Page 26 of Stitched Up in You
She has no such thing. Within the next hour, the manor house will be receiving its very first human guest in centuries. Even now, a team of ghouls is preparing for our arrival, ensuring there’s nothing incriminating or anything remotely useful to someone with her skillset. She can rot bored out of her skull until I have need of her.
I ought to rip her sodding head from her shoulders and use it for football practice for what she’s done.
“You think your little antics have saved you?” I ask her calmly, “If anything, you’ve only indebted yourself further to me.”
“Ha! Of course, its saved me, silly butt. My face,” she says, pointing at herself obnoxiously, “Mr. Stein, is about to be plastered all over the country and now, if you try to get rid of me? Well, I’m sure someone will come asking where your newfiancéeran off to.” She punctuates her little tirade with a stiff jerk of her arms over her chest before throwing herself back in the seat to scowl out the window.
It’s almost comical at how she believes such a thing would keep her breathing if I truly wished her dead.
Although I must admit I underestimated her.
None of us could have predicted she was working alone or telling the truth for that matter. Even if she hadn’t meant to hack into Talbot, her actions left my property vulnerable, and for that she will pay. “You’re a very foolish woman.”
She makes a snort of derision and turns back to me, a full smile on her brazen lips. “I stole from the richest man alive and donated all of it to my favorite animal fundafterhe had me kidnapped and coerced me?—”
“Foolish,” I say, refusing to give into her attempt to infuriate me.
“If you want a refund of your money, just say it,” she snaps.
She shrugs her shoulders as if to imply the rest of her actions are easily dismissed.
Stronger men have tried and failed to gain a reaction from me, and I will not be bested by her, no matter how she tries and tests my patience as if her very existence transpired for exactly that purpose and that purpose alone.
I shove all my might to readjust my power levels, forcing the energy to do my bidding as it’s been rampant and rolling like a hard boil ever since her cute display.
“What you fail to realize, Miss Crenshaw, is that I now own you. Consider yourself my personal computer hacking squad until you fail to have some further use to me,” I say, enjoying myself more than a little at how her already pale complexion pales further, washing her out and making the green of her eyes stark in contrast.
I relax as much as I can allow myself, the knowledge that the manor is nearby, and I can discharge the energy coursing through me at dangerous intensities as soon as we arrive. Mikael is already having the house emptied of any devices she can use to escape or reach the outside world. Since I’ve long since stopped using it as a home, it’s the perfect location to hold her until I have further need of her. Now just to find out what she knows and get what she took back.
“What do you mean?” she asks, and I know I have her attention.
“I want to know who took the shipments from my company?” I ask, done playing nicely if she is not going to be forthcoming.
“I don’t know what your?—”
“You will stop feeding me bullshit, and playing your little games, now. Tell me what I need to know, or your life is about to become exceedingly difficult for you,” I tell her honestly.
Usually, I’d have no need to be so candid, but I know she knows far more than she’s letting on. She’s far smarter than what we could have accounted for, even for a human. She may be right in that all of her efforts will keep her safe from me for the time being, but in doing so, she has outed herself entirely.
I press a button and pause long enough for the limo partition to come down. “Bruno,” I call out.
“Yes, sir,” he answers.
“Miss Crenshaw will be taking up residence at the manor until further notice. Call ahead and make sure a room is ready for her arrival; she won’t be leaving it for some time.”
“You can’t do that,” she sputters, her gaze wild and rife with disbelief.
“On the contrary, I can do whatever I want. Welcome to the new hell of your own personal making.”
My lip almost curls into a smirk at how enraged the female looks in that moment. Her green eyes sparkle with fire, but she keeps her pretty mouth shut.
“Good, you’re beginning to see how futile it is to argue with me,” I say, relishing how red her cheeks are becoming, diffusing her pale skin with color.
I will find a way to put this human in her place if it is the last thing I do.
Chapter 11
BERNADETTE CRENSHAW
