Page 98 of Brutal King

“All my things are here!”

“You can take them with you.”

“Not the dark room!”

“Sofia.” I inject as much authority as I can into my tone. “It’s for your own safety.”

The glare she casts toward me would have been fatal were I a weaker man. As it is, it’s hard to maintain eye contact.

“You’re all the same,” she hisses and abruptly stands. “Actually, that’s not true. You’re far worse than any other man in my life. Overbearing. Controlling. Kidnapper. I hate you.”

“It’s too bad you feel that way, because you’re stuck with me forever.”

“Then I’ll hate you forever.” She steps out of the tub, slapping my hands away when I try to help. Dripping wet, she stomps out of the bathroom.

I remain there for a while, partly hating myself too. She’s right, Iamcontrolling. But I’m also afraid. Paranoid.

Sofia is pregnant. The stakes have gone up. Everyone around us is a possible vulnerability. Including Scarlet. Especially her. She’s too close to Maisel. Although she tries to hide it, I know she’s kept in touch. Should the alliance weaponize this connection to her, she could be compromised. I can’t risk that.

Over the last two weeks, I’ve given a lot of thought to the way I’d handle this. The only way is to remove Sofia from the house long enough that Scarlet believes I’ve hidden her away somewhere else.

And maybe even then, I might not bring her back until I’m certain no one will ever find her.

It takes two days to make the necessary arrangements for our long trip. Two days in which Sofia barely utters a word to me.

When she doesn’t pack, I’m forced to pack for her. She watches me with angry eyes. In fact, she’s so furious with me that when we leave through the garage, she’s too busy glaring to look around the space she’s been curious about for months.

Henry drives us to the hangar where my private jet awaits. The cold air hits her, whipping up her hair. She runs her palms over her arms and shivers. When I place the cloak I bought for her around her shoulders, she pulls away from me.

The entire flight is the same.

Gavin sends a car for us once we arrive. All the while, Sofia stares out the window. I reach for her hand and she snatches it away.

“You cannot be angry with me forever, Little Bird,” I say.

“Watch me.”

“I couldn’t leave you there. Not for this long. I’ve already explained that to you.”

“Well, I don’t believe you. There’s more to it, I’m sure.”

Of course there is. But how do I put into words what I barely understand myself?

“We’re here, sir,” the driver says when the vehicle comes to a stop near a private side entrance of The Red Hotel and Casino.

“Please, give us a moment,” I request.

The man nods and leaves the car.

“Sofia—” Before I can say another word, she throws herself on me.

Straddling me, she cups my face. “Please don’t go. Don’t leave me here with these people I don’t know. Take me home.”

“The Red is highly secured and I can be here in a second if needed. I’ll be gone a week, at most.”

“Please.” She kisses me, deep open mouthed kisses that have me rock hard instantly.

I grab hold of her hips as she begins to grind on me, a futile attempt to stop her because I don’t actually want to. She hasn’t let me touch her in two days and I have to. I need to.

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