Page 13 of Cruel Master

My heart sinks at his words. He watches my face closely, gauging my every reaction as he keeps speaking, “We’re on my property. There's no one else here, and my staff is loyal to me and only me. If you kill me—if you take away their livelihood—they would likely kill you, little kitten.”

It’s like rocks are being dropped into my stomach with each word he speaks. “Trust me, kitten. You don't want to kill me. It’ll end very badly for you if you do.”

I swallow and drop my eyes from his gaze. He keeps a firm hold on my wrist a moment longer before he finally releases it gently and calmly picks up his utensils and begins eating again. “That is the last time you attempt to kill me,” he says coolly before pinning his liquid blue fire gaze back on me. “Do you understand?”

I glare at him and give a curt nod of my head.

He nods back too, as if it's all settled, before he orders me again, “Eat your food, kitten.”

Anger flares in my chest, hot and heavy—anger at him, anger at this entire situation, anger at myself for failing to stab the bastard.

I throw the utensils onto my plate with a clatter.

He pauses his movements, his eyes flicking to me dangerously. “I said eat,” he grits out from between clenched teeth, that muscle in his jaw ticking. He’s angry? Good because I’m angry too. Why should I be the only one frustrated in this scenario?

“Why should I?” I growl back at him challengingly.

He lays his utensils carefully on his plate before he makes a show of dabbing his mouth with a napkin.

Ice slithers through my veins at his next words. “Because if you don't, things might go very badly for your little sister.”

ChapterEight

It'slike he dumped a bucket of ice on my head. A cold shiver travels through me from the top of my head all the way down to the tips of my toes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don't have a sister,” I immediately deny. My voice is shrill with the panic I feel at the thought of him harming Gia.

His eyes flash with irritation before he snaps, “What did I say about lying to me, Nora?”

“She has nothing to do with this!” I insist desperately. “She’s innocent.”

“You’re innocent too, and yet here we are.” He’s leaning back in his chair now, running his thumb along his bottom lip as he studies me.

I take in his impassive expression. The man gives nothing away when he doesn't want to, not that I'm very good at reading people—obviously. I wouldn't be in this situation to begin with if I were.

I thought I was strong. I thought I was street smart, but I'm nothing but a naive, stupid, little girl.

“She's just a child,” I try again.

Gabriel is quiet for a long moment before he admits, “And I don't want to hurt her. Just like I don't want to hurt you.”

I can't help it. I snort in disbelief. He doesn't want to hurt me, yet he's kidnapped me and threatened me.

He ignores my outburst of derision and calmly cuts another bite of his meat before placing it in his mouth and chewing slowly, his eyes never leaving mine the entire time.

“You find that hard to believe,” he notes. “I can understand your sentiment. I didn't make the best first impression on you,” I suppose. He frowns.

I shake my head, more confused now than ever. “I don't understand. If you don't want to hurt me, why kidnap me? What do you want from me?”

When he doesn't answer, I ask him again, “What are you going to do with me?”

My voice verges on desperate because it's killing me not knowing.

As if he knows that and takes pity on me, he finally answers me, his voice so soft I almost have to strain to hear it, “Nothing you won't want me to do.”

I frown at his elusive answer. Does this man always speak in riddles?

“What does that mean?”

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