A Tempting Arrangement (Twisted Vows Book 1)

5. Damon

I takea second to adjust my rock-hard cock before following after Misty. She’s already slipping through the crowd toward her friends by the time I reach the main room.

River says something, and she’s laughing, that full-body, head-thrown-back laugh she does, exuding a freedom I’ve never felt. When I first saw how Alex interacted with Misty, I’d been livid. They had an easy, relaxed, almost intimate relationship that I mistook for something more than it was. I was jealous enough. I went as far as blocking him from becoming captain until I’d realized he’d been in a secret relationship with River and Mia.

Misty had been nervous when she told me about them, assuming I’d be pissed if it created a scandal. But I’d been thrilled.

Now, I can see the almost sibling-like way they tease each other. She has a playfulness to her that she never shows to me.

The air caught in my lungs, and I fought to keep my carefully shielded expression when I finally spotted her in the crowd earlier.

She’s fucking effervescent in her low-cut dress, pale pink hair pulled up, with curls framing her sun-kissed skin. A goddess of temptation. I had to flex every single muscle to stop myself from closing the distance between our mouths in the alleyway.

She is captivating me with her clear green eyes, pulling me in like I’m a planet and she’s my sun.

I’ll gladly spend my days orbiting around her.

The only thing stopping me from owning her body is knowing that the second I break the kiss, she’ll flee.

I need her to be tied to me, irrevocably mine.

I’m not a patient man, but I’ll wait for her. Show her that we’re meant to be. That she’s the piece of my soul that’s missing and I’m the armor she desperately needs.

Her words are lost to the sea of voices, but her friends light up around her. Even from here, I can see the way she teases them and how fondly they look back at my girl.

I don’t like sharing what’s mine. And there’s no doubt she will be, but I would never deny her this. For whatever reason, these people are her family.

But after months of watching her, it’s clear she hides parts of herself. They don’t spot the tiredness or the fear that flashes in her eyes when someone moves too fast. But I do.

She conceals a part of herself from everyone but not from me.

For me, she’s brilliant in her anger.

For me, she doesn’t mask her emotions under pretty smiles.

For me, she lets herself shine through.

I wonder if she’s aware that she only reveals herself to the most dangerous man she knows. The one that’s been irrevocably changed by his past. Blackened into something darker than the people around them. That something deep inside her recognizes I’m the one who can understand her.

A low growl vibrates silently in my chest as Anthony Ricci, heir to the Ricci family, approaches them.He’s a Saint but knows his place in the hierarchy, which is below the Lords.

The Ricci family made their fortune in the lower crime rings, anything from drug running to car theft. We would have left them as Unsainted if they didn’t also provide an uncontested aptitude for technology.

It’s tempting to play with them, but it’s simpler to just let them be.

Anthony is wearing a charming smile on his face as he lifts Misty’s hand and brings it to his lips, sending rage burning through my gut.

I stop my forward momentum when she snaps her hand back and tilts her head, taking him in. My smart girl recognizes something’s off with him and crosses her arms over her chest when his gaze dips there.

Soon-to-be-dead fucking heir.

“Dam, we’re heading out,” Xander, my second youngest brother, says as he approaches my side.

I don’t look away from Misty as she moves away to stand between Lucas and River, creating space between her and the Ricci heir.

I’ve had enough of this. I step forward, but Matthias’s strong grip on my arm holds me in place. “Relax. There’s too many eyes in here.”

My eyes flash his way, but his fingers don’t loosen. He knows I won’t come after him.

I shrug him off. “I’m not leaving until she does.”

“She’s fine, brother,” Matthias says. Our shared history allows him to read me better than my other two siblings.

“You’ve got to chill, man. You’re looking stressed.”

I ignore my youngest brother, Bash, and bore my gaze into Matthias.

“Shut it down.”

His head snaps back, knowing exactly what I’m asking. “Seriously? You know that’ll be the entire building, right?”

I don’t give a shit. I’m not leaving here while that asshole is still within speaking distance of my future wife.

“Fuck. Okay…okay.” Matthias pulls out his phone, hitting several buttons before the emergency alarm goes off.

The staff ushers the guests out in an orderly fashion, and I track Misty’s movements.

“I’ll meet you out back,” I tell my brothers before following after her.

The night air is crisp as I step out of the building. I stay in the shadows, watching as Nicholas guides her to the car.

Misty looks over her shoulder, scanning where I’m standing hidden like she can feel the weight of my gaze. Feel the invisible chain that ties us together and can’t help but turn toward me. She tilts her head, then climbs into the back seat when she doesn’t spot anyone.

Nicholas takes out his phone, sending a quick message that immediately pings my phone.

Nicholas: I have Miss Hart. Proceeding to her home.

Me: Drive carefully.

Nicholas smiles.

Nicholas: Of course.

Matthias is the only one waiting for me when I exit the back of the hotel.

“Where’s Nicholas?” he asks.

“I gave him a special assignment.”

The corner of his lips twitches. “So he’s with your girl?”

The construction of the Elysium club took years. Xander led the project, pitching his concept, then following it through to completion.

The space is designed with revelry in mind. A complete loss of inhibitions. There’s fabric panels hanging from the ceiling, creating private areas that encourage guests to push the limits of their comfort zone.

