Free FREE (The Billionaire's Rules, Book 16) by Kelly Favor Page B

there in her hood, in the most dangerous situation of her life, Lanie started to laugh.
    At first, it was just a little chuckle, but then it turned into a giggle and then a louder, stronger belly laugh.
    She shook her head, surprised at how sometimes the biggest demons could turn out to be nothing but a child’s nightmare. Something that when exposed to the light was just a joke, a misunderstanding, the confusion translating into years upon years of anxiety and terror.
    But she no longer felt afraid, and the ironic thing was that these stupid hackers had kidnapped her intending to frighten her. But instead they’d cured her of a lifelong phobia.
    Lanie’s laughter grew in volume.
    “What the hell’s so funny?” Frida said, pulling off the hood.
    Lanie shook her head, blinking. “Nothing. Private joke. You had to be there.” She smiled.
    Frida exchanged glances with the potbellied man, who was holding a camera now. He motioned to Lanie. “We’re going to untie you,” he said. “But only if you agree to make a statement that calls Brayden Forman a sexual predator, a disgusting pig who harassed, violated and raped you. Of course, you can use your own words, but the more convincing the better.”
    Lanie sighed. “I’m not giving a statement,” she said.
    Frida stared at her with black eyes. “You will give a fucking statement, little shit. Or the hood goes back on. And I know you don’t like that hood.”
    Lanie turned and made eye contact with her. “I can see why Brayden never wanted you,” she said. “Because he saw how ugly you are inside.”
    Frida made as if to punch her, but the potbellied man called out to her.
    “Don’t do that,” he said. “If you mark up her face, the statement becomes meaningless. They’ll know it was coerced. And besides, we don’t do that kind of thing here. We’re an ethical community.”
    Lanie stifled a laugh. They called kidnapping and torture ethical? How cute.
    “I’m not going to make a statement,” she repeated. “You can put the hood on, you can torture me, you can starve me. But I’m never going to lie about the man I love.”
    Frida’s face went pale. “You love him? You liar.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” the man said. “Put the hood on her again. We’ll be back soon enough.”
    Lanie settled into her chair, and this time, there were no tears or wailing, no pounding heart or any heavy breathing as she gasped for air.
    She felt strangely calm and composed.
    In the darkness, she turned her mind to Brayden, thinking of his face, making it so clear that she felt she could reach out and touch him. And Brayden was looking at her too, his eyes kind, his lips playing a smile.
    His eyes told her to stay strong and not to worry.
    Lanie smiled back, telling herself that as long as she could think of Brayden—none of the darkness mattered anymore.
    It’s not real , she told herself.
    What’s real is us.
    And I’ll never be afraid, as long as I know I have him. I’ll never break, I’ll never say horrible things to make them let me go. I won’t ever betray Brayden again.

    * * *
    A long time passed , but Lanie stayed quiet, and nobody came to bother her.
    After awhile, she fell into an uneasy sleep.
    She was startled awake by someone untying the bonds around her ankles, and then she was picked up and brusquely made to stand, forced to walk, even though she was stumbling with numb feet after so many hours tied to the chair.
    Nobody was talking or telling her anything, but Lanie was compliant, although she instantly felt alert and awake.
    Something was happening and her senses told her that it was something big.
    A thrill of fear ran up her spine.
    Is this it? Are they going to kill me?
    Please, no. I need to live—I need to see Brayden again, to be with him, to hear his voice. We haven’t even really had a chance to have our life together yet.
    But we will, I think—if I can just get through this.
    Up the stairs she went, guided roughly, pushed, then pulled