Page 136 of Into the Woods

Mustache man leaned around to peer at me. “Whittier, huh? Related to Malcolm?”

“His daughter,” the general replied with an amused smirk.

“Ah,” Mustache said with a nod.

“The last time I saw you, you were… quite ill.” He shook his head, looking sad. “Had my son worried to death.”

“I don’t really remember much from when I was sick,” I told him and shrugged with what I hoped was an innocent smile. “And Court and I haven’t been friends in a long time.”

Not a lie.

Sometimes I wondered if we’d ever been friends, or if we’d just always belonged to each other. What we had was deeper than friendship.

“Of course,” General Woods murmured, his expression unreadable as he kept his gaze on me like a laser. “And how did you and Eric meet?”

“My cousin is… was dating his brother,” I admitted, unable to keep some of the bitterness from seeping into my tone.

His shrewd gaze turned to Eric. “And you had no idea who she was?”

“I knew she was related to Malcolm Whittier, but I had no idea how deep her connections ran to the organization prior.” Eric beamed at me. “Talk about a fortuitous coincidence.”

The general gave a slow nod as he rubbed his jaw. Then he looked at me, hate and scorn in his eyes. “Well, at least you’re consistent. You find young men with a modicum of potential and ruin them. Just how golden is that cunt of yours?”

I instinctively stepped back, sucking in a sharp breath.

“Excuse me, General, but that is my fiancée you’re speaking to,” Eric spluttered. “A woman you’ve known since she was a girl.”

“What the fuck would you even know about that?” he demanded, rounding on Eric.

Eric’s gaze jerked to me for a beat. “She told me that your families were friends. That—”

General Woods’s caustic laugh cut him off. “Fucking hell. You’re just as stupid as my son. He thought he loved her, too, you know. But he was wrong, and she ruined him. Destroyed his potential.” He glared at me, his expression full of venom.

“Ruined?” Eric sounded confused.

Jasper pushed a finger into my face. “He was never the same after he saved you. Went off the rails, an absolute disappointment to the Woods name. All because his mind was so twisted up over you.”

“It must kill you, huh?” I asked, finally done with the whole farce of the evening. “That your precious son is absolutely nothing like the person you are. Court is good and kind and loyal.”

“Is, huh?” He arched a brow at me. “I wasn’t aware you and my son were once again on speaking terms.”

I gasped, realizing I’d slipped up.

“Where is my son? He seems to have forgotten how to answer a damn call these days,” he snarled. “Perhaps history will repeat itself. Think if I take you, he’ll come running to save you once more?”

My gaze darted around as I looked for a way out, my fight-or-flight instinct landing firmly in the flight category.

Mustache laughed and sipped his drink, watching like this was the best show he’d seen in years. Even Eric seemed absolutely stunned at the way Jasper Woods and I were going at it.

“Let me ask you a question, Eric,” General Woods snarled. “How much is she worth to you?”

Eric looked stunned. “Excuse me?”

“Her worth,” the general repeated, enunciating each word like Eric was a dimwitted kid. “Is she worth your place in this organization?”

Eric’s jaw dropped. “General, sir, I’m not entirely sure—”

“Let’s say we’re starting the auction early,” General Woods cut him off. “And the first purchase is this little bitch. So? How much will she cost me? Or, I suppose I should ask, how much is she going to cost you?” He jerked his head, and two guards peeled away from the wall to come over and flank Eric.

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