Chapter 196

Laila gaped. That was it?

He met her gaze unblinkingly—a silent yes.

Maybe he wasn’t awful. Maybe he wouldn’t attack her.

Maybe…but she waited for her heart rate to return to normal. It didn’t.

Why? She didn’t want him to touch her again…but now that he wasn’t, she was oddly aware of him.

Trees was the first to break their stare, turning his attention to the cuff around the drawer handle. He had giant hands, but they were both gentle and adept as he fitted the key in the padlock and unbuckled the cuff. When he turned, she was still watching him.

“Something you want to say, Laila?”

If you terrify me, why am I so curious?

She stifled the foolish thought. She was simply confused, not thinking straight. Of course she didn’t want him coaxing her with that voice. Didn’t want his hands on her. Didn’t want him anywhere near her.

Yet some subversive part of her wondered why he felt different.

“Nothing,” she muttered, then disappeare