Pieces of Autumn by Mara Black Page A

investments."
    The expression on Tate's face gave me goosebumps. "Not from men like him," he said, darkly.
    "Well," I said, quietly. "My mistake, then."
    "You got that fucking right." Tate snatched up the newspaper, crumpling it in his hand. "All it takes is one weak link, do you realize that? If your driver talks, if anyone who saw you getting into the car says a word - he'll find a way to trace you to me." He stopped again, taking a few steps in my direction. But I refused to flinch. "Is that what you want, Autumn? Is that why you came here?"
    There was absolutely no blood left in my face, but if there were, it would have drained at that moment. "Of course not," I said. "Why the fuck would this be about you? I have no idea who you are. I just want to fucking survive."
    He rolled his eyes.
    "But you're a ticking time bomb," he said. "Well. Isn't that a fucking treat."
    I sat there, awaiting my fate. The air was heavy with dread.
    "You could always bring him my head on a stick," I suggested, to break the silence.
    Tate glared at me. "Would you shut up ? Let me think ."
    What was there to think about?
    A tendril of hope was making its way through my chest, and I didn't want to let it. Hoping led to a path of nothing but desolation and ruin. If I expected the worst, then nothing could hurt me.
    Stopping his pacing again, he turned to me. "How long did you think you could hide this?"
    I took in a deep breath. "Long enough."
    Something flashed across his face. An expression that wasn't anger or frustration, but almost...understanding? Like he knew what it was like, living on borrowed time.
    Did he think Stoker was coming for him?
    Did he think I was their assassin?
    My stomach plummeted. It made perfect sense. Sent to gain his trust, to seduce him, and then, when the moment was right -  
    Or, more diabolically on their part, they could have picked me on purpose. Knowing who was after me, and knowing that Tate would be caught in the crossfire if he tried to protect me.
    But why would he protect me? Nowadays, there weren't many people left who would. Let alone a man like him, who clearly didn't care much for the concerns of anyone but himself. No. That plan only made sense if Stoker expected him to care for me. Deeply.
    Swallowing hard, I stood and walked towards him. He froze, staring at me apprehensively, but not saying a word.
    Silently, I knelt at his feet.
    I looked up at him, seeing the confusion on his face, and the glimmer of lust in his eyes.
    "I know there's nothing I can say to convince you I'm telling the truth," I said. "But I am. I never wanted to hurt you. I thought I'd be safe here."
    He flexed his fingers, staring down at me. "You thought wrong," he said, his voice dripping with sin.
    My heart pounded. A distraction was good, but one wrong turn down this path and he'd be throwing me right at Birdy's feet.  
    "I don't believe that," I said. "He's no match for you."
    Tate's eyebrow lifted. "That's not what I meant," he said. "As well you know. And flattery will get you absolutely nowhere."
    I blinked innocently. "What if it's true? Even Stoker is afraid of you. Birdy doesn't stand a chance."
    His mouth twisted. "Keep talking," he said. "Your punishment gets worse with every word."
    Punishment?
    "How could it possibly get worse?" I breathed, feeling the tendril of hope squeeze tighter around my heart.
    "Oh, wouldn't you like to know." He shoved his hands in his pockets, regarding me with a studied detachment and disdain. But he was fighting hard to push other emotions back, to hide them, to suppress them. I could see them flash in his eyes, before he was able to wrestle them back down. But I could only identify a few.  
    Lust. Curiosity. Fear. Apprehension.
    Lust.
    "By punishment," I said, carefully, "do you mean that the terms of our agreement..."
    "The terms of our agreement stand until I alter them," he said, sharply. "I can do that at any time. But at this moment, I choose not to. You will be punished. It will