Page 23 of Tangled Lies
Reality though? I think I wanted to stay there for four wrong reasons.
“Angel not going to happen. Your dear uncle is a bit of a problem for the Barones right now and keeping you might ruin everything we’ve already put into place.”
I fought against his hold and turned to look up at him.
“I can help. I can be useful.”
Knox didn’t smile. I wasn’t exactly sure he was breathing. Was he even human?
“Stop staring at me,” he said. “And who says you aren’t already doing exactly what we need you to do?”
I curled my lip and stomped my heel as I turned back to the elevator bank. My hand was heavy the closer I inched to the call button. I tasted freedom last night. I had been close to ruining the value my uncle saw in me as a pure little girl. Instead, not only was I still just as fucking pure, I was being forced back.
“I…But…” I took a deep breath. “Knox? Why are you guys bringing me back? How is this helpful?”
He reached for the button and pushed it.
“Ronan has a plan and this is part of it.”
The inside of my cheek hurt and I stopped biting it.
“Ronan? Why does he get to call the shots? Could you at least take me to the bathroom and fuck me now? I’d even settle for death. I can’t go back.”
I hated the way he didn’t even look at me. I’d be happy if they carved up my uncle and served him up as street vendor food. Anything. I was done trying to be what I wasn’t.
This was Margaux 2.0. When being direct didn’t get Knox to act, I went with the doe-eyed innocent little girl look I’d spent too much time practicing.
“Please don’t send me back. I’ll do anything. I’ll clean up after the next body. I’ll cook for you guys. Please just…”
My words died in my throat with the ding of the doors opening.
He stepped forward and I stepped backward. He stepped forward again, and this time I didn’t move. I smirked up at him, only to nearly choke when he pressed his body against me. He grabbed me up in his arms, and the next moment I was on the other side of the closing elevator doors.
I’d been so close to doing something for myself. So close.
Fine. I clenched my hands, hiding the way they shook with anger and maybe a little fear.
I jumped as his hand thumped against the doors and they opened again, stopping the elevator from ascending to my hell parading as heaven.
“Be a good little girl and we will be back. You’re meeting your fiancé soon.”
I locked my eyes with his and almost missed the way he moved. His finger hooked into the rounded collar of my dress and he pulled me to him.
“And, angel? Don’t let him touch you. You’ve already offered yourself. You’re ours.”
My mask of the perfect little virgin was firmly back in place. The smile of a timid little flower. My cheek muscles were well accustomed to holding it, but today it seemed just a bit harder. My uncle held my hand firmly around his forearm as we walked into a fancy restaurant where a piano played in the center and tables were sparsely placed, giving the idea of privacy, or maybe it was to space out the egos.
I hated the dress I was wearing and the stupid Mary Jane’s that made me feel like I was a ten-year-old. My hair was perfectly curled to soft waves as it fell down my back. I even had white gloves on as if dressing me like a delicate petal from a bygone era was going to prove to the world how much I was worth, and I supposed it did up here. It did in a world where assholes created the rules.
“Behave, Margaux, and I’ll let you see Reina again.”
Through the fake smile came the sugary sweet voice that accompanied it. “Of course, uncle. Thank you.”
Those men had made it all work, and I hated them for it. I’d gotten my things back from Reina’s and the game last night. We’d made it back to my uncle’s before he was any wiser.
I didn’t know why, but the fact I did have two phones in my purse made it easier to pretend like I could follow the rules. Because really, I was breaking them just sitting here.
Four men were just a phone call away, and my uncle had no idea. The strange bloom of something other than revenge and fear and sadness in my chest confused me.
