Read Online Hope Restrained (Estate Series) by M.S. Willis - Free Book Online

was futile — that death would best be served quickly.
    She looked up, Xander’s outline finely becoming more sharp,
his features becoming clear. “Just fucking do whatever is you’re going to do
and get it over with. If you think I give a fuck about whoever is out to kill
Aaron and his little slut …”
    His hand was around her neck in a second, his forehead
pressed against hers and the blue of his eyes glaring down at her. “I’d rethink
what you were about to say if I were you.”
    Her angered boiled in her veins, the control she always had
slowly slipping with how helpless she’d become. Bound, injured and drugged
— a combination that rendered defeat. She had nothing to lose.
    “I’ll make a deal with you.” Opening her eyes more, she saw
his brow furrow in interest and felt his hand loosen around her neck so that
she could speak easier. “I’m not going to willingly tell you what I know. I
realize that by doing so, I’m signing my own death warrant. You don’t want to
kill me without getting the information you need and your normal forms of
torture won’t work on me –at least the ones you are willing to do.” She
could tell already that he wasn’t as ruthless as the other men she’d known
— the men who’d trained her and broken her before any other man had the
chance.
    Xander pulled away, his eyes still trained on her face.
    “Unchain me and fight me for it. You win — I tell you
what you want to know before you kill me. I win — I kill you.”
    The corner of his lip twitching made it obvious that he was
attempting to hold back a grin. “In your condition?”
    Hope smiled. “It’ll make it an even fight. If I was at full
strength, you’d be dead before you could fight back.”
    His finger came up to run along her jaw and she jerked her
head away from his touch. “By my recollection, I’ve already defeated you at
full strength; considering you are in chains and I am not.”
    Rolling her eyes, she argued, “That was four against one.” She
glared up at him, anger snaking through her veins. “And as I recall, I had a
gun pressed up against your skull. If it wasn’t for your friends, you’d no
longer have a head.”
    “Touché.” He winked.
    When he stood up, she craned her neck to keep him within her
sight. He stared down at her for a minute before saying, “I won’t go easy on
you. It will be a fight to the death.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “It’s good to know you understand the
rules.”
    After staring at her for another quiet moment, he
acquiesced, “Fine. But I’m not fighting you in the condition that you’re in.”
    Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Why?”
    He smiled. “No offense, Sunshine, but you smell.”
    “And what the fuck does that have to do with anything?”
    His hoods lidded over his darkening gaze. “Because, if I
win, I’ll be taking more than information before you die.” He turned suddenly,
walking out of the room and allowing the door to slam shut behind him.
    She stared at the door trying to decipher whether he’d been
serious or not. His threats didn’t concern her — he’d never win. But if
she could escape …”
    When the door opened again an hour later, Xander stepped in;
a chained collar grasped in his fist and a mischievous grin plastered across
his face. “Bath time.”

Chapter Eight
    Her gold eyes flicked up at him and he smiled to see her
scowl in reaction to the leash. Technically, it wasn’t necessary, she wouldn’t
be able to free herself of the belt, but he wanted nothing more than to break
her down physically and mentally. Sure, he’d fight the bitch — but not
before getting his fun out of it first. Holding up the leash, he smiled. “Can’t
be too careful. I wouldn’t want you to injure me before we have a chance to
work this out.”
    She sneered. “You’re sick, you know that?”
    He chuckled in response. “You have no idea.”
    And she didn’t. Remembering back to when Maddy was first
brought to the mansion, Xander