Manacled Hearts: an Age Gap Mafia Romance (The Sanctum Syndicate Book 3)

CHAPTER 31

I pull the car in next to four others parked in front of Vincent’s house, and I’m a bit apprehensive at the sleek, black SUV I don’t recognize.

“Looks like we’re not the first ones here,” Evelyn states, looking over to the row of vehicles, after she closes the mirror she just checked herself in.

She had to fix her makeup after what we did, but the sight of her barely disheveled look made me crave to ruin her even more. An image of my sweet Evelyn, with black makeup running down her cheeks as she chokes on my cock has been floating through my mind incessantly, and at this point, I’m praying that it’s a premonition.

“Well, I’m glad they got here before our impromptu stop,” I answer, cocking an eyebrow with a grin.

She blushes instantly, and I can’t possibly miss how she squeezes her thighs together at the fresh memory imprinted between them. Though, I would much rather it would be me between them right now. Again. And a thousand times after.

I’ve had more women than I could count, and none out of vanity, but need. Only, that need wasn’t physical, it was mental… emotional. The only purpose for it was to distract me from what I really craved, but after the way I lost Hanna, I couldn’t allow myself those desires. I plugged in the hole with endless women and none of them ever tempted me to want more from them.

Until Evelyn came along.

She drew me in like no other, preyed on vulnerabilities she didn’t know I had, and filled gaps she couldn’t possibly know existed. And I rejected it all from the start. I was foolish to think I could resist her, that I was strong enough. Maybe I didn’t fight it hard enough, or maybe fate really is a thing.

Only, I don’t want to leave the rest to fate.

“Evie”—I shift in the seat and catch the silver and gold of her eyes—“give staying in Queenscove serious thought. For me.”

Her eyes widen for one fleeting moment, before slight concern saddens them.

“I am.”

“Really? Because you speak more of leaving than of staying, and I need you to give this—Queenscove—a real shot. I’ve been thinking about it all. Maya will have to be enrolled in school once all is said and done with Bartiste, and it’s something I can help with. Give it a chance without having one foot out the door.”

“You can’t ask this of me, Finnigan.”

“I don’t want to ask this of you; don’t you get it? I don’t even want to demand it, I want to take it. I want to tie you in my penthouse and give you no choice. That’s what I actually desire. Which is why I’m holding onto the ounce of self-control I have, and I’m asking you to give it a proper shot.”

She’s speechless, her lips parted in surprise as she takes in my words and underlying threat.

“You wouldn’t,” she whispers.

Maybe my glare is answer enough, because I swear there’s hope weaved through the shock in her gaze.

“Tell me you will do it, you’ll give it a chance. A good one. You’ve already built a life in Queenscove, Evelyn. There’s so much more for you here,” I add.

“I will give it a chance. I already am,” she finally agrees.

But there’s a little voice inside my head that mocks me. It knows what a man of my failures deserves, and it’s not a woman like Evelyn. I nod, pensive at the inner turmoil, recognizing the tinge of fear that’s been growing inside of me at the same pace as the attachment to this woman.

“I’ll grab the cake trays and your things. Get the gift bag, please.”

We exit the car simultaneously, but a moment later she’s by my side, taking one of the trays from me.

“I can handle it,” I argue.

“Me too.” She walks away with a strut, but not before cocking an eyebrow and giving me a look more sinful than it should be. I should move, but that damn skirt fluttering with her sway, distracts me. It’s not even that short, just above the knees, but knowing she wears thigh-high stockings underneath as well, I want to bend her over and sink into her warm, sweet cunt all over again. She looks like a rock goddess and I get all sorts of ideas of things I want to buy her. Latex bodysuit. Fishnet stockings to rip off. Leather harnesses to frame her waist, or her breasts…

“Coming?” she calls after me, and I have to rush to get to her.

Though, I don’t bother pretending to be unaffected by her. I probably should when we get inside. I have a feeling Maddox might demand my head for what I did with the violet-haired woman he’s started seeing as a sister. He warned me before to leave her alone, but I think he was thinking more of her emotional state.

She knocks on the door, but I slide in front of her and just open it and walk in.

“Vincent has cameras and sensors. They know we’re here.”

She shrugs and follows, but once we’re in, she’s looking somewhere behind me, apprehension in her gaze. I whip around at her slight distress.

“Cousin!” the dark-haired, broad-shouldered man exclaims as he comes toward us.

“Sloan, you’ve arrived,” I greet him, then Morrigan who arrives next to me and helps me with the tray I carry.

I hug my cousin, who left his crime empire for a few days to lend a hand with our Bartiste situation, then step aside to introduce him.

“Evelyn, this is Sloan Buchanan. Our cousin abandoned his hill up in Venator to assist us.”

“Your hill?” She looks curious, but a little flustered too. “Sorry, hi, nice to meet you.”

“It’s great to meet you, too. Though, I feel like I know you already, as I’ve had the pleasure to meet your sister,” Sloan greets her, his stance quite stern, but like always, there’s warmth in his eyes and tone. “And yes, my hill. The city of Venator is old. Back in the old days three fortresses were built on its three hills, and it created a bit of a… divide, let’s say. One of those hills—Alnit—is my territory.”

