Brutal King (The Seven Deadly Sinacores #7)

Chapter 8

8

GIDEON

I made no move to come near the mare I named Shiloh. For an entire month, I sat on the wooden fence of the paddock and read aloud. Classics that once bored me to death, now became a tool for my voice to lull her, Moby-Dick and The Old Man and the Sea.

Before I walked away for the day, I’d place an apple in the spot where I’d sat.

At first, she watched me wearily, as if she sensed my true intentions. But when I’d return later, the apple would be gone.

Day after day, I did this, letting her get used to my presence, and rewarding her tolerance with the apple.

Until one day, I didn’t. When I returned, she came to me, demanding her treat. It didn’t matter that she’d been afraid before. She trotted to me in a huff and nuzzled me in search of the apple she was owed.

Though she did not know it, that was her first step toward her willing submission. Soon, she’d give me her undying loyalty and blind trust.

Father watched from afar, and nodded in approval. I did exactly as he taught me. But the lesson was far from over.

T he sound of my fork clanking against my plate is the only sound in the room. I take a bite of my perfectly cooked steak and glance at Sofia.

When we first came into the dining room, I politely asked her to sit beside me at the head of the table.

She told me she’d rather sit elsewhere. I told her she could sit wherever she desired, but once she chose her spot, she had to stay there. She agreed and chose the opposite end of where I was.

To her dismay, it wasn’t that difficult for me to pick up my plate and sit beside her there.

“Why are you doing this?” she asks, staring at her food like it’s poisoned.

“Doing what? Sitting next to you? You’re my guest. It would be rude of me not to.”

“You know what I’m referring to.”

I nod. “Take a bite and I’ll answer a question. It’s not going to kill you, I promise. If I wanted to do that, I’d have just let you starve.”

She sighs and takes a bite. Her eyes shutter closed and she sinks into her seat a bit as she begins to chew, but she catches herself quickly.

“Good?”

“It’s fine.” She shrugs. “Could use a little more salt.”

“I’ll be sure to take that into consideration tomorrow. The lady likes it salty.”

Rolling her eyes, she stabs another piece of meat. “First question. What did my brother do to you that you want revenge?”

“Meddle,” I answer.

“Meddle? How?”

“I’m surprised your brother didn’t fill you in.”

“Isn’t that why we’re playing twenty questions?”

“Ah, it’s a game. I knew you liked them.” I wink.

“Gideon, just answer the damn question.”

“Say it again.”

“What?”

“My name.” A smile creeps into my lips. “I like the way you say it. It sounds sexy.”

“Funny. It sounds like a curse to me.”

“Mmm. That too, I suppose.” I stab a few peas and bring them to my mouth. Her eyes follow the movement, he pupils dilating slightly. When she catches me watching, she looks away. I chuckle. “One question, one bite.”

“I already?—”

“If you want more clarity, be more specific.”

“Ugh. Fine. But you should also tell your chef I despise peas.” She pushes them away from her steak before having another bite.

“Salty carnivore. Got it.”

“You’re horrid.” She swallows her food and takes a sip of wine. “Okay, what exactly did Luca do that got him on your target list?”

“He isn’t a target, Sofia. Not in the way you think.”

She frowns. Through another bite of food, she asks, “How then?”

“The men involved in my father’s death are on my target list. Your father wasn’t a part of it. Nico had some dealings with Gregorio Di Persia. I believe he knew some of what was happening, but he wasn’t involved in his murder. And I don’t kill people for shits and giggles. I didn’t kill Tony. I haven’t killed Luca. Yet.”

“What does Tony have to do with it?”

“He was the one that put two and two together. Good man, Tony. Tried to save the others even though it had nothing to do with him. But Luca is the one that just won’t let it go.” I tilt my head. “Were you aware that he’s setting up an alliance comprised of those that are on my target list?”

“Luca tells me little.”

“But you’re a smart girl, Sofia. You can guess enough from what you are privy to.”

She nods. “I might have heard something after Alma’s funeral,” she says. “But I was only there for a few hours.”

“Who did you see there?”

“You weren’t spying?”

“The Sinacore family plot is deep in St. Josephs Cemetery. Security was too heavy to infiltrate.” Though I tried.

Sofia huffs. “There were many whispered conversations, but I heard some of it. You were responsible for her death.”

“In a way. But it was not an outcome I planned for. It was simply a matter of her being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“So you admit it, you killed her.”

“One of my men,” I say, refusing to place blame.

Alma was Carina’s twin sister. The day I made the deal to trade Carina for her father at Flag’s Point Marina, Alma came along. She had no business being in the middle of that battle, yet there she was. Scarlet’s blade was meant for Gregorio, but Alma threw herself in front of it and it ended up imbedded in her chest.

