Galen (Savage Arrows #3)

Chapter Six

Galen could feel the tension in the air, and he could sense Bianca’s uncertainty. She was so close to agreeing, so close to surrendering to his twisted deal.

He nearly had her in his grasp, and the thought sent a thrill of satisfaction coursing through him. But he knew better than to celebrate too early. Bianca was not a woman who could be easily conquered. She needed convincing, and he was more than willing to oblige.

“ I ’ ll allow Mario to live, ” Galen began, his tone measured and deliberate, “ but he ’ ll need to leave this city. He has to go somewhere far away, where no one knows him. ”

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. He didn’t need to tell her this decision was made without consulting Carver or Devlin. It was his call, and his alone.

Bianca bit her lower lip, a nervous gesture that did not escape Galen’s notice. She trembled slightly, her vulnerability on full display.

Galen took a step closer, his voice softening as he added, “ It’s more than he deserves after betraying us. ” His eyes locked onto hers, searching for a crack in her resolve. “ He might’ve been an absent parent to you, but he was … something of a mentor to me. ”

“ A mentor? ” Bianca ’ s curiosity flared, and Galen could see the wheels turning in her mind.

He nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. “ If you think I ’ m a monster, then you should know my father was much worse. When he died, I was elated that we were no longer under his control, but I also felt lost. That ’ s when Mario stepped in. ”

His hand moved to his side, and he drew his gun, watching as Bianca tensed. But he made no sudden movements, merely showing her the weapon.

“ He gave me my first gun, ” Galen told her.

Bianca ’ s eyes flickered with something—a mix of fear and intrigue, perhaps. Tentatively, she reached out, her fingers brushing against the cold metal. Galen could tell she had no real experience with firearms.

It was clear she didn ’ t have any ties to her father ’ s world. If she had, Mario would ’ ve taught her how to shoot, how to defend herself. The gun was empty, but Galen wondered if she would try to use it against him. Instead, she simply handed it back to him, her gaze steady but uncertain.

“ So … Mario was like a father to you? You trusted him, and he betrayed your trust?” Her voice was soft, almost gentle, as if she were trying to understand him, trying to piece together the puzzle of his life.

“ Something like that, ” Galen replied, not wanting to delve too deeply into the pain of his past.

He tucked the gun away, grateful that Bianca didn ’ t press him for more. A silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken questions.

Finally, Bianca broke it, her voice tinged with apprehension. “ So what’s going to happen now? Assuming I agree to a night with you, and seeing where that goes?”

Galen allowed himself a small smile. “ You don’t need to return to the cell, ” he told her. “ You’ll stay here. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe in my apartment. Benny will be right outside, guarding the door if anything happens. ”

“ Preventing me from escaping, you mean? ” she asked, her tone sharp, though there was no real malice in her words.

Galen shrugged, not bothering to deny it. “ I need to make some arrangements, but I ’ ll return to you tonight. We ’ ll have dinner, ” Galen said. Bianca wasn ’ t stupid. She knew the implications of his words.

“ I see, ” she murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly. “ And … Mario?”

“ I ’ ll update you about the situation. ” As if on cue, Galen ’ s phone beeped, interrupting the moment.

He glanced at the screen and saw a slew of messages from Carver. Shit. Devlin had found out, of course. Galen knew it was only a matter of time. But Carver wouldn ’ t rat him out.

Devlin, on the other hand, was a different story. Devlin knew everything that went on in his house. Dang it, if Devlin went to the basement and shot Mario, then Galen would have nothing to bargain with. He better get downstairs.

Galen tucked his phone away, turning his attention back to Bianca.

“ I ’ ll see you tonight, Bianca, ” he said.

He leaned forward, capturing her lips in a kiss that was anything but tentative. This time, the kiss was searing, a collision of want and need that left no room for doubt.

