The corners of my lips tilted up. “I suppose I could, but I don’t feel like it, so you’ll just have to learn as you go. Unless you want to lose the opportunity to talk to your family... or more, if your transgression is unforgivable.”

His eyes shifted to mine, and his lip twitched. “What is it that you really want from me?”

“For now, I just want you to remain here and get some rest.” I grabbed my phone and headed for the door. There was nothing in the room or in my bathroom that he could use against me or as a weapon, and if he wanted to throw my clothes around or make a mess, I didn’t care, because I’d call someone to clean it up.

I’d emptied one of my drawers for clothes that had been acquired for him, and I’d even had my alcohol taken to my special drinking room. But I’d left one bottle—the vodka that I’d poured into a plastic bottle so there wouldn’t be any glass—so he could get through today easier. I knew I needed to get myself a drink. If Hugo were here, he’d probably tell me I was going through too much trouble for a prisoner, because I’d have to be very careful around him and cautious in my own home, but really, it was kind of fun, like some sort of an experiment.

Besides, my enemies were everywhere, and I could never drop my guard. I had more rooms in this house for my things since everything was mine anyway, although those rooms weren’t as secure as mine, and maids and sometimes even guards could access them without needing my permission first.

Before I closed the door, I glanced at James, who had sat down on the bed and lowered his head into his hands. I locked the door, then went to find someone who wasn’t on duty and who felt like sharing a drink. At least that would be easy around here, especially after today. I had to find out how many of my men had been injured or died, even though Brent would probably try to keep that info from me.

We’d won, but in so many ways, it didn’t feel like it.

Chapter 5

I GROANED AS I WRAPPED my hair in a towel. Not even a long shower had managed to chase away the headache pressing on my temple, but then again, I couldn’t remember if I’d ever drunk as much alcohol as I had last night.

I punched in the code on a safe in my cabinet and grabbed one of the pills. Ever since Brent had switched my pills with mints a few years ago, I’d made sure to keep them under lock. There was nothing worse than being in pain and popping a mint into your mouth instead of a painkiller.