Page 153 of Breaker

He always had the key.

His blue eyes catch me. I take a step back. My bag hits the floor. I can almost taste his rage. It’s tainting the air in the small foyer with its darkness. It’s written in his frigid, precise movements. My arms prick with goose bumps as he takes a step forward.

“What are you doing here, Papa?” I ask.

He doesn’t answer. But then men like Rune never have to answer to small, powerless women like me. Instead, he stalksforward, never looking away, keeping me trapped in place with the hatred burning in his eyes.

I don’t have the chance to avoid the hit. The back of his hand connects with my cheek before I can even register what’s happening. My eyes tear, face and nose stinging as I stumble back. My hand flies to my face, air sucking into my lungs at the shock.

“What the fuck did you do?” Rune grips my arm and drags me him. My palms land on his chest, finger curling into his suit jacket. “Tell me what the fuck you said to him.”

Shit.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I gasp, looking up at him.Lie, lie, lie. I’m an excellent liar. “What happened?”

His brows knit, but he pulls me even closer, his face in mine. “Zane called it off. Tell me what you said to him.”

I shake my head, trying to move away, hoping he thinks my racing heart is from the fear of his anger and not that Zane somehow managed to figure out a way to rat me out without revealing himself. Zane’s good at that.

“Why did he call it off?” Rune asks, shoving me away.

I stumble, my back hitting the console table. “He called what off? The marriage?”

Rune’s eyes narrow as he scrubs a hand over his jaw. He’s not shaved today and his salt and pepper stubble give his features a slight edge. “Tell me what you did.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I say, putting my whole heart into the lie. “Why did he call it off?”

Rune huffs, eyeing me strangely.

“I can’t say I’m mad about it,” I say, smoothing my hand over my hair. “But I didn’t do anything.”

He points a finger at me, anger making his face red. “You better make yourself useful, girl,” he grates, “because you just fucked me over a lot of money and a good connection.”

I swallow, not liking the underlying meaning to his statement. Make myself useful. Isn’t that what he’s been doing with me for years. Using me?

He nods, like he’s figured something out in his head, slowly, eyes tracking my every movement, every breath, and that oily fear returns. “What did the big one say to you before they sent you back?”

Reaper.

“Nothing,” I snap, my gut twisting at the lie. “We’ve been over this. I don’t know anything.”

“You don’t know why one of them attacked Zane?” Rune asks.

My stomach crashes down to my toes. “What?”

He takes a step toward me. I can’t help it, I shrink back. The vase wobbles, and crashes to the floor. I nearly scream at the sound, my nerves frayed and raw.

“What happened?” I ask. “Is he okay?”

Jesus.Breaker. That’s what I saw in his expression this morning. Complete and utter rage.

“He’s in surgery,” Rune says. “He may regain full use of his hand, if he’s lucky.”

My hand flies to my mouth. I’m not sure if I’m stifling a gasp of horror or a laugh.

Rune lets out a curse, then backs away dragging a hand through his hair. “I should have known he’d retaliate.”

I know better than to ask who or what he means, but the statement snags in my brain. He must think that their father sent one of the men to attack Zane as a payback for forcing them to return me. Little does he know they’re already at his doorstep, invading his territory.

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