“Sorry,” I mumble. “I’m kind of clueless.”

“You’re adorable. Here.” Eli pulls something from his suit pocket. A small red apple. He holds it out to me. “Eat.”

I take the apple as fast as I can without snatching. I already feel my teeth sinking into the skin between my teeth, the sweet juice crushing onto my tongue. But when the apple touches my lips, I pause. What if it’s poisoned? I lower it to my lap.

Eli raises a brow. “You’re not hungry?”

“I… Not right now.”

“You’re refusing me?”

My mouth goes dry. It’s stupid to decline something from this man, even if it’s poison. I give him my best silly smile. “Eating in front of people makes me nervous.”

“Ah.” A small smile curves his beautiful mouth. He takes my chin in his hand and my stomach turns over. “Would you like a gift, bella?”

“What about the apple?”

“That was a treat. This…” He reaches into his other pocket and pulls out a necklace. “… is a gift.”

It’s a short collar of diamonds set with fiery red stones. Even in the lamplight, it glitters like pirate treasure.

“It’s so beautiful! Are they garnets?”

Eli brushes a finger over the center stone. “Rubies. My mother’s family, the Vellutos, have a passion for rubies.”

“Oh.”

“This…” He sways the necklace so that it shimmers. “… belonged to my mama. When she passed, it became mine.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He frowns. “You’re sorry?”

“That your mom died. That’s really sad.”

A look passes over his handsome features. Then he blinks and it’s as though nothing happened. “As soon as I saw you, I thought of this necklace. Your red lips and pale skin. Nothing would bring out the beauty of these stones more.”

“I… um, thank you?”

He smiles, but his eyes are all business. “Will you wear it for me?”

A rippling warmth spreads through my body. I ignore it, pulling the pillow into my chest. “Not if it’s so important to your family. It wouldn’t be right.”

“I say what’s right.” His free hand caresses my wrist. “I’ll have a dress made for you. Black velvet with a slit up the side. You’ll be naked beneath it, my rubies at your throat, and every man who sees you will wish me dead.”

He sounds pleased by the idea.

I can see it too. Us. Me in the velvet dress, my hair loose around my shoulders. Eli in a tuxedo, his arm at my waist. We’re attending an event, the kind I used to go to with my mom, only this time I won’t be hustled away at midnight. I’d be free to dance and drink and explore.

Eli’s hand brushes my side, and I pull away. “I don’t want… um…”

“You don’t want my necklace? Or you don’t want me?”

The weight of his questions rolls through my mind. I think I might want him but I don’t want this. And why are we even talking about the future when I’m locked in his basement? “I thought I was here to punish Mr. Parker.”