Page 45 of King of My Heart

My jaw locks, teeth grinding. If he doesn’t let go, I’m going to die…and that’s what gives me control over this situation. Sam wants the same thing everyone does, and he thinks I can give it to him.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to sit down and you’re going to listen. I know how hard that is for you, but surely you can try for me.”

My vision becomes blurry, but I don’t fight him anymore.

He bends down and hisses his next words in my ear. “If you want to fucking breathe again, you better nod your agreement.”

I don’t, and I know what he’s thinking. I can read it in his eyes like a magnifying glass pointed at an open book.‘The bitch is so stubborn she would rather die here and now than listen to me.’

My eyelids grow heavy, and my chest stops heaving as I start passing out.

“Fuck,” he snaps as he lets go and takes a step back.

My legs fail me, and I fall to the floor, heaving. I press both palms on the fluffy rug and grab strands of it to ground me.

God, I was stupid not to see this was his place. The furniture, the coziness, it screams Sam. He loves his comfort. He loves being isolated. He’s like an old man who’s had enough of the world and all the people in it. That’s what happens when all you see is the sick side of society. He used to live in a penthouse in Silver Falls. I guess he’s killed enough people to afford a beautiful cabin in the woods now.

When I can finally look up without seeing white dots, I offer him my smuggest smile. He’s watching me with all the disgust he can muster. He knows he fucked up.

“Uh oh, look at that. I didn’t nod and I’m still breathing.” My mocking voice turns darkly serious as I stand back up. “Never make threats you can’t follow through with. I think you’re the one who taught me that.”

I massage my sore neck as he combs back his already gelled hair. “I know what you want, Sam.” Expecting his silence. I keep going. “Why are you looking for them?” I ask. “Except for the obvious jealousy emanating from you right now.”

He chuckles as he shakes his head. Usually, Sam never talks. It’s his coping mechanism from the traumatizing things he’s seen in his life. His dad used to work for Mateo Bianco, my ex-guardian and head of one of the most powerful Cosa Nostra families. Sam’s dad wasfucked. Up.He was the deadliest enforcer who ever walked this planet. He’s gone now. Mateo had him killed when we were younger. Still, Sam has seen shit that has always kept him silent.

But with me? He used to talk. We used to laugh and share secrets and gossip. We used to chill and pretend life wasn’t a big fuckery. He is not the kind to spit poison.

So seeing him doing that to me right now? That hurts more than his hand around my neck. I shouldn’t care because I hate him. So, I’ll keep pretending I don’t care.

Sam ignores the mockery I made out of him and crosses his arms. “Tell me where to find the Volkov brothers, Rose.”

“Since when do you put yourself in the category of people who can tell me what to do?” I seethe. The list is short, and he was never on it, or maybe that’s what I’ve made myself believe in the last two years.

“You’re not going to like what happens next.”

It’s a threat, but it almost sounds like a warning that he doesn’t want to hurt me. And that’s like the old Sam. The one from before the Volkovs took me.

That’s when it hits me. Sam doesn’t want to find the Volkov brothers to hurtme. He wants to find them for himself.

“You’ve got a contract on them,” I huff the truth. “Who wants them dead? How much are they paying you?”

“I’m not sharing any details with you. And I know what you’re thinking. I hate you. So don’t get any ideas.”

Hating someone you once loved is complicated. You can read each other too easily.

“Details,” I snort. “You think you’re the only person who’s been hired to kill the Volkov brothers? Don’t be so naïve. Why do you think they’re so good at hiding?”

The Wolves are masters at hiding. The Volkov family has enough enemies that they rarely venture outside of their compound. The last time Vladimir Volkov left the comfort of his home, I killed him. It wasn’t planned, but I still managed to murder the head of their family to protect mine. It got me in a lot more trouble than I had bargained for.

“Rose–”

“I don’t know where they are,” I cut him off. I can see it pisses him off. Sam doesn’t talk often, but when he does, people tend to listen to him. “I haven’t been out of their kingdom since I was forced into it.”

“Then you’re going to find them for me,” he tells me simply. His British consonants clip like a hit to the face. His behavior goes back to a confidence that makes me feel uneasy. He’s got something up his sleeve, I’m just not sure what. “You’re going to do many things for me, actually.”

I scoff, barely able to believe the nerve he’s got. When did he start growing a pair of balls around me? Lovesick puppy, that’s what he used to be. Now he’s just a piece of shit who betrayed me.

“Watch my lips, Sam. In case you haven’t noticed, I would rather die than do anything for you. I would ratherdiethan let you take any control over my life.”

---