Page 12 of Ruthless

I savor Sara’s new expression of wide-eyed devastation. “You…you own SilverTech? It’syourcompany? You hired Jeremy because he’smybrother?”

I’ve waited years to witness her agony, and I find the sight just as satisfying as I’d hoped.

At my Cheshire cat grin, horrified comprehension dawns on her pretty face.

“What do you want from me?” The fight drains out of her all at once, and her head starts to droop, probably as much from hopelessness as the drugs in her vodka cranberry. “Why are you doing this?”

Gritting my teeth against the surge of fury, I track a tear that trickles down her cheekbone before lapping it up with my tongue. I envision wrapping my hands around the delicate skin of her slim throat.

My lip curls. “The time for pretending is long gone, but maybe if you apologize for your actions, I can pretend to forgive you.”

I almost believe her outraged gasp is real. “Forgiveme? Why on earth would you need to forgive me? You’re the one who betrayed us.”

Succumbing to the fantasy, my hand closes around her throat. “I’d be very careful with what you say right now,tesoro,” I whisper. “I could choke you to death, and no one would ever know.”

To demonstrate, I compress her soft flesh, and the frantic flutter of her pulse beneath my fingers heats my blood.

Her nails rake my hands, but I wait until the panic bleeds through her expression before reluctantly releasing my grip.

She splutters, wheezing for air. “Are you…are you going to kill him?”

I growl at the disbelief and pain clouding her gaze. How dare she. I want to throttle her again, to pin her to the table like a dead butterfly. Anything to remind her thatshe’sthe one who betrayed me, and I’m just returning the favor.

“Not if you behave. Besides, I don’t have to kill Jeremy to hurt him. SilverTech ismycompany. Not only can I have him fired, I can also ensure he’s blackballed from the industry for the rest of his life.”

When comprehension sinks in, her voice breaks. “You wouldn’t?—”

“I would.” I grab her chin gently, in a parody of a lover’s touch. “Unless, of course, you cooperate.”

A beat passes before her shoulders slump, and the show of defeat sparks new life in me. I knew this would be good…just notthisfucking good.

With a final warning squeeze, I let her climb off my lap. She can’t run from me. Not with the drugs fully kicking in, and not when Jeremy’s future is at stake.

I used to believe she was so damn earnest. So genuine. Instead, I learned her mask is as deceptive as the Council’s and twice as terrible. I refuse to feel sorry for this viper. Not when she always played sweet and innocent, only to stab me in the back and sell me out to my torturers.

Gregor reappears. His brow knits as he inspects Sara, and my hands ball into fists over his silent concern. Whenever I go out, I bring a cadre of guards with me, and Gregor’s one of my favorites.

That may change if he continues regarding Sara with that revolting glimmer of sympathy.

“Let’s go.” I rise, forcing Gregor to stumble back.

Dazed, Sara reaches for my outstretched hand and misses. She loses her balance, but I steady her and lead us to the club’s private elevator, pressing my palm to her lower back as we descend.

The former easiness between us has disappeared, and she attempts to cringe away from my touch. Regret opens a temporary chasm in the center of my chest before I banish the foolish notion.

Revenge. That’s the name of this game.

A punishment Sara has earned in spades.

As we cross over the threshold into the cool night air, her walking grows more uncoordinated. Once we hit the alleyway, I wrench her arm up behind her back.

Sara curses me through gritted teeth as I direct her toward my waiting car and shove her inside. As soon as I slam the door behind her, she tries to let herself out again. Her muffled, frustrated scream is like music to my ears.

Child locks for the win.

When I climb in, Sara clumsily launches herself at me. I savor the stench of her fear as I trap her slender wrists in one hand.

Burying my nose in her neck, I chuckle as she pants against me.