Page 38 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“She’s not for sale.” I glance up and catch the storm in his eyes as he glares at Arden. But he’s oblivious to the sudden change in Hook’s mood as his eyes continue to trail up and down my body, making my stomach turn.

“Pity. I would get a lot for her… Or keep her for myself.” Disgust fills me as I listen to him talk about me like someobjectto be bought or traded.

I move to take a step forward when Cash stops me. I open my mouth to ask him why he’s choosing to let that vile man get away with what he said when I hear a strangled cough.

Turning towards Arden, I watch his eyes bulge as his hands move to his neck, clawing at some invisible force that looks as if it’s strangling him. His face contorts in pain and turns red as he gasps for air.

How…?

I glance at Hook to find him clenching his jaw as he stares him down with a vicious look full of hatred.

“Don’teverlook at her. Don’t talk to her or about her. Don’t mention her toanyone. If I find out you have uttered a single word about her, I willpersonallymake sure you regret it. Do I make myself clear?” Hook grits out each word, his tone barbed with malice as his mouth curls into a sneer.

It takes a few long dragged-out seconds with Arden’s face now turning blue, but he finally manages to force a nod.

Hook cuts him a thunderous look before releasing whatever power he has over him. Arden gasps and coughs as he takes in large gulps of air.

“On to business.” Hook sits down in one of the chairs with a nod for me to sit beside him. But the only space available is the arm of the chair and I don’t want to be any closer to him than I have to be.

He gives me a challenging look as if to say,‘Afraid?’

I narrow my eyes on him and plonk down onto the armrest as ungracefully as possible.

Afraid? What could I possibly be afraid of? Him?

Hook gives me a cocky smile and leans back, his arm reaching around me but thankfully not touching any part of me as he stares at Arden like he’s a piece of dirt.

I glance over at Cash as he dips his head at me, a small smile on his face that makes me give him a questioning look. He shakes his head before glancing at Arden, his smile dropping the minute he focuses on him.

Utterly lost at their strange behavior, I glance back at Arden to find his focus completely on Hook and no one else.

“I thought we had an agreement, Arden.” Hook’s tone sounds bored, but I can feel the charge of slow building rage in the room, and I know it won’t take much for Hook to lose it.

Laughter and cheers bellow out from across the room, drawing my attention to the small group of men and women having fun together. And even though this is a pleasure house, I start to wish I was over there with them rather than here with Hook.

Giving up on my hopeless desires, I turn back to the conversation between Hook and Arden.

“Of course. I would never break any agreement between good friends.” Arden laughs nervously, his eyes darting around the room as if looking for the nearest escape.

Scooting a little further back on the chair, I freeze when I reach Hook’s arm. I start to scoot forward when his hand moves, and his thumb starts tracing little circles on my hip.

I glare at him, but his entire focus is on Arden.

“Then enlighten us as to how my men ended up with a completely different relic than the one I found?” He retorts.

I contemplate breaking that little thumb when the air drops in the room. I watch Hook just as he gives Arden a vicious look.

“You gave us false information.”

Arden smiles, but it’s clear it’s a smile born from fear. “I would never—”

“Donotlie to me,” Hook growls with a hard set to his jaw.

“I… I might have had asmallproblem.” Arden chuckles nervously.

“Someone else came along before your men arrived and askedextremely nicelyif they could have it.” Arden swallows hard as Hook gives him a hard stare.

“They took it from you by force?”

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