Page 62 of Pushed

“That's not what I mean. When did you become Ethan's bitch?”

Smiling, Fior's voice dropped, lowering to a whisper. “Am I his bitch? Or are you just pissed that he came to me first and not you?”

Glaring, my fists balled at my sides, ready to strike him where he stood. He was brave for talking to me that way. Even if Ethan had asked him for help, I was still higher in the game of cards.

It didn't matter who requested you, unless you were given a title, you were nothing but a dog to them. He was still just Fior, a set of hands, a pile of brute muscle, there for safety and protection.

Ethan hadn't called on him because he was thinking about offering him a position at his side, he called him to make sure that he left my room unharmed. He wanted him there because he feared me, even if he did his best not to show it.

“Is that what you think?” Laughing, I shook my head in disbelief. “ Maybe he only asked you because he knows you have trouble thinking for yourself. Maybe he needed a puppet, you are really good at taking orders, but not using your fucking head.”

“You better watch your fucking mouth.” Gritting his teeth, he took a step in as his hand leveled with his shoulder, pulling back to take aim.

Holding out my arms, I squared my shoulders. “Go on, fucking hit me. I'll even let you, but you better make it count, you only get one.”

Snarling, Fior grumbled. “You're not worth my time.”

“What happens when he doesn't need you anymore? What then, huh? What do you think he has planned for you after he's exhausted whatever the fuck he's getting from you right now?”

Throwing his arm up, he pointed in my face. “You should be asking yourself the same thing. Do you think Ethan is stupid? Maybe you should take a look at what you're doing, this little game you've got going on. Maybe there's more to this little auction than you think.”

Shit.

My heart dropped inside my chest. I thought I had been careful, I made sure that no one had seen us. So how could they know? How could they possibly know what we had done together?

Fior winked at me, allowing his smile to smear his face in evil bliss. “Good luck, Machi.”

There are eyes everywhere.

I knew that, I knew everyone was watching all the time. But it still didn't make sense.

Pacing around the room, I rubbed my head and plucked at my lips.There had to be something I missed. A hidden spy, a silent trap, a camera. . .

Halting my feet, I stood in the center of my room and spun in a wild circle. I wasn't sure why it hadn't crossed my mind before.

Sylvan wasn't stupid, he was a sick and twisted pervert. And he would have made sure to watch where his money was going.

My eyes shifted and darted to every object around the room, from bed to dresser to lights and the carpet; a camera could be anywhere.

I have to find it. There has to be one.

It was the only thing that made complete sense. All the rooms were probably rigged with digital eyes for more than one reason. He could watch the men and the women, he could keep a close eye on the guys he brought in and the ones he put his trust into.

Lurching towards the bed, I started to tear apart the mattress and bedding, piece by piece. I wasn't going to leave anything unturned. Drawers came out and crashed to the floor, lights were pulled and sockets were stripped from the wall.

Fuck!

I thought I had been careful. I really thought that all my tracks were covered and behind closed doors was left to the imagination.

I was wrong.

There has to be something here!

I hadn't been this nervous since the first day I set foot in this place. I expected to be dead already, I anticipated a bullet to the back of the head on more than one occasion.

What if it has nothing to do with Imperial? What if it only has to do with me?

How did I not realize it the instant Hans said it?

I've already been exposed for the man I truly was.

---