Page 15 of Brutal King

“Exactly.”

“Who are you?” I ask, my voice smaller than I’d like given my vulnerable predicament.

“Can you take a guess?” There’s something in his silvery eyes, the same predatory glint I saw in the reflection of the car window just before everything went dark. It sends a shiver up my spine. Every alarm in my body is activated at once, blaring the warning that this man is more dangerous than he appears. And that’s saying a lot because at the moment, he appears fucking deadly.

My brain rapidly tries to make sense of all this. Of who he might be and why he’d have any interest in me.

Gideon Black. That’s what he introduced himself as. Was the name a lie? Even if it wasn’t, it’s not what he’s asking.

He takes another step closer, and another, and I’m standing on my tiptoes, practically trying to crawl up the wall to get away from him. But it’s impossible because he’s everywhere—his chest touching mine, palms flat against the wall behind me, his arms caging me in.

“Can you not guess who I am?” he asks, urging me on.

I shake my head. “I’ve never met you before.”

“But youhaveheard of me.”

“No.”

“Think, Little Bird. Who. Am. I?” One side of his mouth pulls up as he locks his gaze onto mine. He’s not attempting to get into my head. In fact, it’s the opposite. He wants me in his.

And I see it. I seewhohe is and it’s so obvious to me now.

I dig my nails into the wall, wishing I could somehow tear a hole into it that will swallow me up. But the reality of my situation is worse than being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Being scared of the Devil doesn’t make him go away. Still, I’m unable to keep the fear from my tone when I whisper, “The Ferryman.”

His eyes drop to my lips and I swear his pupils dilate. He lifts his hand and places it on my throat, and though he doesn’t applyany pressure, I can hardly breathe. “Your heart is fluttering. Are you afraid of me?”

“No.” Damn. That sounds like a lie even to me.

He chuckles. “What have you heard about me that has you trembling like this?”

“You’re killing men for revenge.”And I’m here because my brother is somehow a part of it.I swallow loud enough for him to hear. “Are you going to kill me?”

He runs his thumb over the vein pulsing in my neck. “If I wanted you dead, you would be.”

“Then what do you want?”

“A game.” His eyes lift to mine once again and I’m instantly hypnotized by their icy beauty. Even if I wanted to look away, even if they terrify me knowing they might be the last thing I see, all I can do is stare back.

“A game?” I ask.

“Do you like games, Little Bird?”

Sure. I like games as much as anyone else does. In fact, I’m quite competitive. But, I don’t think he’s talking about the same kind of games. Safe games. Good natured games. Sane games.

However, I might not have a choice but to play.

“What is it?” I ask.

“If you make it to the front door before I can get to you, I’ll let you go.”

I glance at it. It’s not far, a few yards at best. He’s tall, but I’m fast. Not to mention the boost I’ll get from the huge dose of adrenaline that’s just been pumped into my bloodstream.

“You’re on,” I say.

“Wait.” His blue eyes sparkle. “What will you give me ifIwin?”

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