Page 45 of Brutal King

“But the rest is exposed to chemicals.”

“Get me T-shirts I can mess up and I’ll gladly wear them,” she retorts. “Or at the very least return my hoodie.”

“No chance.”

“Whatever.” She makes to go back inside but I stop her.

“I’m going out of town until tomorrow evening.”

“Where are you going?”

“Business.”

Her brows pinch and she swallows thickly. “Please tell me it’s not my brother. I, I know I’ve been in here a lot, but I can put this all away. We can do something together, whatever you’d like.” She begins to tear off her apron, her movements nervous.

“Sofia, stop. It’s nothing to do with Luca. I wanted you to keep busy. I’m not going to see your brother.”

Wide eyes stare at me with fear and disbelief. “Please don’t hurt him. I’ll do better.”

“Stop. This isn’t related to Luca,” I promise, though technically it does involve one of his members. “I’m going to Philadelphia,” I add to further assure her. “I’ll return tomorrownight and you can resume your seduction, if it can be called that. In the meantime, enjoy the room, the house. Just don’t?—”

“Go outside,” she finishes for me. “Your men surround the premises. I know.”

“Those men can also be here in a split second, should there be any emergencies.”

She follows me down the hall and beyond the pool to the steps that lead upstairs. All the while, the wheels in her mind are turning so loudly I can practically hear her thoughts.How is he getting there?

Finally, she asks, “You’re going in the helicopter?”

“Is there a better way?”

“A car.”

“Did you see one out there?”

“No. But there must be another way.” She glances toward the metal doors with the keypads. “Through one of those.”

“Clever, Little Bird.” I beam at her. “It’s the one on the right. The other is a holding cell.”

“A cell?” Her brows furrow.

“Doesn’t Briar House have one?”

“Yes. In the basement.”

“Ah. And where are we?”

Her mouth pulls into a tight line. “The basement. But my family rarely used it.”

“Rarely. But not never,” I retort. “As to where I’ve never used this one.”

“Why would you? Your entire house is a cage,” she snaps, obviously taking offense.

“Only for pretty little birds I don’t want flying off.”

“Really? Am I truly the only one you’ve ever kept here against her will?” She narrows her eyes as she awaits my answer, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Is this an interrogation?”

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