I sit my ass gingerly in an empty chair.
“There we go.” Silas settles back in his chair. He looks casual, his sleeves pushed back as he reaches for his glass, taking a sip of wine before he places it back down. “How have you settled in?”
“Uh…,” My eyes flick between him and Kit. “Fine.”
As fine as you can when you have absolutely zero choice.
“Good,” he says silkily. “In that case, would you care to explain why you haven’t been completing the tasks I set out for you?”
I frown. “I have.”
“No, you haven’t.” His eyes lock with mine. “I gave Ellen a list of tasks, and I expect them to be completed. Daily. Byyou.”
That long-ass fucking list. Blinking, I feel my cheeks growing hot. “But thefloors—,”
“Excuses don’t wash with me,” he says mildly. “I expect the full list to be completed. Every day. It’s not our fault if you’re not moving fast enough.”
I stare at him.
I get up before sunrise.
I don’t stop until it’s dark.
I don’t stop at all. Fury washes across my vision in white hot streaks.
“Very well,” I grit out, pushing my chair back. “Is that all?”
Slowly, he nods. A smug smile curls the corner of his lips, and how I fucking despise him for it. “I look forward to seeing an improvement in your work ethic.”
Sanctimonious prick. I bite down on my tongue, hard, focusing on the bite of pain to stop me from opening my mouth and telling him exactly what I think of his orders and where he can shove his fuckingwork ethic.
But I still slam the door behind me.
14 – Silas
Kit barely waits until the door closes with enough force that I wonder if it’s cracked. “What the hell was that?”
I take a sip of my wine. “She’s not doing what she should be.”
“Because Rafe is fucking with her.” Kit slams his hand down on the table. “That’s bullshit, Si. She doesn’t stop working.”
“Good,” I say shortly. “That’s why she’s here. Remember?”
Anger flashes across Kit’s face. “Is there any part of you that doesn’t despise her?”
I hold his eyes. “No.”
There’s a thin fucking line between love and hate. And Anastasia crossed it a long damn time ago, when she made the decision to lie to me, to all of us.
She should be grateful to be here instead of in a filthy cell, but all I get is fucking attitude. From her, and my brothers.
“You’re going to break her,” Kit says softly. “She’s not a machine, Silas. What will you do then?”
I roll my eyes. “It won’t hurt her to do some work for a change. Have you forgotten what she did to her stepsister?”
Kit presses his lips together. “Are you sure about what happened there? Because I’m not.”
I pause. “You think they got it wrong?”
