Ezra observed Aubrey as she sat in the chair across from him. Her back was straight, and her eyes kept flicking back and forth between him and Jearon, sitting beside him. She was scared, and that was starting to make him on edge. He had no reason to care whether this girl was frightened, but he didn't like seeing the fear in her eyes. Already she was doing something to him, and if he was being honest with himself, that scared him with how fast his head was going. He had never allowed himself to feel whatever he was feeling before; why now? He leaned further into his chair and sighed loudly, hoping to get Jearon's attention. 

"What is it, Ezra?" Jearon asked, annoyed. He didn't take his eyes off her the entire time. Ezra worked hard at controlling his temper as he watched the look in Jearon's eyes. He didn't like it at all. It unnerved him. 

Ezra looked over at him. "We've been sitting here for ten minutes, and all you've been doing is staring at her." He snuck a glance at Aubrey and noticed her looking right at him. She was brave to make eye contact; he'll give her that. "I think you're freaking her out." One side of his mouth twitched as he noticed her hand, a slight nod confirming that she was getting freaked out by him. 

"I am not," Jearon stood up and walked over behind Aubrey. "Such a pretty girl. Don't you think, Ezra?" Jearon leaned down, placing his head close to Aubrey's, and looked at Ezra. There was a gleam of what looked like danger in his eyes, making Ezra nervous. "I think that this pretty thing should come home with me." Aubrey's eyes met his for a second before she squeezed them shut. Jearon reached out and started twirling her red hair between his fingers. Her breath hitched, causing Ezra's jaw to clench. 

Ezra's hands clenched. Jearon never had a good reputation with women. However, Ezra didn't understand why he felt protective over Aubrey. She was just a mission and wasn't supposed to be anything more, but for some reason, he wanted more. He already wanted her. He surely wasn't going to let Jearon touch her. 

"I don't think that's a good idea, boss," Ezra slowly told him. He was trying hard to keep his attitude in check. 

Jearon looked up sharply at him. "Why not?" His words held venom in them that Ezra didn't want to have unleashed onto him. 

Ezra stood up. "Because the cops will know exactly where to look. They won't arrest you, but they will take her back. Her father's rich, Jearon, and they will do what he tells them. If she goes with you, whether in your house or the warehouse, they will find her, and you won't get the ransom money you want."

Jearon walked over to Ezra and looked up at him. Jearon only came up to Ezra's eyes, making Ezra look slightly down at him. Jearon gave him a challenging look but eventually sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Now, that is why you're my right-hand man, Ezra." He wagged his pointer finger at him. "You're smart." He chuckled. 

"I thought I was your right-hand man because we were best friends?" Ezra faked a smile as he crossed his arms over his chest. 

Jearon chuckled. "Yeah, that too." He looked down at Aubrey. He reached out and started twirling her hair between his fingers again. Ezra bit his tongue. "Why wouldn't they think of your place?"

"I remember very well that you made sure my name was never released to the cops," Ezra explained. "It would be better for her to stay here."

Jearon looked at Ezra skeptically before nodding. "I guess that's wise. I'll leave her with you." He stood up straighter and walked back over to Ezra. Once he was just a foot in front of him, he whispered, "Don't let her out of your sight."

"I won't."

"Good," Jearon nodded. He took one more look at Aubrey before walking towards the door. "Oh! One more thing." He turned back around to see Ezra standing right behind him. "Don't touch her. I want her. I'm the only one who's going to be touching her body. She's mine." He gave Ezra a knowing smirk before patting his chest and walking out the door, closing it behind him. 

Ezra's hands were still clenched at his side, and he waited until he heard the car start and drive away before turning towards Aubrey. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped when he noticed her staring at him. "What?"

Aubrey kept her eyes on him as she cocked her head to one side. There was still fear in her eyes, but not as much as earlier. "Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Convince your boss to let me stay here?" Aubrey stood up slowly. "Why would you do that? I'm no value to you, only to him."

Ezra shrugged. "As I told you, I'm not the bad guy. I'm just someone doing what they're told. It's my job." He ensured the door was locked once more before turning back towards Aubrey. "I was told not to let you out of my sight." He started to step towards her as she stepped back.

"You're sure acting like a bad guy right now," her voice quivered slightly. Her eyes were now confused.

He approached her quickly and picked her up to sit on the couch. She tried to push him away, but he was stronger. He leaned close to her face. "I would stop fighting." Instantly, she stopped moving against him, and her breathing hitched. "I'm not going to hurt you, but I've got other work. Now, stay here." He didn't move until she nodded, understanding that he would chase her and plop her back down on the couch as often as it took until she obeyed him. 

