He snickered, lifting a single eyebrow. “Throwing barbs isn’t your style, sweet Sophia. Perhaps we can at least be civil to each other, one professional to another.”
A professional. She wanted to laugh out loud.Play the game. Get him to trust you.This time, her inner voice was on point.
Reaching out, she wrapped her hand around the glass. Their fingers touched, and she was thrown into a moment of roaring hunger, tingling hits of electricity shooting straight into her pussy.
“Our connection is still very strong,” he managed, his voice strangled. “Very strong indeed. Just like you, sweet Sophia, I questioned everything after the time we shared. I even attempted to stay the hell away from you. I’m certain you can understand why.”
“Because you actually give a shit about me?”
He simply offered a sly smile.
“Then why the fuck didn’t you? The lure of the kill?” If only she could get to her phone, dial her partner’s number. Then the freak wouldn’t get away with this. She had to pretend, becoming a consummate actress until she had him in a compromising position.
He narrowed his eyes. “Since you have managed to find out about the consortium, then you already know the answer to that. This is my job, a profession much like the one you’re involvedin. My guess is that you don’t value catching criminals any more than I appreciate the art of killing any longer.”
The comment caught her off guard. Was the asshole attempting to snow her, suggesting that he had a conscience? She bit back a bitter laugh. “Tell me about them, this Dark Haven. Isn’t Alessandro Comali in charge? I would imagine he’s close to his deathbed by now. Wait a minute. If you’re the leader of a pack of killers, does that make you in line for the throne?”
Genuine surprise filtered in his eyes for a brief second. “Interesting.”
“That I do my homework? I realize you and these powerful men believe they can hide in plain sight, but you forget the most valuable lesson about humans.”
After a few seconds, he took the bait. “And what is that?”
“That everyone makes mistakes. Even someone as notorious as the great silent killer. Oh, I forget, you’re now taking claim to your kills. Need an ego boost since you botched, what was it, two separate kills, not just one?” The information pissed the man off. She took another sip of her drink. She knew he was furrowed with frustration given the fresh dent in the wall. Maybe he was unraveling.
Growling, he turned away briefly, running his fingers through his hair.
A tear in his otherwise perfect mask of steel.
“You don’t want to hear about the atrocities associated with the Dark Haven, Sophia. They are much more powerful than you could ever imagine.”
“I’m going to learn one way or the other, Wrath. Even the limited information I found means there is much more. And do you know how I realize this? Everyone has a price.” Including the motherfucking informant who must have sold her to the devil himself.
He chuckled and took a sip of his drink, seeming much more relaxed than before. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. I won’t bore you with the details and trust me, there is no law agency in the world who can stop them. They are brilliant in their idealism of sadism. Their preferred methods of punishment are… brutal. That would include disciplining you, sweet and beautiful Sophia.”
The words were out of place, even for him. “Another threat, Wrath?”
“Just a promise.”
Tension settled in, a quietness that was unsettling. Was he actually attempting to keep her out of harm’s way?
“Then why stay involved if you hate them so much?” she finally asked.
“Family obligations, Sophia. I have no choice. They have no tolerance for betrayal of any kind and anyone who gets in the way of their plans will be annihilated.”
“We all have choices. For example, you didn’t have to kill those men. You can stop right now, give yourself up and if you do, I’ll make certain you get a fair trial and are completely protected. You can’t run away from the truth, Wrath. Lies and deceit will always find you. Come with me.”
“Interesting.” Wrath lifted his gaze, studying her intently. “Sadly, since you seem to know so much about my family and the consortium, you realize that’s not something I can do. My family won’t allow that to happen. Besides, there is no manner of protection for a man in my position.”
The way he issued the words brought a level of sadness into her heart that she hadn’t expected. He wasn’t telling her a lie. “I’m sorry, Wrath. We all deserve to have choices in our life. I would help you if I could.”
“My beautiful Sophia. This is why I was drawn to you, why I brought you here. This is why you will be in my life, at least for now. What you have already given me is a level of freedom I never expected.” He closed the distance once again, brushing his fingers down the length of her arm.
“What do you want from me, Wrath? What? You act like you actually care about me and you and I both know better. You could never care about anyone but yourself.” Jerking her arm away, she almost dropped the glass. All her defiance, her months of trying to catch this monster and she was floored by her body’s reactions.Stop lying. You can’t lie any longer. You want this man. You crave this man.Hiding behind the glass, she took a sip. Even the slow burn in the back of her mouth wasn’t going to ease her fear. She’d been lying to herself for months, pretending that what they’d shared hadn’t mattered in the least.
A blip in time.
A light switch she could easily control.
