Page 15 of Harmless
She and the pitmasters hated having the jaguar around, but there wasn’t much they could do about it. Any attempt to capture or shoot Tezca was met by the aggressor being mauled, if not killed, by said jaguar. Everyone was safest when they left the big cat alone, much to Nella’s dismay. A force with teeth and claws—not to mention unnatural speed and strength—protecting gladiators meant her grip of control on us was slipping.
“I’m going to ask you something, and if you value your life, I strongly suggest you answer me honestly.” She paused for dramatic effect, and I resisted the urge to fill the silence with a long fart noise. This woman thought she was so powerful, so intimidating. But it would only take a crack to the foundation to collapse her fortress. The only problem was, her fortress was heavily guarded.
“Are you and the other fighters planning something?”
“No.” Again, short and to the point. To lie effectively, I had to give her nothing to work with. Most people were bad liars because they subconsciously felt guilty for lying, were afraid of the consequences if found out, or a mixture of both. Good thing both guilt and fear had been beaten out of me years ago.
“Are you lying to me, Ghost?”
“No, I’m not.” My hands and feet remained still, my gaze rock steady while her eyes bounced all over me in search of tells.
Nella’s brow pinched. A small, frustrated huff left her nostrils at her inability to find a chink in my armor. So she switched tactics, her face relaxing.
“I’m glad to hear it. Just a reminder, you would be rewarded well for coming forward with any information if the fightersareplanning something. You could have a suite of rooms to yourself, not just a dorm. Running water that’s heated. Meals brought to you. All kinds of comforts that would be very well deserved.”
Right. And then I would be promptly killed by the Saint and his crew the moment I stepped foot among the fighters. What a great deal that was.
As if reading my mind, Nella added, “You would be guarded for your own protection, of course. I know the other fighters wouldn’t react well to you receiving special treatment.”
Shadowed by pitmasters at every turn, even better.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, feigning a tiny bit of interest in her offer, only because it would have looked suspicious if I didn’t act like I wanted cushier accommodations. “But for the time being, I have nothing to tell you. May I go now?”
Nella pursed her lips. Actually fucking pouted. “You’re so eager to leave? I was looking forward to catching up with you, Devin.”
I didn’t expect her to use my real name, and damn it, it got to me. My fist tightened on the end of the armrest, teeth clenching in my jaw. Keeping my expression as calm as I could, I said, “Yes, I am eager to leave. I loathe every minute in your company.”
“Devin.” My name came out as a grating whine on her lips. “That really hurts my feelings. I thought we had so much fun together.”
She was seriously pouting across the desk, sticking out her bottom lip and using her arms to push her cleavage together. Fuck, I hated this game. I hated how she used us, not just for sex and fighting, but her stupid little roleplaying fantasies too.
Using my name and pretending like we were star-crossed lovers or some shit? She used our humanity like we were toys to play with. She did the same thing with Santos, even trying to pit us against each other like jealous guys in a love triangle.
“Do I have your permission to leave?” I asked through gritted teeth. I refused to play, but I couldn’t actually go anywhere unless she let me.
“I don’t want you to leave,” she whined. “I want you to stay and show how much you’ve missed me. Work has kept mesobusy, you know.”
“The day I’ll never see you again will be the best fucking day of my life,” I answered. “Second only to the last day I see you, which will hopefully be when I finally kill you.”
Nella jerked back, her face shocked. Maybe some part of her actually believed the delusion that we were in some kind of relationship, but I wasn’t about to start feeling sympathy for her now.
“Just so we’re abundantly clear,” I said, leaning forward. “I will celebrate your death. And I will never, ever miss you.”
“Get out, Ghost,” she hissed, getting back to business. “One more word and I’ll have you beaten for threatening a superior.”
Ha. I win this round, bitch,I thought with a smile, although I’d never give her the satisfaction of saying it out loud.
I left the chair and had just made it to the guards posted at the doors when she called out, “Oh, I almost forgot,” in an all-too pleasant tone. “You’re fighting the Butcher the day after tomorrow.”
6
RORI
“This is it?” I frowned as I scanned over the list of names and supplies, trying to visualize everything in my head.
“Uh, yeah. You’re welcome.” Carter huffed like he was insulted. “That’s who and what we have to spare.”
After spending the last two days telling my cousins everything I knew about Mystic Canyon, the list didn’t feel like enough. Not for a surprise attack on a heavily guarded canyon resort. Although, without my cousins’ connections and resourcefulness, I wouldn’t have anything at all. I was grateful but nervous. We might be able to pull it off, but it wouldn’t be easy.