“Oh, what an interesting name. I know of Venator, but I never looked into its geography. It sounds… familiar,” she answers, curious now.

I know Evelyn hasn’t finished school after she had to give it all up to take care of her sister. It’s a bit of a sore subject with her, mostly because I think she sees it as a flaw, like she’s somehow worth less because of it. But I’ve also noticed her thirst for knowledge. Her sister may be a big fiction reader despite her fragile age, which I thoroughly enjoy. But my Evie has a curiosity like no other, always sifting through my books, and almost every time she chooses non-fiction. Anything from ancient writings to modern history. She never discusses it, though, and always drops the books when I come in the room. One day she’ll get over that insecurity, but I won’t rush her.

“It comes from Alnitak, one of the stars in Orion’s belt,” Sloan explains, a little pride in his voice at the interest Evelyn shows.

“That’s fascinating.” Her gaze drifts, and if I could crack her head open now, I swear I would see the cogs spinning, filing this information for further research. “I would love to hear more about it, but you’ll have to excuse me, I need to finish the cupcakes for the birthday boy.” She nods to us, her gaze lingering a few moments longer on me, then walks away.

I don’t realize I’m still staring after her until Sloan speaks.

“It’s good to see you interested again.”

I turn to him, mouth open ready to bite back, but I have nothing. I can’t deny it, but I feel like I have to say something to clarify.

“We’re not… together. I guess.”

He quirks an eyebrow, challenging my answer.

“She’s not sure if she’s staying in Queenscove, and we haven’t approached the subject about how interested we are.”

He smirks and shakes his head. “If only relationships were simple.”

“What about you?” I ask, trying to deflect.

“I’m doing well. There’s some shit stirring up in Venator, but hopefully it won’t escalate. It’s why Duncan couldn’t come, he has to hold down the fort.”

“I was asking about your love life,” I say, laughing. “But how is your son?”

“Honestly, a bit too good at this job, but he’s young and his mind is a bit distracted. Money, women, you know the drill. And my love life is just fine.”

“Just fine. Sounds promising. Duncan will be okay, he’ll have a wake-up call soon enough and step up, especially if you say he’s talented at the family business,” I assure my cousin.

“How are you doing with Bartiste’s return and all?”

Sloan was there last time. After the girls were taken, he came to our rescue. We probably would have all been dead without him and his men. He even offered some of them the option to join our Sanctum, to replenish the army we were only just building back then. I inhale deeply and start walking with him, toward the voices I hear outside on the patio.

“Fine. We all really thought he was dead. But it seems my brother and Carter never stopped looking, just in case. But yes, it was all unexpected.”

I look at Sloan and his narrowing green eyes scrutinize me. Clearly I didn’t answer the question he was truly asking, but getting in the emotional side of things about the PTSD Bartiste left me with isn’t going to happen. I haven’t gotten into it with my Sanctum brothers, so I’m not doing it with the cousin I see a few times a year.

“He’ll be dead soon.”

“That he most certainly will. Thank you for joining us in the hunt.”

“Believe me man, it’s my pleasure.” He taps my shoulder and smiles, but it doesn’t touch his eyes. They only spell malice.

“Finn,” Ronan greets me when we get outside, and Vincent, Carter and Maddox nod toward me, signaling Sloan over.

My brother and I may have started to work through our shit, and I know he really yearns to get closer to me, but I find it somehow difficult. I’m not sure what’s holding me back, but I have a feeling it’s not to do with him.

“How are you settling back in Queenscove?” I ask as we take a seat next to each other on the outdoor sofa, Sloan moving on Maddox who looks at me a bit wearily.

“It’s… odd. It feels like home, but it also doesn’t. I can’t explain it. Being on edge doesn’t help.”

“Are you worried?”

He looks me in the eye like I grew a second head. “Worried? I’m petrified, brother. Bartiste is back. The man who took so much from us.” His gaze drifts to his wife who’s currently entertaining their son, before returning to me. “I know it’s not the same as it was with you; I’m not trying to downplay it in any way. But the fear that it could happen again to Annika, to Aaro, is debilitating.”

No, Bartiste didn’t take as much from him, but Annika was pregnant when she was kidnapped along with Hanna, and my brother only found out about it over the phone, as she was being taken. There is no way to describe that feeling of helplessness. We couldn’t do a thing. It left deep, jagged scars that we share because our trauma is our failure. We failed to protect them.

How can I deserve Evelyn? What if I fail to protect her too? I know Bartiste will be dead at the end of this, I know I will not fail there, but it’s her safety I fear up until that point.

“You have a lot to lose now. I understand.” I answer finally. “Is this why you came back?”

“Partly. I have hired help at home, but here… I have you and The Sanctum. I knew Annika and Aaro would be safe now. And no matter what happened between us, how you felt about me, there was no chance I wouldn’t come for you after realizing Bartiste is back.”

It sounds like he didn’t care if I wanted him here or not, he was going to be by our—my side anyway, through the asshole’s return.

“What’s the other reason?” I ask.

“I need to see Bartiste dead. I need to make sure.”

