Deal with the Devil

16. Chapter fifteen

Chapter fifteen:

Knox

The group sat in relative silence as Knox folded his hands in his lap and contemplated how to answer the question. Honesty was the best policy, but honesty meant hurting both of them much more than they already were. Just rip off the bandage. He exhaled heavily, “Rick and Kyle were working for a vampire who is after me and my business.”

Penny’s face pinched up. The car lurched forward. The dull hum of the car as it drove off filled the cabin. Finally, Penny huffed, “And that’s my problem, how?”

“Because that vampire is now cleaning up and is clearly targeting you next. I’m not sure why Sandy had the pictures hidden, but she’d done it for some sort of assurance that clearly didn’t save her. The waitress Rick rolled for her credit and identity? She’s dead. Kyle was hiding a vampire fledgling in his basement. And I have reason to believe you and your family are in danger.”

He glanced at Amelia. She stared at her lap, hands folded against her legs. Knox wanted to offer a hand, have her ripped into his lap, laying in his arms. He didn’t touch her. Despite their torrid affair in the bathroom, his pet was clearly working through something. It was the shock, more than likely, and he didn’t want her to put any distance between them. She’d given him everything and he wouldn’t squander it. Not this time.

“So, this vampire? Why do they want your business?” Amelia finally peeled her gaze away from her hands.

“I’m not sure, I’m not even sure who they are yet. I have theories but no answers. But they were willing to kill Sandy and send me her head. As well as turn a thirteen-year-old girl into a fledgling and try to use her as a means of attacking me, so I’d say it’s safe to assume they won’t blink at harming Brayden or Penny.” Knox caught her stare and locked in. Amelia groaned, rolling her eyes. His lips curled into a smirk. That’s my girl.

“Great! So, Rick has, once again, gotten us into a pinch.” Amelia slumped down in the seat and crossed her arms.

“Oh, don’t you even start. Not when you fucked Horns McGee over here in the pub bathroom!” Penny snapped, pointing at Knox.

“At least Horns McGee isn’t threatening my nephew!” Amelia bit back.

“At least Rick isn’t a mob boss that thousands of people are willing to kill to get back at!” Penny retorted.

“Ladies,” Knox chuckled, and they both glared at him. “I understand, but bickering won’t solve anything.”

“Says you,” they huffed in unison.

“Ah, you both really are twins.” Maevin shook his head before he leaned over his lap to catch Knox’s attention. “We should discuss the flash drive more at home, but I believe Sandy was working for them, giving them observations, and the deal went sour. Maybe that’s why Rick decked her and stole her credit card? Or it might have been a part of the act. Either way, this complicates things.”

“Oh! Yay!” Amelia and Penny rolled their eyes, pouting and crossing their arms in unison.

Knox stared at them, blinking slowly. Penny sneered at him before twisting to stare out the window. Amelia sat there, staring back at him. Knox offered a hand, fully expecting her to slap it away. And yet, she took it, tucking his hand against the seat with hers. Knox whispered, “I won’t allow you or your family to get hurt.”

“You’re a few years too late for that,” she teased with a wink.

“Fair. Then, I won’t allow this fool or his gaggle of goons to lay a finger on you.” Knox savored the way her lips curled. Amelia squeezed his hand tight. Knox brought their hands to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. Her eyes dropped to where his lips lingered against her skin before her attention drifted slowly back up. “You’re mine now, naughty thing, and I take care of my things.”

“Ew, gross, can you two eye fuck somewhere else?” Penny huffed.

“How’s it feel? Huh! To be grossed out by your sister mind fucking a guy you hate!” Amelia spat, wheeling to face her sister.

“Rick and I were never that gross.” Penny stuck her tongue out to Amelia.

“I’m gonna make you eat your words when I scream like a bleating goat and bang on the walls while you sleep on the couch and beg the gods to end your life early so you don’t have to—”

Knox covered her mouth, muffling her rampage. Amelia continued, despite the leather holding her lips mostly closed. He sighed, “I can assure everyone, that your stay with me will be amicable. All the rooms are brandished with silencing spells and black out curtains, and the staff is very helpful.”

“If you’re hoping this little move will put you on my good side, bucko, you better think again,” Penny growled.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Knox raised a brow, watching the taller twin’s left eye twitch. “Ah, good, we’re here.”

The car slowed to a stop in front of the family’s one-story home. Boxes of peonies and a yard full of shaggy grass with both women’s cars parked out front. Zavros and two more of his guards were sitting on the front stoop with a pouting Brayden between them. Knox knew the child only through surveillance photos. Pitch black hair with platinum silver streaks in his fluffy hair, a round face with classic pre-teen pout, chunky freckles, and high-top sneakers. He wore black skinny jeans and a distressed hoodie, clearly in his edgier phase of childhood. When he looked up from his lap, his face lit up. “Mom!”

Penny clawed, tossed, and scrambled hand over foot out of the car and bolted across the yard. Knox sat back, allowing Amelia to also perform a rabid raccoon exit if she pleased. She merely motioned for him with a flippant hand to exit. The other three climbed out of the car.

