Ruthless Empire (Royal Elite #6) by Rina Kent

“You didn’t come to the game, Silver.”

“That’s because I said I wouldn’t.” I’m mad at him.

“And what did I say?”

I don’t reply. He grips my half-bare thigh with his free hand. It takes everything in me not to clench my legs together at the way he’s touching me.

“What. Did. I. Say?” he emphasises each word.

“That I should come.” I keep my voice level. “Did you really expect me to show up after the whole picturesque scene with Teal?”

“Jealous much, Butterfly?”

“Screw you, Cole, okay? I ha —”

He tightens his hold around my thigh so hard, I wince. “Don’t finish that sentence.”

“Or what?”

Cole shakes his head. “You don’t want to know.”

My insides nearly liquefy at the promise. So I whisper, “I hate you.”

The car comes to a screeching halt. I would’ve hit the dash if it weren’t for the seatbelt.

I swallow, expecting Cole to jump me here and now, but his next words surprise me. “Get out.”

“W-what?”

“You heard me.”

“You’re abandoning me here?” I throw a glance out the window. The way to the Meet Up is a bit deserted. The street lights are few and far between and there’s no human soul around. “This is the middle of nowhere. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Get. Out.” His words are firm and final.

My chin trembles as I release my seatbelt and open the door’s handle with unsteady fingers.

I can’t believe he’s doing this to me.

Once I’m outside, I stand near the door as I slam it shut, then I flip him off through the window.

If he expects me to beg him to take me along, he’ll be waiting for a long time.

I turn away from the car, fiddling with my bag so I can call an Uber. The sound of a door opening catches my attention.

Wait. He didn’t leave?

Slowly spinning around, I spot him lifting the Jeep’s boot. His dark green eyes cut a path to my soul as he aims them at me.

“Get in here.”

“Get in where?”

He motions at the boot.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Apparently you did when you said what I told you not to say.” He’s so calm, it’s disturbing. “Are you going to get inside or not?”

I’m about to say no, but he interrupts me. “A crime happened around here a few days ago. A blonde girl who was running alone in this deserted area got attacked and molested. She’s currently in the intensive care unit.”

I gulp. Even I had heard about that.

“It’s not the first incident. Remember what Frederic said about this serial attacker?” The chilling tone he speaks with covers my skin in goosebumps. “Many women who wander alone early mornings or late evenings in places like these get ambushed. But here’s the plot twist, perhaps the serial attacker will turn into a serial killer, considering he already has a pattern and a victim profile. All the girls are blondes and with fair skin.”

“S-stop it.”

“Blue eyes, too, Butterfly. Just like yours.”

“Fine, arsehole.” I go to his side. “You didn’t plan on leaving me here, did you?”

“Of course not, but you don’t get to ride with me after saying you hate me.”

I scowl at him, then climb into the boot. Thankfully, it’s vast enough to fit me, but I have to bend my legs.

“You’re sick,” I tell him.

“You love it.”

I do. I really, really do.

He reaches behind me, and I shiver as his hand brushes against my bare shoulder.

Damn him and his touch.

Cole retrieves some ropes.

“Here?” I whisper-yell as he ties my ankles together. The tightness of the ropes feels so familiar now. So exciting.

When he’s finished with my wrists, he steps back and watches me with a sadistic gleam in his eyes. “There. Much better.”

“You’ll really leave me like this?” Usually, the tying up part is followed by sex and mind shattering orgasms. That’s why I like them. What’s the point of appetisers if there’s no main course?

“One more thing.” He rummages by my head, then retrieves a ball gag and straps it around my mouth.

My protests turn into muffled sounds. Oh, come on! The car boot shouldn’t be the setting for this.

Ropes and a gag. Maybe he is the psycho attacking women. He even knows about the victims’ profiles and everything.

Where the hell did that idea come from?

His fingers caress my cheek before gripping my chin. His thumb strokes my lower lip. I want to taste him.

“You really thought you could tell me you hate me and get away with it, Silver? I’ll eventually fuck that word out of you.”

I shudder at the promise. Right now? Here?

“Be a good girl.” He closes the boot, killing my hope, and turning my world black.

I swallow back my frustration as the car moves down the road. He’s an excellent driver, so I don’t bump into anything, not even once.

When we come to a halt and the sound of people filters in, I realise we must’ve arrived at the Meet Up.

“You want to come out?” he whispers without opening the boot.