Galen’s hand cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer as his lips claimed hers with a fierce intensity. He tasted her, devoured her, and felt her melt against him, her resistance crumbling away. The taste of her was intoxicating, a heady mix of sweetness and fire that left him craving more.

Bianca ’ s hands found their way to his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as if to anchor herself. She kissed him back with equal fervor, matching his passion with her own.

It was as if all the fear, anger, and confusion had been channeled into this one moment, this one kiss that seemed to consume them both.

When Galen finally pulled back, both were breathless, their hearts pounding in sync. He stared down at her, his thumb brushing against her swollen lips, and saw the mixture of emotions in her eyes—desire, fear, uncertainty, and something else, something that intrigued him even more.

“ Sit tight, ” he whispered, his voice husky. “ I won ’ t take long. ”

With one last lingering look, Galen turned and left the apartment, his mind already racing with the plans he needed to set in motion.

Bianca might not realize it yet, but she was already his. And tonight, he would make sure she understood just how serious he was about making her his wife.

****

Galen’s phone buzzed again with Carver’s urgent message: Hurry downstairs. Devlin’s on his way. Galen swore under his breath, frustration tightening his chest.

The last thing he needed was Devlin sticking his nose into his business, especially now. He glanced at Benny, who stood vigilant outside the apartment door, his loyal eyes trained on Galen.

“ Stay here. Make sure she doesn ’ t leave, ” Galen instructed.

Benny nodded, his presence as solid and reassuring as ever. Galen knew he could trust him, but that didn’t ease the tension coiling in his gut. He cursed his brother again. Why did Devlin always have to butt in, always have to prove to everyone that he was the alpha? It wasn’t like either Carver or he had any interest in usurping Devlin’s position as head of the family. Both were content where they were, playing their roles without challenging the established order. But Devlin never seemed to believe that.

Galen strode into the elevator, jabbing the button for the basement. The elevator seemed to crawl at an agonizingly slow pace. If Devlin had taken matters into his own hands and killed Mario… Galen clenched his fists, the thought sending a jolt of anger through him. He would never forgive Devlin for that.

Just minutes ago, while talking to Bianca, Galen had been lost in thoughts of a different sort. He had already begun planning their evening together—calling in his private chef to prepare a special dinner, ordering her a dress that would drive him wild.

He envisioned a strapless little black number that would cling to her curves in all the right places, emphasizing her slim waist and the gentle swell of her hips. Beneath it, he imagined her in delicate black lace, the kind of lingerie that was as much for his pleasure as hers.

He could already picture himself tearing them off her then taking his time enjoying every sweet inch of her and eventually making her scream his name. The image had made his blood heat, his pulse quicken.

But now, as the elevator let out a sharp ping, reality crashed back down around him. He stepped out, the cold air of the basement biting at his skin, and moved swiftly toward Mario’s cell.

His senses were on high alert, his heart pounded with a mix of urgency and dread. The cell door was open—a bad sign. A very bad sign.

As he approached, voices reached his ears. Mario ’ s desperate pleas for his life echoed off the stone walls, mingling with Carver ’ s attempts to reason with Devlin. The words sent a chill down Galen ’ s spine, tightening the knot of anxiety in his gut.

“…no idea why Galen couldn ’ t finish the job. I guess I have to do it myself, ” Devlin ’ s voice rang out, cold and decisive.

Shit. That didn’t sound good at all. Galen surged forward, pushing his way into the cell. His heart sank at the sight that greeted him: Devlin had Mario cornered against the wall, a gun pressed to the side of his head. Mario’s face was a mask of terror, his eyes wide and pleading, sweat dripping down his temple.

“ Galen, wonderful of you to join us, ” Devlin greeted through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with sarcasm. His eyes, sharp and furious, flicked to Galen as if daring him to interfere. “ After I get rid of this scum, you ’ ll have some explaining to do. ”

Carver, standing off to the side, shot Galen an apologetic look. “ I tried to reason with him, Galen, ” Carver said, his voice low and strained.

