Page 7 of Marek

“I’ll need you to elaborate.”

He tips his head to the side, as if he’s mildly curious about me. “You’re not afraid.”

Oh, I’m fucking terrified.

“Of what? You?”

He grins again. “Your bravado is impressive, but I assure you it’ll get you nowhere.”

We’ll see.

“Get on with it,” I growl, my voice low.

“Surely you’ve heard of my shows.”

“If I had heard of your shows, I wouldn’t be asking.”

A smirk tugs his lips, then he proceeds to tell me about his show and what it is he does. As he very coolly tells me about it, I do remember seeing it. I have never been, or know of anyone who has, but I do know that it’s huge. Kind of like a circus, but instead of animals and clowns, he has incredible acts like dancers that fly through the air and twirl on ribbons. I hear it’s impressive.

If this is the way he gets women to do what he wants, though, then I will never give him my talent.

He’s a monster.

The worst part is, he knows it, and he’s okay with it.

“So it’s a circus,” I say, as if what he just told me wasn’t impressive.

His eyes flash, and I see I’ve hit a nerve. It gives me a moment of satisfaction.

“Be careful how far you push me, girl. I’m not a nice man.”

“Oh,” I say, acting shocked, “I didn’t guess that while I was here, sitting in a cage like an animal.”

I’m making him angry, and it only pushes me to do more.

I want to drive him mad.

I want to make him wish he never took me.

“I have ways of taking the sass right out of you,” he threatens.

“Oh, I’m sure you do.”

“You will dance for me, because your talent will be the new face of my show.”

He thinks I’m that good?

I’m a little flattered by that. Coming from anyone else, it would make my day.

“I’m a dancer, not a circus freak.”

His hand shoots out, going straight between the bars of the cage and curling around my throat. It happens so quickly I’m caught off guard. Hauling me forward, I stumble as I frantically try to get my hands to land on the grass in front of me so I don’t completely fall. He pulls me until my face is pressing against the cage, and there, he leans down until our eyes meet. Heart racing, I try to breathe through his tight grip.

“I can crush you like a fucking bug if you cross me, Ellie Mae. You will do what I’m asking of you, or I will make you wish you weren’t born.”

I don’t want to know how he learned my full name.

“I won’t do a single fucking thing for you.”

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