Chapter 11 Ansel
ANSEL
One minute, I was trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’d inadvertently kidnapped one of the most powerful men in the city. The next, I was being ambushed by several strapping men. I didn’t have time to so much as scream before I was smacked in the face and forced to my knees at gunpoint.
Now, Cade is telling me that the Buckinghams are The Firm.
It’s too much. My head was throbbing before I took a punch. It’s agonizing now, stopping me from being able to process…well, any of this.
“We’re just telling the bad guys we’re The Firm now?” The one who held the gun to my head is glaring at Cade.
“Ansel isn’t a bad guy, Samson,” Cade growls. I shiver. I’ve never heard that tone from him before. “He’s just caught in a bad situation.”
A bad situation that just a photo of Cade seems to have gotten me out of. Now I know why.
I’ve heard of The Firm. Everyone in St. Dismas has. They’re a myth. A legend. A secret society that can solve all of your problems.
For a price.
I can’t wrap my head around it. How is it possible that the Buckinghams, the most famous family in the city, are behind the most notorious secret society?
To be fair, it’s not like you recognized Cade. They can’t be that famous.
Individually, perhaps. But as a collective? Everyone knows who they are.
“If he’s in a bad situation, then why didn’t he come to us in the first place?”
That question comes from a man who wasn’t part of the initial invasion. He’s eyeing me curiously, like I’m an exotic species he hasn’t come across before.
“Um,” Cade says, holding me a little tighter, “that’s a good question, Matthias.”
They’re all staring at me now, Cade included. It takes my brain a moment to realize they’re waiting for me to speak. “Honestly? I didn’t think you guys really existed.”
“So you weren’t desperate enough to take a chance on us being real, but you were desperate enough to kidnap Cade?”
I look at the sharply dressed man. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s the oldest. “Yes. I didn’t have any other choice. It was carry out the kidnapping, or I’d die. There wasn’t time to risk my life on a society that may or may not exist.”
“He didn’t mean to kidnap me, Wylder,” Cade adds, addressing his brother. “I gave him a fake name.”
“One that just happened to match his intended victim?” The one who punched me rolls his eyes. “A bit too convenient if you ask me.”
Cade snarls, and I jump. “Watch your fucking tone, Dalton. You’re already on my list.”
Dalton holds his hands up in surrender, but I feel him watching me still. He doesn’t trust me.
None of them do.
Seems valid. I did kidnap their brother and hold him hostage.
Pain pulses behind my eyes, and a small whimper escapes me. Cade clucks his tongue and gathers me closer. “Enough questions for now. Ansel needs to rest.”
“He’s coming back to the house,” Wylder says, holding up a hand as Cade tenses under me. “It’s nonnegotiable, Cade. This is a family matter now. Ansel will be safe—Ramsey can keep an eye on him there—but we’re not letting him go until we know it’s safe to do so.”
Whatever. I’m in too much pain to argue or even be that angry. I’ll stay on this disgusting floor if they’ll just let me close my eyes.
“I’m coming too,” Cade says, shifting me in his arms. I give a small yelp of alarm, my arms flying around his neck as he gets to his feet. “That’s also nonnegotiable. I’m not leaving his side.”
“Aw, Cade has a crush!” Another brother approaches, looking a few years younger than the rest. “How cute.”
“Fuck off, Harley,” Cade grunts, carrying me toward the door. “You can mock me when you stop drooling after Matthias’s chef.”
“I don’t drool after Jules. That would be unsanitary in the kitchen.”
Barks of laughter follow this statement as banter erupts around us. Their attitudes are so different from when they entered. They’ve gone from deadly mercenaries to teasing siblings.
I can’t keep up. It’s too hard. My eyes drift closed as Cade carries me out into the night.
“Yes. Rest, butterfly.” A feather-soft kiss brushes my forehead. “I’ll keep you safe.”
I sleep through the whole drive. Cade wakes me occasionally to ask me my name, age, and what year it is. I mumble my answers and pray they’re right before drifting back to sleep.
By the time the rumble of the engine stops, my headache has receded. It’s still there, but more of a dull ache than a throbbing scream.
I squint through the window with one eye, trying to figure out where we are.
We’ve pulled up outside a mansion. There’s no other word for it.
The place is fucking huge. A sprawling front yard stretches toward us, dotted with perfectly symmetrical hedges and a fountain in the center that sprays arcs of water.
The house itself is sprawling as well, with tall white columns and balconies, wide windows with gleaming glass, and front doors that a car could drive through.
It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Makes sense. The Buckinghams are known for being richer than Midas.
I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Brad is actually Cade Buckingham.
And part of The Firm.
I have the worst luck, the absolute worst. Good things just don’t ever happen to me.
Well, you’re not dead, so it can’t be that bad.
Not dead yet, I correct my inner voice.
Doors open all around the car, and I go to wriggle off Cade’s lap, but his grip prevents me from doing so.
“I don’t think so,” he says softly. “You’re going to stay right there.”
I relax back against his chest. I’m probably supposed to argue, but this situation is moving so fast. Cade is all I have in this sea of confusion.
If he wants to keep me safe and close to him, then I’m going to let him.
Technically, I guess I’m being kidnapped, which feels karmically just. I’m not scared though. I don’t know if it’s the shock or the concussion.
Maybe it’s just that I trust Cade. I probably shouldn’t, but I do. He’s had plenty of opportunities to hurt me over the past few days.
