Into the Devil's Underground Read Online Free PDF

heavier on her leg now.
    Her entire body went numb. “I’m tired of sitting in the dark, waiting for something to happen.”
    “Josephine was always afraid of the dark.” Melancholy crept into his normally serene tone. “She said the dark held the powers of black magic, of witchcraft, and bad luck. Poor girl slept with a candle burning.”
    Emilie risked another glance at him. Narrowed in either anger or grief, his eyes glistened with moisture. “She was wrong. All of those exist in the daylight as well. Poor Jo didn’t need to fear the dark. Her bad luck came on a hot, sunny afternoon.” His voice faltered.
    “What happened to her?”
    “That’s none of your business.” Her captor jumped as though jolted with electricity. “Josephine belongs to me and to me alone,” he snarled.
    Barely able to breathe, tears threatening to fall, Emilie scooted as far away from the man as the small space would allow. Her fingernails dug into the bare skin of her calves.
    “I’m sorry.” His voice was contrite. “Forgive my rudeness. That was extremely ungentlemanly.”
    Intimacy had crept back into his tone. What did he want with her? Why did he choose her? When would this end? She’d rather die than continue to endure him.
    The questions raced through her brain at super speed, making her already sky-high pulse ratchet higher.
    “Don’t be afraid, Miss Emilie,” Creepy Guy pleaded. “I would never hurt you.”
    “You already have.” She squeezed the words out between clenched teeth, ignoring her throbbing jaw. She didn’t know how much longer she had before she completely lost her remaining sanity. Making a run for it and getting shot by Joe would be better than the constant closeness of the other man.
    He edged closer until his covered arm brushed her bare one. The material was soft and lightweight. Breathable. Expensive. Not cheap rags like Joe wore.
    “Only because you’re scared. But I knew we were connected the first moment I saw you. Once you allow me to explain my actions, you will understand everything. You carry our connection with you every day.”
    Her chest started to heave. She bit her lip, fighting back the impending panic. She searched for Nathan and found him still sitting next to Joe, watching the two of them. Could he see the sheer terror on her face?
    She didn’t understand any of this. She’d never seen this man in her life. She tasted blood. Her teeth had drilled through the tender flesh of her bottom lip. Swatting the blood away with the back of her hand, she summoned her courage and looked the man in the eye. “We have no connection.”
    “Oh, but we do. I’ve watched you for so long, my dear Miss Emilie.” He spoke softly now. “So many times, I was close enough to reach out and touch you, to make you mine. But the time and place weren’t right. Waiting for you has been torture.”

3
    S HE WANTED TO run, to ask Joe to put her out of her misery, to beg Nathan to take her with them. Anything to make something happen.
    “What are you thinking about, Miss Emilie?” Creepy Guy cocked his head toward her. “You look sad. I don’t like that.”
    Emilie didn’t speak. All she had left was anger and fear, and neither of those would appeal to this man.
    “Your skin has the loveliest pink undertones, Miss Emilie. Its paleness matches your beautiful auburn hair and green eyes, but I see a gold tone as well. The soft white color of your blouse sets it off perfectly.”
    A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. She tasted it on her lips and realized how thirsty she was.
    “White means purity and innocence, of course. Most people who choose to wear it have no business doing so. Few in this world do, except children, for isn’t innocence the essence of childhood? As adults, do we not strive to protect that innocence by any means necessary?”
    He leaned closer, as if they were special friends, his gloved hand brushing her shaking arm. Underneath the mask, his dark eyes were wide and