Page 23 of Even Robots Die
I gulp against his hand and I’m ashamed to acknowledge that the way he’s moving me with so much ease is turning me on more than it has the right to do.
Get your head out of the gutter, Flo. This isn’t a possessive move. It’s a power move, and your affection-deprived brain is just confused.
“Because I know you care deeply for your family. I know that some of your sisters, one in particular, needs to see someone about those night terrors, and that your family doesn’t have a lot of money, and that your father doesn’t make it easier with the way he lives his life. I know youneed money and I can give you enough that you wouldn’t have to worry or even work, at least for a few years.”
He doesn’t know my dad if he thinks whatever he would give us would last us years. Because as long as there’s money, dad keeps using it. Until there’s none anymore.
Unless.
“What did you promise my dad when he was there?” I ask instead.
That seems to surprise Brice, and I feel his hand squeeze the side of my throat.
“Half a million.”
Dear god, I know now why dad didn’t look too sad when I saw him yesterday. He’s still hoping to get that money.
“I promised him half of that if you did the job,” he adds.
“He sold me out,” I mutter to myself. I know Brice heard me when I see his pupils dilate and his nostrils open. He looks like he doesn’t like what I just said, but doesn’t comment on it.
“I want more,” I counter.
Brice relaxes his hold against my throat and I feel suddenly naked.
“I want half a million.”
“Greedy,” Brice says, amused. “Maybe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree after all …”
I don’t even try to remark on the nastiness of what he just said.
“I want it divided into five equal parts, on five different accounts. One for me, and one for each of my sisters.”
15
Brice
Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything about the apple and the tree, but I knew it would infuriate her, so I didn’t stop myself.
But Florentine surprises me, and instead of biting back, she completely ignores me. Well, her actions and her words are ignoring me. Her face can’t contain her rage, though.
Such a lovely red. Crimson.
But she surprises me even more when she tells me why she wants more.
She wants money for her sisters.
I shouldn’t be surprised, though.
Because her father is well known in Paris for being a gambler, and from what I gathered, she has four sisters and no mother at home. If the man can’t keep his money, it stands to reason that she wants to provide for her sisters.
I don’t know how old they are, but she’s the only one of Stéphane’s daughters I’ve ever heard of.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she was his eldest child. Does she feel responsible for the rest of her siblings? Is that why she’s asking more?
Something stirs inside of me that I don’t recognize, and I shake my head.
I should stop antagonizing her.
