Page 75 of Ruthless God

Her expression is unreadable, her gaze sharp, assessing.

And suddenly I’m not sure if I should be more afraid of whatever giggled in the hallway or the woman standing right in front of me.

“Mr. Irons sent me to make sure you found your way back.”

Agnes’ voice is flat, emotionless, like she’s reciting a script. I cross my arms, leveling her with a look.

“Clearly, I did.”

A beat of silence. The air between us feels charged, like something is going to snap.

I tilt my head. “Who was in the hallway?”

Her expression doesn’t change. “No one.”

Bullshit.

“I’m not stupid, Agnes. I know I saw someone.”

For the first time, something flickers in her gaze.

It’s not surprise or concern. It’s something colder.

And then she takes a step toward me. A step that’s just a little too deliberate. I hold my ground, and she takes another step forward. I don’t back away, but my spine stiffens, my body going on high alert. She’s seeing if I’ll flinch. I don’t.

Instead, I lift my chin, voice steady.

“Who was in the hallway?” I ask again, daring her to lie to me.

She tilts her head, eyes dark, unreadable.

Then, in a voice as smooth as glass, she answers, “You’re imagining things, dearie.”

“I know what I saw.”

Her lips curve. Not in a smile, but something that isn’t friendly.

“Then I suppose you’ll have to live with that, won’t you?”

She takes one more lingering step, stopping just close enough that I feel the shift in the air between us. Then, just as quickly, she turns and leaves. Not another word. Not another look.

The door clicks shut behind her. But I don’t move. I just stand there, staring at the door, my heart pounding, my skin prickling. Because something about that woman is not right.

I’m just about to say fuck it and go seek Claudius. I mean, at this point, I’d rather deal with him than sit here alone with my thoughts. But my phone buzzes and I freeze.

The sound cuts through the silence, sharp and unexpected. For a second, I just stare at it, my stomach twisting. I already know who it’s from. I can feel it. Slowly, I reach for it, my fingers hovering for a beat too long before I finally swipe the screen.

And there it is. A new message. From Gabriel. A single line, glowing against the darkness of my screen…

Gabriel

She’s scary, isn’t she?

I feel dizzy.

What are you talking about?

Agnes. That woman could scare the devil into repenting.

---