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Which would be great, if it wasn’tGideon’s guardsthat I’m worried about. Even now, Abel leers at Peaches as she walks around in the kitchen.
“You seemed intent on her suffering yesterday,” I say. “This afternoonyou told me she should suffer.”
“I want her put in her place,” Gideon says. “If suffering is the only way to make that happen, then so be it. But you seem like a persuasive man, Javier, and I’m sure you can find another way.”
My stomach churns, my distrust mounting. I don’t know why he’s giving me so much leeway. I don’t have anything to offer him; fuck, he could just kill me and replace me with Abel if he really wanted to.
Why hasn’t he done that already?
“Fine,” I say. “But she needs to be allowed to stay with the other omegas—and remember that I can sense her.” I turn to Abel. “If something happens, I’ll turn that boat around and annihilate anyone who touches her.”
Abel smirks. “Aye-aye, captain.”
“This isn’t a joke,” I snap.
“Easy does it, Javier,” Gideon cuts in. “Tomorrow—first thing. Ephraim will come for you. And if you have a problem with Abel…well, he can go with you.”
Abel shoots Gideon a glare. “I’ve got business elsewhere.”
Gideon’s lip curls, revealing sharp canines. “Your business is what I say it is,” Gideon hisses. “AndIsay you’re fishing tomorrow.”
I cross my arms and look between the three of them—Gideon, Ephraim, and Abel—all with their own relationships, baggage, disagreements. Already, I can see the cracks forming in what I thought was a united front, Gideon having a tenuous hold over his son and his top general.
I’ll have to figure out what those weaknesses are—and if I can exploit them, maybe we can get off of this rock.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
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PEACHES
My father’s control over the women in this house is terrifying.
Before we went to dinner, I thought I might be able to get them to talk—but even when I whispered to them, they shushed me and glared, unwilling to say a word. They’re clearly frightened, and I don’t think they’ll be any help or company as we form an escape plan.
I’m relieved when I’m finally let go from kitchen duty, Javi putting out his hand to pull me back into the shelter of his arm. We walk back to the room together, and I’m practically bursting to talk to him again by the time we shut the door behind us. I spin around and open my mouth, but he puts a finger to his lips.
I hear it, then—footsteps right outside, someone’s breath.
“Take off your clothes,” Javi orders.
And hewinks.
It’s weirdly playful, even though he doesn’t smile.
“Are you going to—” I start, injecting fear into my voice.
“You were told not to speak,” he barks, interrupting me. “Don’t make me punish you again.”
I hold back a laugh, but manage to stay silent by covering my mouth. Javi waits a second, then he lowers his voice.
“Good girl,” he says.
My smile drops and I squeeze my thighs together at the sound of his voice andthose words.
Maybe…
No. He couldn’t be my mate.
