Trembling, I was scarcely able to wait until the door had closed before I lifted my foot, trying to crush the captain’s toes beneath my heel.
He grunted, hefting me off the ground with one arm wrapped around my torso. “Does it thrill you, Miss Tannovic? To test me so?”
I pried his palm away from my lips, wrenching his thumb back until he was forced to oblige me or suffer the irritation of a dislocated thumb. “You’re a filthy liar—”
Chuckling, the captain tightened his grip, yanking his hand free from mine and burying it in my hair. “Liar?” he purred, lips brushing my ear. “Whatever do you mean? I gave you exactly what you asked for, even thoughyoubroke our deal…”
Scowling as his heat began to infect me, I planted my feet against the kitchen counter and pushed, launching us back with a strangled war cry.
He hit the wall with a dull thud, expelling his breath against my ear in a great burst. “Well, that was stupid,” he rasped, sinking to the floor and bringing me with him. Tangling his long legs with mine, he dragged my head back, forcing me to rest against his shoulder. Helpless and pinned. “You let your temper burn up all your leverage.”
“Youknew,”I hissed, squirming between his thighs, pendant a cold and useless thing lodged between my shoulder blades. His sidearm bruising my hip. “A meeting with the High Priestess was mine whether you could arrange it or not.”
“Perhaps,” he said, stubble rasping against my cheek, imprinting a smirk on my skin.
Heart pounding at the back of my throat, I tried to wriggle free. “You got exactly what you wanted, free of charge.”
“I usually do.”
I snarled, planting an elbow in his ribs. “Enjoy it while it lasts, parasite.”
He hummed against my ear. “Oh, I intend to.”
Chapter 17
As if summoned from nothing, Marco appeared at the captain’s side, grinning down at us. “See? Just a gentle spankin’.”
“Yes, well,” the captain snorted, releasing me at last, though his inky gaze followed as I scrambled to my feet, putting the kitchen counter between us. “We’re not quite free of trouble just yet.”
Marco tugged a cigarette from behind his ear, twirling it between forefinger and thumb. “That’s the only perk of working for you, sir. Always exciting.”
“You’re sure it’s not the—”
“It’s not the pay,” Marco said, rolling his eyes. “It’s knowing I get all your stuff when you die.”
The captain rose from the floor, knees popping. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not trusting you to watch my back today, isn’t it?” he asked, straightening his shirt collar.
I tossed a length of slick, caramel hair over my shoulder and said, “Perspective is a fascinating thing, isn’t it?”
“You’ll be escorting my new pet to the infirmary,” the captain continued, lips tilted in a pleasant, obnoxious smile. “Feel free to gag her, should you be so inclined.”
“Captain!No.Baby-sitting duty? Forher?You recall what happened the last time, yes? I believe you said something along the lines of, ‘Don’t worry. She’s just a terrified little girl. She’s nothing but bluster, Marco. You’ll be perfectly safe.’” The solder laughed, showing the whites of his palms as he took a step back. “And then, if you’ll recall,I died!What did I do to deserve—”
“And now,” the captain said, dark eyes finding mine, “she really is nothing but bluster. Isn’t that right, pet?”
Scowling at the tiles, I couldn’t gather the strength to speak. Knowing him to be right.
“You’re perfectly safe this time, pup, and I need you there,” the captain continued. “The general is punishing me with first rotation.”
“Yeah, yeah, I heard,” Marco said, flicking his wrist.
“Then give me your weapon, you big baby. You’ll be my eyes for the morning.”
Grumbling, Marco did as he was asked, handing over a battered, matte-black piece with an ornate handle. “You’re a cruel, cruel man, Captain Rawlings.”
“Stop pouting.” The captain pressed both hands to the hilt, features drawn and tight. And then, for the first time since we’d been bound, ki surged to life within me—making my manacles burn anew.
I gasped, staring at my wrists, jaw slack.
