Rough, Sara Fields [the top 100 crime novels of all time txt] 📗

adequately rewarded for your steadfast loyalty to me,” Neegan said, very pleased with whatever the man had brought him.

“There are a few things you should know about this kind of poison, Neegan. It’s highly combustible. It’s nowhere near as intense as liquid fire, mind you, but you should be careful with it all the same. Move it slowly and carefully. Don’t jostle it unnecessarily. It’s safer in smaller amounts, so I’ve parsed it out in several jars,” Jorge explained as he removed some of them from the bundle in his arms.

“Thank you. I’ll keep all that in mind,” Neegan replied and Jorge cleared his throat.

“When are you going to do it?”

“Soon. I need to wait for the opportune moment,” Neegan said thoughtfully.

“I should be going. The less we’re seen together, the better,” Jorge answered.

“I look forward to many more years together, Jorge. Keep up the good work,” Neegan said and the man grinned.

“Of course, my future king,” Jorge replied, and I froze.

He’d referred to Neegan as his future king.

Neegan was going to betray Magnar. He was going to kill him.

Everything started to fall together. I stared at Neegan for a long time. He sat down at his desk and palmed the jars of poison set before him. There were three containers, more than enough for whatever nefarious plans he was setting into motion to steal the crown.

All I knew was that I was going to have to stop him. There were several empty glasses inside the passage near me, so I grabbed them. I would put a stop to his plans, and I would turn it against him.

When the hour grew too late, Neegan took the jars of poison and locked them inside a wooden cabinet in his study. He left the room and the moment the door closed behind him, I slipped inside. Using a small pin, I picked the lock and grabbed one of the containers carefully. I emptied one into a glass and placed it behind the hidden compartment. I poured the second into another jar and when I began on the third, the sound of the door opening startled me.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the king’s omega sneaking around my office once again,” Neegan whispered.

I didn’t say a word. Instead, I just turned to face him, watching as his eyes glanced from the jars and back to me.

“I have half a mind to make you drink some of that myself, but I think I’ll rather enjoy watching the king punish you quite a good deal more,” he growled as he strode over to me. His hand lashed out and grabbed the hair at the back of my head so hard that I could feel a few strands rip out from the base of my skull. I cried out at the stark unexpected pain and tried to pull away as he drew ever closer.

“The more I see you skulk around these halls, the more I think you’re hiding something, you useless omega cunt,” he snarled, and I nearly kneed him straight in the balls. He’d seen my face and now I had to deal with the consequences of that. I had to make him think I was innocent. His eyes wandered to the jars once more and I knew I had to distract him. I had to escalate this and force him to bring me to Magnar as quickly as possible.

“I’m not afraid of the king,” I challenged him verbally. He tensed, just like I expected him to.

“You’re not, are you? Well, perhaps we should ask him exactly what he thinks about that?” he answered cruelly.

“Don’t,” I grimaced.

“The moment you were captured in Ravenrath, omega, you lost the right to choose,” he answered.

“Then do it yourself,” I challenged.

“And anger the king needlessly? I think not. I am the king’s hand and that would be a betrayal of the highest order. No. I’m going to take you to him. I’m sure our royal guest will enjoy the show just as much as I will,” he murmured, and I rolled my upper lip at him in open provocation.

I struggled in his arms and he jerked me forward by my hair. He dragged me out of his office, and I lost my balance. He pulled me along and I screamed as the agony raced across my scalp with wild abandon. There was no stopping him no matter how much I kicked and screamed. Eventually, I was able to get myself back on my feet. I stumbled several more times and he didn’t even pause for a second for me to get my bearings. After several terrible long minutes full of pain and wretched misery, we arrived at an opulent double wooden door. Without delay, he pushed it open and forced me inside without a care.

He practically threw me forward and I fell, knocking my knees hard against the stone floor in the process.

“My king, I bring to you an omega that does not know fear,” Neegan exclaimed and the conversation at the table ground to a halt.

Magnar turned and leveled his gaze at me. There was subdued apprehension in his eyes, but he didn’t let it show to anyone in the room. I just knew it was there because I could feel it.

“She doesn’t?” he chuckled, turning from me to Neegan. He cocked his head like he refused to believe his words.

“No, my king. Once again, I found her sneaking around my study. I’m not sure what her intentions were. I questioned her and she refused to answer. I would have taken care of her myself, but I thought it best to bring her to you,” he smirked, glancing casually down at me and then back at the king.

“I will deal with her,” Magnar growled and if I didn’t know him better, I would have been terrified at the sound. He signaled the servants at the door. “Bind her hands behind her back. My omega is in need of a hard lesson and I’m going to do it right