“ I know, ” Galen replied, his tone calm but edged with tension. His mind raced as he considered his next move.

Devlin’s grip on the situation was precarious at best, his temper burning with a cold fury Galen knew all too well. If Devlin pulled the trigger, it would be all over—Mario, Bianca, his carefully laid plans. Everything would be lost.

Galen took a deep breath, steadying himself before turning his full attention to his older brother.

“ Devlin, ” he began, his voice firm, “ if you kill him … I’ m out.”

Devlin ’ s eyes widened in shock as he shoved Mario hard against the wall before spinning around to face Galen. The gun lowered slightly, but the rage in Devlin ’ s expression was unmistakable, his lips curled into a snarl.

“ You’re out?” Devlin repeated, his voice laced with incredulity and anger. “ You’re choosing this traitor over us? Over your blood and family? ”

“ That ’ s not it, ” Galen said, meeting Devlin ’ s gaze evenly.

He knew he had to tread carefully. Devlin’s temper was a dangerous thing, burning cold and slow, but when it erupted, it left nothing but destruction in its wake. And Devlin was not one to forgive easily, if at all.

“ I need Mario alive for a reason, ” Galen said.

“ And what reason is that? ” Devlin ’ s tone was biting, suspicious.

Galen took another step forward, closing the distance between them. He couldn ’ t afford to hesitate, not with Mario ’ s life hanging in the balance.

“ I need Mario alive so I can wed his daughter,” he said.

Devlin ’ s eyes narrowed, his fury momentarily giving way to confusion.

“ What? ” he demanded, his brow furrowing in disbelief. The tension in the room thickened.

“ You heard me, ” Galen replied, keeping his voice steady.

He had to sell this, make Devlin see the logic, the necessity of his plan.

“ If you kill Mario, she’ll never forgive me. But if he lives, I can secure her loyalty. She’ll marry me, Devlin, and with that marriage, we gain control over the remaining pieces of Mario’ s empire. It’s a strategic move, one that benefits all of us,” he said.

For a long moment, Devlin stared at him, the wheels turning in his head as he processed Galen ’ s words. The rage in his eyes simmered, but it was clear he was considering the implications.

Galen could see the gears shifting in Devlin ’ s mind, weighing the pros and cons, assessing the risk and reward.

“ Marriage? ” Devlin finally muttered, almost to himself.

The gun lowered further, and he shot a glance at Carver, who nodded slightly, as if to say he saw the sense in it.

Galen seized the opportunity, pressing his advantage. “ You know I’m right, Devlin. This is the smarter play. Mario is a broken man. He’s no threat to us anymore. But his daughter is strong, resilient. With her by my side, we consolidate our power, solidify our position, ” he said.

Devlin ’ s eyes flicked back to Mario, who was slumped against the wall, trembling, his face pale and drawn. Then back to Galen. Slowly, the gun lowered completely, and Devlin let out a long breath, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

“ Fine, ” Devlin said, his voice cold and clipped. “ But if this backfires, Galen, if this woman betrays you, I won’t hesitate to clean up your mess. Understand? ”

“ Understood, ” Galen replied, relief washing over him, though he kept it from showing. He had won this round, but he knew the game was far from over.

Devlin holstered his gun, casting one last disdainful look at Mario before turning on his heel and stalking out of the cell. Carver lingered for a moment, giving Galen a brief nod of approval before following their brother.

Galen let out a slow breath, turning to face Mario, who was still trembling with fear. “ You owe me, ” Galen said quietly, his voice hard. “ Don ’ t forget that. ”

Mario nodded weakly, sliding down the wall to the floor, a broken man clinging to the fragile thread of his life. Galen didn ’ t offer him any comfort. His thoughts were already elsewhere, on the woman waiting upstairs in his apartment.

Bianca would be his. He had no doubt about that now. But the stakes had just been raised, and he would need to be more careful, more calculated than ever before. Tonight, he would make his move, and once she was his, there would be no turning back.