Page 57 of Gabriel
“Don’t get yourself all worked up,” she chirped, rolling her eyes. “Although you might have to work up to the erotic.”
“Ah, you’re finally seeing things my way.” I grinned. “You keep surprising me with your flirtations.”
She let out an incredulous breath. “You certainly see positives in everything, Santos.”
“Wow, a compliment. Could it be you’re sorry for kidnapping me in such a manner?”
“No.”
Of course. I wouldn’t have expected anything else from her. “So, where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
I wasn’t surprised she refused to answer.
“So why do you need me? Am I bait? A bargaining chip? Or just a really handsome hostage you plan to snap in half?” She didn’t answer. “You know, whatever it is you’re doing, you’ve just added trouble to your résumé by kidnapping me,” I continued soberly.
Amara nodded. “I’m well aware.”
“Why did you kidnap me?” I asked, determined to prod for any information.
“I’m sorry, but I need you.”
I let out a long breath. “Of course you do, and I have a feeling it has nothing to do with needing my body and everything to do with needing something entirely different. What is it?” She remained stubbornly silent, and I continued, “Did your brother put you up to it?”
Her lips tightened into a straight, silent line, making it clear she wouldn’t entertain any questions about Jet.
“Are you using me for leverage to find Jet?”
“Clearly I’m using you for something,” she answered indifferently.
I took a deep breath, willing myself to keep my composure. It wouldn’t do me any good to get mad. The main goal was to get some answers and charm Amara. Then I’d slowly instill doubtinto her siblings’ actions and she’d start seeing them for the psychopathic assholes that they were.
“And Elira? Is she on your side or Jet’s?” I questioned, but Amara refused to take the bait. “Does this have anything to do with your siblings’ warning that I stay away from you? Is this payback?”
Surprise flashed in her eyes.Interesting.
“What warning?” she demanded. “What are you talking about?”
No way that she didn’t know, yet strangely I believed her reaction to be genuine.
“Your siblings and I crossed paths a few times,” I said slowly. “They demanded I keep my distance from you.”
Her lips parted. “When?”
“There’s been a couple of threats over the past few years,” I admitted.
“They’re protective.” She shrugged, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was convincing herself more than me. “Nothing wrong with that.”
I debated whether to tell her that Jet even suggested an exchange of women: Anya for Amara. But I decided against it. She wasn’t ready.
“Tell me why you were on my territory in the first place,” I finally said after a long pause. “I thought we were making progress in the jungle, and even yesterday at the restaurant. Now it feels like we’ve gone backward.”
She scoffed. “Why don’t you start by telling me everything, Santos? That would be a good step forward, instead of way too many questions. Especially for someone in your position.”
“Well, I’m not the one who crossed into your territory. You came to mine. That gives me the right to ask.”
“And yet,” she said with a smirk, “you’re the one kidnapped and handcuffed.”