Amelia stood beside Knox, watching Penny hug the twig of a child tightly in her arms. Steadily, they both twisted and opened their arms to her. Amelia ducked her head and dove into their embrace. Zavros side-stepped the hugging clump of bodies and eyed his boss. “House is empty, sent the babysitter home with a big tip.”

“Thank you, good work. We’re packing up and going home tonight. Look for anything hidden or anything that might go off while we’re gone. I want someone keeping an eye on the place just in case.”

Zavros nodded before snapping his fingers to the others. They opened the front door and stepped inside. Penny ripped from her son and stormed after the gentlemen currently opening her closets and digging through them. Knox and Maevin stopped by the aunt and nephew still hugging. Brayden spoke in a small hush, “Am-crack, what’s going on?”

“Rick got us in trouble and now we’re gonna go stay at Knox’s till the coast is clear.” Amelia stroked his hair.

“Sick.” the preteen nodded. “Can I bring my crystal controller? Is there a tv there? Wi-Fi?”

Amelia glanced at Knox for confirmation. Knox chuckled, “I have a home theater you’re more than welcome to take up space in. And I can get you the Wi-Fi code.”

“Tight, I’m allergic to cashews. So, keep the nutting to my aunt, please. Hey mom! Does this mean I don’t have to do my math homework?”

Knox stared at the space the teenager took up, blinking rapidly. Amelia snickered evilly, “You’ve just been Braydened, welcome to the club.”

“House is clear, boss.”

“Quit! Ruining! My house!”

“We, uh, should go pack up before she has a meltdown.” Amelia tugged on Knox’s arm toward the front door. When they entered, he stopped to see his band of muscle blushing and ducking their heads while cleaning up their mess. Penny was red in the face and hissing lowly to each of them.

Maevin shook his head, leaning against the door frame. “Should I wait in the car?”

There was chaos as Penny herded her son into his room to pack a bag and Knox kept his employees on task. However, all of it melted away when Amelia sat a duffle bag on the couch and began packing out of a basket of clean clothes. Knox furrowed his brows. He stood on the other side of the couch, watching her pack a laptop and a book with her clothing.

“You sleep on the couch?” he breathed.

“Humble beginnings, but it’s a fold out.” She shrugged, turning to pull something out of an ottoman. They both froze as she tucked the contents of a clothing box into the bag. A collar, a very specific collar, that was supposed to be in his bedside drawer was exposed. Denver was in deep trouble when they got home.

“Where’d you get that?” he growled.

“You know where.” She covered it with her bathing suit and Knox was ready to flip the couch. He grabbed the edge of the furniture and leaned in. Her gaze jerked up to meet him. “If you never wanted me to wear it, why have it made?”

His throat closed. She had him backed into a corner. Knox wanted to see her wear it. It’s why he had the leather artist make his belt into a collar just for her. It’s why he had soft fabric put on the inside and the brass shined. His mouth opened then snapped shut as she arched a brow. He ground the words out between his teeth, “Hopeful thinking.”

She smirked, “If you want me to wear it, you just need to tell me.”

He leaned over the couch, their noses brushing. She didn’t back down. Knox reached between them, snatched up the zipper and ripped it closed. “Don’t ask me what I want, pet. I can’t say what I want because there are minors and your sister present.”

Amelia let out a bark of a laugh. “Coward.”

“We’ll see if you still feel that way when I have you crawl across my office floor wearing nothing but the collar.”

Amelia’s cheeks reddened but there was a mischief flickering in her eyes as she twirled away from him. “So, you do want me to wear it? Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Knox huffed, snatching up her bag and shoving it into Maevin’s stupid, shit-eating grin covered face. “Put that in the trunk.”

Maevin giggled wickedly, frolicking to the car where Zavros loaded up the teenager’s bag. Amelia packed up a tote bag of other items from the bathroom and kitchen before joining the rest of the family at the front. Penny locked the front door. Knox seethed under his skin as the family packed up into his car.

It’s not that he didn’t want to tell her what he wanted...it’s that he wanted so much it was cruel. Knox wanted her to crawl for him, beg for him, kneel before him and lay that beautiful chin against his knees. Knox also wanted her in his lap, laughing with him, bickering about books. He wanted in that moment to put that collar on her and to also have her fight him on it. And, however small, there was a desire in him to have her ask him to put it on her. It was so many things at once it was overwhelming. Because when Knox confessed what he wanted, people could use it against him. When he begged her to be his and stay, she could disappear and destroy him. So, Knox kept everything deep in his chest.

If he never told her what he wanted, then she could never tell him no.

Amelia slid into the seat shortly before he dropped inside. Zavros and the others were driving in the ogre’s four door car, and ahead of the extended limousine. Amelia sat hip to hip with him and stole his breath away with a whisper. “If it helps...I want you to put it on me...when we’re not in the presence of a minor or my sister, that is.”

His heart skipped a beat as he leaned into her warmth. The car lurched forward, and the group pulled down the street.