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His eyes narrow.
“And, so we’re on the same page, they aren’t my crew and I have no loyalty to any of them. I was called in to pick up one of their team when their heist at your Colombian estate didn’t go as planned. My package was simply known as The Charmer, and after an alarm alerted you to the theft of what turned out to be a fake emerald, my job was to swoop in and fly him home.”
Torres drums his fingers against the sofa’s cushion. “And how did you get roped into the current heist here?”
“The Boss offered me a big pay day. I would’ve been a fool to say no.”
“Ah, I see. Money is a hard temptation to resist.”
“Apparently, so are emeralds. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the emerald taken from here wasn’t yours to begin with, was it? So thieves stole from a thief.”
Okay, I have no idea why I’m baiting this man, but I need to turn the mirror around so he can take a good look at himself. The self-righteous sonofabitch has the audacity to give me a slow, unrepentant smile.
“Normally, I don’t care for rude guests, but I enjoy a beautiful woman who is forthright.” My skin crawls at the compliment. It’s not that he isn’t unattractive, it’s that his expression carries no warmth. Hell, no humanity. Those black eyes remind me of a shark’s empty gaze, and I prepare myself for the possibility of another potential strike.
He studies me for an interminable minute, but I refuse to look away or let him think he can intimidate me with more threats.Nope. Not today, Banderas. Not today.
“Where is the emerald?” he hisses.
“I don’t know,” I say simply.
“Such a shame,” he murmurs, and I stiffen when he nods to Dome Head and Toad.
Uh-oh.They grab my forearms, pinning them to the chair’s armrests, and I fight, trying to break loose. Meanwhile, Torres gets up, flicking his switchblade open again.
“That was three lies, Ms. McGrath,” he states, moving in front of me and running the blade along my cheek. “At leastthree.”
Shitshitshit.
I don’t dare move.
“I think you know exactly where my emerald is and I believe you know the names of the crew who stole it. I also believe you’re loyal to—what did you call him? The Charmer?”
I grit my teeth together hard, refusing to respond.
“Show her,” he orders.
Toad releases my arm and shoves a phone in front of me. A video plays, and when I see Knox and I kissing heatedly next to the display case with the emerald in the secret room, I want to slap my forehead.Dammit.Where had the stupid camera been hidden? And why hadn’t it looped like the others?
I am fucked.
“Still don’t remember the name of the man who had his tongue down your throat?” Torres asks. “And think very carefully before answering, because I’m keeping count of your lies. Right now, you owe me three pieces of flesh.”
“I-I only know him as The Charmer,” I insist, refusing to give up Knox’s identity. “I swear it.”
Torres shakes his head, lifting the switchblade. “I’m sorry to say I don’t believe one word coming out of your deceitful little mouth. Maybe we should take your lying tongue out first.”
I clamp my jaw tightly together, and he laughs.
“No? Tell me then. What should I cut off first? Hmm?” The point of his blade presses into my jawline.
Yeah, I am so very fucked.
Chapter Fifteen: Knox
Despite being up all night with Hunter, there’s no way I’m able to sleep after she leaves. Without her, the room seems smaller, desolate. I stare at the tangled sheets, remembering all the things we did to each other—the way her long reddish hair tangled around my fist, the way her delicious vanilla scent surrounded and filled my senses, the way she whimpered and moaned when she finally let go and surrendered to me.
It wasn’t enough. I want more. Need more.