Page 97 of Untamed Sinner

I smile. "Too late."

"Is she supposed to die?" he asks.

I consider him. "There are worse things than death. Just ask Mandy Reed."

He jerks me up, the chains rattling. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"It means Clara is more useful alive."

"For what?"

I smile. "I guess you’re going to find out."

Gabriel hits me again, my lip splitting open deeper.

I taste blood and laugh. He wants me frightened. That's the problem with men like Gabriel. They think pain changes the truth. Pain only matters when you have something left to lose.

"Was Ashford supposed to take her?"

"I don't know."

"Was he supposed to hurt her?"

"I don't know."

"Kill her?"

"I don't know."

Each answer makes him angrier.

Good—angry men act.

Scared men act faster.

Gabriel Reyes angry and scared? That's the man I need.

He turns toward the door.

I wait.

Three.

Two.

One.

"Gabriel."

He stops, but he doesn't turn around.

"If you're going to protect her…"

That gets his attention. He looks over his shoulder at me.

I let my smile disappear. This part needs to sound real, because it is. "Don't trust anyone."

His eyes narrow. "Meaning?"