Chapter 13 Samantha
SAMANTHA
After breakfast, I make it back to my room before my legs give out.
The door clicks shut behind me, and I lean against it, heart racing like I just ran a marathon.
I said yes. I agreed to all three of them.
What the hell did I just do?
I slide down to sit on the floor, pressing my palms against the cool wood. My brain is spinning, trying to process the conversation that just happened over coffee and toast like it was the most normal thing in the world.
If you’re with one of us, you’re with all of us.
Grant’s voice echoes in my head. Calm. Direct. Like he was discussing a business arrangement instead of asking if I could handle sleeping with him and both his sons.
And I said yes.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand, and I force myself to stand. Three missed calls from Robert. Two voicemails.
Of course.
I’ve been dodging since the gala, giving him scraps of information when he wants a full meal. And now I have to face him while I’m still reeling from agreeing to be shared by three men.
This should be fun.
I call him back before I can talk myself out of it.
He answers immediately. “Finally. I was about to call the estate directly.”
“Sorry. It’s been busy here.” I move to sit on the bed, trying to sound normal.
“Tell me everything. Who was there? What deals were discussed?” His voice sharpens with interest.
I close my eyes and try to remember. “Um, there were a lot of people. Politicians, business owners, families from all over. Senator Mitchell was there. Some developers from Brazil and Japan.”
“Names, Samantha. I need names.”
“I don’t remember all of them.” It’s not entirely a lie. The evening is a blur of champagne and introductions and Kai’s hands on me in that red room. “Grant introduced me to people, but there were so many—”
“You need to pay better attention.” Frustration bleeds into his tone. “This is important. These connections are exactly what we need. What about their business discussions? Did you overhear anything about investments or acquisitions?”
“Some talk about a Denver tech company. And something about Miami expansion.” I’m pulling details from Donovan’s tablet this morning, feeding Robert information that’s probably already public knowledge.
“That’s something. What else?”
“Robert, I’m trying. But I can’t exactly walk around with a notepad at a party—”
“I’m not asking you to take notes. I’m asking you to be smart.” His voice softens slightly. “You’re doing well, sweetheart. I know this is hard. But remember why you’re there. Remember what they did to your mother.”
The guilt hits like a train crash. I’ve barely thought about her in days, because I’ve been caught up in feeling wanted and desired.
“I remember,” I say quietly.
“Do you? Because it sounds like you’re getting comfortable there and simply making friends.”
“I’m not making friends. I’m getting close to them like you wanted.”
“How close?”
“Close enough,” I say carefully. “They trust me. Grant introduced me at the gala as being under Hale protection. That means something in their world.”
“It does.” I hear papers rustling on his end. “That’s good. Better than I expected. Keep building that trust. The more they let you in, the more access you’ll have to information we need.”
“What kind of information?”
“Anything about their offshore accounts. Business partners they’re working with. Especially anything that seems questionable or illegal.” He pauses. “These men destroyed your mother’s business, Samantha. They’re not good people. Whatever you find will help us make them pay for what they did.”
I want to ask him about that, to demand details about exactly how Grant’s company destroyed Mom’s clothing business. Because the more time I spend here, the less sense it makes.
These men are calculating, yes. Dangerous, absolutely. But they’re not cruel. They’ve shown me more kindness in two weeks than Logan showed in ten months.
“I’ll keep looking,” I promise, hating myself for the lie.
“Good girl.” His approval is warm. “I know this isn’t easy. But your mother would be proud of you. You’re honoring her memory by making sure the people who hurt her face consequences.”
The words would usually steel my resolve.
Instead, they make me feel sick.
“I should go,” I say. “Dinner’s soon.”
“Call me in a few days. And Samantha? Be careful. Don’t let them distract you from why you’re there.”
Too late.
“I won’t. I promise.”
I hang up and stare at my phone.
Liar. I’m such a liar.
Robert thinks I’m building trust to gather information, that I’m playing the long game to destroy the Hale family from the inside.
But the truth is I’m not gathering information. I’m falling into bed with them. I’m agreeing to arrangements that would make Robert lose his mind.
I toss my phone onto the nightstand and bury my face in my hands.
What am I doing?
The revenge plan made sense when I hated them.
When they were abstract villains who ruined my mother’s life, but now they’re real people.
Grant with his rare smiles and the way he looks at me like I matter.
Donovan with his sharp mind and sharper wit.
Kai with his reckless energy and surprising tenderness.