It’s an accident that has stayed with Scarlet. She doesn’t speak of it, but I know her. I see the haunted look in her eyes when the battle is discussed. Scarlet must have a justified reason to kill someone, and Alma was an innocent soul.

“It was an accident,” I continue. “Collateral damage of the worst kind.”

“Is that what I am too? An accident? Collateral damage?”

“No. You are something completely different. You’re…” I trail off as I study her beautiful face, searching for the right word for what she is. It’s impossible to define, so, I say what will make sense to her. “You’re a bargaining chip.”

“You want to trade me for Luca.”

“What I want is for you to keep me entertained. Give me a reason to stay away from your brother.”

“More games.” She glances away, her jaw tight.

“I like games. I thought you did too.”

“Not yours. They’re childish and petty and I won’t play along.”

“Oh, you will play, Sofia. And I promise, there is nothing childish about it.” I down the remainder of my wine and stand. With my palms flat on the table, I lean toward her. She shrinks into her chair, but doesn’t avert her gaze. Good. I’ve got her attention. “That’s right, Little Bird. You’re the only thing standing between your brother’s life and his death.”

“What are the rules?”

“They’re simple. Your brother is a pebble in my shoe. You need to keep my attention off him. Entertain me.”

“Fine. Can I go now?”

“You didn’t let me finish. If I have nothing keeping me here, the first thing I’ll do is pay your brother a visit. He’s looking for me anyway.”

Her eyes widen as she realizes the severity of her predicament. That her choices will have consequences far beyond these walls.

“Entertain you, huh? Should I dress up like a clown and make jokes?”

I chuckle. “Unless you want to get shot, never dress like a clown. They terrify me.”

“Then what? What the fuck is the game?”

Because I’m winging it now, I make a dramatic pause to think of what exactly it is I want from her. I tap my finger against my bottom lip. What would make her squirm? What would excite her? Terrify her? Utterly frustrate her?

“We can make this fun for both of us,” I say. “You’re competitive. I can tell.”

“I’ve been told it’s a flaw,” she sniffs. “But I don’t agree.”

“I don’t either. You also desire your freedom above all else. You’re tired of men like me holding you against your will. It makes you feel powerless, and that goes against your DNA.”

She narrows her gaze on me. “What, are you a killer and a shrink?”

“I’ve been watching you, remember?”

Swallowing hard, she averts her eyes. “Get to the point.”

“First, the stakes. They must be high.”

“Of course.”

“If I win, my war with Luca will continue until one of us dies. As for you, you will remain here with me for as long as I wish. Willingly. You will play the role of captive little bird to a tee, stepping into, what did you call it? Ah, yes, a cage. You will step into your cage and shut the door behind you.”

“And if I win?”

“I will let you fly home and your family will be safe from me.” I extend my hand to hers. “Do you agree?”

It takes her several moments, her stare affixed on my hand, before she reaches for it. “And the game?”

“It’s a game of love and seduction. You have four months to?—”

Laughter erupts from her as she snatches her hand out of mine. “Let me finish this for you. I have four months to fall in love with you. You’re going to seduce me with your sexy dark looks and expensive gifts. And I will have to fight not to love you because you’re so handsome and broken.” She rolls her eyes. “Let me save you months of work. Yeah, I’ll be the first to admit I’m attracted to you. I’m the idiot that got in the car. But wanting to fuck and being in love are two very distinct things. I promise that I dislike you so much that there is no thin line between love and hate. There’s an ocean and you, my enemy, are not equipped to traverse it. So just give me my reward. Let me go.”

My lips pull upward in amusement as she smooths her hair back and straightens her spine. Her confidence in her abilities is palpable.

“I’m sure if that were the game, you’d win,” I tell her. “Unfortunately, you’re a bit off.”

Her brow furrows. “What is it, then?”

“Yes, there will be four months, but it is you that must seduce me . You must do whatever it takes to make me love you.”

“Fuck th?—”

“And before you say anything about fucking,” I press a finger to her pretty lips and cut off whatever she’s about to say. “I’m not that easy. If you want to get into my pants, my heart better be fluttering.”

Her expression fills with disbelief and indignation. She stands so fast the chair goes flying behind her. “You are truly evil, Gideon Black. A fucking monster.”

“That makes you lucky, because even monsters can love.” In one swift move, I stand and snatch her hand when she attempts to walk away, then drag her back until her chest is pressed against mine. “How does the saying go? If you love something, set it free.” I peer into the blue depths of her eyes as I brush a wisp of dark hair away from her face. She shivers and attempts to pull away again, but I keep her locked against me. “Make me love you, Little Bird, so that I set you free.”