Isabeau ran for the door. She ran like a human, he leapt like a leopard, clearing the table and landing right beside her as her fingers twisted the lock. She tried to yank open the door, but he slammed it shut with a vicious slap of his palm, trapping her body between his and the wood. She cried out, shaking, feeling small and lost against his enormous strength.

“Ssh, don’t scream. Just stay calm,” he said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

His arms went around her and Isabeau shuddered, keeping her head down, afraid of what he might do.

“Please,” she said softly. “What I did was an accident.”

“Ssh.” He kept her upright with his strength, when she was trembling, her legs rubbery. “Get yourself a cup of tea and sit across the room, away from the table.” He indicated a chair. “Put sugar in your tea. It will help.”

His voice was steady. Pleasant even. And that somehow made it worse, but when he removed his hands, she could at least breathe again. She forced herself to walk to the counter where the tea was steeping.

Isabeau glanced over her shoulder, trying to pretend he was a guest. “Would you like a cup as well?”

His smile was all male amusement. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to put temptation in your path. You would try to throw boiling water at me and then I’d have to retaliate and you’d get hurt. I don’t want that and I don’t think you do either.”

Isabeau concentrated on keeping her hands from shaking as she fixed herself a cup of tea. She waited until she sipped at it before walking to the chair he’d indicated and sitting in it rather gingerly. Had Conner put a knife beneath the cushions? He told her not to panic and she was definitely on the verge of panicking. She made herself take another swallow of the hot liquid and breathe.

“Why are you here?” Her voice was back under control and she let herself feel triumphant. One small victory at a time.

“To give you a chance to come with me. Right now. Before anyone dies. Come away with me. You don’t need anything but the clothes on your back. I’ve got money. Everything Imelda paid me was in cash.” He smirked. “Between what Suma and I took from both Sobre and Cortez, we’ll be able to go anywhere.”

His offer was the last thing she expected. He seemed so reasonable. He didn’t move toward her, which helped her maintain her composure.

“Even if I left a note trying to convince them that I went voluntarily with you, they’d come after us,” she said. “You know that.”

He shrugged, and it was impossible not to see the ropes of defined muscle ripple across his chest, arms and belly.