I swiped the burn of acid from my lips with the back of my hand and stared at the mess on the asphalt in front of me. I’ve tamed the wildness out of her. Maybe I could help with yours? Hale’s threat resounded in my head. I pushed upwards as thoughts of getting my hands bloody surfaced. These hands. I stared at the shake and dragged my fingers through my hair.
My past was calling me back to its darkness, where men like Hale had paid me for murder. Only this time, the hit would be him. I’d take him out right now if I knew he was the beginning and the end of it all. But I knew without a doubt he wasn’t…he was just one in a slithering, writhing nest.
If I cut the head off one…they’d all scatter.
“Fuck.” I lifted my gaze from the glistening splatter next to my car and slumped back behind the wheel.
The car door closed with a thud and for a second, I was lost in the moment, unable to move, until she pushed in. My pain in the ass, insubordinate wildcat. One who was determined to send me to an early grave…or give me a goddamn ulcer. I winced and rubbed my breastbone before I grabbed my phone.
I’d bet right now she was trashing my goddamn study…again.
The phone unlocked with a press of my thumb and I opened the camera, flicking through screens one by one. She wasn’t in the study, nor was she in her bedroom…shit. I flicked to the garage and found Carven’s Explorer, then switched back to the internal cameras to search their room, but found it empty.
My stomach clenched as I hit the icon for my bedroom…then to the monitor room next to it.
Movement drew my focus. From high up in the corner, I watched as she fucked Colt on the chair in the middle of the room. His hand was fisted in her hair, his other gripped her waist as she writhed and ground against him. I leaned close and expanded the view. Fuck, she was glorious. Untamed. Unbroken. It’s what called me to her. Her olive skin looked darker in the wash of the monitors’ glow.
As I watched, Carven took a step forward and placed his hand in the middle of her back. A surge of love filled me with the movement. My broken son was warming to her, just like I’d known he would. He bent down and placed his forehead against her shoulder as she arched her back while she rode his brother. She was for them. She was for me. King’s daughter…and our way out.
One hard breath and my thoughts turned darker. I pressed the icon to end the view and pulled up another app instead. Red dots flickered. I moved in, and found Ryth’s location in an instant. If it came down to handing over her and her brothers in exchange for Vivienne’s safety, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
But that wasn’t my choice to make…
I’d make it their father’s decision and force King out of hiding to do it.
Then I’d use him to take out every one of those vile fuckers once and for all.
I closed down the view and started the engine. My hands no longer shook, but I didn’t head home. Not yet. Not with Hale’s threat still ringing in my ears. I needed a drink and somewhere quiet, somewhere I could think and try to find a way out of this. One which wouldn’t get my family killed…or me in Ophelia’s bed.
I headed east and pulled up outside the discreet bar in the heart of the city. Black steel, exposed brick, and moody amber lighting pulled me in. I stepped inside, motioned for a waiter, and headed for the plush leather chairs at the back. I barely saw anyone else as I unbuttoned my jacket and sat.
“Your best whiskey,” I ordered when the waiter came. “A bottle.”
His eyes widened, but one nod and he disappeared.
I’ve tamed the wildness out of her…
I swallowed hard and shifted my gaze, trying to focus on anything else.
Maybe I could help with yours?
It didn’t matter where I looked, to the two women drinking cocktails at the bar, or the guy who’d strode in behind me and taken a seat not far from them, or the asshole who sat in the shadows and stared at me. I winced when I realized it was tempered black glass and that asshole was me.
One of the women sitting with her friend glanced my way and smiled. I didn’t respond and looked away as she rose, left her friend behind, and made her way over. Go away, I urged. I’m not in the mood to be nice.
“Hi,” she said boldly. “I see you’re on your own. Are you waiting for someone?”
“No.”
She didn’t flinch at the bite in my tone, but stepped closer to run a painted red nail along my hand and over my Rolex. “I can wait with you, if you like.”
I lifted my gaze to meet hers. They were all the same, weren’t they? Except for her…my wildcat. “No. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I pulled my arm away and ignored her long enough for tension to fill the air.
“Fine,” she muttered as she turned. “Your loss.”
“I doubt that very much,” I murmured as she left.
Maybe I could help with yours?
“Sir,” the waiter said nervously as he stepped around the retreating woman and neared. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to need—”
I reached into my jacket, plucked my billfold free, and slid out my Amx. “The bottle…now.”
