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A twinge of paranoia stirs inside me. There is a lot that Gabriel has yet to divulge. He’s always guarded his tongue when it comes to how his family has made their fortune, but our “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule is dissolving as we grow closer. He did say that telling me anything about his family’s criminal enterprise would put me in danger.
What would his father do if he found out Gabriel’s been revealing things to me?
Would he consider me a threat?
“Let me guess…, Caleb’s incapable of human connection beyond where he sticks his dick, so you must be Gabriel’s.”
I remain silent.
“I never expected to see Gabe hooked by a woman.” He pauses. “But now you’re here, which means Vlad ordered it. What’s that about? I doubt he disapproves. Vlad’s a family man, after all. He’d want to see his bloodline continue, especially given he’s killing us off.” His eyes drag over my body. “So, what’s his beef with you?”
Despite this man’s unfortunate predicament, I’m having a hard time feeling sympathy for him. He certainly isn’t showing me any.
He smirks at my continued silence. “What are you worried about? Who am I gonna tell? You’re the last person I’ll ever speak to. I’m the last person you’ll ever talk to, besides that lunatic out there.”
“No, Bane can’t hurt me,” I blurt out. “He’s not allowed.”
The corner of his mouth twitches in amusement as if he’s in on a secret I’m not privy to. “And why not?”
I hesitate. “Because Vlad’s using me to force Gabriel to do what he wants. If he hurts me, he’ll lose the control he has over Gabe.”
The man’s tired eyes drift over the length of my body again, from my bound wrists all the way to my bare feet and everywhere in between, stalling on the popped button in my shirt. “I don’t think Bane got that memo.”
My cheek is swelling from the backhanded slaps, but I’m guessing that discomfort will soon be nothing in comparison to the burning in my arms and calves. How long will Bane keep me like this? A few hours? I can’t imagine that. “It could be worse,” I say instead, my eyes flickering to the mutilated body in the corner.
“It will be worse, trust me. Bane kills; that’s what he does. That’s all he knows how to do. As soon as Vlad decides you’re a threat, he calls Bane. He decided my family was a threat.” A haunting look passes through his eyes.
“Were you?”
“We were gonna cut them out of the business,” he confesses after a moment. “Vlad’s in jail and my cousins are too busy playing party boys in their club to do what needs to be done. Why the hell should they keep getting an equal split of the profit without taking any of the risk? So, we were gonna take it all. I warned my father that leaving any of them alive was a bad idea, but he was too stubborn to listen to me. Says he knew his brother better than I did.” He shifts, and winces from the barbs. “And now Vlad’s eliminating us. His own blood. And once Vlad gets what he wants from Gabe, he’ll get rid of you, too. But knowing Gabe, he’ll decide you’re not worth all this trouble and he’ll tell his dad to fuck off. That could happen any day. Then there’ll be no point in keeping you alive, and he’ll give you to his dog as a play toy.”
An unsettling feeling blisters inside me. Bane said something similar. They’re both wrong. I do know Gabriel and he would never leave me here like this, even if this guy is right and Gabriel trades his freedom from his father for me. The man I used to believe to be a lecher does have morals and decency. He won’t let me die like this. “No, Gabriel will find me before that happens.”
“Look, I’m sure you’re a nice girl. Stupid, for falling for my cousin, but nice. So let me fill you in on a little secret, because I’ve known my cousin for a lot longer than you have. He discards women like used tissues during flu season. He’s probably sitting in his mountaintop house right now, checking his speed dial to see who’s available, seeing as you’re… hung up at the moment.” He snorts at his own joke but then winces.
You deserved that one. “I’ve spoken to him and he’s looking for me.” I struggle to keep the indignation from my voice.
“Gabriel Easton doesn’t give a damn about anyone but Gabriel Easton. He looks out for number one. That’s why I’m here.”
My anger flares. “No, you’re here because your father ratted out Vlad and put him in jail. He betrayed his brother.” And apparently Vlad’s vengeance is vicious and far-reaching.
“And do you think Gabriel and Caleb care that Vlad’s behind bars? They’re happy he’s locked up. They fucking hate their father. Anyone with two eyes can see that. My father did them a favor by putting Vlad away. They should have been kissing his ass when they found out how Vlad ended up in there. But no, for whatever reason, they decided they wanted their entire family slaughtered. Who knows why? Maybe they’ve been playing us all this entire time, waiting for their chance to swoop in and take it all. They knew what Vlad would do if he found out. They knew he wouldn’t stop at his brother. That psycho killed my mother, and brother, too.” His voice catches, the first real sign of emotion. “But this way, they get to keep their hands clean. Then all they need is for Vlad to die. Who knows, maybe they’ve already got a plan to kill him, too. They’re conniving bastards.”
