“Adopted,” she adds, cutting him off.
“Yes, adopted,” Zane says. He looks me in the eye and says, “Rune hopes you’ll accept his offer.”
Chapter 31
Cora
IthoughtViperinhistight jeans and T-shirt and Breaker in his sleek, black-on-black tux was dangerously sexy. But nothing could prepare me for the level of pure male these two emanate, wearing tailored suits, crisp ties, and arrogant expressions.
Viper stands a good two inches shorter than Breaker, yet he doesn’t lose an ounce of his commanding presence. He sucks the air from the room, my lungs. Piercing ocean-blue eyes glint with an intensity I’ve never seen in him before, sending an electric jolt through my core.
During those weeks back at the mansion, I watched them long enough that I can tell they are both tense under those precisely cut suits.
I suck in a breath, forcing myself not to react. I just walked in on a deal between Zane and the men.
I am part of that deal.
You don’t know them,Cora, I remind myself.You don’t know how they taste, or what they sound like when they come.Certainly, you've never known sweet words whispered in your ear or a hand between your thighs, nor promises.
The silent reminder doesn’t help my jittery nerves.
Viper remains motionless, eyes traveling from my shoes to the top of my head, lingering on my legs. Breaker stands equally still beside him, his gorgeous face stern, jawline hard enough to cut teeth. I note how he taps his thigh a few times, then drops his hand, like he realized what he was doing and forced himself to stop.
If I weren’t so terrified of slipping up, I’d be enjoying this. Fooling Zane. But right now, terror snakes a path through my stomach, and I’m worried Zane will suddenly figure out their ruse.
“Ah, Zane’s ex-fiancée,” Breaker says. His cool tone and the slight tilt of his head as he stares at me have me blinking in shock. He doesn’t even sound like himself, and I swear there’s a hint of something dark in his expression.
Something cruel that doesn’t fit with the man I’ve come to know.
I don’t like it. His casual indifference.
“If only he were that lucky,” I say, acid lining each word as I fall into my role.
Before I can take a step toward the men, Zane grabs my arm with his good hand and drags me toward the bar. I catch the furious, deadly expression on Viper’s face as his eyes flicker toward Breaker. I swear we have the same thought.
If Zane doesn’t get his hands off me, Breaker might explode at any moment.
“Listen, whore,” Zane whispers, when we’re out of earshot, “you’re going to be a good little bitch and sit down and be quiet.”
I plaster a smile on my face. “Might want to be a good boy, and remember”—I lean in, letting my smile fade—“to shut the fuck up when I tell you before you end up on Papa’s bad side.”
His jaw flexes, teeth grinding with an audible click as he stands to his full height, staring down at me with such hatred my skin pricks. Maybe threatening him again, reminding him what I know, isn’t a good idea, but it’s all I have in my arsenal.
“I’m not scared of you,” he sneers.
My lip curls into a smirk at how easily I rattle him. “Really? You ran to Rune with rattling knees and did exactly as I demanded.” I smooth a hand over my thigh, wiping away nervous sweat on my sleek black dress. “So unless you want all your secrets to spill from my lips, back the fuck off.”
“The only thing spilling from your lips will be their cum.” A grotesque smile cuts across his face. Sharp and cruel. “Is he whoring you out to all three of them? Rune must be sick of your sloppy cunt.”
Anger shoots up my spine, straightening it. I try to jerk out of his grasp, but his hand tightens. The night of the fundraiser flashes through my mind. Rune forcing me to my knees, Zane’s dick slipping over my mouth.
Of course, he knows what Rune does.
Zane knows everything. Why should this surprise me?
“Fuck you, Zane,” I say, his words creating a hollowed-out cavern in my chest.
“Where is your nasty lapdog?” Zane hisses, “Is he too busy to save you again?”
