The knot in his jaw pulsed for a second. He replied in a calm but hard voice, “Bravo, little bird, you’ve made it three days without being unpleasant. Since you are so stuck on your parents being your reason for complying, I’ll take that off the table. So, if you wish to speak your mind to me, then you may do so.” He leaned in close and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his warm breath brushing her. “I find I prefer to know what’s in your mind than to try guessing at your nastier thoughts, anyway. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but in our first few meetings in Toronto, it was your wit that caught and held my attention. I haven’t enjoyed the lifeless doll you’ve become over your worry for your family. You may speak your mind to me from now on without concern.”

She chewed on her lip for a moment trying to judge if he meant it, then decided it didn’t matter, she was also done with acting like she belonged in Turkey with him and his family. She turned her head to glare at him, her eyes inches from his.

“Thank you for allowing me that much, at least,” she said scathingly. “I’ll tell you exactly what I think. I don’t belong here and you know it. Your whole family looks at me and wonders where you picked me up. Even they know I don’t belong, but you refuse to see it. You’ve allowed your sick obsession with me to twist you to reality. And kids? Do you think I want kids with some psycho kidnapper who will teach them to be just as disgusting? Not a chance. I’d rather get an abortion.”

She knew she’d gone too far as soon as the words left her mouth, but it was too late. Unfortunately for her, they arrived at Volkan’s dockyard office.

He wrapped a hand around her bicep and squeezed so hard she thought she would find bruises later. He looked at Henry in the rearview mirror and said, “Park the car. Stay nearby.”

Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? Oh yeah, because he told her she could speak her mind and she believed him. She should’ve known better.

He pulled her from the car, barely giving her enough time to steady herself on her heels before dragging her into the Kartel offices. She saw a blur of glass and steel as she was hauled through the building at a dizzying pace.

They reached the end of a corridor, which opened up into a reception area. A pretty woman stood as they approached, her red-lipped smile falling from her face, replaced with worry when she caught sight of Volkan’s expression. Yasmin couldn’t blame her. She’d pricked Volkan’s temper enough times to know that it wasn’t a pleasant experience.