Free The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw Page B

did, didn’t she?”
    â€œI—”
    â€œTell me, woman!”
    â€œYes, but—”
    â€œDid she send you in this direction on purpose?”
    She looked pained, but nodded.
    â€œThen not only will I sell her, I’ll have her whipped first.”
    â€œPlease, Caros, don’t.” Pelonia refused to walk further. “Why must you always threaten violence?”
    â€œI’m a gladiator, remember? Violence is what I do best.”
    â€œI find that hard to believe after the gentle way you held me while I cried and soothed away my fear tonight.”
    The pity in her eyes was more than he could stomach. “It would be wiser if you did.”
    â€œI believe you’d prefer to be a man of peace.”
    Laughter gurgled in his tight throat. “You believe in a dead God, too.”
    â€œDon’t blaspheme just because you know I speak the truth. Christ has done nothing to earn your scorn.”
    Smarting from her rebuke, Caros fell silent. A part of him admired her tenacious faith. Even in what must be the bleakest time of her life, she spoke as though she truly believed her God cared for her.
    He tried to pinpoint the moment when he’d stopped believing in anything more than his own abilities. Perhaps it was during the dark days after his family’s murder or those first terrifying hours in the ring. It had been so long ago he couldn’t remember a time when he relied on anyone but himself.
    He cast off his introspection. “You’re wrong, Pelonia. Peaceful men don’t thrive when forced to live a life of violence as I have.”
    They walked along the empty alley in silence until Pelonia murmured, “Maybe they do if there’s a plan for them.”
    Would the woman never admit defeat? “What kind of plan?”
    â€œI don’t know, but who can determine the purpose of a life or why God allows one man to rise and another to fall. We can only trust Him.”
    â€œTrust,” he scoffed, “mingles in the same net with love and I’ve survived with little of either.”
    â€œThat breaks my heart.” She squeezed his hand. “What of your family? Did they not love you?”
    Her question pierced his chest like a stake. He’d known a wealth of tender emotions with his family, had trusted no one more than his parents and sisters. Watching all of them perish in the space of day had almost broken him.
    One of his men opened the gates in front of the school. Caros led her to the front door of his house. He curved a tendril of her hair behind her ear, touched by her concern more deeply than he’d thought possible. “Don’t fret about me or my family. Perhaps one day I’ll tell you of my past. Fornow, I wish to make a bargain in order to avoid another fiasco like tonight.”
    â€œWhat is your bargain?” A hint of wariness crept into her voice.
    â€œI will keep my distance, if you give your word not to escape.”
    She shook her head. “No, I…I couldn’t make such a promise and plan to keep it. I won’t run off into the night again. I’ve learned my lesson on that score, but if another opportunity presents itself, I’ll take it.”
    He didn’t know whether to laugh at her honesty or march her upstairs and chain her to a wall to ensure she never left him. “What if I vow—”
    â€œTo allow me to tell you about Christ?”
    â€œWhat?” He’d never dreamed she’d bargain with something ridiculous. “I’ve no interest in your sect.”
    â€œI’ve no interest in living as a slave, either, but I won’t try to leave—for a time—if you agree to give me a hearing.”
    Intrigued, Caros studied her. Why would she endure a life she found despicable just to tell him the ramblings of a crucified Hebrew? On the other hand, her offer might be the perfect solution. His agreement would buy enough time to break down her