Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
I tapped my lips. “Know what I think?”
“No. You can keep your two cents. You look broke.”
I ignored his quip. “You’re hiding something. You don’t seem like the type to carry weapons around.”
I realized, after I said it, that I wasn’t really scared.
Enthralled, angry, and ready for battle? Of course.
But scared? As crazy as it sounded, even with his knife aimed directly at me, I didn’t truly feel unsafe.
He shook his head. “You have no idea what kind of man I am.”
His dusky, gleaming eyes scraped down my frame. I seized the opportunity to grip the knife. I aimed for the handle, but my fingers accidentally brushed against his.
Zach hissed, pulling away like my touch had branded him.
His expression turned feral. He stumbled back, eyes glazed over with something I’d never seen before.
Not on him.
Not on anyone.
His back bumped into the sink with a loud thump. I was so surprised by his visceral reaction, I staggered in the opposite direction, too.
“Do not touch me.”
The words came out harsher than he’d ever spoken to me. For once, he didn’t whisper, hiss, or husk.
That simple statement lacked any control.
Against all logic, I straightened, forcing my shoulders back. The idea that I’d somehow turned the tables thrilled me.
Whatever your weak point is, I’m going to find it. And then I’m going to press it until you bleed out.
I white-knuckled the edge of the counter behind me, forcing my bloodlust to retreat. My heart beat so hard, I feared it would break my ribcage and rip out of my flesh.
I couldn’t afford that hospital bill.
Zach clasped the knife with shaking fingers. I replayed the last few seconds. He’d ordered me not to touch him, rather than his knife.
It could be nothing, but my gut said otherwise.
I conjured all the confidence I could muster, certain I was onto something. “So, what? You’re going to kill me now?”
The muscles in my stomach burned.
I felt charged. A live wire. Buzzing with anger and ire and life.
I wanted to pounce on this man and strangle him. To finish that Go game. To show him what I was made of.
I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had made me feel much of anything other than Dad.
Friends, boys, acquaintances—they all came and went.
Zach held his jaw, working it back and forth. His knife still pointed at me, just in case. He seemed thoughtful all of a sudden.
I needed to pry him away from his own thoughts.
“You had a deal to offer me,” I reminded him. “I’m listening.” Reluctantly.
His lips curved up in a snarl. “You think you deserve a deal?” Pretty boy, ugly soul.
“I think you’re still here, and you’ve put some thought into my identity, so obviously, you found something you’ve been seeking in me. Don’t let your pride get in the way of your objective. I’m sure there’s enough people out there to stroke that giant ego of yours. I don’t need to be one of them.”
I could tell by his expression that he thought I spoke too much, fought too hard, and was a general headache.
He never wavered in his stance. “You’re the hired help.”
Summing up my entire existence through my job description.
Nice.
“I’m a housekeeper,” I corrected, straightening my spine, not ashamed in the slightest. “Well, if you want to get to the real nitty-gritty of things, I own Maid in Maryland with my fa—” I started to say family, but they didn’t deserve the title. Not by a long shot. “With my stepmother, mostly.”
Zach treaded closer, collecting himself after that weird moment between us. “Your stepmother is useless.”
I could smell him again.
His inimitable, outdoorsy scent that made me think of Scandinavian woods and merciless winters.
I might be smart, but my body was obviously a dumbass. Even if Zach Sun were the devil, I’d willingly let him drag me into darkness.
I was Persephone, eagerly following him into the underworld.
“That’s not true. She has many uses. If you ever struggle to fall asleep, ask her to talk to you about her wardrobe woes.”
“What I don’t get is…” He tightened his grip on the knife, placing the blunt edge of the blade on my collarbone and gliding it up my throat, ever so slowly. My breath hitched. “…why the only person in this family with an actual functioning brain became everyone’s designated bitch, Octi.”
Ah.
A question for the ages.
I contemplated lying to him for a moment. The truth was, by far, the most vulnerable thing one could share about themselves.
But I decided against it.
Zachary Sun would call me out on my bullshit before I even finished my sentence. There was no point hiding things from him, even if I knew he was full of secrets.
Distinctly aware they could very well be eavesdropping, I lowered my voice, swatting the knife away from my chin.
“I have some issues to sort out before I can part ways with them. Legal stuff.” I scowled. “Anyway, didn’t you come here to yell at me for the pendant?”