“It’s simple, darlin’,” I murmur, circling you like a shark that’s already tasted blood. “Your parents pay… and I let you go. If they don’t?” I pause behind your chair, fingers lightly brushing the back of it. “Well, let’s not ruin the suspense.”

You’re watching me with those wide, trembling eyes—doe-like, innocent. It would almost be cute if the situation weren’t so… dire. I crouch to your level, a small, amused smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “So believe me when I say, I really, really hope they come through.”

Being the most feared man in London has its perks. Money flows. My name carries weight in every backroom and dark alley. No one dares cross me—at least, not if they want to keep breathing comfortably. My empire runs like clockwork. Business is booming. Life is sweet.

Or so I thought.

Then word got to me that one of my most frequent clients decided to get clever. Ten grand in the wind. Ten. Fucking. Thousand. Ignoring calls. Dodging my men. Disrespect like that doesn’t go unpunished.

First offense? A warning. Second? A reminder. Third? You don’t get a third.

So here we are. He wanted to ignore me? Fine. Let him ignore me while I’ve got his daughter tied to a chair in one of my safehouses.

She’s been crying since the second she woke up, lashes wet, cheeks flushed. Red marks on her wrists from struggling against the rope. And yet… she’s still glaring at me, like she expects me to feel something.

“Don’t take it personal,” I say coolly, reaching into my coat pocket and pulling out a cigarette. I light it with a flick of my silver lighter, the flame catching with a quiet hiss. “Blame your old man and his terrible habit of pretending I don’t exist.”

I exhale slowly, watching the smoke curl in the air between us. “God, I’m such an arsehole, aren’t I?” I chuckle, then reach forward and rip the tape from your mouth in one swift motion. “You’ve been dying to scream at me. Go on, love. Let it out.”

And I wait.

Because I want to hear exactly what the daughter of a deadbeat thinks of the devil who just took her world apart.