I sit back on the Beta’s thighs.
I am no longer pretending to be drunk or seductive.
Instead, I coolly stare down at my captive.
After a moment, Joker blinks up at me. “Are you waiting for my consent? Because you have it, Switch. Or do you need my safeword? Mine’s pineapple.”
I finally allow myself to snort. “My name isn’t Switch. But then…” I pat Joker on the cheek, enjoying the way that he stiffens. “You know that.”
“What do I know?”
“I’m Ro, and you’re JokerHunter.”
The silence stretches between us.
I expect Joker to pretend that he doesn’t understand or to lie. Perhaps, to become scared or possibly, coldly angry like I would.
After all, he must expect that I will kill him.
I’m not going to…yet.
First, I’m going to interrogate him.
I’m stunned, however, when Joker laughs.
“Shit, you’re good.” He flexes his hands, as if testing the handcuffs. He won’t escape them; I’ve tested these and I can’t. “I’ve studied everything about you. I knew that you were one of the best, but it’s nothing compared to meeting you. When did you know that I was…?”
Why isn’t he intimidated by me?
I’m the Alpha.
I’m the one who has him at my mercy.
Why don’t I feel like I’m in control?
“I’m the one asking the questions,” I snarl.
“I mean, yeah, of course you are, baby. But is that why you didn’t kiss me under the mistletoe? I thought that we were having a moment.”
“You promised not to call mebaby.”
“That was when I thought that you wereSwitch. I make no such promise to Ro Adonis.”
“I don’t go by that name either anymore. I’m not a member of the mob pack. They betrayed me. I’m just Rogue now.”
“Is that right?” Joker studies me, thoughtfully.
This interrogation isn’t going right.
So far, Joker seems to be the one who has extracted the information from me.
When I start to pat him down for weapons, he stretches underneath me like he’s casually settling down to sleep.
“Can you at least tuck a blanket over me? It’s cold,” Joker asks.
“What? Fuck, no. You’re my prisoner.” I pull one knife out of his trousers, a second dagger, then a third in his right boot, and a fourth in his left boot. “How many weapons did you bring?”
He smirks. “I live by a simple rule. You can never have too many weapons.”
