My mouth opened, and the words spilled out before I had the chance to engage my brain. It wasn’t until after they left my lips that I realized how they might sound to this rumored ruthless man. The strange expression on his face evaporated, his gaze hardening into something unreadable.
I froze, bracing myself for the inevitable outburst, expecting him to curse at me or dismiss me outright. But he didn’t. Instead, he remained silent, the heavy pause stretching long enough to stir my anxiety. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, almost too measured.
"What do you mean?" His sharp eyes locked onto mine, unwavering, offering me no room to retreat or hide. But I was never one to tremble, so I straightened my shoulders and met his gaze head-on.
"What kind of deal?" he pressed.
I stole a
