Page 24 of King of War

The accusation irritates me enough for me to regain control of my senses. I stand tall and cross my arms over my chest. “Infuriated by you, yes. Afraid of you, no.”

His expression darkens.

“And you still haven’t answered my question. What the hell happens now?”

He draws in a breath through his nose, his jaw working as he stuffs his hands into his pockets. “We intend to find this video you spoke of,” he says, seeming to have finally had enough of toying with me.

“And what will you do with it when you do?” I ask, feeling shame heating my cheeks and hating myself for it.

“Micah will watch it and⁠—”

“God, you’re a piece of work,” I yell at him.

His lip curls in a sneer. “It’s not like he’s going to fucking enjoy it, he’s going to see if there’s anything useful on there that might give us a clue to who planted that camera in our house, and if it had anything to do with Carmine.”

My pulse is racing so fast I feel like I might pass out, but I take a breath and force my face into something close to neutral. So what if Micah watches the worst moment of my life? The Bertellis already saw it and I’m still standing here. I didn’t die of humiliation. I survived Joseph describing it to me like it was entertainment. I can survive Micah too. I can survive all of them.

“It’s not like I could watch it, Rayne. You think I want to look at you fucking my best friend?”

He should fucking watch it and see the truth. Let it ruin him the way it ruined me. “You know, I don’t give a fuck who sees it,” I lie, but I’m pissed beyond belief. “So that’s the plan? Find the video?”

He’s frowning at me. Suspicious. “Yes.”

Fine. I can get with that plan, because then he’ll know the truth, and I can get out of this goddamn prison forever. Finally be free of all of this.

Enzo is still staring at me. Unblinking. As if he’s memorizing me. I hate everything about him. His power. His confidence. The way he moves through the world like he owns it.

He steps around the desk now, stopping a few feet in front of me. The scent of him wraps around me, clean soap, crisp cotton and expensive cologne. Even the way he smells is annoyingly unfair. He’s far too close for my comfort and my sanity. “I’m leaving to meet with Luca in a few minutes, so you’ll have the place to yourself. Don’t bother snooping, there’s nothing here worth finding. The elevator is accessed by a fingerprint system, so there’s no point trying to run. And if you did manage to make it to the lobby, one of the two armed guards stationed there today will shoot you on sight.”

None of what he just said surprises me, except for the fact that he’s leaving, which is a bonus. And from my early-morning exploring I’ve already discovered that his penthouse is stunning, if a little lacking in personality. Along with the den stuffed full of books—mostly classics that make for a good aesthetic, that I doubt he ever reads—it has a TV bigger than my kitchen wall at home, and a private rooftop terrace. “I suppose I can live with that for a few days.”

“You seem to be under the impression this arrangement is temporary, Rayne.”

My stomach drops. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means,” he says quietly, “I might never let you leave.”

I wait for the punchline to his joke, but it doesn’t land. “You hate having me here almost as much as I hate being here.”

He inches closer, dips his head. “But there is nothing more satisfying to me than watching you suffer.”

I take a breath, remember that once he finds that video and discovers what really happened, he’ll let me go. He’ll have no choice. “I have no doubt that I am the most satisfying thing in your life, and always have been, but you can’t keep me here forever.”

His jaw ticks. Yeah, he felt that one. I suppress a smile at his reaction. He takes another half step that has me shivering at his proximity. “Watch me.”

I tip my chin at him. “You’re insane.”

“Thank you.”

“I hate you.”

His gaze drops to my mouth, so quickly I almost didn’t see it, before returning to my eyes. I still feel the heat from it, like being burned. “I know.”

I wish I had a snappy comeback for him, but I have nothing. Literally nothing left. This man took everything from me, and I let him.

Chapter

Ten