A trap. He’d always been a trap with eyes like that.

Viktor came into my life, sparkling and shiny. He teased treasure and gains and I’d fallen for it like a fool. They used similar tactics with raccoons. The animal loved shiny things. If a raccoon found a bottle with something pretty, they’d reach in and grab it. However, they wouldn’t be able to pull their fist back out, since it was filled with their new treasure. They’d choose to remain trapped instead of letting go of what they’d gained.

I had been tricked like a fucking forest animal.

“Fuck my Greed,” I hissed in agitation. Viktor chuckled and then leaned close. I jerked my head to the side but he was undeterred, pressing his mouth on my collarbone for a brief, soft kiss.

“You are such an interesting creature.” His breath feathered over my chest as he moved across my body. His fingers pushed my coat off my shoulder and he kissed me there. Then again right below my ear, and again above my belly button.

He was kissing every place I’d had lipstick-stained kisses on me when I woke up this morning.

“Fuck you,” I said in sudden agitation, pushing him off me. He rolled on his side beside me with a laugh. His sunglasses tumbled from his head and onto the floor. He grabbed onto my waist and buried his face in my neck, inhaling my scent. I sighed and pushed him back off me.

“Did you hire them for this? To capture me as what? Some type of pet?”

“No.” He said nothing else, just barely contained a smirk that pissed me off. I leapt up from the bed and went to the door tugging on the knob that was locked. Had he locked it when he came in? How had I missed that? I hadn’t really been thinking. I thought his security team was taking out the other two but those two were his security team. I wasn’t being saved.

I went back over to Viktor who was watching me from his place on the bed, sprawled out as if he was here for some afternoon delight.

“Don’t you look comfortable,” I said sarcastically. Sometimes when Viktor looked at me, I felt like a bug pinned down for observation. I took a step back, wondering if that was exactly what I was. If he was about to peel open his suit jacket and reveal a set of long metal spikes.

I took a deep breath and calmed down. No, that wasn’t what this was. I needed to keep a clear head. Dullahan had told me exactly what was going on and silly me, I think I believed him.

“It’s about my luck? All three of you? About that cowboy?”

“Cowboy?” He asked with a frown and then his face cleared. “Ah, so it was Remington that took the job. What a nasty piece of work for the Council to employ. Guess that explains why he’s no longer on the hit list too, he agreed to be their dog instead. Between you and me, I don’t like being a dog.” He smiled like he’d told a joke. Whatever it was, it sailed over my head.