Page 174 of After the Burn

I stared. “Lamb?”

“Taryn.” His eyes sharpened on my features. “Beautiful.” He moved closer and reached for my chin.

I turned my face away before he touched me, and his hand stopped.

The yard seemed to quiet.

“Careful,” Curtis muttered.

“I like strong women.” Caesar smiled. “Just remember who holds all the power here, Lamb.”

Wren tugged my chain, and I stumbled back away from him. “She bites.”

He ignored that ridiculous statement. “How’d you take her?”

Wren shrugged, seeming to have recovered from her earlier confusion. “Golden lasso.”

I looked at her, and she seemed entirely serious. Maybe she genuinely believed what she was saying. She definitely had her ups and downs.

Caesar stared. “So now you’re Wonder Woman?”

Curtis and Mike started laughing.

She wasn’t far from it in my eyes.

Wren puffed out her chest. “Most of the time.”

Caesar rolled his eyes as he stepped closer to me, apparently deciding to chance being bitten. “Gideon believes you destroyed his town.”

“Do I look like I’m capable of something like that?” I tilted my head toward Wren. “She captured me.”

“That doesn’t mean it isn’t true.” He kept his eyes locked on my face. “I’ll figure you out in time, and if Gideon’s words prove true, the punishment will fit the crime.” His expression darkened. “Our deal with him was proving quite profitable, and I’m not happy about it ending.”

“What are you? Judge and jury?” I wanted to see how far I could push him.

His mouth curved. “Oh, sweetheart.” There was no warmth in his voice. “I’m whatever I say I am, and as far as you’re concerned, I’m God.”

He was much smarter than I’d hoped and didn’t let anger dictate his actions. Shit, I’d hoped for someone easier to handle.

This man was going to be difficult.

I was reminded of something Ben always said. “You don’t survive by acting first. You survive by acting at the right time.”

Okay, Dad. I hear you.

This guy might be smart, but he’d never come up against me. Ben may have done a lot of things wrong, but he definitely didn’t raise a fool.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

TARYN

God.

What a joke.

He was probably an insurance salesman before everything went to shit.

“Put her in the cage,” Caesar demanded.