Page 4 of Blood Weaver
Madam Rose cleared her throat. “I was handling it. I won’t let her get away with it, I promise you.” Madam Rose snapped her fingers and called out for the servants in the Rose Petal Lounge. “Take Selene out back and dispense forty floggings!” she commanded.
“Like hell you will!” I shouted and stood in front of my friend. “I don’t care who these people are. They deserved what they got!”
The Crimson Clan member looked up at me before he stood and gave me a once over. “Youdid this?” he asked in surprise.
Proudly lifting my chin, I didn’t deign to respond.
He laughed. “A little thing like you took down three of my men?”
I was far from little, but compared to his men, I guess I could be described that way. “They were going to violate her,” I replied unflinchingly.
“And?” he questioned with a raised brow. “This is a pleasure house; they’ve merely come to claim what they paid for. Or are we not in a pleasure house?” He glanced around pointedly to confirm he was indeed in the Rose Petal Lounge.
“Leila,” Selene whispered from behind me, pulling at my arm to stop me. “There’s no use arguing,” she whispered so they couldn’t hear.
I scoffed and ignored her plea. “I doubt Selene agreed to entertain three at a time, no matter who paid for what. Get a handle on your men, or I will,” I threatened.
The clan member laughed again as he turned back to Madam Rose. “Am I hearing this correctly?” he chuckled. “Youwill get a handle onmymen? Well, this is a first. I don’t get a lot of females threatening me.”
“I’m so sorry, Ronan,” Madam Rose apologized. “I will have her escorted off the premises at once.”
“No.” He held up a hand to stop her. “I’m intrigued. Tell me, what’s your name?”
I didn’t want to answer, but I knew if I didn’t, Madam Rose would surely tell him. “Leila,” I answered through gritted teeth.
“Leila what?”
I shook my head. “No family name. I’m an orphan,” I lied … somewhat.
“Leila,” he sang my name a couple of times. “What a lovely name. Tell me, Leila, could I pay for your time?”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Do I look like one of the girls who works here?” I pointed to my blouse and trousers.
He smirked. “No, but you could for the night.”
“I’d rather choke to death,” I deadpanned.
Ronan's smirk grew wider and the mischief in his crimson eyes became even more pronounced. “Such fire,” he mused, taking a step closer to me. “It's not often that I meet someone like you.”
“Keep your distance,” I warned him, raising a hand in caution.
He halted but continued to observe me with an almost predatory gaze, as if sizing up a worthy opponent. “It's unfortunate. We could have had quite a delightful evening.”
“I’m sure we would have,” I retorted.
Madam Rose, visibly flustered, tried to regain control of the situation. “Sir, I assure you, I'll handle this.”
He waved her off, his focus entirely on me. “I've got it from here,” he said calmly, though there was a dangerous undertone to his voice that I didn't miss. “Leave us.”
“Madam Rose, don’t you dare leave us alone with him!” I snapped, but she quickly retreated, leaving me and Selene alone with Ronan and his still-unconscious men.
Selene’s grip on my arm tightened, a silent plea for caution. “Leila,” she whispered, “this is not the time for your foolhardy bravery. We need to be smart about this.”
Ronan crossed his muscled arms over his thick chest and cocked his head slightly. “Now that we're alone, maybe we can have a civilized conversation, hmm?”
“I doubt anything involving the Crimson Clan could be civilized. You’re all a bunch of savages!” I spat, my eyes darting to the fallen men on the floor.
He chuckled, seemingly taking pleasure in our banter. “You have a sharp tongue, Leila. I respect that. But remember, I'm not your enemy … not yet.”