Electric music fills the space, the underlying bass controlling their bodies.

Xander created a club where we’re gods controlling the pions’ every emotion.

Tobias, the security guard responsible for limiting access to the upper floors, gives me a nod and shifts out of the way of the spiral staircase leading up to our level.

I swipe my key fob at the door, and it swings open to our private area. There’s floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the chaos below, tinted to only see out.

Matthias comes in behind me. The noise from the club silences as the door shuts, and he sits in a deep green leather club chair facing our brothers.

Xander paces on the side, his expression void while he speaks on the phone.

Bash is laid out over the other club chair, one wrist over the arm while he leans all the way back. As the youngest, he has an almost sinister playfulness that’s become the bane of Matthias’s and my existence.

We’ve all but given up, switching to the strategy of reducing the fallout of his actions.

I pour a glass of whiskey, swirling it around my tumbler before sitting on the long leather sofa, facing the rest of them. “What’s the update?”

Matthias leans forward, a darkness taking over his face. “Someone’s taking out the Unsainted.”

The Unsainted are men who haven’t gone through their trials to be initiated as Saints yet. The Order of Saints has a clear hierarchy, and the Unsainted are at the bottom. That doesn’t mean we’re going to let people go around killing them.

As the Lords, controlling The Order is our responsibility, and someone’s fucking with it.

“How many?” I ask.

“Five,” Matthias answers, and the serious look on his face has my muscles straining.

Bash whistles under his breath and tips his head back. “Sounds like someone’s goading us into war.” His toothy sneer makes it clear he likes that idea.

Xander sits beside me, raking his hand through his hair. “Fuck that.”

Matthias agrees. “We watch for now. I’ve got eyes on all the Unsainted. If something happens to them, we’ll know.”

I lean forward, resting my forearms on my knees. “Who is it?”

“Unknown. There’s no benefit to anyone to challenge our authority,” Matthias responds seriously.

I drum my fingers. “Set up guards, then we’ll use one as bait and see who bites.”

“That’s just cruel, brother,” Bash adds, not looking disappointed at all. He and Xander were just kids when everything went down. We’d hoped they were young enough to forget, but there’s a twisted side to Bash. One that shows glimpses of the damage it caused him. He’s not just an adrenaline junkie; he walks on the cusp of death every chance he gets.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out.

Nicholas: Miss Hart has been dropped off. Do you want me to stay here?

Nicholas’s always been able to anticipate my needs before I can ask. It’s one of the many reasons he’s my personal driver.

Me: Yes. I’ll send someone to relieve you.

I switch to my monitoring app and watch as Misty kicks off her heels in the building’s entryway before picking them up and making her way up the stairs. I tense when a large, burly man appears on the steps, looking her over.

I’m about to text Nicholas to get the fuck in there when she waves at the stranger, and even through the feed, I can see the wide smile she gives him.

The man relaxes, completely disarmed by my little nymph. They say a few words, and I make a note to have Matthias add microphones into the system. Misty pauses to open her door, and I switch the cameras to see her apartment. She drops her shoes in the now familiar living room. I’ve been watching her movements since the system was installed and have mapped out every possible weak spot. There are only two entry points, a balcony and the front door, both of which I made sure are firmly secured.

I’d prefer a better system on the patio but haven’t figured out a way to get it installed.

The apartment super could be bribed into doing it, but I don’t like the idea of him being in her place.

Misty disappears into her room, and I curse under my breath there isn’t a camera in there. She’s left the door open, giving me a sliver view of her space. When she appears, her dress is undone, revealing the side of her back, but she steps out of sight before I can examine her.

I clench around the phone, trying to mentally encourage her to come back, when Bash slaps me on the back.

“You’re looking pretty hard at that phone.”

I meet his gaze until he looks away.

He clears his throat. “What was all of that ‘it’s a tradition for the heir to get married’ shit about?” He grabs my arm. “And for that matter, why weren’t you freaking the fuck out?”

“I created it,” I deadpan and shrug him off. He steps back, hands up in surrender. Even my family knows not to touch me.

Xander leans forward. “Why would you do that?”

“Because the girl I’m going to marry needs some extra motivation.”

“Who is it?” Bash asks, curiosity filling his voice. Now that we’ve gotten onto the topic, he’s not going to drop it.

“The Bruins’ PR rep.”

Bash laughs. “Fuck, I’ve seen her. She’s hot.”

I glare, and he shuts up. “You’re not too old for me to beat you.”

Xander cuts in, pulling my attention from Bash.“And…you think this random girl’s just going to marry you?”

“She will. She won’t have a choice by the time I’m done.”

“Fuck, brother. That’s scary. You know, you could always ask her,” Xander adds.

“I like my deals to be secured before moving forward,” I respond coldly, making it clear I’m not open to their suggestions.

“Is that why you had me monitor her building?” Matthias asks like he doesn’t already know the answer but is happy to fuck with me.

“Oh shit. This is getting good.” Bash collapses onto the sofa, rubbing his hands together.

Xander, the most reserved out of all of us, shoots Matthias a look.

“Don’t worry. I refused the bathroom and bedroom. Let’s just hope she’s not the type to walk around naked.”

“Watch it,” I warn.

“You know, this whole desperate stalker thing is a good look for you.”