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The words came out harsher than he’d ever spoken to me. For once, he didn’t whisper, hiss, or husk.
That simple statement lacked any control.
Against all logic, I straightened, forcing my shoulders back. The idea that I’d somehow turned the tables thrilled me.
Whatever your weak point is, I’m going to find it. And then I’m going to press it until you bleed out.
I white-knuckled the edge of the counter behind me, forcing my bloodlust to retreat. My heart beat so hard, I feared it would break my ribcage and rip out of my flesh.
I couldn’t affordthathospital bill.
Zach clasped the knife with shaking fingers. I replayed the last few seconds. He’d ordered me not to touchhim, rather than his knife.
It could be nothing, but my gut said otherwise.
I conjured all the confidence I could muster, certain I was onto something. “So, what? You’re going to kill me now?”
The muscles in my stomach burned.
I felt charged. A live wire. Buzzing with anger and ire andlife.
I wanted to pounce on this man and strangle him. To finish that Go game. To show him what I was made of.
I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had made me feel much of anything other than Dad.
Friends, boys, acquaintances—they all came and went.
Zach held his jaw, working it back and forth. His knife still pointed at me, just in case. He seemed thoughtful all of a sudden.
I needed to pry him away from his own thoughts.
“You had a deal to offer me,” I reminded him. “I’m listening.”Reluctantly.
His lips curved up in a snarl. “You think you deserve a deal?”Pretty boy, ugly soul.
“I think you’re still here, and you’ve put some thought into my identity, so obviously, you found something you’ve been seeking in me. Don’t let your pride get in the way of your objective. I’m sure there’s enough people out there to stroke that giant ego of yours. I don’t need to be one of them.”
I could tell by his expression that he thought I spoke too much, fought too hard, and was a general headache.
He never wavered in his stance. “You’re the hired help.”
Summing up my entire existence through my job description.
Nice.
“I’m a housekeeper,” I corrected, straightening my spine, not ashamed in the slightest. “Well, if you want to get to the real nitty-gritty of things, I own Maid in Maryland with my fa—” I started to say family, but they didn’t deserve the title. Not by a long shot. “With my stepmother, mostly.”
Zach treaded closer, collecting himself after that weird moment between us. “Your stepmother is useless.”
I could smell him again.
His inimitable, outdoorsy scent that made me think of Scandinavian woods and merciless winters.
I might be smart, but my body was obviously a dumbass. Even if Zach Sun were the devil, I’d willingly let him drag me into darkness.
I was Persephone, eagerly following him into the underworld.
“That’s not true. She has many uses. If you ever struggle to fall asleep, ask her to talk to you about her wardrobe woes.”
