The fact that there's something he thinks would be worse for me than death is terrifying.
Chapter Eight
NOAH
I should killher and be done with it. Putting her up in the auction isn't going to be worth the trouble anymore. Certainly not when she tries to kill me or gives me an attitude at every turn.
I've never had a hostage I'm this conflicted about.
As I stand on the other side of the door to her room, I scrub a hand down my face.
It's been a week since I had her put back in her room. One week, and she has me thinking about putting a bullet through my own head just so I don't have to deal with this shit anymore.
"Stupid fucking bastard!" she screams. Something heavy hits the door, making it jerk against me.
My cock swells slightly against the zipper, and I consider turning around and going back in there.
I could bend her over the bed and teach her a lesson in obedience. I could have her begging for me, crying and asking me to end it all.
And by "end it all," I have no idea if I mean I am going to give her multiple orgasms or a nice nap at the bottom of the lake.
I push off the door and head down the stairs, hoping there's someone in the holding cells for me to hit.
If Robert hasn't found the rest of the traitors by now, I'm going to consider putting his ass on the line for it all. With the way he questions me, he would have earned it.
I stop at the bottom of the stairs, hissing in pain when my arm hits the banister.
The cut she left on my forearm starts bleeding again. I don't know how the hell she keeps finding stuff to use as weapons.
Robert passes me in the hall, coming to a stop and turning around. "Are you bleeding?"
"No fucking shit." I scowl and head into the kitchen, knowing he'll trail behind me.
For someone who doesn't like living in my shadow, he sure seems to find his way there a lot.
I grab a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet and pour a glass, downing it in one go before pulling out the first aid kit from under the sink. "Got the auction ready yet?"
"Venue and vendors are all set. We're almost ready."
"I want a date by the end of the week." I grimace as I thread the needle and put it through my skin.
It doesn't matter how many times I've sewn myself up; it never gets any more pleasant. In fact, it only feels worse.
"You know, you don't have to keep her in that room. You could kill her or get rid of her now."
"Not part of the plan." I glance at Robert, watching the way he hovers close to the windows on the other side of the room, looking out over the gardens. "What are you doing?"
"Think there's going to be something going on later. The Lyndes have been attacking different businesses on and off for the last two weeks. Maybe it's time you just give her back to them and let this die."
I finish sewing up the wound and tie off the thread before breaking it. "Excuse me?"
"This isn't sustainable, and we both know it. We're losing more people than we're recruiting, and several of our allies have already said they're done."
"Which is why the auction is happening. To raise funds. To show people we're still stable and have our foot on the gas, even as the Lyndes are trying to ruin everything I've built since they murdered our father."
"All I'm saying is?—"
"And here I thought you wanted them dead too, for everything they've done. Now you've got me wondering if that's ever what you really wanted."