“I thought you said you searched her?”

He shrugged. “I did. I saw the watch.”

“And you let her keep it?”

He shrugged again, and if I hadn’t just drunk and smoked my fill, I would have shot him, but my reflexes would have been too slow.

Then again, I toowas once a victim of Mian’s innocence.

“I think we should pay our bandit’s conspirator a visit before dinner.”* * *I stepped outof the shower, free of another man’s blood. He had screamed, and begged, and insisted. I hadn’t found the book, which freed the merciful part of me to believe him.

So, instead of killing him or taking his hand, I sent his livelihood and hard work up in flames.

No one could say I wasn’t a merciful man.

Padding over to my closet, my mind wandered to my little prisoner. She had been mine to protect, and now she’d become mine to do with whatever the fuck I wanted. It was long overdue. And now our fathers’ weren’t around to protectusfrom each other.

Dinner was already waiting when I entered the dining room. Lucas and Z sat at the table with tense expressions while Milly waited behind my chair ready to serve my every whim.

That should have been Mian’s place.

Fuck.

“Where is she?” I knew as soon as I walked in that Mian was the cause of the tension. Her absence likely had something to do with it.

“Miss Ross has declined your invitation to dinner and has chosen to remain in her room.”

“Is that right?” Milly nodded and looked like she had more to say. “What else did she say to you?”

“Not to me,” she corrected. Her face reddened, and her expression tightened further, if possible. “She instructed me to tell you that she’d rather starve and imagine you choking on your food.”

“And?”

“And…” Her lips pressed tighter, if possible. “…if that didn’t work to die anyway.”

I felt the smile on my lips that had nothing to do with humor. “It seems our guest needs a lesson in manners. Milly, you’re dismissed until I say otherwise. Your payment is waiting on the table by the door.”

She didn't even blink, which is why I paid her a hefty salary, and she immediately replied, “Have a good night, Mr. Knight.” I waited until I was sure she had left before standing up. “What are you going to do?” Z questioned.

“I’m going to incentivize our guest.”

“Maybe I should go.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re not ready to be alone with her. You know it as well as we do. Isn’t that why we’re here?”

“He’s right,” Lucas chimed in. “If we let you near her in your current state of mind, she’ll be ass up with you balls deep, and our dinner will get cold.”

“Fine. But I want her at this table in ten minutes, or I’ll do it myself.”

A chuckle came from Z's direction. “You’re a cranky bitch when you’re horny.” He took off with Lucas on his heels. I threw back the glass of wine that had been sitting in front of me and counted slowly in my head.Chapter SeventeenWell, it’s not a pumpkin.

MIAN“Knock, knock. Yourcarriage awaits.”

I looked around for a weapon, but it was too late. They were already through the door and quickly closing the distance between us. “Beavis and Butthead.” I flashed a mocking smile. “I would say it’s nice to see you again, but my mom insisted that it’s rude to lie. What brings you to my humble abode?”

Broody’s face gave nothing away, but Z grinned and said, “Our princess has ice in her heart.”

“As far as you’re concerned, you would only be so lucky.”

“Well, I guess I should look forward tofeeling youout.” His smile was easy, his voice was like liquid honey, and I had the feeling it was just a mask until his lids lowered and his gaze warmed about a hundred degrees. The way he watched me didn’t feel like a game. It felt like I was being seduced. Of course, I’d only ever had sex once, and the choice hadn’t been mine. If I couldn’t recognize a predator, how would I know if I were being seduced by one?

“Mian?” He grinned knowingly.

“Don’t count on it,” I snapped to cover up my curiosity.

“Mian.” This time, it was Broody who snapped, so my attention thankfully shifted away from heat to the frigid gaze of his companion.

“How may I help you…?” I realized I still hadn’t learned his name and left him to fill in the blanks. He didn’t.

“You declined his dinner invitation.”

“And?”

“It wasn’t a request.” What was up with these men thinking I would jump simply because they commanded it?

“Sure sounded like one to me. Angel requested that I share a meal with him and I declined.”

I crossed my arms and waited for him to force me or threaten to hurt me if I didn’t please his precious boss. He did neither.