Page 13 of Alpha Chained
The implication hits me like a blow to the chest, knocking the wind from my lungs. He wants more shifters to sell off like exotic animals. I snap my mouth shut, feeling sick. Baiting him further would only give him more leverage.
“Have a seat, please,” Parker repeats politely, as if we’re simply having a civilized conversation over tea. The sudden shift in his demeanor is jarring compared to the ruthless monster who just threatened my entire community.
I remember how smoothly he operated back in Steel Lakes, charming everyone with his polished manners and easy smiles. He had us all fooled, including me. But beneath that refined exterior lurks a creature who’s more of a beast than I will ever be.
“Do it. Now.” This time, there’s no invitation in his voice. It’s a command. “And please don’t get any ideas.” He glances at the mirror. “My men are out there – they have instructions to shoot to kill if you so much as breathe wrong in my direction. Every weapon in this place is designed to deal with your species.”
Part of me wants to tell him to go right ahead, to kill me and get it over with. But my survival instinct won’t allow it.
Swallowing hard, I slowly lower myself into the chair opposite him. Parker steeples his fingers, regarding me with an inscrutable gaze. I brace myself for what’s to come, trying not to shift in my seat. I feign nonchalance as Parker starts with some innocuous questions about Steel Lakes.
“So, Raura. Tell me about your little…community.” He makes the word sound charming. We could be discussing a quaint village instead of a hidden sanctuary for my kind. “How many of you live there?”
His voice is smooth as honey, but I know it’s just part of his act. The man is playing “good cop-bad cop” all on his own.
I meet his gaze evenly. “Oh, just a few of us. Maybe a dozen or so.”
Parker’s expression doesn’t change, but I can see the wheels turning behind those cold eyes. He knows I’m lying through my teeth, but he doesn’t call me out on it. Not yet, at least.
“And what sort of…work do your people do there?” His polite tone can’t mask the calculating glint in his stare.
Crossing one leg over the other, I shrug lazily. “Little bit of this, little bit of that. We keep busy. Mainly art, as you saw before. Sculpture, painting…that kind of thing.”
An almost imperceptible muscle twitches in Parker’s jaw – the first crack in his unflappable facade. “And what about…security? Surely you must have some means of protection in place?”
“We get by.” I inspect my nails, the very picture of indifference. “The occasional stray mutt wanders in, but nothing we can’t handle.” I put an emphasis on the words “stray mutt.”
That does it. Parker’s control snaps like a taut wire being cut. He slams his palms on the table, making me jump despite myself.
“Enough of this game!” His veneer of civility is gone, replaced by an ugly snarl. “You’re going to tell me everything, you stupid bitch. Starting with exactly how many of your mangy pack live in Steel Lakes.”
I lean back, crossing my arms over my chest as I glare defiantly at the raging monster across from me. “Go fuck yourself, Parker. I’m not telling you a damn thing. I told you, we’re just free spirits. Artists.” Keeping my expression neutral, I meet his glare.
Parker slams a fist on the table, making me flinch. “You insult my intelligence! I’m not a fucking idiot. Don’t think for one minute that you had me fooled with that little…masquerade.” His voice drops to a menacing growl. “I want the truth about what’s really going on in that town. And you’re going to give it to me.”
A bead of sweat trickles down my spine, but I force another casual shrug. “Believe what you want. I’ve told you everything I have to say.” The irony of my situation suddenly dawns on me. I’ve spent my life being told that my mouth would get me into trouble one day. Now, here I am, having to hold my tongue.
His nostrils flare with barely contained rage. “Start talking about your security forces. I saw enough during our…altercation to know you have an organized militia protecting that place.”
I raise an insolent eyebrow. “Oh? And what exactly did you see? Because from my perspective, your little invasion didn’t go so well.”
The barb hits home. Parker’s face flushes an ugly crimson as he struggles to regain his composure. “You’ll regret that attitude soon enough,” he warns. “My men are experts at…persuasion. If you don’t start cooperating immediately, they’ll make you wish you had.”
I swallow hard, my bravado faltering for a moment. But I can’t let this snake see any cracks. Squaring my shoulders, I fix him with my most disdainful look. “Do your worst, Parker. I’m not telling you a damn thing about my people.”
Parker shoves his chair back with such force it almost falls over. The sound of it grating across the floor sets my teeth on edge. I keep them clenched as he stalks around the table to me. It’s all I can do not to cringe as he sets a hip on the table and settles casually next to me. He smooths a hand over his hair and smiles benignly. Every hint of his previous rage is gone once more.
He’s freaking psychotic!
“Come come, Raura…” He reaches forward and brushes a curl from my cheek, and now I can’t help it…I flinch. “You can’t seriously believe that you’re going to survive what we have in store for you.”
I set my jaw, meeting his eye and forcing myself not to look away. There’s humor swirling in their flat depths.
“You know I’m going to get what I want sooner or later. Why not make it easier for all of us and just get it over with?”
“Drop dead,” I say under my breath, then gasp as his hand flies back and swings forward again, connecting with my cheek sharply enough to almost knock me from my chair.
“Let’s try that again, shall we?” He’s still speaking calmly, but he can’t hide the fact that he’s slightly breathless. I don’t know if it’s from the exertion or because he’s getting off on this game. The thought of that makes my stomach turn. “Tell me about your security forces, Raura. How many men? How are they armed?”