Page 30 of Fortress of the King

The garbled voice laughs. “Come now. I saw how friendly you were with him. All over each other, it made me reconsider things. You wanted him to fuck you then and there, didn’t you?”

What in the ever-living hell?

My anger soars. “Need I remind you that I’m beingbribedinto doing this, so it doesn't necessarily matter what I do or don’t want him to do, I’m merely a puppet.”

“Yes, andmypuppet will do exactly asIsay, no questions asked.”

“I’m doing everything,” I remind him. “I promise you. Please, let me speak to Mia.”

The line goes quiet for a moment, and I think he’s hung up.

Realistically I don’t know it is ahe,it could be freaking anybody.

“Need I remind you that you don’t get to bark orders at me, just remember what I can do to you with just a snap of my fingers.”

Panic runs through me. He’s right. I have to play the game. While I want to demand that I won’t do anything more until I speak to Mia, the deep-rooted fear that she will be harmed is more prevalent.

I grit my teeth. “I’m sorry, it’s… it’s been a long day.”

He tuts. “I chose well. I can see that.Anyone would think you’d do this regardless of what you had to lose.”

My toes curl at those words.

I swallow hard. “That isn’t true,” I lie. “Angelo Medici is a despicable monster, and nothing will give me greater pleasure than to see him brought to justice.”

There’s laughter. “That’s poetic.”

“It’s the truth.” I’m getting so good at lying that it almost scares me. “The man’s a snake, he’s everything you said he’d be, and he’s taking the bait.” The bait being me. I have to stall for time, and this is the only way.

“You know what you have to do next. I’m sure I don’t need to explain how important it is that you do exactly what I say.”

I close my eyes and pray. “I need to speak to her, that was the deal,” I plead.

“Well, you can’t. If you’re a good girl and get me what I want, then perhaps I’ll let you speak to her when you actually have something I can use.”

I bang my fist down on the counter, I want to wail but I keep it in check. “That’s going to take time.”

He laughs again. It sounds so cold and menacing. “I’m sure you can use your powers of persuasion. After all, being a whore is really no different to being in business; we all get screwed one way or another.”

I try to disregard the comment. “What do you want me to do?”

“Seduce him,” the voice says simply.

Holy fucking crap.

“I…I don’t know if….”

“Remember, Mia can be given back to you unharmed or in a body bag, the choice is yours.”

Shit. Fuck.

“How is seducing him going to get me information?” I plead.

“He’ll begin to open up, to trust you. Pillow talk is highly underrated.”

“But I…”

“Your sister won’t look so pretty if I cut her eyes out.”

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