I had no fucking idea.

I didn’t talk to people, certainly not men, and God knew I had literally no experience trying to seduce them.

One thing I knew without a shadow of a doubt was that I was going to stay alive. I was going to get out of this.

And if seducing Nico was what it took, then that was exactly what I would do.

TEN

Nico

“Thanks for untying me,”Hope said after she’d finished her food.

I chuckled. “Trouble, your mouth is saying thank you, but your eyes are telling a different story.”

“Well I apologize,” she said, twisting her fingers together. It was an odd little habit of hers, a mix between nerves and anger fighting to get out.

I felt something…something much too much like guilt, but I quickly squelched it.

Reminded myself that if I hadn’t been as smart as I was, she would have shot me, and apparently with no hesitation.

Still, I didn’t like that she was experiencing discomfort, and surprisingly, didn’t like that her discomfort had been at my hands.

“You’ll get used to it,” I said.

She glared at me again, but then seemed to remember herself, and quickly schooled her features.

I wondered how she was able to do that.

She was skittish, which was understandable, but this was something else.

The way she reacted, the way she tried to handle me, told me that she had experience with unpredictable situations—and unpredictable men.

I didn’t like that either.

I gathered the trash and then turned abruptly and headed toward the door.

I was spending too much time with her, thinking about her and her feelings far too much.

Especially when I had so many other, much more vital, things to be doing.

“Remember to behave, or Sebastian will tell me,” I said.

I turned to look at her, and could see the anger burning in her eyes before she again hid it.

I suspected that she wanted to challenge me, ask me what exactly would be the consequences, but she held her tongue.

She was far too good at that.

So instead of speaking all of the words I knew were in her head, she gave a mirthless smile. “Huh. The goon’s name is Sebastian,” she muttered.

I only barely kept myself from smiling. “Goon, eh? He’d be offended if he heard you say that, so it’s best you keep quiet so you won’t have to deal with him.”

I left without another word, instantly feeling a low thud in my chest, something almost like an ache.

Which I hated.

I didn’tache.