How do I destroy people I’m starting to care about?
How do I destroy people I’m starting to love?
The thought stops me cold.
No. Not love. I’m not in love with them.
I’m just confused. Overwhelmed. Caught up in the intensity of everything that’s happened.
That’s all this is.
The afternoon passes in a haze.
I try to read but can’t focus. Try to nap but my mind won’t quiet. Try to distract myself with anything that doesn’t involve thinking about tonight.
Because I know what tonight means.
Grant made it clear. All three of them, or none of them. And I agreed.
Which means tonight, everything changes.
Around six, I force myself into the shower. Stand under hot water until my skin turns pink. Shave everything. Moisturize. All the rituals that feel both pointless and essential.
I pull on a simple dress. Dark blue, soft fabric, easy to take off.
Jesus. I’m getting dressed thinking about how easy it will be for them to undress me.
I’m losing my mind.
At seven, I make my way to the private dining room. All three of them are already there.
Grant stands when I enter, that old-fashioned courtesy that shouldn’t be as attractive as it is. “Samantha.”
“Hi.” My voice comes out smaller than I intended.
“Sit.” He pulls out the chair beside his. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Kai grins from across the table. “You look nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
“Liar.” But his tone is affectionate. “It’s okay. We won’t bite.”
“Much,” Donovan adds, and heat floods my face.
Dinner is some kind of pasta that probably tastes incredible, but I barely register it. I’m too aware of Grant’s hand on my thigh under the table. Of Donovan watching me with those knowing eyes. Of Kai’s foot brushing mine every time he shifts position.
They’re doing this on purpose. Building the tension. Making me hyperaware of every touch and glance.
It’s working.
By the time dessert arrives, I’m wound so tight I might snap.
Grant’s thumb traces circles on my thigh, higher than is appropriate for dinner. “Are you finished?”
I look down at my half-eaten chocolate mousse. “Yes.”
“Good.” He stands and offers his hand. “Come with me.”
I take his hand because what else am I going to do?
Donovan and Kai follow as Grant leads us out of the dining room and down the hallway to his bedroom.
His bedroom. Where we’re going to—
My brain short-circuits.
The door closes behind us, and suddenly I’m very aware that I’m alone with three men who all want me. Who I want. Who I agreed to let have me.
“Breathe,” Grant says, his hands on my shoulders. “We’re not going to rush you.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re terrified.” His thumb brushes my cheek. “We can stop whenever you want. This only happens if you want it.”
I look at him. Then at Donovan. Then at Kai.
They’re all watching me with the same expression.
“I want it,” I say, and my voice doesn’t shake. “I want all of you.”
Grant’s eyes darken. “Then you’ll have us.” His hands settle on my shoulders, steadying me.
Donovan stands to my left, eyes burning.
Kai circles behind me, already grinning like he’s won something.
“Breathe, baby,” Grant murmurs against my ear.
I try. I really do.
The zipper of my dress whispers down my spine.
Cool air kisses newly exposed skin. Grant peels the fabric off my shoulders, letting it pool at my feet.
Donovan’s mouth finds the hollow beneath my ear while Kai drops to his knees in front of me, palms gliding down my thighs as he rolls each stocking off with deliberate slowness.
His teeth graze the sensitive skin just above my knee, and I laugh-shudder.
I’m naked except for dark blue lace panties. Three sets of hands map every inch like they’re memorizing me.
Grant lifts me and lays me in the center of his massive bed. The sheets are cool silk against my back. He crawls over me, kissing me slow and deep, swallowing every nervous sound I make. Donovan and Kai flank us, descending at the same time.
Donovan’s mouth closes over my left nipple, hot and demanding, teeth scraping just hard enough to make me cry out into Grant’s kiss. Kai takes the right, softer at first, teasing flicks of tongue that turn into long, lazy pulls until I’m arching off the mattress.
Grant breaks the kiss only to watch his sons work. “That’s it,” he says, voice rough. “Let them taste you.”
Kai’s hand slides down my stomach, fingers hooking the lace. He drags my panties off in one smooth motion and spreads my thighs wide. Cool air hits wet skin, and I whimper. He blows a cool stream across my clit just to watch me jerk.
Then Donovan moves lower, replacing Kai’s fingers with his tongue in one decisive lick. Long, flat, merciless. Kai shifts up to suck my nipple again, timing his pulls with Donovan’s strokes so every nerve lights up at once.