Chapter 43

Heart pounding, Claudia lifted her chin and walked toward him. She stopped about a foot away and stared back at him. Unable to handle his prolonged angry silence, she said, "I can't just stay here. You know I'm not willing to accept this situation as is."

"Damn it, Claudia," he said furiously. "You can't begin to comprehend how much danger you're in. You can be killed easily if you manage to leave my protection. That was a stupid thing to do, despite the fact that you wouldn't have made it out of the garage."

"I'm just supposed to take your word for it that I'm in danger?" she snapped back. "And if my life is in danger currently, that would be your fault for alerting the men that want me dead as to my whereabouts. I'm better off on my own than with an egotistical, kidnapping asshole!"

"Enough!" he snarled. "Stop talking, Claudia."

"Don't you dare tell me to stop" he grabbed her so quickly she didn't have a chance to react. He pulled one of her wrists behind her back and held it