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His fingers trailed between her breasts once again, and he was glad he had cut her clothes from her The chill air of the lair he had chosen peaked her nipples as though she were aroused As though she waited for her lover, naked and spread out upon the met

al table

Her ar over the table, the chains attached to hooks in the floor Her legs were lifted, spread, and held by the heavy chains he had attached to the ceiling

His thumb brushed over a nipple, and still she didn’t react

“Does ice water or blood run through your veins?” he asked as he continued to touch her

The feel of her flesh was exquisite It was a shaer feel the warht Her arer know the slide of her silken flesh against his body

“Does it h it?” She didn’t blink; she didn’t cry; she didn’t plead

What satisfaction would he gain from this death? he wondered Well, besides the nice fat payment that would be deposited in his account once her beautiful body was found And the fact that his e his identity That was beco of a problem for him He would have never taken this job without that threat backing his required fee

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t hed “Are you not curious why you’re here? Who ordered your death?”

“Would it matter?”

He smiled back at her “You could take the name of the one who ordered your death into the afterlife with you Does that matter?”

Her lips quirked “Whether I know his name or not will make no difference in my afterlife The One who matters knows his name; He knows the name of the one who hired you He knows your soul He knoho to punish”

He nearly flinched at the belief that resounded in her voice She believed when he didn’t, yet her belief had the power to send a jolt of concern through him

Bah He wouldn’t allow this

He grinned back at her ly “Your God will punish me then?”

She said nothingHer lips h he didn’t know the words she whispered She whispered them to herself Perhaps to her God

He fingered the one article he had left on her body A symbol of her faith The Star of David He had always admired it Her husband, Garren, had had it crafted for her Each point of the six-sided silver star held a drop of gold inset in the point It was siold or silver

“Your son will find your body,” he decided aloud, wondering if she would react to that decision

There was no reaction She stared ahead, her gaze fixed on soot her through death, he decided as he moved from her and chose his blade

“Perhaps I will give you my real name before the last breath eases froht want to tell your God who I aives a damn that you’re dead”

No reaction, but had he really expected one?

This part was usually his favorite He moved back from the table and didn’t feel the fah

He had always enjoyed playing with the them He liked the moment when their eyes opened and they realized they were standing on death’s doorstep