Page 60 of Cruel Proposal
My heart seizes in my chest, the hair on the back of my neck rising.
I'm in danger, and there's no denying it.
I wince, Robert standing in front of me.
He grins, dressed in a pair of shorts and a loose shirt. "Thought you might want to use someone to spar with. It looks like the bag is taking a hell of a beating."
I sit up, the black mats sticking to the backs of my thighs, sweat forming a disgusting glue that makes me feel like I'm peeling off a layer of skin as I stand up.
I should punch the smile right off his face.
I move past him, starting to punch the bag again. "You're a dick. I should've known that everything about you was a setup from the beginning, but no. On the one night I thought I could let loose just a little, you show up, and I should've known shit was going to go sideways."
He laughs and spreads his arms wide. "What can I say? I at least have a vision for how all of this should be going. I can only imagine how dealing with Noah has been for you."
I stop punching the bag and look at him, wiping some sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. "What the fuckdo you know about anything? From what I can see, you're nothing more than someone he's sidelining in everything that's happening."
Robert's jaw clenches, anger flashing in his eyes. "You're clueless in all of this."
"Am I?" I taunt, even though I know provoking him is likely a horrible idea.
After all, he did try to buy me from that auction. He was talking about all the things he was going to do to me.
And Noah is out for meetings all day. I'm alone with Robert, and he's looking at me like I'm a piece of meat.
I need to tread carefully.
Robert's fist flashes out, swinging for the side of my head.
I duck quickly, slamming a punch low into the side of his ribs.
He coughs and moves to the side, getting his fists up in front of his face.
I get my hands up, circling with him.
This is what he wants. I can see it in his eyes.
He moves closer, like he's testing me, and I take a step on my back foot, putting more distance between us.
We're surrounded by mirrors and walls of windows.
It's going to be hard to win against him if he can see my every move the second I decide to make it.
Robert smirks as he tests me again, feinting forward like he's going to catch me with a hook. "You know, I didn't want to take you in the first place. This was never my plan."
"Imagine that. Not your plan, and yet you're so far off the radar I didn't even know you were tied to the Rinaldo family."
"His half-brother, actually." The corner of his mouth twitches. "And I've made a point to stay hidden. It's why I don't have a target on my back and he does. Odd, though, considering our father always thought he was the smart one."
Family unrest.
I can use that. I can exploit it, turning them against each other.
Robert catches me on the side of the ribs, sending me shuffling to the side and trying to regain my balance.
Pain blossoms in my ribs, but it doesn't feel like there's anything too bruised.
Robert circles me like a predator, gaze roaming over me. "You should really think about what side of this war you want to be on."
