Page 149 of A Simple Truth

“Let me be very clear, Finnleah, if you are ever going to dance like that again, it’s only going to be formypleasure and viewing,” he blurted out heated words, looking away from me.

I perked my eyebrow up as the corners of my lips tugged upwards, waiting for him to register his own words. My eyes lighting up with satisfaction as his face became even more disheveled.

“I... I didn’t mean it like that...I meant more so...I…Fuck, Finnleah, I can’t think or even breathe with you around, standing dressed like that, looking at me like that.”

But I already knew that. From the simple facts that he had to take a few steps away from me, that his hands were busy running through his hair, rubbing his face every five seconds, doing anything to keep them busy, or that he could only look at me for less than a second before he’d pull his flustered gaze away. “We could always try going through the back door…” he started, but then turned sternly to me before I could comment. “Do. Not. Dare,” he warned.

I stifled a chuckle.

“Well, I am glad you are enjoying this,” Gideon scowled, letting out a short breath. And I could swear I saw a tint of a blush on his cheeks…the Lord of Death,blushing. “I guess we will need to use those chains after all.”

“Actually, I have an idea,” I countered. “Before you get too critical about it, it doesn’t involve me dancing…” I wickedly smiled.

89

GIDEON

Iwasn’t sure if I was in heaven or hell. Maybe my soul was stuck in perpetual in-between. I willed my heart to slow down again, but even descending to the depth of the Numb wouldn’t help me right now.

I had grossly miscalculated the impact of seeing her. Or what that little, skimpy outfit on her would do to my mind, and to my body. I shoved down the screaming desire to fuck her until it was silent, but with each glance at her it came back stronger than before, my body simply refusing to give up on the idea.

Get yourself together, General, I yelled at myself, but my thoughts completely tangled around her, running through my fingers like water while I tried forcing myself to think of anything but her.

Twelve guards so far, I somehow managed to count while we were escorted upstairs to the leader of this gambling “pleasure” house. They were stalky and sturdy men, and I couldn’t wait to slit their throats.

Definitely displaced, angry frustration, but still.

Two more guards opened the doors for me, leading us into a large open room, much better lit than the tight burrows thatserved as halls of this rotten hell hole. An older man sat at a desk made out of stone, eating his dinner whilst two other men were counting gold coins near him.

“What’s the meaning of this?” His brows furrowed as he motioned the guards to close the doors behind us. I paused, examining the man, but after a moment, I did just as Finn had instructed. I threw her to the ground. Though I was as gentle as I possible could be, my heart still flinched at the move. But I let my muscles ease, falling into the calm and collected look of the Destroyer General.

“I had paid you enough coin to buy all your whores today, and this is what you give me? She bit me! If I wanted to fuck a feral animal, I would. Now, I want my money back,” I repeated the precise script directed by Finnleah, forcing my eyes to stay on the man, though my heart begged me to look down at her, to run to her as she kneeled on the ground with her head down.

“Sir, let’s be calm about this.” The man’s half-rotten teeth stretched into a fake smile. “Nizana here is our newest addition.” He stood up, taking a few steps towards Finn. “But perhaps she just needs a reminder of why we do the things we do.” His vile eyes lowered down to her. “Nizana, dear…” He grabbed her hair.

Hegrabbedher hair. Hetouchedher.

“Nope. Can’t do it,” I uttered, my only warning to her, as the muscle in my jaw snapped.

“Shit,” Finn grumbled but understood. With one swift motion she drew the hidden knives, stabbing the man straight into his feet. I lunged for the other two guards.

Finnleah knew her way around a knife, slicing him with surgical precision. She was speed and fury, and soon the man laid dead.

The guard landed a heavy gut punch, one I could’ve probably avoided if I only stopped staring at her. I grunted, brutallyknocking one of them out, then choking the other one until his limp body hit the ground.

Finnleah was already pulling the painting off the wall as I robbed the guards of their weapons.

“Gideon, it’s all here.” She gasped, staring inside the safe, she had just yanked the lock off a second prior. In the small, dug out hole laid a book, precious stones and metals, and what I could only assume, other lost artifacts.

“Is thatthestone?” I asked, noticing a small box.

“Nope, just gold,” she replied, scavenging through the hidden possessions. “We are taking this one for sure.” She grabbed the ancient book she’d seen in her vision, wrapping a cloth it around. “We will read it later,” she explained, as I silently questioned her actions with my eyes. “Now we need to go get the girls.” I nodded, passing her a few of the weapons.

“These are terrible,” I huffed, exchanging the dagger I had given her for a much better one. “Flimsy piece of trash,” I mumbled, as I broke a spear in half, turning it into a makeshift harpoon for myself, good for fighting in close distances.

“They should be on the same level we were, that’s about ten doors. I think twelve guards or so, plus anyone else feeling extra brave today,” Finnleah calculated.

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Just stay close behind my back.”

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