Page 13 of Beast

I ground my teeth, pushing aside that beating and all the ones that had come before and after. My pride hadn’t allowed me to seek help. Besides, it was always too easy to look the other way for most people.

After half an hour, I walked back inside, finding Natalia at the kitchen table, eating a bowl of cereal. She glanced up at me, fear and caution in her eyes. “Glad to see you’re going strong.”

“Please. It’s only a knuckle-cracker. It’s nothing.”

“You shouldn’t do that,” she said matter-of-factly.

“I know.” I pulled out a cereal bowl of my own. “So tell me, what are your plans for the future, since you’re a college girl?”

She took another bite. “I’m not sure. I should be because it’s my final year.”

“You’re not a kid. Tell me what you really want to do.” I sat across from her.

She sighed, staring down at the milk in her bowl. “Why do you even want to know? It’s not like you care or anything. I’m just a means to an end for you.”

“Suit yourself.” I shrugged, fighting the prickle of irritation that she wouldn’t even open up to me when she was on my island. Back on the online platform, she’d liked me enough to agree to a blind date. I guess she couldn’t look past my scars like others. Which is why I liked my mafia code name of Beast. No one dared cross me.

And I had the urge to play mind games with her, make her sweat a little. I could say she was exotic and tempting, which would feed her ego. I didn’t, though, because I didn’t care about her. I much preferred someone who wasn’t full of shit. I’d always liked my girls fragile and vulnerable so they’d do what I said. Natalia, however, didn’t seem to like that philosophy.

I shoved a spoonful of cereal in my mouth, hiding the fact she could still get to me even after all this time.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” She glanced around the kitchen, as though expecting one to pop out of one of the cabinets.

“Fuck no.” Women have too many expectations, and I wasn’t the guy who walked around with flowers and chocolates. I’d rather spend time alone and hunt. My wolf needed the thrill of danger. “I’m at the top of my game.” I waved my spoon out. “I own everything you see.”

Natalia bristled, squirming in her seat, and tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. “Fine. I’m studying law. Maybe I’ll go into criminal science. And when I get off this island, I’m going to make sure you are in jail for kidnapping to the maximum amount allowed.”

I barked out a clap of laughter. “You think so, princess? I’d like to see you try.”

Her eyes flared with anger and her whole face turned redder than the cereal box. “You know who my father is,” she said, tone laced with venom. “He’ll put you six feet under for taking me.”

“I’ve taken down better men than your daddy. You don’t know shit. Don’t piss me off, sweetheart. I’ve crushed men and made them disappear for less.”

She glared at me. “I think you’re bluffing.”

“Try me and find out.” I never bluffed, but she didn’t seem to get that. Her father was a plum connection and wouldn’t be able to pass up the chance to save his daughter. That was one of the ways she and I were different. Her father seemed to care about her at least enough not to soil his reputation by allowing her to get hurt.

I wasn’t a fool. Crossing her father meant death, but I wasn’t going to hurt her... not physically. No, by the time I was finished with her, she’d cower in my presence and tremble at the sound of my name.

She pushed away her half-eaten bowl of cereal while I finished mine. Then I grabbed both our bowls and tossed them in the dishwasher.

“So how long am I stuck here?” She blew out a breath.

“That’s up to your dad.” I leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her. “If he does what my boss wants, you’ll be released right after.”

She snorted, climbing out of her chair. “You know that won’t happen. He will have his men looking for me and they’ll bury you in pieces.”

She was good at deduction. I could see her dad doing exactly what she said he would.

“Well,” I drawled lazily, “he’d have to find me first. This island isn’t under my name, and no one but a handful of men I trust with my life know the location or that we’re here.”

She paled and I wondered if she was working out that she couldn’t kill me. If she did, she’d be alone here with no way to contact help. My radio was tuned to me and my men only. Out of spite, they’d probably leave her to rot here if they found outshe’d killed me. All three of them had nearly one foot in the grave when I saved them. They owed me their lives and couldn’t be bought or tortured. They were my brothers, not by blood but by pain.

Her hands tightened around her elbows as though she were suddenly cold, and I felt myself wanting to cross the room and wrap my arms around her. What the hell was wrong with me?

Thankfully, she didn’t wait as her body leaned away, as though she couldn’t get far enough from me.

“Who is paying you? My dad will double it.” She wrinkled her nose as though saying that bothered her, and I had no idea why.

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