I circle her another time, allowing my anger to cool slightly. It’s not her fault the men in her life don’t understand what a good thing they were given. But I can see it. I see her for what she really is. Some part of me rebels at taking her innocence and corrupting it.
Because the moment I touch her, and I will touch her, all that innocence will be mine.
When I come back around to her front, I lean in to force her gaze to mine, but she studiously looks away. No, she is disassociating from this. And I can’t have that.
Gently, like cupping a baby bird on the end of my finger, I lift her chin away from her chest until I can see her eyes better. She still refuses to look at me.
“Val, look at me, please.” I keep my tone even despite the need to eviscerate and exact revenge for every mark made on her skin.
It takes a few moments of the patience I barely cling to before she meets my eyes. There’s nothing but sharp fear there, and I hate it. It’s all accusation and hatred, and even though it’s not directed at me, I still don’t like it.
“I told you I wouldn’t hurt you. Breathe, little angel, breathe.”
Her sob comes out first, and she clutches her hand over her lips, eyes wide. I nod and let her go, let her break down in whatever way she needs so I can be there to put the pieces back together. Even if she hadn’t been able to remove her clothing. Even if she walked out of here right now and I never saw her again, I’d still pay a visit to her bastard fiancé and show him what kind of man takes his anger out on his woman. Men like Sal. Men like my father.
I take a moment to compose myself while she does the same. When her hand falls away and she stands with her fingers tucked together behind her back again, I return to meet her eyes. “Now, tell me again what you want me to do to your fiancé?”
She shivers but keeps her gaze on mine. I like a little steel in her spine when it comes to asking for what she wants, and right now, the hard glint in her eyes is making me hard as a fucking rock.
“I want you to kill my fiancé, Sal.”
“Any particular way?”
She shakes her head, losing some of the bravado.
I don’t think she considered that she’d have options on how it’s done. I give her a gentle smile. The ones I use for the society and the simpering girls who will never be strong enough to become my wife.
Then she speaks up before I can question her further. “I want it to hurt. I want him to hurt before he dies.”
Fuck, yes. There she is. Not just an angel then…an angel of death. My angel.
I lift her chin again, only an inch because she kept it up this time, staring me down, daring me to ask questions.
“Anything else you need before we discuss payment?”
She blinks and gestures at herself. “This isn’t payment?”
“Val. You should know how our world works by now. There’s always a cost, and it’s often more than you ever wanted to pay to begin with.”
I study her as she thinks it through. She came here for a killer, and a killer is what she found. But is she brave enough to see it through? I already know the answer. I’m waiting to see if she does.
After a heartbeat, she nods. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I don’t have any money, what I had I spent on the cab ride over, but I can pay you any other way, or once Sal is gone, maybe I’ll be engaged to someone else, someone who actually has some...”
The idea of another man touching her hits me so hard I jerk away and spin so she doesn’t see the sheer rage on my face at the thought. It would scare her too much, too soon. She’s not ready to see that part of me.
“I have more money than I need. We’ll make a deal, you and me.”
She steps toward me, her bare feet shuffling against the floor. “Then tell me what you want.”
Finally, she understands.
I face her again and stare into her deep doe eyes. Fucking hell, she is gorgeous. And a fighter with an innocent soul. A combination I seem to be drawn to.
“Isn’t it obvious, angel? I want you.”
“Me?” At that moment, I see the true depths of her naïveté and wonder if she can even make it in this world. I’ve already decided she’s mine, so we’ll figure it out together.
“You, Val. From the moment I met you outside that bathroom, I’ve wanted you. But I’m not Sal. I won’t abuse you like he did. When I take you, you’ll scream in pleasure and rip into my back with your nails out of sheer bliss. I promise you that.”