Page 66 of Cruel Secrets

Eyes narrow as he leans closer to me. “You’re going to want to think about what the hell you’re doing here. I branded your sister. I’ll give you the same treatment if you test me.”

“Promises, promises.” I grin and lean against a post in the middle of the aisle. “We really should talk about what you’re doing here, though. I know you’re obsessed with me, but I didn’t think you would take to following me around the state.”

He grits his teeth. “Where the hell are my sister and niece?”

I shrug. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came up here alone to get a vacation from my family. I’m sure you know how annoying Aiden can be when he sets his mind to it.”

A deep red cast tinges the tops of his cheeks and his ears, anger flashing in his gaze. “I’m not interested in playing games with you, Royce.”

“Damn shame that is.” I push off the post, shifting closer to him.

He grabs me by the collar before dropping me as soon as he gets a dirty look from an older woman. “You’re playing stupid with me, but we both know that you have them.”

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.” I smooth down my shirt, grabbing a jar of pasta sauce from the shelf and testing the weight of it in my hand.

If it comes to it, I could smash the jar into his temple, and it might be enough to stall Noah for a little while.

Noah’s hands curl into fists, his knuckles turning white. “I know you’re lying to me. You’re going to tell me what the hell you’ve done with my sister.”

Not heavy enough. I need something better.

I stoop down and grab a larger can. “I still don’t know what you’re talking about, and to be honest, I feel like we’re going around in circles. So, why don’t you admit that the real reason you followed me up here is because you miss what we used to have.”

Taunting him is a dangerous game.

He could come after me the moment we’re both out of the store, but then at least his attention would be on me and not Bianca or Gia.

Making him angrier is only going to make him more prone to mistakes.

But it could make him more dangerous to them as well, should he get through me and hunt them down.

Right now, I have to toe a careful line, not wanting to push it too far and put my girls more in danger, but to also make him annoyed enough to focus on me.

Noah rips the can from my hand, setting it on the shelf before invading the little space between us. “I don’t know what the fuck kind of game you think you’re playing, but it’s ending right now. You’re going to tell me where they are, and in exchange, I promise your death would be quick and painless.”

I give a dry chuckle, putting a hand on his chest and pushing him back a step. “Now, where would the fun in that be?”

“Would you rather I torture you in front of your family? You should’ve been there to hear the way Ellie and Sean were screaming when I tortured them. Do you want to put your family though that?”

What I want to do right now is slit the bastard’s throat.

I have more than enough weapons at my disposal. It would be all too easy to grab the glass bottle on the shelf and break it open before driving it deep into his neck. It would leave a horrible mess behind, but it would be worth it.

I can’t wait for the day he dies at my hands.

“Even if I did know where they were—and I don’t—I would rather die than hand them over to you.”

Noah smirks, his arms crossing over his chest. “I’d be more than happy to arrange for that.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, sunshine.” I crack my knuckles before nodding with a smile to a small family passing us.

A couple of Noah’s men appear at either end of the aisle, making my pulse pound. With the shopping carts they have blocking the way, nobody is getting in or out of the aisle.

If Noah decides to beat the hell out of me, nobody is going to come help.

Not that I need them to. Three against one are decent odds.

They’ll be on the ground and bleeding before they know what hit them.

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