Chapter Seven
RED
After we get ourselves put back together, I gather Evie’s things and lead her inside, my hand resting firmly on her lower back. I make sure to glare at anyone who dares to look our way, silently warning them to keep their mouths shut. They’ll learn about Evie when I’m ready to tell them, not a second before. Until then, they can mind their own business.
I feel her close, her presence grounding me as I navigate the space, making sure nothing and no one interferes. This is mine to protect, and I’ll do it with everything I’ve got.
My mind is filled with sounds from Evie, from the feeling of her tight pussy around my cock. I’ve had pussy before, but hers…it’s from another planet. She’s fucking perfect, made for me. I’m twice her age, but she makes me feel young and capable of anything. I’m already hyping myself up for round two, but this time, I’ll fuck her in a proper bed. I’ll take my time with her, so she’ll never doubt how special she is to me.
We’re about halfway to the staircase when Jace cuts us off. I shoot him a look, silently urging him to get out of our way. Doesn’t he see that I’m busy? I wouldn’t interrupt him if he was leading a beautiful girl to his room. I’ve got class.
“What?” I growl, pulling Evie a little closer to me, not in the mood for this.
He glances between us, clearly unsure of how much he should say. It pisses me off. I’ve never brought a woman back here, usually opting for hotel rooms when I need a quick release. Evie’s different, though. She’s special. Whatever he needs to say to me, he can do it in front of her. I make that clear.
“Just…” he trails off, scratching the back of his neck—a tell that he has news he knows I won’t like. “I think you should come see the guys we brought back.”
“I’ll deal with that later,” I say, resisting the urge to roll my eyes like I’m some teenager. “I’m a little busy right now.”
“Yeah, Red. I know,” he says, forcing a polite smile at Evie. It looks more threatening than friendly, but I know he’s trying. “I wouldn’t interrupt if it wasn’t urgent.”
“It better be,” I snap, grinding my jaw. “But I’m not sticking around long. My men can handle things without me babysitting.”
“Of course,” Jace replies, nodding.
He doesn’t move, and I realize he’s waiting for me to walk with him. I grumble under my breath before finally conceding, “Let me take Evie up to her room. She’s had a long day, and I want her to relax.”
“Right, yeah,” he says, stepping aside so I can lead Evie up the stairs.
The tension in the air is palpable as I walk away from her. I hate that I have to leave her so soon, but there’s no other choice. The sooner I handle the mess downstairs, the sooner I can return to her. I know she’ll be fine. She’s strong, but I can’t ignore the gnawing feeling in my gut that she’s alone for now.
I glance back over my shoulder as I open the door to our room, guiding her inside. I catch the glimmer of curiosity in her eyes as she takes in the surroundings. Her gaze flits over the old furniture, and I see her press down on the memory foam mattress with a soft smile. It’s a simple room, but her interest makes me feel like I’m offering her something more than just a place to sleep.
“Take your time getting comfortable,” I say, setting her things on the recliner before sitting back and watching her. “There’s an en suite bathroom with a clawfoot tub. You should take a bath, relax while I take care of whatever Jace needs.”
She nods, though there’s a slight hesitation in her eyes. I know she has questions, but I don’t have time to explain everything right now. I’m already feeling the weight of what’s happening outside. The thought of being away from her, even for a few minutes, is unsettling. I can’t stand the idea of leaving her in this world for too long, not without me.
Before I leave, I take a deep breath, needing her to understand how serious this is. I need her to trust me. I turn back toward her, my voice firm. “And before I go,” I say, waiting for her to meet my eyes, “Don’t leave this room. I’ll talk to you when I’m done. This life is dangerous. Even stepping outside this room without me could put you in danger.”
She stares at me, wide-eyed, her face holding a trace of fear, and I hate seeing it. But I need her to understand. When she finally responds, “Okay. I will,” I exhale, relieved.
“Good,” I say, stepping toward her and lifting her chin gently. My lips crash against hers in a kiss that’s hard and desperate, as though marking her as mine. When I pull away, I murmur, “You’re mine. And after I finish, I won’t let you out of my sight. Do you understand?”
Her response is soft, but it settles something inside me. “Yes, I understand.”
I give her a nod and kiss her again, quick this time, before I turn to leave. The weight of the door clicking shut behind me makes my heart race. As I lock it from the outside, I send one of my men to stand guard. No one’s getting near her. Not now, not ever.
And with that, I head toward the basement, where the real work begins.
Jace doesn’t speak right away, but I can see the weight of the situation hanging over him. His brows are furrowed, lips pressed tight as he looks between the man we’ve captured and me. I know there’s something he’s not saying, but I don’t have time to drag it out of him.