I nod. No one from our whole group can understand that better than me. I’ll treat him like a fucking vampire if I must, and carve his heart out or cut off his head, just to make sure he’ll never come back to fucking life.

“Did you find out how the motherfucker lived?” He had a few holes in him, his men couldn’t find him either.

“I found a hospital record that matched some of his injuries. He used a different name, so I can’t be hundred percent sure, but it sounded like he was found by a random person, half dead. The records were altered though because that’s the only thing there. No evidence of surgery, recovery, death, or anything else. He disappeared,” Ronan answers.

“I’ll make sure he’s dust this time around.”

He nods in response. It’s a certainty for the both of us. For all of us really. Bartiste has been taunting us for long enough, and The Sanctum does not allow errors, let alone failures. We were young when he disappeared on us, but we aren’t the same people now. The wheels are in motion, Bartiste is leaving breadcrumbs, and he’ll be ours soon enough. The worst thing to admit is that the guy is a master in disappearing and hiding. If he were anyone else, we would admire the talent, but there’s nothing to admire about this man.

“You and the girl—” Ronan changes the subject.

“Evelyn,” I correct.

“She’s young…” His words strike me.

“And that bothers you?”

He takes a deep breath in, then releases it as he ponders, his gaze turning to Annika, still playing with their son.

“She seems mature enough, don’t get me wrong. But pulling her into this life at her age seems unfair,” he says as he refocuses back on me.

My fists clench and tightness grips my chest. “I know you’re not fucking insinuating that I’m forcing her to stay here. That I’m coercing her in some way.”

“I’m not, it’s just—”

“Evelyn is free to make her own decisions, brother. But I’m not gonna sit idly by and not show her all her options. And I am an option. I fucking deserve this too! Fuck knows I’ve waited long enough.” I rise and storm off before he can say anything else.

I’m rounding the house, needing a damn moment to myself before I end up taking my anger on someone else. But footsteps crunch on the grass behind me, and I whip around, ready to tell them to fuck off.

“Finnigan, sorry, can I talk to you for a moment?”

Loreley.

My warning stops in my throat and I nod, curious. The blonde woman and I don’t interact that much, though we are in each other’s presence fairly often.

“I know you and Evelyn are getting… close.”

“Oh for God’s sake, not you too.” I step back shaking my head. “Look—”

“No, listen to me. I’m not here about that. I want to talk to you about her and Maya. Has she spoken to you about the custody situation?”

This, I didn’t expect.

“I tried to approach it once, but she brushed me off and changed the subject. Why?” I ask, fully intrigued now.

“You and I both know she cannot get custody of Maya legally without jumping through enormous hoops that girl can’t afford. We spoke of it, she’s not really doing anything about it because she’s terrified she’ll lose Maya to the system until the custody is decided by CPS and a judge.” She takes a deep breath and looks behind her, probably making sure Evelyn isn’t around. “I offered to help, obviously. But she got really defensive. She’s a stubborn one.”

“What reason did she give you?” I ask, crossing my arms against my chest.

“She’s not comfortable with me doing anything about it because I already helped her so much. I hired her in the café, she lives in my apartment, though she insisted on taking rent out of her salary. You can imagine I barely charge her, but anyway, she fought really hard and actually got angry at me. You probably know as well as me that Evelyn does not get angry. Ever. So I had to back off. I want to speak to Morri about it, ask her to get The Sanctum involved, but I thought I would talk to you first. I see how you look at her…” she ends with a suggestive smile that would make me blush if I wasn’t distracted by the custody matter.

“Thanks for coming to me. I’m looking into it.”

Loreley’s eyes widen as she snaps back. “Really?”

I nod, feeling a bit lighter now. She smiles, a great big smile showing all her perfectly straight white teeth.

“Thank you!” Her shoulders drop on a calming exhale. “And… I probably don’t need to say this, but if you hurt that girl, I’ll chop your balls off myself and feed them to you.”

My brows shoot up as she whips around, her long ponytail brushing against my chest, and walks away. Jesus Christ. I kind of believe her though. Loreley is a Dietrich, and that family has quite the reputation in the criminal underworld. She may be out of the family business, but who knows what she learned before. This conversation seems to be what I needed, because I’m calm, another goal added to the list of all that concerns Evelyn.

There’s no denying that I would like to keep her, make her stay. Such a contrast to just a few weeks back. I’m still not convinced that I shouldn’t just force her hand, but I know what the best decision is—give her all the resources to make her own decision.

I’m about to push that limit though, and I can’t anticipate if she’s going to take it as an amazing gesture, or manipulation. It’s pushing the limit for sure, but I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

“Come, they’re going to sing happy birthday to your nephew.” Katya appears out of nowhere.

I didn’t even realize she was here, and she’s gesturing for me to join them where they’re all gathered inside. I follow her, and they make room for me around the dining table so I can see Aaro. He’s giddily staring at a whole tray of cupcakes with impeccable frosting layered on top, and I have to concentrate not to drift to what we did with the leftovers of that cream earlier today.

Instead of putting only enough candles to cover his age, all the cupcakes have one. There’s probably over forty of them and the boy looks just about ready to burst with joy.

If only our lives would just be this… how different we would be.