I swallow hard, unsure of what to say.
He holds my gaze for a few seconds before placing the book beside him. His eyes drop down to my lips and I frown when his chest comes forward. His eyes, they’re still connected to my lips, his hands gripping the edge of the daybed as he slides in closer.
I snatch out the knife and flip it open before he can get too close. The edge of the blade lands right at the center of his throat, right below his Adam’s apple, and he freezes, but that doesn’t stop the deep chuckle from bubbling inside him.
I bare my teeth, leaning closer. “Back. Off. I’d hate to kill you and then have to explain it to your cousin, or worse, Mrs. Molina.”
He holds his hands in the air, playing innocent. I keep my hand leveled, ready to slice at any time, if need be.
“Whoa, calm down, Nicotera. It was just a test.” He draws back completely, but I keep the point of the knife aimed at him. “You like him just as much. Crave him, don’t you?”
I don’t have an answer for that question, so I say nothing. Do nothing.
“Yeah,” he says, grinning. “You do. The answer is written in your eyes. You can’t hide it. You like that twisted fucker, probably a little too much. Even after all the shit he did to you. I guess that’s a good thing. Someone who can handle the havoc he causes. If you would have let me kiss you, I would have had to tell him. Or I would have had to kill you myself.” He flashes one of his sharp, smug smiles.
I frown, wondering deep down if Draco told him to do this? But why would he? He doesn’t want Thiago anywhere near me. Draco is too selfish to even think about sharing me in any way.
Thiago is just a prick. He’s full of himself, for sure, and I’m certain he probably would have told Draco if I’d done something. He’s just as intimidated by me as everyone else. Good.
I guess it’s better to try and get rid of me altogether than constantly have to face me.
“Go, Thiago,” I demand, voice low.
He holds his hands in the air innocently. He stands and walks backwards, toward the winding staircase. “I’m gone. No problem.” He sighs, dropping his hands. “But before I go I have to ask . . . are you going to tell him about this? My little test?”
“Should I?” I quirk a brow, folding my arms.
“Only if you want me to die.” His upper lip quirks up. “You’re thinking he sent me in here to do this. No, he didn’t. Even if you’d done something, he would have beaten my ass for it, but he would have believed me. I always bring proof.” He grins.
I roll my eyes. “For the sake of your life, no, I won’t tell him. There’s no point. It was a stupid test. It didn’t work, and now I’m over it.”
He grins again, pointing a wagging finger at me. “I like the way you think.”
I stand up. “Get out.”
He laughs, that annoying laugh that can get under anyone’s skin, picking up his book and then taking off. I watch him from the railing upstairs as he makes his way to the door. Before he can go, I call after him.
He peers back, meeting my eyes.
“Why does Patanza hate you?” I ask.
He turns completely, this time with a full-blown, cheesy grin plastered on his face. “She hates me, huh?”
I nod subtly.
“Long story short . . . she got drunk during one of her first nights here, was all over me at a party and wasn’t doing her job. Draco told me it was okay to be with her, just as long as I protected myself. He didn’t want one of his best guards getting pregnant. So, of course I fucked her. Out by that dirty ass shed in the back. Shit, she was so fucking loud. She was a good fuck, too. Rode me like she was riding a fucking bull.”
I grimace a little.
“The next morning she sees where we are—we passed out outside the shed—and she told me I took advantage of her. She said she never would have done anything with me. She said she was going to tell Draco that I raped her.” He scoffs. “Good thing I recorded it, huh? I wore a camera that night. I always do to parties and on my shipment runs. Sometimes just for the hell of it.” My eyes stretch wide. I realize he must have been wearing one the night I freed Henry. It’s how Draco knew for sure it wasn’t him. He filmed it all. He had proof. He’s probably wearing one now. “She saw the tape, begged me to delete it, but I said no. It was my proof, just in case Draco didn’t believe me, or might have thought she changed her mind. She’s hated me ever since, all because she was ashamed that I, the annoying cousin, let her fuck me like the animal she is, and all the other guards found out. I’m hoping one day she’ll get over it, though. Would be nice to have some of her pussy again. She’s aggressive as hell. Drained my balls good and dry that night with her mouth and her pussy.” He laughs out loud, and it sounds more like a snicker. “What you should know about me is that I always, always have proof, Nicotera. You have to have it when it comes to working for ‘The Jefe.’” He makes air quotes with his empty hand. “Remember that.”