Page 31 of Secrets of the Six

“Who do you work for?” A male voice booms, startling me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I attempt to wiggle free from my bonds, but the rope is expertly tied and gives me barely enough room to breathe. “Who are you?”

“I have the same question, Señorita.” I hear a chair slowly dragging closer to me; the legs scraping against the wood floors. I know it’s an intimidation tactic and hate to admit it’s working.

“Listen” – I say, attempting to calm my rapidly beating heart – “my family will be looking for me.”

“Please, Señorita.” His voice reeks of pity, as if to say he knows exactly what I am and my feeble attempts at deception will not get me out of whatever hell he has planned. “I would rather do this the easy way.” The chair finally settles in front of me, and the man plops down.

I swallow, my chest rising and falling as I fight to steady my breathing. "What is it you want? Money? Favors? I'm sure my father will– "

"I know you were sent to spy on me and the other Dons," he interrupts with a calmness that rattles me. "What I want to know is who sent you and if your employer's goal is to overthrow the Soberano?"

"Señor, I have no idea what you're talking about." I summon tears to my eyes, hoping he will see me for a damsel in distress as they slip down my cheeks. "I swear, I sneaked out of my house to have a little fun in the Night District."

Suddenly, it's utterly quiet and my stomach flips. Heavy footsteps march from across the room until they're behind me fiddling with my blindfold. When the fabric falls from my face, I blink several times to adjust to the dimly lit room.

From the silence outside, I’m positive I’m no longer in the Night District and can only assume from the rectangular shape of the room, I'm in the Silver or Bronze district. There are two narrow windows in the sparsely furnished room, but the heavy drapery shields the view from me. However, a small gap in the curtains gives me a sliver of hope when I see it's still dark outside. Meaning I haven't been here long, but it's long past mandatory curfew.

With my sight restored, I glance across at the man straddling the wooden chair and my stomach drops.

"I would truly hate to hurt you."

"Don Rafael." I am in deep shit. "I swear to you, I'm not lyi – "

"I did not crawl to the height of power for a pretty face to derail me with poisonous words!" The first sign of viciousness rears its ugly head.

My eyes dart from him to the stranger now leaning against the back wall, arms crossed over his broad chest. In contrast to Rafael's stylish hair and expensive suit, the second man's black, wavy hair is loose above his shoulders and there is nothing particularly extraordinary in the way he's dressed. But it's his brown eyes that strike me. They carry pain and sorrow and I'm not sure if he's lamenting what is about to happen to me or if he's fighting his own personal demons.

"Who is he?" I thrust my chin at the man who released me from the blindfold.

Don Rafael smiles. "He's a friend."

"Mine or yours?" I ask sarcastically.

All humor drains from Rafael's face. "I know you are not who you claim to be, Señorita. Now tell me who you work for."

My deception spent, I ditch the mask of a lady of high society and permit my contempt to run the show. "I'm currently in between employment, so if you have any leads – "

"Who do you work for?" He interrupts; gone is the flirtatious man I met in the Night District. Here before me sits a cruel and cunning Don who will do whatever it takes to extract information from me like one would draw poison from a wound. "I would advise you to be forthcoming, Señorita. My mercy will soon run out."

I lean forward as much as my bonds will allow and enunciate each word to ensure he doesn't miss a single one. "I don't know what you are talking about."

He sighs, as if he's the one about to suffer. "Then I'm afraid you are in for a very long night."

Standing, he kicks his chair away and it thunders across the room. Slowly, menacingly, he leans forward, curling his fingers around my wrists. His face inches closer to mine and even though I want to headbutt him, I keep still.

"This is your last chance," he whispers. "Tell me what I want to know, and I swear no harm will come to you. I'll even ensure you are greatly rewarded for any information you give me about your employer."

I would be a liar if I said the offer to avoid whatever cruelty lying ahead of me wasn't tempting, but I made a deal with Doña Otero. Despite what I've done in the past – the blood I've spilled, the people I've robbed, the lies I've told – I have never once gone back on my word. And if I die keeping Otero's rebellion alive, so be it. I am bound to die sooner or later.

I inhale deeply, bracing myself mentally for what's about to transpire. "I don't know what you're talking about."

His hand flies to my throat and I'm powerless to defend myself. He squeezes and I gasp for air as my fingers grip around the armrest of my chair. My vision begins to blur, and I can feel my heartrate slowing, but before Rafael finishes me off, he releases me to catch my breath. I gulp down air as if I was drowning and breached the surface.

"Who are you working for?"

Still trying to steady my breathing, words fail me. But I have nothing to say to him. My brows pinch together when I frown up at him and shake my head in response.