Page 37 of Ruthless Oath

“Keep it up and I’ll find something else for you to do with that sassy mouth.” He stood and took his mug to the sink to rinse it before putting it in the dishwasher.

What would it be like to be with him? I shouldn’t even consider it, but would he surprise me and be gentle and caring if I told him I had never been with anyone? Or would he see me as a quest to conquer?

The answer wasn’t difficult to figure out. As many times as I had fantasized about what it would be like to lose my virginity, I definitely didn’t see it happening with one of my father’s enemies while being held as a hostage.

Why does that idea intrigue me?

“Tell me something about you,” I said.

“No.” He leaned over the island, facing me.

“Why not?”

“Because we’re not friends. We don’t need to get to know one another.”

“I don’t have many friends.”

“I wonder why?”

“Why do you constantly insult me? I’m not a bad person.”

“You’re not an easy person to deal with.”

Why did I care what he thought about me?

“I grew up in a fortress surrounded by guards,” I said. “Not too many parents wanted their kids to play at my house. It was difficult to make lasting relationships.”

He nodded, and for a moment, a flicker of understanding flashed in his eyes.

“At least you have Milo,” I said. “I don’t have any siblings. I have a few cousins, but once we got to high school, our interests changed and we weren’t as close.”

I sipped my coffee. My closest cousin got engaged a few months ago and didn’t ask me to be in her wedding. She was marrying a cop, and she distanced herself from my father once my parents got divorced. The rejection hurt.

Pushing my plate away from me, I said, “I make friends easily, despite what you think of me, but when people learn who I am, they don’t get past my last name. I’m used to not having friends.”

“Maybe I’m not the one who should see a therapist.” He glanced at his watch. “I have some calls to make.”

“Wait.” I stood and joined him by the sink. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Binge-watch something? Read a book? I don’t know.”

“I can’t hang around here and do nothing.” I nodded at his phone. “I want to call my mother.”

“No.”

“You’re impossible.” When I tried to leave, he caught me by the arm. “What now?”

He motioned toward the breakfast. “You need to clean this up.”

“What?” I laughed, but he gripped me tighter. “Oh, you’re not kidding?”

“Not at all.”

“Don’t you have people to do this?”

“In a fucking safe house? How many people do you think I can trust with this location?”

“We have to do everything by ourselves?” I glanced at the food and then the sink. “I’ve never had to do that.”

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