Page 23 of Cruel Master

I swallow when I see the kind of power he holds. If he has grown men so terrified of him, he must not be one to mess with.

And Blake…his last name is Blake. The name itself means nothing to me, but something about it sounds so ominous.

A ball of dread forms in the pit of my stomach.

It looks like Gabriel Blake is the worst person I could have been kidnapped by.

Gabriel doesn't wait to be seated. He purposefully walks to the most secluded booth in the back of the room. It's already set as if it's always waiting for him. He doesn't even have to order anything. One of the topless girls immediately comes over and starts pouring us both a flute of champagne.

Gabriel doesn't thank her or acknowledge her at all. Instead, he picks up both flutes and hands one to me.

He locks eyes with mine before he says with a little smirk of his lips, “Drink, Nora. It will settle your nerves.”

I don't dare disobey because as much as I hate to admit it, he is right. My nerves are shot with all of this, and I do need something to settle them.

I take a bigger gulp than I should, though, and end up coughing. He raises a humorous brow at me before he takes my glass from me and sets it down on the table. “Easy, kitten,” he murmurs in my ear as he wraps an arm around my shoulders and strokes his fingers up and down my arm.

I try to ignore the tingles that race over my skin from his feather-light touch. I'm still not sure exactly what this place is, but we're never given any menus or anything, but five minutes later, suddenly a succulent-looking steak is laid in front of us.

I can't help thinking that we must look odd with me sitting on the inside of the booth and caged in by Gabriel instead of us sitting across from each other like the other couples. Of course, Gabriel no doubt did this to make sure that I don't get up without his consent.

I find out later there’s another reason too. We eat in silence, though I feel Gabriel's gaze on me often.

I ignore him, enjoying the delicious meal. I'm not going to waste good food, and this is definitely the best filet mignon I've ever had.

I drink liberally from the champagne, liking the way it relaxes me and makes me feel all floaty. I might as well try to make the best of this situation.

When our plates are finally taken from us, Gabriel wraps his arm around me again, and I'm so relaxed I don't even fight it. In fact, I feel myself leaning into him.

A nod of his head brings a man walking over. He sits in the booth across from us and doesn't even glance at me. Instead, he launches into something about business. My head is fuzzy, and I can't make sense of what they're talking about, but the gist of it is Gabriel is obviously the most prominent player of whatever sort of business is going on here and the man is reporting to him.

When the man is done, Gabriel nods his head. The man leaves, and another one takes his place. And on and on it goes all night.

Gabriel doesn't speak much except to ask a couple of pointed questions when necessary or to give a few instructions. I don't think Gabriel is involved in the mob or anything, but this is definitely some sort of organized crime. It's more of a white-collar type of organized crime, though. Something that is carefully constructed to fly under the radar. Gabriel probably has all kinds of Feds and other government officials in his pocket.

It only sinks more nails in my coffin as I realize it would be near impossible for me to get away from him with all the power and resources this man has. And the way the champagne is hitting me at the moment, I can't find it in me to care.

Gabriel glances at me several times, and I see a ghost of a smile pull at his lips. He continues to stroke my shoulder and rub circles against me with his thumb as I lean my head on his shoulder.

A younger man comes to the table after a head nod from Gabriel, and this man is the first one who’s approached the table all night to glance at me.

I'm feeling so relaxed, I think nothing of it when I smile at him. The man smiles back at me before he turns his gaze to Gabriel, and then his smile immediately vanishes.

I feel Gabriel stiffen underneath me, and I look up to see him staring at the man with cold rage in his eyes.

Fear prickles along my spine, instantly sobering me up. Warning bells are already going off in my head when Gabriel slowly turns his deliberate gaze to me.

My mouth goes dry at the look in his eyes.

The man sitting across from us realizes his error at the exact moment that Gabriel moves his hand under the table.

A shot rings out, and the man falls from the booth clutching onto his leg and screaming in pain.

My mouth falls open, but no sound comes out.

Just like before, Gabriel moved quick as a snake and shot someone before I could even process what was going to happen.

I cower in the corner of the booth with my back pressed against the wall, my entire body trembling as I stare at the gruesome scene before me.

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