Chapter 10
Hot damn
Endo
Marquis whistles. “Hoo boy, we grossly underestimated this woman.”
“We’ll need to tighten up security at the estate,” Slada says.
“Or loosen it and monitor her more tightly,” I counter. “Slow down.”
“Slow down?” Marquis glances at me for confirmation.
I nod. “I don’t want her to spot us and lose concentration.” I don’t want her to get hurt. Riding bareback at this speed is dangerous. Maybe that’s why she’s got me so wound up and hard that I have to spread my legs and make room for the growing erection in my pants.
Scarlett’s focused on the journey ahead of her, concentrating as she nears a small settlement with more barns than houses.
A plane takes off behind it. Considering her pace, I expect her to gallop past it, but the horse slows down like he knows where he’s going and takes a right onto the unpaved road. They disappear behind a house.
Marquis stops at the intersection with the paved road and turns to me.
“Wait here.” I step out of the car and follow Scarlett to the red barn, where I linger outside because I hear her speaking with a man within.
The fact that it’s a man stings my chest like a bee.
I recognize the feeling as jealousy. I shouldn’t be jealous that the woman I’m using as collateral is speaking with another man, but since I am, I don’t deny it.
I don’t suffer from false self-narratives or lack awareness of my feelings. I admit I’m attracted to Scarlett. Now that she’s shown me there’s a wild spirit inside her, I’m attracted to her even more. It doesn’t mean I like it.
“How did he do?” the man asks.
He? Who are they talking about?
“Still got it in him,” she says.
“You think they sold him too soon?”
“I’m not an expert, but it seems to me Velocity would’ve won at least one more race.”
A race? They might be talking about the horse. Wait a minute. That would mean Scarlett rode an actual racehorse? You’ve got to be kidding me.
“Where are you headed?” the man asks. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
Not at all, my man.
“Airport. My fiancé chartered a plane. We’re going to check out some homes near the coast.”
Huh. I’ve no idea what she’s playing at. Is she lying to him?
“Can I offer you a ride?”
“I’ll walk,” she says. “It’s a beautiful day, and I have plenty of time.”
“As you wish, Ms. Pembroke.”
Their footsteps approach the exit, and I move to the side. The pair stride past me. The man is a head shorter than her and much older, with a receding hairline. He wears brown suspenders over a checkered shirt. Once they get near his house, I follow them.
After a handshake, Scarlett strides down the side of the road, toward the main street.
I catch up to her. “Hey there.”
She screams and jumps away. Her left foot slips into a ditch, and Scarlett flails her arms, trying to regain her balance.
I catch her forearms and pull her to me with enough force to plaster her body against mine.
When she tries to get away, I press my palm against the small of her back and bring her even closer. I’m sure she feels my erection.
She struggles to get away, but I hold her firmly.
“Running away was a very stupid thing to do,” I say.
“I wasn’t running away.”
“No, the horse did all the running.”
Scarlett bangs my chest with her fists. Not hard. “Let me go.”
“Let you go? After the stunt you pulled, you’re lucky I don’t put a leash on you.” I release her. “What the fuck were you thinking, racing away on a horse like that? You could’ve fallen off and hurt yourself.”
Scarlett gives a bark of mock laughter. “Oh, please, as if you care.”
“Believe me, I care. You’re my collateral. A way for me to get my brother back. I need you alive and well.”
She sighs. “At least you’re being honest.”
“Yes, and since we’re being honest, let me also tell you that if you pull something like that again and try to get away on foot, car, airplane, or even a damn tricycle, I’ll chain you to my bed.
” My bed? I meant to say my desk, but now that I’ve spoken my truth and can’t take it back, I’ll double down on it. “I’ll enjoy that.”
Scarlett tugs free and marches away.
I walk behind her. Since she’s walking toward the car, we’ll make great time. At this pace, my pilots will consider our arrival too early.
“I didn’t charter a plane,” I say.
“What?”
“You told that man that your fiancé chartered a plane. I didn’t.”
“You’re not my fiancé,” she says and, honest to God, sticks her tongue out at me over her shoulder.
Did I imagine that? Nah. “Do that again.”
“Do what?”
“Stick your tongue out at me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. You stuck out your tongue.”
“Did not.”
I consider this flirting. “Did too.”
“Shut up, Endo.”
“Ah, fuck, baby, say my name again.”
Scarlett opens the car door for me. “After you.”
I slam the door shut again because I’m not done with her yet and the adrenaline of the chase hasn’t worn off.
Maybe the rush excites her too, because she steps right up to me and cranes her neck. I’m a head taller than her, so she’s looking up, her chestnut eyes bright with the glow of a caged wild spirit, her hair coming loose from the uptight bun she styled it in this morning.
When she opens her mouth, probably to flay me with words, I tuck a stray hair behind her ear.
This makes her stutter, but not stop. “I…I wasn’t running away.
I raced toward the plane because my sister said she’s coming.
You shot my dad, and she would figure out you’re kidnapping me.
Charlotte would fight for me tooth and nail, and she would lose to you and your people.
I can’t have that. I also can’t let you hurt my dad anymore.
Now it looks like we left together, so you see, I’m willing to heed your demands.
You want information on your brother. I want all this over with so I can leave for my assignment at the end of summer.
” She bites her lip and looks away. “When you release me. You will release me, right? If I cooperate, will you release me?”
She seeks reassurance that I’ll honor my end of the bargain, but I can’t coddle my enemy’s daughter, even if I want to. It’s a weakness I can’t afford because my brother’s life is at stake.
“Your father needs to make a few calls. The sooner, the better.”
“Yes, but if he gives you what you want, will you let me go?”
I open the car door and jerk my head. “Get in.”