He hurried away and returned moments later with a newly opened bottle and a set of glasses. I only needed one. I poured and drank. The first glass barely warmed me. By the third, that foul fucking promise had slowed in my head. By the fifth glass, my mind was swimming.
Laughter cracked out from somewhere to my right. I lifted my gaze and saw unfamiliar faces, glad that the woman and her friend had gone. But how long had I been here?
“Can I get you a glass of water, sir?”
I turned to the waiter, but he wasn’t the awkward guy from before. I shook my head and reached for my glass…but it was empty. So I grasped the bottle instead. That, too…empty. “What time is it?”
“It’s a little after nine.”
I glanced at the door, and saw darkness outside. “Nine?”
“Yes, sir. You’ve been here for a while now. Can I call you an Uber?”
I met his gaze, scowling. “No, thank you.”
I grabbed my phone instead. My fingers fumbled the damn thing until I pressed my thumb against the screen and unlocked it. Contacts…where the fuck is he…there. I pressed the icon.
“Mr. St. James.”
“Lucas, I ah…” I mumbled.
His words sharpened. “Can I pick up, sir?”
“Yeah, I don’t think I should be driving. I’m at…” I searched for the name. “Marquis Bar.”
“I know the place. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
I gave a nod. “Thank you.” And hung up the call.
It took me almost the same time to visit the bathroom, wash and dry my hands, and make my way outside. The moment I stepped out, the cold night air hit me and made me shudder. Flames danced through the glass from the fireplace inside. I hadn’t noticed the cold until now, just like I hadn’t noticed the Christmas songs piping through the speakers in the stores.
Because that wasn’t my world, was it? My world was darkness, death…and her.
Headlights blinded me for a second before the familiar dark blue Range Rover pulled up alongside the curb. Lucas left the engine running and climbed out to open the back door for me.
“Thank you,” I murmured, my words slurring a little as I started to climb in, and froze. “Wait.”
Lucas just looked at me as I stepped back out. Clarity hit me colder than any fall breeze. I reached into my pocket, grabbed my keys, and hit the button before I opened the passenger side door and pushed the button on the glove compartment.
I couldn’t forget this. I stared at the black velvet box before I tucked it into my jacket, closed up and locked the car, then made my way back to where Lucas waited. The car doors were closed and we were moving before I knew it. Oncoming headlights blurred and made me look away.
“I put chilled water in the compartment next to you.”
I glanced at Lucas and nodded before I reached for the bottle. My head swam a little, maybe drinking a bottle was a bit too much? Ice cold plunged down my throat as I drank. I closed my eyes and let the sway of the vehicle lull me until I felt the familiar turns and opened my eyes.
I’ve tamed the wildness out of her…
My grip tightened around the container and sloshed the water against the sides. No matter how many glasses of Scotch I consumed, that sick fuck had a way of crawling under my skin. I lifted my gaze as Lucas pulled up outside the house and hit the button to open the garage door.
I didn’t wait for him, just yanked the handle and spilled out of the car. The driver’s door shoved open and Lucas was there to grab my arm. “Easy, now. Do you want me to help you inside?”
I met his stare, shook my head, and straightened while I carefully gripped the velvet box in my hand. “No, I got this.”
Cold night air carved through my chest with a deep breath and with it came the slap I needed. “Night, Lucas, and thanks. Go home to your family.”
Family…
I lifted my gaze to the windows on the third floor of my home. My family waited up there…my…my…stubborn…irritating, goddamn perfect fucking wildcat. I licked my lips and stumbled forward.
“I’ll have the Mercedes delivered here in the morning,” Lucas called after me.
I gave him a wave and kept walking as I hit the button for the garage door as I passed. The rumble resounded behind me as I made my way through the house and up the stairs.
I worked the buttons of my jacket, pulled it free, and draped it over the landing to my floor, then climbed until I stumbled for her room.
I didn’t knock, didn’t waver, just turned the handle and pushed open the door, to find her lying in bed, knees up, reading something. Her eyes widened as I lifted my hand to brace myself on the doorframe.
“London?” She shoved upwards as a look of concern flared in those mesmerizing brown eyes.
Why the fuck did she have to be so goddamn beautiful? It would’ve been easier if she wasn’t…if she wasn’t so—defiant.
I unleashed a snarl, shoved from the doorway, and strode toward her…
