing, I flew down the hall and toward the stairs.

I didn't care where I was going - as long as it was away from here.

I made it to the ground floor before a voice stopped me cold.

"Going somewhere?"

Matteo.

He was leaning against the wall near the front door, barefoot, shirtless, tattoos stark against his skin. His hair was mussed, like he'd just rolled out of bed.

And he looked amused.

I skidded to a stop. "Move."

He didn't.

"Isla," he said, his voice low, calm, infuriatingly calm. "You're making my morning very interesting."

"Good. Now get out of my way."

He pushed off the wall and walked toward me, slow, deliberate, like a lion circling prey.

"Do you know what happens to people who run from me?" he asked softly.

"I'm not your prisoner."

His brows lifted. "You think you're free?"

"I think I have a right to decide where I go."

He stopped inches from me, so close I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes.

"You saw me kill a man, bella," he said. "You think I can let you walk out that door?"

"I told you, I won't say anything!"

His jaw flexed. "And you expect me to trust you?"

"Yes!"

He studied me for a long, tense moment, then laughed - low, dark, not unkind but not soft either.

"You're fearless," he said. "Or stupid. I can't tell which."

"Maybe both," I snapped.

He stepped even closer, until my back brushed the wall.

"You think I won't hurt you," he said quietly.

"You won't."

His mouth curved in a slow, dangerous smile. "Why not?"

"Because men like you don't kill people like me," I said, my voice steady despite the racing of my heart.

His gaze darkened. "And what kind of person are you?"

"The kind you'd regret killing."

We stood there, staring at each other, the silence thick enough to choke on.

Then he leaned in, his lips near my ear.

"Run again," he murmured. "I dare you."

My breath caught.

I didn't move.

He straightened, still watching me.

"Go back upstairs," he said.

"No."

One brow arched. "No?"

"I want to call Luca."

"Denied."

"You can't just cut me off from everyone!"

"I can do whatever I want."

"You're a control freak."

He actually smiled at that, sharp and amused. "Yes."

"God, you're impossible."

"Good thing I like impossible women."

For some reason, that shut me up more than anything else he'd said.

When I didn't move, he reached past me and opened the door to the stairs.

"Last chance, bella. Go up on your own, or I'll carry you."

"You wouldn't dare."

He smirked. "Try me."

I went.

But I didn't stop glaring at him the entire way up.

Back in the room, I slammed the door behind me, even though I knew he'd locked it again from the outside.

My heart was still pounding, my palms sweaty.