He moved away from her and returned to the bag he had left by the door. He opened it up and took out a pair of handcuffs. It had been a while since he was with a woman, and images of using these with Aubrey instantly ran through his head. He shook his head and pushed them out before turning back to Aubrey. Her green eyes widened as she looked at the handcuffs. She started to move off the couch. He was going to need a cold shower later.

What is wrong with me? 

"What did I tell you?" he warned her. She sat back on the couch and placed her hands underneath her legs.

Ezra knelt in front of her and held the handcuffs out. "I'll make you a deal." He smiled at her. "I'll only use these if you try to escape, and you'll be cuffed to me." He let her digest that before continuing. "On the other hand, I won't put these on you if you promise that you won't try to escape or run from me. Do we have a deal?"

Aubrey nodded quickly. "You said all of the doors and windows are locked. I can't go anywhere." 

"Good girl." Ezra stood up and held his hand, helping her off the couch. "Now, follow me." He lightly pushed her in front of him and led her to his office. He turned the light on and looked around the room, happy that everything was still where he had left them. Three computer monitors sat on a long glass desk. He closed the door and turned to Aubrey. 

She met his eyes for a split second before looking down. He sighed as he lightly grabbed her elbow and led her to the black leather chair in front of the monitor. He sat her down and stood behind him. He leaned forward and turned on each of the monitors. One of the monitors held four separate boxes with a video of the warehouse. The pictures were in black and white. 

"What are those videos of?" Aubrey's voice squeaked out. She looked up at him as she pointed to one of the monitors. 

He looked over at the monitor she was talking about. "That's surveillance of the warehouse."

She looked up at him. "You're the only one that watches it? Why is it here?"

Ezra turned his attention off of the monitor and backed down at her. When his eyes met hers, she instantly dropped hers back down to her lap. "You're asking a lot of questions." He waited to see if she would respond before turning on the last two monitors. The middle one was surveillance of his house, and the previous monitor was of Jearon's house. 

He stood behind her and watched the monitors for close to an hour before hearing rumbling from below him. He looked down at Aubrey and watched as she placed her hands on her stomach.

"Are you hungry?" he asked her.

Aubrey nodded, her eyes still downcast.

Ezra placed a hand on her shoulder. "Follow me to the kitchen." He had her stand up and wait as he unlocked the door. He led her into the kitchen. He pointed to the barstool at the island. "Sit." She hurried to sit down, and he turned around to the refrigerator. All of his appliances were excellent and stainless steel. The cabinets were painted black. It was a pain in his ass to clean his appliances. He liked the look of stainless steel, but any sight of a fingerprint annoyed him. He spent way more time cleaning them than he would like to admit.

He only had his back to Aubrey for a couple of seconds before he heard movement behind him. He turned around and saw red hair fly around the corner. Ezra shook his head in annoyance as he followed after her. He walked into the living room and didn't see her. 

"Aubrey?" he called out. He had to give her something; she had the guts to run from him. "What did I tell you earlier?" He heard movement come from upstairs. He stalked up the stairs and noticed his bedroom door was closed. Slowly opening it, he looked around the room. Hearing movement from his closet, he smirked. She's not very quiet. He swung the door open, swinging the cuffs back and forth in front of him. 

A sickening feeling started in his stomach as he looked at Aubrey. She was sitting in the corner of his closet, her knees up to her chest. Fear filled her eyes as she looked up at him. Sighing, he stepped into the closet and closed the door. He flipped the light switch on and knelt in front of her.

"I promised you I wasn't going to hurt you," he reminded her slowly. "Do you remember that?" 

"Yes," she whispered. She kept her eyes on him wherever he went. He made sure not to touch her, not knowing what her reaction would be if he did. 

He leaned his head back against the wall. "Stop running."

Aubrey looked down at her feet. "You're going to handcuff me now, aren't you?"

Ezra thought about it but decided he didn't want to see the fear in her eyes again. He wanted that feeling to go away. He would never let Jearon touch her, but he needed her not to fear him. He shook his head. "No, princess." Her eyes shot up to meet his. "I'm not going to handcuff you." He stood up and held out his hand to her. "If you're still hungry, I'll make you some lunch. I'm going to be making some food for me anyways."

Her eyes darted back and forth between his hand and his face. Her body relaxed just an inch as she reached out to grab his hand. "I'm hungry. Can I have waffles?"

Ezra smiled down at her. "I'll fix you whatever you want, princess."