Eyes of the Leopard 5: Captive Page 8

  Jumping to his feet and grabbing Casey’s hand in his, Alex urged her to stand. “I’m going to take Casey and leave. She’s mine. My responsibility. You can choose to believe me or not, but trust me when I tell you that if they catch you, you’ll face a fate worse than death.”

  Joey slowly opened the apartment door and peered out into the hallway. He closed it again, turning back to Alex as he and Casey headed in that direction. Casey’s hand trembled in his.

  “Looks clear at the moment,” Joey muttered.

  Casting a long look over his shoulder at the sister he’d finally gotten to see with his own eyes, Alex was warmed to see her mouth the words “Thank you.”

  “Let’s go,” Joey urged them.

  “Wait!” Vitali Kerensky’s commanding voice halted the trio before they walked out into the hallway. Wrapping the thick blanket firmly around his son, Vitali clutched his wife’s arm with a free hand and hauled her up from the couch.

  “Get our coats, Nicole.”

  He approached them at the door, his golden green eyes glittering as he stared at Alex. “I can get us out of here.” Vitali’s voice was gruff. “I know a way.”

  Epilogue

  Casey waited, huddled on the bed of the dingy hotel, wearing only one of Alex’s t-shirts and her panties. Fear had her jumping when the door to their room opened, even though common sense told her that it was just Alex.

  And it was. Her stomach growled fiercely when she spotted the bags of takeout food he clutched in his hands.

  “Are you okay?” Alex set the bags on the bed next to her and kneeled at her feet.

  Casey nodded. She was tired, starving. But they were here, together, and safe with Joey in the next room, his own room. Yes, she was just fine.

  “Good, because I might worry that you’re having second thoughts about this,” Alex said very matter-of-factly.

  Casey smiled at him, shaking her head. No, even after the terrifying escape from New York, hours of being followed by men in black cars, she wanted to be with Alex. It seemed she was still his captive. Instead of holding her physically, now he held her heart.

  “I wish I could offer you more, Casey.”

  She didn’t like the resignation in his tone. “What do you mean?”

  Alex’s intense green eyes locked with hers. “We’ll always be looking over our shoulder. Always expecting them to be there.”

  “Then we’ll find a place to make it hard for them.”

  “I can’t offer you much. As you pointed out, the only education I’ve had is from television.”

  “But you’re bright and you can learn, Alex. We’ll work something out. You’ll see.” Leaning forward to brush a kiss on his lips, Casey rubbed her stomach. “Now give me some food. I’m starving.”

  Alex grinned at her. A positively devilish grin. “Me too.”

  He surprised her by pushing her back on the bed and grabbing her legs. He hooked her knees over his shoulders and a gut punch of lust swept through her. Casey could feel his hot breath on her pussy even through her panties.

  “Not for food though.”

  Casey sighed happily as he pulled down her panties, gentle as rain, and spread her open for his mouth. When the tip of his teasing tongue lightly touched her clit, she nearly came from sheer anticipation.

  Dinner could definitely wait.

  Isabella Jordan

  Isabella Jordan, also known as Isy, left a highly respectable career in academia (read: totally boring) to do what she loves -- stay home with her kids, write erotic romance, and chat with her pals. Fortunately, her husband does the cooking (cuz she can actually burn water) and she’s better at keeping kids alive than she is houseplants.

  Isy is a decisive woman. She chooses to be blonde to reduce the likelihood that she will be given any real responsibility. She chooses to drink regular Coke (with all calories, carbs, and caffeine, damn it!) because it is the soda for the truly enlightened.

  And above all, she chooses to try and make the world a better place. Beautification isn’t her bag because she’s Martha Stewart’s polar opposite. She volunteers at her local women’s shelter because one more stray pet brought home from the animal shelter would result in the mutiny of the resident cook.

  When she isn’t writing, chatting, or playing with her daughter’s dolls, Isy enjoys creative swearing (especially alone in her car), vodka (the alcoholic beverage for the truly enlightened), and the search for the ultimate hair care product for flat hair.

  Isy loves to hear from readers and friends! Visit her online at http://isabellajordan.com