Page 19 of Assassin's Mark
He shrugged, the lack of emotion in his eyes giving me little hope. “Considering the bastard you have for a father, we’re probably doing you a favor,sweetheart.”
“Eli!”
Levi’s shout startled me; a jerk of my hand set my glass wobbling. I focused on grabbing it, on gathering my dishes in shaking hands, on hiding my emotions by turning my back to the men as I walked to the sink. I wouldn’t get any help from Eli any more than I would from Levi; I knew that. Still, despite his cool, calm, deadly air, Eli had argued against kidnapping me. Thathad to count for something, didn’t it?
His brother lured you into bed, took your virginity, and is now holding you against your will. Counting on anything—or anyone—connected to Levi is even more foolish than going to bed with him.
I growled at my conscience to shut the hell up and reached for the dish towel to dry my hands, keeping the brothers at the edge of my sight.
“Remi’s the one we haveto worry about,” Eli said, almost too soft for me to catch across the room. “They can’t track you, but they might connect a recent gunshot wound to your successful getaway.”
“That why I need you at the hospital.”
“Levi—”
He turned on Eli, menace in every line of his body. It was like watching two bulls face off, neither willing to back down. My breath caught in my throat.
“The only way tokeep you both safe is to eliminate the threat,” Levi grated out. “I’ll do that or die trying. No more discussion! Now get back to the hospital and stay aware. I’ll keep you updated.”
Eli snapped his mouth shut, not looking my way as he stalked to the door. His body blocked my view of the keypad as he entered the code, unfortunately. I stuffed my disappointment down deep, but Levi’s smirk whenI turned his way said he knew it was there all the same. Bastard.
And speaking of bastards… My father once more took the mic. As I watched, he motioned a younger man forward—a tall model-worthy blond. Perfectly groomed and perfectly stoic. The perfect right-hand man for the governor of Georgia. The sight of him sent ice through my veins. There was only one reason for him to be at the press conference—toplay the victimized fiancé and cement his position in the would-be governor’s new cabinet.
No, Dad wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t.
“Mr. Pellen, how do you feel about your fiancée’s disappearance?”
“No!”
The denial left me without thought. Only when the word echoed in my ears did I realize the ammunition it could become. I closed my eyes, scrubbing them hard at the sound of Levi’s footstepsgrowing closer.
“What do you mean, no?”
I dropped my hands to stare blankly at the screen. “No, I’m not engaged.”
Levi scoffed. “Of course you are. Your father announced the news last night.”
What?
My swollen tongue refused to utter the question, but my brain sped forward, working overtime to sort the threads, reveal the truth. When it hit me, I gasped, choked.
“You knew, didn’t you?” Myresignation came through loud and clear, answering my own question without Levi’s help. “Last night, when you came to the Full Moon, you already knew what he’d planned.”
Levi’s heat reached me first, that familiar warmth that filled me with despair. When his breath brushed my ear, I gave in to the instinct to hide and closed my eyes.
“Of course I knew, little bird. I know what brand and sizepanties you wear. I know exactly how the silk looks when it cups the curves of your ass. You bet I caught that conversation about your father’s arrangement.” A nip of my earlobe sent a zing of shock through my body. “Kyle Pellen is a cold prick, by the way. You could do better.”
Arguing was pointless, but I couldn’t help myself. “I didn’t agree to any engagement.”
Levi shrugged. “What Daddywants, Daddy gets.”
“Except when it comes to you, I guess.”
The words were bitter. I hated that, hated revealing even the tiniest bit of myself to the man at my side, but there was no holding back. He’d bared my body against my will; why not my emotions too?
A broad, hot palm settled on my stomach, easing the roiling tension there, gentling me like a mare to her stallion. The too tight confinesof my throat didn’t quite strangle my bark of protest.
“Shh…”
