Zade’s eyes locked on mine, and my heart stopped for a moment.

Shit! He caught me staring.

Look away, will you? No, I should be the one to look away, but that would mean I was affected by his gaze.

So I didn’t...

His lips curved into a smirk as if he knew I wouldn’t take my eyes off him. It became a battle of stare, and neither of us seemed to be letting up soon.

The more it dragged on, the more I had the urge to jam my switchblade right in his eyes. I hate those fucking eyes. They were relaxed... unbothered as if he could get away with anything.

I clenched my fist, hissing when pain shot through me, and Ibroke eye contact.

A knock against the door echoed through.

"Come in..." Lisa responded, and the door was opened, revealing Elliot.

He paused for a second when he saw me before looking at his brother. "Forgive me, I didn’t realize you had company."

Was he perhaps attending a model runway or something? That was a bit overly dressed for a Saturday casual wear, wasn’t it? Three-piece suit and hair in perfect condition.

"What is it?" Zade asked.

"Reports. It just came in."

Zade crooked a finger, and that was all it took for Elliot to go to him.

"I’ll take that..." Lisa interrupted, taking the file he held, opening it to read the contents.

Elliot lingered for a bit discussing with Zade, and I finally had the chance to look at my hand. The bandage was stained with blood. I haven’t changed it since last night either.

It’s beginning to hurt more than it should.

"I’ll handle it."

Zade’s voice made me drag my gaze back to the table. He said something else, but I didn’t pay attention.

Elliot nodded to whatever it was and straightened his spine before adjusting his tie. "Alright..." He moved, his eyes shifting towards my direction briefly, before he disappeared out the door.

"Take care of this..." Zade dismissed Lisa.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat when I realized we were now alone.

His attention on me now was far too much.

"Did you have breakfast?" he questioned, putting down a stack of papers that seemed like more work.

So now the furniture is worth talking to?

When I didn’t reply, his eyes locked on me in a way that got me talking.

"I wasn’t hungry."

Breakfast was brought to my room, but I didn’t have any appetite.

"I need my things..." I switched the topic.

"Things?"

"Yes, things."

"What things?" he asked, amused.

Is he seriously acting like he doesn’t know what I’m saying?

"My clothes, ribbons—"

"You have clothes."

"My phone..." I finished up nevertheless. "And my babies."

He arched an eyebrow. "Babies?"

I smirked. "What’s the matter, Don Salvero? I thought you knew everything about me?"

Zade licked his lips before sighing, he opened the drawer and pushed to his feet.

I uncrossed my legs, growing tense as he came toward me. He stood massively right in front of me, peering down on me like a predator.

"Wha-What?" I asked, irritated by my shaky voice.

I loathed how his presence affected me greatly because I knew I wouldn’t stand a chance against him even if I tried. But still...

He moved and my heartbeat spiked, however he just sat down on the low marble table, the wood creaking from his weight.

"Give me your hand," he ordered, opening the first-aid kit I just realized he had.

"What? No."

He seized my wrist in the blink of an eye, and I responded by brushing my hand against my thigh to reach for my garter.

His eyes dipped, and I feared I might have exposed my weapon.

"Flashing your panties at me won’t make me swoon."

Huh?

I lowered my gaze and gasped, quickly pulling down the rim of my dress to cover up, my cheeks burning.

He let out a deep chuckled, voice dropping. "Cute..."

"Excuse me?"

"Blushing over something like that. Only virgins do that."

"If you think I’m a virgin, then you’re wrong," I said, my face twisting in a deep frown.

Two beats and the longest silence we have ever shared stretched.

Did I just say that out loud?

Something dark glinted in his eyes, a flicker of amusement and possession. "Then allow me the honor of being your last."

Over my dead body.

I hissed when the bandage came off. He grabbed the wipe and began cleaning the blood stain.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, feeling uncomfortable; it was almost hard to imagine it was the same man who made yesterday a living nightmare for me.

That glasses of his is throwing me way off too.

"I can do it myself."

His hand tightened on my wrist when I tried to move it, and I winced.

"I’m taking good care of my property..." he said smoothly, like it was the most reasonable thing in the world. "Besides, you did a rather poor job... it would’ve become infected."

"And you’re the expert?"

He pinned me with those hollow eyes; they weren’t overly slitted like they were yesterday. He looked a little bit lucid.

"Oh right..." I added. "This must be a normal thing for you."

He applied the ointment, and I almost jumped out of my skin. He wasn’t gentle, but straight-up trying to get me to bleed again.

As he re-bandaged my hand, I had to stay as still as possible, and when he got to the last bit, I almost freed my hand, but he kissed my palm as if to spite me.

Ew!

I pulled away, rubbing my reddened wrist.

"Your things... and pets, will be brought in before the day ends."

That hits the nail on the head that he did, in fact, know everything about me. What else does he know? How I take a shit?

He rose to his full height, dress shirt gripped against his frame.

"That will be all. Close the door on your way out." He strode back to his desk.

Gladly. I got what I wanted.

I pushed to my feet and walked to the door, slamming it shut with more force.

As I trekked, I eyed my neatly bandaged hand, not until I bumped into a wall.

I stumbled backwards, shooting a glare toward one of the twins. I descended my gaze instantly and saw a gold watch.

This one’s Dante.

"Going somewhere?" he asked.

"Yes as a matter of fact so watch where you stand." I brushed past him, but he grabbed my arm and forced me back.

"What are you—"

"I’ll say this once..." he began darkly. "Disrespect my brother again like you did at the wedding, and it ends there."

"Have you forgotten?"

He blinked.

"I’m your brother’s property, and he strikes me as someone who wouldn’t want his things touched."

As much as it disgusted me saying that out loud, I had to. I might as well use that to my advantage, because that bloodlust in his eyes was scaring the shit out of me.

"Already here for what, half a day, and you think you know everything about him?"

"Take your hand off me!"

He yanked me close. "You may think you know him, but you don’t..." His voice lowered in a way that reminded me of Zade. "You can’t tell when he’s in a bad mood or when he decides to chop you up and feed you to the pigs."

I shuddered, but I kept my composure and didn’t break eye contact.

He released me suddenly, and I almost tripped if I hadn’t braced my hand on the wall.

"I’d be careful if I were you... He may need a wife right now, but that won’t stop him from getting rid of you."