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“Eat while the seafood is at its freshest.” Castillo droned on about how the prawns were caught, the care taken while bringing them to his estate.
I couldn’t stomach the thought but picked up my fork, trying to pretend I would be as compliant as he required.
“There will be a place for your skills, Willow. As long as I am able to trust you, you’ll have a rich and full life.”
Something inside of me snapped. “Being what? Your plaything? I will find a way to kill myself first.” I shoved the plate away, glaring at him with all the hatred I could muster.
His reaction was swift, grabbing the edge and tossing it across the room. As the plate shattered, I winced, biting my lower lip to keep from making a single sound.
“You will do as I say!” His bellow was harsher than before. I’d gotten under his skin. Good. I planned on continuing to do so.
I kept my head lifted, staring him in the eyes. “You’re not my keeper.”
Castillo took a deep breath, his hand shaking as he lifted his glass. After he’d taken a gulp of wine, his smile returned. “I can see you would prefer getting to the business of the evening. I can appreciate that. Who is Viper?”
“The man sent to protect me.” I knew I had to offer something tangible.
“By whom?” He took his time cutting two of the prawns, twirling hunks in his pasta. Even watching him eat made me sick to my stomach.
“I don’t know. According to him I wasn’t privileged to learn that information.”
He took his time before addressing me. “You’re lying.”
“Why would I?”
For a full five minutes he did nothing but eat his food, carefully cutting the seafood, his eyes half closed when he took a bite. I could barely stomach the wine let alone watching him. The moment I looked away, he slammed his hand on the table, forcing me to jump.
“Get away from the table. You don’t deserve my hospitality.”
I had no problem following this order, jerking the chair away and tossing my napkin, shoving the wineglass until strings slipped over the side. When I stood, I walked around the table to avoid any possible contact, finding myself in front of the bookshelves. I expected him to drag me back by the hair or worse, but he remained quiet, calculating.
As I stared at the books on one of the shelves, I tried my best to keep the tears from falling. When a single salty bead trickled slowly, I wiped it away furiously. Goddamn the horrible man.
“You don’t seem to understand the power I have, Willow. That’s a shame.”
“Power? To destroy people’s lives? Do you really find that to be a positive attribute?”
He laughed as he walked closer, the thump of his boots on the tile floor creating flutters ready to consume me. “Power has many aspects, including being able to dictate everything that happens around you. That’s made me a very wealthy man.”
“Blood money.”
His sigh was an indication he was tired of my disobedience. Fuck him.
“At times, yes. However, often it’s necessary in order to achieve certain goals.”
I wanted to laugh but I held off, trying to concentrate on the photographs. I’d paid attention to occurrences in the world, enough to recognize several dignitaries and other prominent figures.
“I want no part of it. I’m a healer, not a killer.”
“Which I will consider allowing you to do. Now, I’m running out of patience. You will tell me the truth about Viper’s identity or I’m afraid you’ll be responsible for what happens to him.”
I’d known rage in my life, but never so strongly as I did at that moment. I fisted my hands, no longer caring what he did to me. The split second before I turned around to launch into him, my eyes caught one of the photographs and I almost laughed.
My God. My life was nothing but a lie.
“You bastard. I don’t care who you are or how much money you make. I will never sleep with you. You might as well kill me now.”
He was genuinely shocked at my exclamation, and I noticed something odd in his eyes. Then he shook his head. “Very well. Then Viper’s blood will be on your hands. Come with me.” He wrapped his hand around my arm, jerking me out of the room.
