He’s young, perhaps in his mid-twenties, with wheat-colored hair and golden eyes. And unfortunately, he’s very handsome—the kind of man Kassandra would be interested in. Well, except for the fact that he’s staring at me like I’m a fish he’s about to gut.
The portly man leaves the room, only to return a moment later with a chair. He places it across from me, and the newcomer sits down, his gaze never leaving mine.
He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Who are you?”
I raise an eyebrow. “I believe it’s customary to introduce yourself first, considering I was dragged here andtied up.”
Amusement crosses his face, only to fade as quickly as it appeared. “You’re in no position to be making demands.”
I frown at him and speak in the most sarcastic voice I can muster. “I wasn’t aware there was a proper etiquette for being kidnapped and interrogated.”
The man speaks in a tone sharp enough to pierce steel. “Tell me your name, or I will order my men to take you outside and throw you over the nearest cliff.”
That doesn’t sound very appealing.
My throat tightens as I force the words out. “My name is Everly.”
He cocks his head to the side and studies me. “What were you doing in the alley, Everly?”
Even if I told him the truth, he probably wouldn’t believe me. “I was out for a leisurely stroll. I find that dark alleys are the perfect place for fresh air and sunshine.”
“Are you always like this?” he asks, folding his arms. “Evasive? Annoying?”
“Most of the time. It’s one of my many qualities.”
His gaze narrows as he points to the red circle stitched into my surcoat. “You’re an outsider, yet I’ve never seen you before.”
“I’m new to the city. I arrived today, and I’ve already been treated so graciously.” I turn my head, giving the men who kidnapped me a long, pointed look.
They glare at me, as if my mere presence is the cause of their receding hairlines.
“What did you hear when you were spying on Balik and Merrick?” the man asks.
Spying? As if I would ever stoop to such underhanded tactics.
“I didn’t hear anything,” I lie, knowing the truth could sign my death sentence.
“You must have.” He keeps his stare fixed on mine. “Otherwise, my men wouldn’t have brought you here.”
His men?
The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. He’s their leader—the one pulling the strings behind this entire operation.
“I wasn’t spying,” I say, needing him to understand. “I stumbled on a loose brick, and your men attacked me, blindfolded me, then brought me here.”
“I see.” He drums his fingers against his thigh as he continues to stare at me.
“Can I go now? I need to find employment.”
“No. You may not go,” he says calmly, yet his words send a chill through my heart.
The ropes bite into my wrists as I rest my hands against my thighs and try to think my way out of this, but after a moment, I can’t come up with a single idea to help me.
The man leans forward again and pins his eyes to mine.Hades! Why does he have to be so handsome? It would be better if he were ugly.“I cannot spare your life.”
How can he say such cruel words so calmly? So callously?
Does he go around ordering death sentences every day?
