Page 28 of The Tower

I cringe and look down as soon as I say it, realizing it’s a stupid question.

Everything.

Of course, he’s going to want me in his bed.

“There’s a room made up for you just down the hall.”

“Oh.” I stand, feeling strangely hollow. I tell myself that the feeling is relief.

I point toward my tiny handbag, now on a side table. “I guess I should take my meds.”

I don’t want to. I like how my mind felt clearer at the shoot and then even more so today. But not being able to approach Grimm’s window …

I shake my head. I don’t want to be weak. Not around him. And if the meds can make the phobias more manageable, then maybe I really should be taking them.

“No.” He stands, then moves to my side so that there’s only the tiniest bit of air between us. So close I can feel the warmth of his breath when he says, “Haven’t you been listening? Your meds are bullshit. A way to keep you manageable.”

My pulse kicks up. “Maybe, but Father’s not here. And you don’t understand what it feels like when the world wants to swallow you. The phobias, I—they help.”

“Do they?” His voice is flat. Entirely devoid of inflection. A total contrast to my rising fury.

“You don’t know a thing about me or my medical history or anything. You hate my father. You hate me. And now you’re going to try to gaslight me? Make it so I can’t even sit across a room and look at the view out the window? Well, screw you. It’s not going to work.”

“I’m not gaslighting. Quite the opposite. I’m trying to help you.”

“Why does this matter to you, anyway?” I snap. “And how the hell do you know so much about it?” I cross my arms and glare at him. “Oh, right. You’ve been watching me. That’s not even remotely creepy.”

Instead of looking pissed, he looks amused. Which, frankly, makes me even more pissed.

“You’re right. I pay attention,” he says in a soothe-the-angry-puppy tone. “To everything.” His eyes lock hard on mine. “But mostly, I search out anything that might give me enough leverage to destroy Victor Reed. Anything, Princess,” he adds, his expression as hard as stone. “Whatever it takes.”

My body feels both cold and hot. I lick my suddenly dry lips. “What are you talking about?”

His brow lifts, and his mouth curves into a half-smile as he inches even closer. I draw in a sharp breath, willing myself not to scurry back away from him.

“Let me be very, very clear, Ms. Reed. I’ll help you conquer your fears and break your dependence on pills because it suits me. But you are not my goal nor my priority. I need your meds identified and analyzed. And I need you clear-headed. Therefore, I will make you that way. I will do that and whatever else is necessary to take your father down, including using you in whatever way I deem fit.”

I search for words but can’t find any. His brutal honesty has surprised me too much.

“Bottom line? I don’t like Victor Reed.” His mouth quirks into a half-smile, and I see a flicker of humor in those cold blue eyes as he adds, “I don’t think you like him either.” He steps even closer, his proximity making it harder to think. “That may not make us friends, but it does make us allies.”

“Really?” I keep my head tilted down, afraid if I look up at him, I’ll lose my words. “How does that work? You’ve pretty much told me I’m your slave.”

“True.” He takes a step back, his eyes roaming over me once again. “But I think you’ll enjoy it.”

My cheeks heat, as does the area between my legs.

He notices my blush, of course, and that devilish smile returns. “Oh, I have plans for you, make no mistake. And you will comply with everything in our agreement. But in our few minutes of free time, I think we can help each other.”

I fight the urge to hug myself, not sure if the tightness in my body is a longing to run or something far more complicated. “Help?” I try to keep my voice casual. “So, you’re helping me out of the goodness of your heart because my father is mistreating me?”

“I know you’ve been sheltered, but are you really that naive?”

“Dammit, just tell me why you’re helping me.” I want to add you son of a bitch, but I force my lips together.

He tilts his head. “This is good.”

“What?”