Page 14 of Unresolved

Chapter Eight

Gemma

Istepped into thelion’s den with my body coming back to life even as my mind screamedrun.I ignored both and put on a bland face as I crossed my arms and looked at anything but Evander and his king-size bed.

If he wanted sex, I wouldn’t cooperate.I’d be a lifeless piece of flesh, immune to him in every way.If only the handcuff dangling from my wrist was as easy to ignore.It reminded me all too well I was nothing more than Evander’s prisoner.

My peripheral vision caught him arching a dark brow.“Would you like a drink or to use the toilet before I attach your handcuff to the bed?”

I blinked at him.“Please tell me you’renotgoing to keep me chained up like a dog?”

“I am,” he said somberly, gesturing then toward the edge of the bed.

I stepped to where he asked, my legs suddenly heavy and my mind numb.“You don’t have to do this,” I protested weakly.“I’ll stay here willingly.It’s not like I can go anywhere.”

He nodded at me to sit.I did what he asked, slumping on the mattress.He reached out and clasped my hand, his warm touch creating electrical sparks even as he pulled my arm back before attaching the other end of my handcuff to the bedhead.

I refused to cry, refused to plead with him.Instead I stared at him with empty eyes and a stoic face.He was mafia.He’d get off on my fear just as much as he’d get off on me begging him to release me.

My mother had told me enough stories about her life with the Accardi mafia to make me realize how low those kind of men went to enact revenge.I’d humiliated Evander by escaping and leaving him alone when he’d taken me to meet his family.

No doubt his family now thought the worst of me and imagined he couldn’t keep his slut in line.Mafia families might respect their own kin, but they most certainly didn’t respect women who’d done the dirty on one of their own.

I couldn’t help huff out an aggrieved breath.Mafia men could treat others like shit even while they expected the utmost respect in return.

Assholes.

I tensed as the handcuffclinkedas it was locked into place, imprisoning me once again.I squeezed my eyes closed as Evander straightened; his powerful frame towering over me and making me feel tiny and inadequate.

He spoke then, his voice hard.“From this moment on you will stay quiet unless I ask you a question or you absolutely need to tell me something.Maybe then I won’t feel a need to gag you.”

Sweat beaded on my brow, my top lip, my muscles so tight they quivered.As if taking my freedom away wasn’t bad enough thanks to being cuffed to the bed like an animal.Having a gag in my mouth, which restricted my breathing was an even more horrifying thought.

It wasn’t until his tread retreated from the room that my eyes popped open and my tension slowly leached back out of me.

I heard the faint snick of a lock before a far door opened and closed.No doubt he’d gone into the room he’d told me never to enter.

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