Page 68 of Sweet, Sweet Jewel: A Sweet Treats Novel

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Kross clicked handcuffs around his wrists and then secured the other end to the handle of the closet. His movements were sure and swift. Practiced. He’d done this before.

Still immobile, all Finn could do was convulse. The closet door bucked and clattered as his shoulders banged against it. The electricity slithering through his veins bound him tighter than the cuffs.

He’d imagined this moment so many times, but it had never gone down like this.

“Tasers are so handy, aren’t they?” Kross said conversationally. He pulled up a chair and dragged it over to Finn. “The electric charge is so powerful that it interferes with your body’s nervous system. You lose mobility, lose control.” His eyes flitted over the body of the gun and landed on him. “And you love control, don’t you, Finn?”

His teeth were chattering, but his eyes shot darts.

Kross chuckled. “I wanted to meet you so badly when I discovered our connection. You can imagine that I don’t have many fans so to see one in person is… overwhelming.”

Fans? Kross really was insane.

“You’ve got a wicked glare. Has anyone ever told you that?”

Finn trembled, since that was all he could do in this state. When he got out of these cuffs though…

“There’s a thin line between love and hate, Finn,” Kross said calmly, leaning back. “Take it from me. The two blur together. They require similar amounts of energy, passion, and devotion. Now apathy,” Kross wiggled his finger, “indifference. This is the opposite of love.”

The fire in Finn’s veins was beginning to temper.

The effect of the Taser was wearing off.

“My father was the one who taught me this.” Kross stared wistfully at the ceiling. “He wasn’t a good man, you know. Not even to me. He was constantly disappointed by my disinterest in his business, but I wasn’t the bullying type. Persuasion is my thing.”

Finn’s heart slowed as the residual effects of the shock left his system. He twisted his jaw left and right and said breathlessly, “What is this? A therapy session?”

“You’re awake!” Kross’s eyes brightened. “How do you feel?”

“Why don’t you come over here and let me show you?” He pulled his fingers into fists.

Kross threw his head back and laughed. The gaudy sound reverberated in the air. “You’re funny. No, no, no. If I walk over there, it will be to kill you and I’m still deciding on whether I’ll do that tonight.”

The hatred boiling in his heart overwhelmed him. Waves and waves of pain threatened to crowd his mind. Finn steeled himself against the emotions and focused on getting out of this mess alive.

Kross didn’t seem inclined on killing him right now.

He’d keep him talking and maybe things would stay that way.

Best-case scenario, he walked out of this room with Kross’s head on a stake.

Patience.

“Courtney Robinson,” Finn choked out. “She was my sister.”

“I know. Pity what happened to her, huh?”

He gritted his teeth. “She was only fifteen.”

“That one happened awhile ago, but I assure you, if she ran off with me, she was no saint. I never pressure someone who has no interest. She came willingly.”

“Bull.”

“How are you so sure?” Kross rested an elbow on his knees. “Do you know why I like younger girls, Mr. Robinson?”

“Because you’re sick?”

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