Chapter 26 Landon
LANDON
Ipush through Purgatory’s doors, my jaw aching from grinding my teeth for the last hour. Knox and Vane follow, their voices grating against my already frayed nerves.
Twenty-four hours.
That’s how long the rules dictate we give the women after the claiming. Twenty-four fucking hours of freedom that Sadie doesn’t need.
“Whiskey. Neat.” My voice is a growl as I approach the bar, but I ignore the way the bartender flinches.
I can still feel Sadie’s body beneath mine on that mirrored dais, the way she fought against me until she couldn’t anymore, until she gave in completely. My cock stiffens at the memory, making my irritation spike higher. I should be buried inside her, not standing here with my idiot brothers.
“Ease up, brother.” Knox slides onto the stool next to mine. “Your little butterfly will be back in your web soon enough.”
“Fuck off,” I mutter, downing the whiskey in one burning swallow.
Vane leans against the bar. “I still can’t believe X just took off like that.”
“Man’s more gone than any of us,” Knox says with a low whistle. “I mean, we’ve all done some crazy shit, but going to her apartment during the cooling-off period? That’s fucking insane, even for a Blackwood.”
I signal for another drink. “He is acting psychotic over a journalist who wants to ruin him.”
Vane snorts. “Like you’re one to talk about psychotic behavior.”
My fingers tighten around the fresh glass. “At least I follow the fucking rules.”
“Landon Blackwood, why so concerned with the rules all of a sudden?” Knox’s smirk makes me want to smash his face into the bar. “Must be serious if you’re this wound up about twenty-four hours away from your prey.”
I don’t answer because I have no explanation for the gnawing feeling in my gut. This isn’t about breaking rules. It’s about Sadie being out there without me, possibly having second thoughts, possibly running.
“Xavier’s probably balls deep in Mira right now,” Vane says. “Man couldn’t wait a single day.”
I drain my second whiskey, trying to ignore the clock in my head counting down the hours until I can reclaim what’s mine.
“Another,” I demand, sliding my empty glass across the bar.
Knox leans in, his breath reeking of expensive bourbon. “Maybe slow down, brother. You look ready to rip someone’s throat out.”
“Perhaps I am.” I accept the fresh whiskey, savoring the burn that doesn’t quite dull the ache of wanting Sadie. “You should take that as a warning, as you’re the closest target,” I quip.
Vane checks his phone, scrolling through messages with disinterest. “Lia’s probably enjoying hours of freedom. Not that it matters—she’ll come crawling back.”
“They always do,” Knox adds. “That’s the beauty of the Hunt. We break them so thoroughly they can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
I stare at the amber liquid in my glass, wondering if that’s true for Sadie. Did I break her enough? Or was I too gentle?
“You’re awfully quiet, Landon.” Vane studies me. “Usually you’d be lecturing us about how we’re all animals by now.”
“Just enjoying the whiskey,” I mutter, not wanting to admit the chaos in my head.
Knox snorts. “Sure. Nothing to do with your little hacker probably scrubbing her security system right now, looking for all your spyware.”
My fingers tighten around the glass. He’s right, of course. Sadie’s brilliant enough to find the backdoors I installed. The thought makes me simultaneously proud and furious.
The club’s entrance doors slam open with enough force to make the bartender jump. Xavier strides in, rage radiating from every line of his body.
“Well, well. Look who couldn’t stay away,” Knox calls out, raising his glass in mock salute. “How’s your journalist? Did you fuck the attitude out of her yet?”
Xavier’s head snaps toward us. “Shut the fuck up, Knox.”
Vane straightens. “What’s wrong, X? Mira playing hard to get?”
“She wasn’t fucking there,” Xavier growls, slamming his fist on the bar. “Apartment empty.”
Knox gasps with exaggerated shock. “Maybe she didn’t enjoy your company as much as you thought.”
Xavier’s hand shoots out, grabbing Knox by the throat. “I said back off.”
“Easy,” Vane says, not making any move to help. “We’re just curious why the great Xavier Blackwood is here instead of buried in his prey.”
Xavier releases Knox with a shove. “It’s better this way. Even I shouldn’t break the rules I created.” He signals the bartender. “Scotch. Neat.”
Xavier downs his scotch in one swallow, then taps the bar for another. “Let’s talk about Orlov. The samples he sent over are shit compared to what Tyson’s crew has been moving.”
I welcome the change in topic. Business will help my mind from drifting back to Sadie.
“Tyson’s product is consistently above ninety percent pure,” I note, setting my glass down. “Orlov’s barely hitting eighty according to my tests.”
Knox snorts. “And charging premium prices. That Russian fuck thinks we’re idiots.”
“He’s testing boundaries,” Vane says, eyes narrowing. “Seeing what he can get away with.”
I lean forward, lowering my voice. “His operation in Moscow is solid, but expanding here means he’s stretched thin. Quality control is suffering.”
“Or he’s deliberately undercutting us,” Xavier counters. “Thinking we won’t notice because we’re distracted by... other pursuits.”
“I don’t trust him,” Knox says. “Something’s off about that whole operation. The numbers don’t add up.”
Xavier nods. “Have our chemist run another analysis on the latest shipment. If it’s still subpar, we return to our original deal with Tyson.”
“Tyson’s crew has the distribution network we need anyway. Screw expansion,” Vane throws in.
“Speaking of Tyson,” Xavier interjects quickly, “he wants to discuss expanding the carnival’s route next season. More stops mean more supply.”
I recognize Xavier’s pivot for what it is—a desperate attempt to keep his mind off Mira’s empty apartment. Still, he’s right to focus on business.
“Tyson’s people are reliable,” I agree. “Unlike Orlov, who changes his story every time we speak to him.”
“Slippery bastard,” Knox mutters.
“We’ll give him one more chance,” Xavier decides. “Then we return to our original agreement with Tyson and see if he can up the supply.”
I tap my finger against the empty glass, letting the brothers debate Orlov versus Tyson. Their voices fade into the background as my mind drifts back to Sadie. Is she thinking about me? Or is she frantically trying to erase every trace of me from her systems?
“Landon,” Xavier snaps. “Are you with us?”
I blink, forcing myself back to the present. “I’m here.”
“Then what do you think about Tyson’s proposal to expand his carnival route through Newark?”
“It’s risky,” I reply. “The DeMatteo family has that territory locked down. We’d need to negotiate transit rights or risk a war.”
Vane rolls his eyes. “Always the cautious one.”
“Caution keeps us alive,” I counter, signaling for another whiskey. “Unlike your approach, which is why we’re still cleaning up after that mess in Philadelphia.”
“Fuck you,” Vane snarls. “Philadelphia was a calculated move.”
“That nearly got Knox killed,” I remind him. The bartender slides a fresh drink toward me, and I catch it without looking. “Tyson’s carnival provides excellent cover, but expanding too quickly attracts attention.”
Xavier nods. “For once, I agree with Landon. We need to be strategic.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out, heart racing when I see the notification from my security system. Someone’s accessing Sadie’s laptop. I tap into the feed, expecting to see her attempting to disable my spyware.
Instead, I see her researching me. Landon Blackwood. My businesses. My family connections. Photos from charity events. She’s not running. She’s investigating.
A slow smile spreads across my face.
“What’s got you looking so pleased?” Knox asks, peering at my phone.
I lock the screen before he can see. “Nothing important.”
“Bullshit. That’s your ‘my prey is doing exactly what I predicted’ face.”
“Leave it, Knox,” I warn, but there’s no heat behind it. My little butterfly isn’t flying away. She’s trying to understand me.
How adorable.