“You’re far more psychotic than I thought you were before.”

“What else have you been thinking about me?”

“Nothing.” I roll my eyes. “The man you’re looking for isn’t here, and I don’t know anything else.”

“Okay, then.” He doesn’t look the slightest bit convinced. “Then let’s talk about you. What kingdom did you come from?”

I don’t answer.

A blue-suited henchman suddenly walks through the front door, humming to himself.

“Okay, Gabriel! When do you plan to admit that this other woman was a hallucination and…” The rest of the sentence stalls on his lips.

He blinks a few times once he notices me, muttering, “Impossible…”

“What kingdom?” Gabriel’s attention is still on me, but I withhold my words.

I’m anticipating when he steps back so I can lunge for an empty wine bottle and crack it over his head.

“Have it your way, Belle.” My name sounds foreign, yet perfect on his lips. “But just so you know, there will be consequences if you don’t answer my next question.”

“I’m not afraid of you, Gabriel.”

“You should be.” He smirks. “I’d hate to show you my other side so soon, since we’re getting along well, but I can, if that’s what it takes.”

My palms sweat at the thought of the rumors I’ve heard about his ruthless business dealings. How no one in this town would ever dare to disrespect or cross him for fear of disappearing. How certain villagers call him “a vicious beast” behind closed doors.

“How long have you been living here?” he asks.

Silence.

“Do you work for other families or is it just the Arwyns?”

Silence, again.

“I’m not a fan of repeating my questions, Belle.”

“I’m not a fan of hearing them, so we’ll both win if you stop.”

His henchman snorts, and Gabriel shoots a death stare in his direction.

“Sorry, Boss…”

“I’ve asked around the village about you and gotten nothing,” he says to me. “Don’t you find that quite strange?”

“It’s as strange as you repeatedly trespassing.” I try to look away from him, but I can’t. He’s far too captivating.

“The only person who vaguely remembers you is a fruit vendor, but I’m not sure that I can trust anything he says since he’s still dealing with the consequences of stealing from me.”

“The second my father returns, I promise to splatter your brain all over this floor, so you can learn the consequences of breaking and entering.”

“Mr. Arwyn is your father?” He raises his eyebrow. “Does that mean Izzie is your sister?”

My cheeks flush red at my rushed admission.

“Are you his by way of another woman? Or did your parents decide not to make a record of you to avoid paying taxes?”

“That’s none of your business.”

He nods and gestures to his henchman. “I guess you were right, Lafayette. So, since he’s your father, I think you know exactly where he is, and I’m giving you five seconds to tell me.”

“I really don’t know,” I say. “The last time I saw him, he…” My voice locks in my throat as I remember how Father acted the day he left, how his goodbye felt more than final.