Blood Ties (Dinero de Sangre #2) - Lana Sky Page 0,38

glance, trying to decipher just what I’ll do next. Do I remember our flimsy excuse for a truce?

I do. And that’s the frustrating part. As much as I hate him, I can’t deny one awful truth—I need him. For now. At least until I can find enough leverage to escape him once and for all.

So, I make myself smile and sway my hips so that I’m sauntering toward him, just as playful as he appeared to be seconds ago.

The way he stiffens gives me immense satisfaction—but it’s fleeting. Because playing my role in this instance means I have to touch him, and this moment is so different from the hundreds of other times I’ve toyed with men I wasn’t attracted to.

He’s wearing white today, a shirt buttoned as he usually wears it while being here at least—the top two undone. A loose pair of white slacks gives him a casual air that his rigid jawline contradicts. As serious as he looks now, no one could ever mistake this man for anything but a jailer on red alert.

Because of me. I rouse this dark nature in him. I saw it for myself—he wasn’t like this with Alexi. Does that bother me?

I can’t tell as I push down my revulsion and palm his chest, urging him back into the more relaxed posture he held before.

To my shock, he relents to the pressure, spreading his legs as if sensing my intentions before I even lower myself onto his right knee. His body is stone beneath me—he’s wary. I think if it weren’t for our audience, he’d shove me to the floor—and make it hurt.

So I draw out the motion, settling back against his chest while I seethe inside. Turning to him, I see his eyes cut to mine and flinch. I want nothing more than to run away. Hide.

But this is what he wanted, isn’t it? For me to play pretend.

Well, luckily for him, I’ve perfected how to do just that. He accused me of being a whore and faking it, but he has no idea how good I can be. How real it can feel to have someone pretend to adore you.

Only to rip it away the second they’ve gotten what they wanted from you.

It’s a feeling reminiscent of what Pia made me feel all those years ago. Like I truly had an ally in this world, someone I could rely on outside of my father’s control.

When all the while, she was laughing behind my back.

I’m not laughing now. Forcing my lips into an even wider grin, I place my hand against Domino’s cheek, urging him to face me.

“What’s so funny?” I ask, and damn. I’m impressed with myself. I sound giddy enough to put Alexi’s chirping to shame, and Domino’s gaze becomes unreadable in response.

“We were just chatting about old times,” Alexi pipes up, and I recognize the note in her voice. That of a bitch who already believes she has her claws sunken into her chosen prey.

The only problem for both of us is that Domino is no one’s plaything.

“We’ll catch up later,” he says to Alexi without taking his eyes off me. I shudder inwardly at the challenge lurking within those haunting green irises—along with a clear warning. “Ada-Maria missed lunch. Could you inform Ines that she can bring her meal out here? I’ll make sure she eats every bite.”

“Okay.”

Alexi doesn’t sound too enthusiastic, but the second she disappears from view, I attempt to shift my weight from his lap entirely.

His hand latches onto my knee before I can, effectively riveting me in place.

“You seem cheerful this afternoon,” he remarks in a voice like sin. It’s a low, husky baritone that anyone who happened to overhear might mistake for warm, considering my position on his lap.

But as his nails graze my flesh in a teasing swipe, I know exactly what he intends—to have me shivering, choking down a hard swallow.

“I hope you slept well, Ada.”

“I-I did,” I counter, failing to keep my voice level. It shakes, and I know my fear leeches into my carefully constructed mask. So much for fighting him on an even playing field. I can barely keep my composure for longer than a few seconds at a time.

I keep equating his hand on my thigh to the same grip he had around my neck, plunging me beneath the water. If I hadn’t hurt myself, would he have kept going?

I can’t tell just by looking at him.

He’s smug again, the corner of his mouth lifted in