Deadly Captive Read Online Free Page B

Approaching me, he turned the twist cap, his hard stare never leaving my face. He shoved the bottle against my chest. "Drink."
    I knocked the bottle away. "No. If I'm thirsty, I'll have water."
    What happened next almost didn't make sense. Gripping my wrist so hard I could feel bruises form, Joe dragged me toward the bed. I tried to scoot away from him, but he grabbed me by the back of the neck. As he forced me down on the bed, I cried out.
    Poising the bottle against my lips, he pressed the glass rim hard, trying to work it into my mouth. "I said drink!"
    I turned my head, holding back the tears. "Why? Give me a reason you pushy bastard!"
    Raking his fingers through my hair, Joe yanked my head back and leaned in close. "Lydia, if you want to live, you will obey me. Without question. I have my reasons. I don't choose to share them now. You'll see for yourself soon enough."
    "Fuck you." Rolling to one side, I snapped my elbow into his jaw.
    Blood trickled over his bottom lip. He growled and grabbed my arm before I could slip away. "So much for hoping the amnesia would take the fight out of you."
    I tossed my head and sneered at him. "Ingrained in my blood, I guess."

    Letting me go, he stood, took two steps away then dropped his hands to his sides. The bottle bounced against his thigh. Liquid sloshed out and splashed his jeans.
    The scent of peaches wafted through the air, soft, sweet and smothering—so out of place in the tense atmosphere, I felt like gagging.
    Joe took one look at my face and curled his lip. "You know what. Forget it. Don't fucking drink."
    Lifting the bottle to his mouth, he gulped a hearty amount, grimaced, and set the bottle on the table. Returning to the bed, he fished out another bottle from the apparent limitless supply beneath, all the while avoiding my gaze.
    I shifted on the bed, rubbing my abused wrist. "What is this? Reverse psychology?"
    Doing his best to drain the mickey of whiskey in his hand, Joe didn't speak until he was forced to come up for air. "No, I just don't give a shit. If self-preservation isn't enough to make you heed me, you're on your own."
    Out of sheer stubbornness, I tried not to care, but curiosity prevailed. "Self-preservation?"
    He nodded. "Yes. But I'm not going to explain. You wanna believe I'd be this insistent about your drinking just to get my rocks off, suit yourself. I'm taking the time I have left getting myself thoroughly in-toxic-cated."
    The way heenunciated the lastword meant something, but I didn't know what.
    He didn't seem the type to get drunk for fun.
    So what does that tell you?
    Without looking at him, I stepped off the bed, then knelt. Lifting the trailing gray sheet, I took inventory of the vast array of bottles. One bottle, Goldschlager, caught my eye. The imagined taste of cinnamon teased at my tongue. Lifting the bottle, I turned my back to the bed and sat. Relaxing against the metal base, I got comfortable, and then I opened the bottle. Tipping it against my mouth, I poured it back until my mouth overflowed, and then I swallowed and licked the liquid from my lips. The taste was cinnamon, with a bite. Little candy hearts danced behind my closed lids as I drank more, eyes shut tight. My mouth went numb as I drank, but I didn't stop until my stomach clenched like a fiery fist. Bile rose, and I scrambled to my feet.
    Joe intercepted me on the way to the bathroom. "Hold it in, Lydia. Your body will adjust."
    Sweat beaded at my temples, beneath my lips, and along my throat. I whimpered as my guts wrenched in what felt like a pool of acid. The pain brought me to my knees.
    Joe caught me before I collapsed.
    He lifted me up and carried me to the bed. "I'm so sorry, Lydia." He let out a bitter laugh. "God, I've never said that. I've never felt it, and I try to avoid adding lies to my many sins. Even if you'd been a social drinker, whatever tolerance you had would have worn off by now."
    Letting me lay back, Joe passed his hand over my hair, continuing to pet