That worked.
My heart stopped as I sucked back my scream so fast that I choked on it.
I may not like the things my sister did, but Trina was innocent. Suddenly, the barrel of his pistol wasn’t intriguing anymore. It was the most daunting thing in the world. I could see the abyss in that tiny hole cut into the black metal.
How many people had Preston killed with that pistol? Was their last sight a bullet traveling down a tube, like I was imagining? Or was it a quick and easy ‘lights out?’ No, someone like him wouldn’t let anything be quick or easy.
Preston’s eyes narrowed, daring me to make another peep. Once he was sure I would stay quiet, he removed his hand from my mouth and sat up, pressing his weight down on my hips.
I thought about trying to wriggle away, but even if I did manage to get out from under him, I’d never be able to outrun him.
Then again, I did have options.
I slid my gaze over to the black stone lamp on my bedside table. Smacking him on the head with that might give me the advantage I needed.
“Go ahead,” Preston challenged. “Pick it up.”
My eyes snapped back to his. There was no way he could know what I was thinking. It was too dark for him to see anything. My window only let in a sliver of moonlight.
Unless…
I tipped my head to study the cold gray orbs staring down at me. Surely even someone like him would be a touch uncomfortable in an unfamiliar place. Yet, he was completely relaxed.
“You’ve been in my room before?”
“I have.”
He’d invaded my personal space. Why was that more terrifying than the gun?
I remained quiet and waited for him to do something. Kill me, beat me, slap me, or give me some hint as to why he was here.
Preston didn’t do anything. He just sat there staring at me, which was so much worse.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and my body tensed as the silence continued. Not because he wasn’t doing anything, but because I could feel him on me.
His weight pressed down on my legs, preventing me from kicking. The muscles in his thighs flexed against my hips, reminding me how useless it would be to fight. He was made of stone, and I was the weak material he could smash to bits.
Why wasn’t he smashing me to bits?
Preston didn’t feel bad for any of the countless evil acts he’d committed or sympathize with other people. He did what he wanted and damn everyone else.
I knew this because I’d been watching The Order Of Ravens And Wolves for years. The only thing that made a secret society full of rich and powerful men worse was someone like him.
Was that why he was here? Because I’d researched the founding families and uncovered some of their secrets.
I knew I shouldn’t have confronted them at Chase’s parlor, but I couldn’t control myself. Riley was suddenly dating Micha Kessler, whom she hated with every fiber of her being, then she disappeared. I knew The Order had something to do with it. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Now Preston was going to torture me, kill me, or both.
So, why hadn’t he?
I rolled my eyes over the jean jacket wrapped around his shoulders, then up to his lips, framed by the five o’clock shadow coating his angular jaw. If he’d come to kill me, then why was I still alive?
Sure, Preston looked like a dreamboat, the guy that every girl wanted with his tousled sandy hair, but he was ruthless. If he didn’t want me breathing, then I wouldn’t be.
“Why are you here?”
His brow arched. “Why do you think I’m here?”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was trying to outsmart me. That was a game I could win.