"Boss..." He pauses, looking uncomfortable, and I feel my patience begin to fray. "This kid... He’s not just anyone. He’s not even just the president’s son. He’s the president’s only son."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I’ve seen the kid around the compound before, but I didn’t make the connection. He’s not just some unlucky goon caught in the wrong place. This is a damn problem. If I kill him, we’re looking at a war that we’re not fully prepared for.
I walk over to the kid, kneeling in front of him, my eyes locking onto his with a cold fury. The smug look is gone now. His eyes are wide with panic, and I can see the tension in his body. The arrogance he had earlier is replaced with fear. It’s almost… disappointing. I wanted a fight, but this kid clearly wasn’t built for it.
“Your father is going to be pissed when he finds out you’re down here in my basement,” I tell him, leaning in close enough to see the pulse hammering in his throat. “But here’s the thing, kid. You won’t be the first to go missing. You won’t be the last.”
I get to my feet, turning away from him and addressing my men. I need to think this through. This kid might be a pawn, but he’s a goddamn important one. His father won’t just let this slide, and there’s no guarantee that we’ll come out unscathed.
“We’re taking him with us,” I say finally, making the decision. “We’ll keep him alive. For now. Let’s get the other two out of here, and when this is all over, we’ll figure out what to do with him.”
Jace looks relieved, but I can see the worry in his eyes. He knows just as well as I do that keeping the kid alive is a risk. But it’s a calculated one. If we take him, maybe we can use him as leverage, maybe not. But at least we’re not starting a war we can’t win.
I glance over my shoulder at the kid one last time, feeling a moment of uncertainty claw at me. The feeling passes quickly, and I dismiss it. I’m done feeling soft about this. He’s a problem, and I’m the solution.
“Get him ready,” I say to Jace, turning to leave the basement. “I’ll be back. Keep an eye on Evie. Don’t let her out of the room.”
The door clicks shut behind me, and for the first time all day, I feel a slight sense of relief. I know I’ll have to deal with the fallout from this. But for now, all I want is to get back to Evie.
As I make my way upstairs, I can feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. I can’t ignore the situation, even though I want nothing more than to go back to Evie and shut the rest of the world out. The business side of things will never stop demanding my attention, and right now, it’s a war brewing—one that could get personal quickly.
I step into the meeting room and sit at the large table, my mind already racing with possibilities. We’ve dealt with a lot of rival factions in the past, but this time it’s different. The son of the president of our rival gang is in our hands, and that’s not something we can easily walk away from. They’ll want him back. But we can’t afford to let that happen. Not without making sure we get something valuable in return.
I lean back in my chair, fingers tapping on the table as I wait for the others to file in. This is the part I hate—the waiting. But I need to gather my thoughts, get everything in order so I can steer this in the right direction.
Jace is right about one thing, though. We’ve got to prepare for the worst. I’ll need to move some pieces around, put extra security on our most vulnerable assets, and start looking at ways to disrupt their operations. If they want a fight, they’ll get one—but I’m not going to make the first move. I don’t need to look reckless. Not when I’ve got the upper hand for now.
When everyone finally shows up, I stand up and address them, taking control of the room immediately.
“Listen up,” I start, voice steady. “We’ve got a serious problem on our hands. The kid we took? That’s the president’s only son. If we let him go without any leverage, we’re inviting war. But if we keep him alive, we need to make sure we’re ready for whatever retaliation comes our way.”
I pace the room, feeling the tension rise. “We’ll keep him for now, but we need to have a plan in place. I’m not going to leave us exposed. Security’s getting a major overhaul tonight. Make sure Brandy’s got someone watching her at all times. And we’ll be moving some of our operations into the more secure locations we’ve got.”
I pause, looking around the room at the faces of my guys—loyal, tough, but not immune to the stress of what’s coming. “No one goes rogue. This isn’t a time for improvising. We stick to the plan, stay smart. We move when I say so, and not before.”
The guys nod, understanding. Jace gives me a quick look, his usual grin replaced with a rare seriousness.
“Got it, boss,” he says, the tone telling me he knows we’re in for a rough time ahead.
I give a curt nod, feeling the gravity of the moment sink in. We’re in this together, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do everything in my power to protect what’s mine. Evie is part of that now. No matter what it takes, I’m going to keep her safe.
As the meeting continues, my mind flickers back to her. I can’t wait to get back to her, make sure she’s settled. This world isn’t one I want her in, but she’s already a part of it, and I won’t let anyone hurt her. That’s a promise.