Ruthless King (Mount Trilogy #1)

I’m about to disagree with her, because I feel like an idiot when it comes to all things Mount, but I don’t have a chance. The restaurant’s door opens and my stomach, already in a precarious position, twists into more intricate knots than even my dad, the former Eagle Scout, could manage.

Scar’s footsteps thud against the floor as he comes directly toward our booth, not stopping until he stands a foot from the table.

“I think that’s your cue to exit, Ke-ke,” Magnolia says.

Scar shoots her a dark look that makes me fear for her safety, and I rise, snapping my fingers in his face like Magnolia did to me a few moments before. When his eyes cut back to me, this time they’re widened with surprise. It doesn’t take much to assume no one snaps at him.

“Don’t you dare take this out on her. And you tell Mount if he does, I will find a way to make sure he regrets ever laying eyes on me.”

The surprise in Scar’s expression morphs into something else. I’m not sure if it’s him thinking I’m a complete idiot to be threatening Mount, or something entirely different. It almost appears to be an expression resembling respect.

He jerks his head toward the door, and I force myself to maintain the boldness that protecting my friend dredged from deep inside me.

I roll my eyes before looking at Magnolia. “He’s never said a single word to me. At this point, I’m pretty sure he never will.”

I slide out from the booth and she does the same, nudging Scar aside with her generous hip to wrap me in a hug. I expect her to say she loves me and to stay smart, but instead she whispers in my ear.

“They say Mount cut out his tongue for questioning his orders once. Be safe. But even more important, be smart, Ke-ke.” Her words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut as she squeezes and then releases me. “Love you, girl.”

“Love you too.”

Scar turns toward the door, and I’m pretty sure if he could talk, he would say, “Follow me, and no more bullshit.”

My trepidation grows with every step I take away from Magnolia and toward the car that will deliver me back to Mount. I disobeyed his direct orders, and I have no doubt I’m going to pay for it.

Scar opens the back door of the sedan and I slide inside. It’s pointless to fight, like Magnolia said. All I can do is be smart and reinforce my defense with steel and attitude.

The hood is on the backseat. I want to toss it in Scar’s face, but what will that earn me? Another punishment? Probably.

He starts the car but doesn’t put it into drive. It takes me several seconds before I meet his gaze in the rearview mirror and get the message loud and clear. He’s not moving until I put it on.

“You’re an ass*ole too, in case you were wondering.”

I’m not saying it directly to Mount, so I consider it a loophole.

I shove the hood aside. “I’m not going back to him yet either. He said six o’clock, and I still have work to do. Take me to the distillery.”

Scar’s expression changes into one of shock at my demands. When he shifts the car into drive and pulls out of the parking lot, I’m not sure which way he’ll go.

Much to my surprise, he takes me back to work. I tell myself it’s a victory, but inside, I know I’m just delaying the punishment that’s sure to come later.





Keira





When I’m returned to my cage that evening by Scar, there’s a note on the bathroom mirror I can’t miss.



* * *



Shower.

You have one hour to be dressed and ready.





* * *



I’m smart enough to know when to push and when to yield—a little. After my defiance this afternoon, I decide there’s no harm in following the instructions.

After a quick shower, I hurry to get ready in the allotted time. I’m not high maintenance, but it takes forever to dry my hair. I don’t have a clue how much time has passed because Scar didn’t bring my purse, so I rush through everything I can. I duck into the closet and find a white dress hanging up that’s similar in style to the black one I wore earlier. As I slide it on, I can’t help but feel like I’m about to become a sacrificial offering.

I’m waiting in the sitting room when Scar arrives, hood in hand again.

At least I made it within the allotted time.

Scar carries me up and down stairs, around twists and turns, and there’s no doubt in my mind I’m being delivered to Mount to face the consequences of my actions this afternoon. Magnolia’s warnings sweep through my mind again, and I tell myself it was worth it.

When Scar finally places me on my feet, I rip the hood off, instantly on guard.

This is a new room for me. Everything about it exudes power with zero subtlety, including the massive desk that Mount sits behind and the monitors in front of him that slide out of sight, disappearing into hidden compartments.

He looks over my shoulder, rather than at me, and gives Scar a nod. There’s a whooshing noise behind me and then silence.

Alone again and completely at his mercy. Or am I?

Mount opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off before he can start. A good offense is the best defense, right?

“So, now you’re tracking my every movement? Sending your henchman to retrieve me the second I step out of line? I told you, you don’t get to f*ck with every aspect of my life, and I meant it.”

The darkness that’s almost always present in his expression deepens. “I can’t decide if you’re stupid or just bold to defy me the way you do.”

“So, what are you going to do? Kill me?” Even as the question comes out of my mouth, I regret offering up the idea.

Mount’s dark eyes narrow but a chilling smile spreads across his face. “No, but I’m going to make sure you think long and f*cking hard about ever disobeying me again.”

“You—”

He lifts his chin as if daring me to continue with whatever insult I’m going to hurl at him, and I snap my mouth shut, my teeth closing over my lip to keep it in.

“Come here.”

I swallow, because rounding that desk is the last thing I want to do right now, but something in his expression tells me disobedience would be a very bad idea.

My heels, ones that I assume he chose himself, click on the hardwood as I come around the desk toward him. I only make it halfway before Mount shoves out of his heavy leather chair and stops me by gripping me around the waist and lifting me onto his empty desk.

Did he plan this in advance? The trepidation I felt in the restaurant is nothing compared to what’s charging through my veins now.

“What are you going to do?”

“Don’t make me gag you too.”

Too?

His big hand lands between my breasts, and he presses me down until I’m spread flat across the desk, my knees bending over the side. My heels drop off my feet, one at a time, and hit the floor.

“Mount—” True panic comes through when I say his name.

“Do you trust me, Keira?”

He’s asked me the question before, and the answer hasn’t changed.

“No.”

A wolfish grin replaces his expression. “Probably smart.”

He crouches between my legs, and I expect to feel cool air hit my skin when he flips up my skirt, but instead he latches something soft around my ankle, locking it to the leg of the desk.