But he hasn’t.
He carries me up several steps to a door that would look at home in a palace. We step into a grand foyer. I twist to stare at the ornate tiles and notice Cade’s bare thighs. “Oh my god. Are you still naked?”
“Yep,” Cade says breezily. “Getting dressed meant putting you down, so I stayed like this. Don’t worry, it’s nothing my brothers haven’t seen before.”
“Just because we’ve seen it, doesn’t mean we want to keep seeing it,” Matthias mutters as he brushes past me. “And you’re paying to get my car detailed. I’m not having Wyatt sit where your bare ass and balls have been.”
“Wyatt is Matthias’s husband,” Cade whispers confidentially. “Matthias trapped him into marriage and—”
He halts, and I pale at the sight of the dagger that’s suddenly appeared at the base of Cade’s throat. “Say one more word, Cade, I fucking dare you.”
To my surprise, Cade laughs. “Cute. That’s your game with Wyatt, not me. We both know you’re not going to make a mess in the foyer. Wylder would have your balls.”
“I would,” Wylder says, drawing up next to us. “Put the dagger away, Matthias. You’re scaring our guest.”
“He looks like he could use a bit of scaring,” Matthias grunts, removing the blade. As it goes, I realize it’s identical to the one I’d confiscated from Cade. “Can’t believe we’re trusting this guy when he literally kidnapped one of us.”
“It was more of a guided hostage retreat,” Cade says. “I could’ve escaped at any time.”
I close my eyes. It’s one thing knowing he’s right, but does he really have to expose my inadequacies in front of everyone?
“Not that Ansel didn’t do a stellar job,” he adds hastily. My eyes open to see him beaming down at me. “Best kidnapper ever, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Maybe you should put me down,” I whisper, feeling self-conscious. “This is weird.”
Samson snorts as he passes us. “Believe me, this doesn’t even enter the realm of ‘weird’ where Cade is concerned.”
“Don’t scare him off,” Cade barks after him before offering me a tight smile.
“Oh, you’ll do that all on your own,” Samson says. “Once he knows your brand of crazy, he’ll go running.”
Cade grumbles. “Fuck off. Don’t give him any ideas.” Then he turns his gaze back to me, his eyes softening. “Why don’t we get you to bed? The doctor said it’s important that you rest.”
I nod against his chest, and then he’s moving again. My eyes roam constantly as he carries me up the stairs and down a long hallway. “Is this where you grew up?”
“Yep.” Cade uses his elbow to open a door before kicking it shut behind us. “Don’t be fooled. There were times when the mausoleum Father stuck me in seemed more welcoming than this place.”
My chest tightens uncomfortably. “I hate him.”
“Join the club. The membership is huge.”
“Cade, you don’t have to stay here with me. I don’t want you to be reminded of the shit he put you through.”
“It’s fine. Wylder lives here now, and I visit often. It’s not the same as it once was.”
“But you don’t have to stay. Really. I’ll be fine.”
Cade leans forward to brush his lips against mine. “If you’re here, then so am I. You’re stuck with me now, butterfly. Better get used to it.”
“I can’t get rid of you, can I?”
“Absolutely not.” He grins, his dimples showing once more. Fuck, he’s cute.
He lays me gently on his bed, fussing with the pillow under my head. “Are you comfy?”
“Considering you’ve put me in a bed instead of on a chair, yeah, I’m fine.”
I sigh and raise my hands above my head. Best to get this over with.
Cade stares at me in confusion. “Umm…what are you doing?”
“Waiting for you to tie me up.”
He cocks his head. “Why would I do that?”
I frown. “Because you’ve kidnapped me? Don’t you want to make sure I can’t escape?”
Cade laughs, sliding into the bed beside me. “Ha, you’re so adorable. This isn’t a kidnapping.”
I roll on my side as he does the same. “Well, it’s not like I can leave.”
“True.” He rubs his nose against mine. “It’s more like a friendly hostage situation. One for your own good.”
“How’d you work that out?”
He brushes the hair out of my eyes. “You’ve got a concussion, for a start. You need someone looking after you.”
“I’m sure I would’ve managed on my own.” Technically, I have Neo, but I haven’t told Cade much about him, let alone the fact that we share an apartment.
“If you say so.”
“I always have before.”
Cade’s breath catches, his fingers stilling. “Well, now you don’t have to.”
I want to argue, to point out how ridiculous he’s being, but a yawn stops me.
“And there’s the issue of the danger you’re in,” Cade continues. “You’re going to tell me exactly who was threatening you and why.”
I cup his face drowsily, relishing the way his stubble abrades my palms. “I’m not asking you to clean up my mess.”
“I know. But I’m going to do it anyway. Taking out the bad guys is what I do best.”
My thumb strokes his dimple. “You’re forgetting that, in this situation, I’m the bad guy.”
He twists to kiss my thumb. “No, not a chance. You’re my purpose. The sooner you wrap your head around that, the better.”
“You can’t be serious.”
His big hand wraps around the nape of my neck. “Rest now. You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
He can’t promise that, not when I have a concussion courtesy of one of his brothers. Given the stares from the rest of them, I’m willing to bet a large sum of money that they’d do the same if given the chance.
Despite this, my body relaxes. It’s impossible not to when Cade wraps me in his arms and tugs me onto his chest.
I breathe him in. I shouldn’t sleep now. It’s too dangerous. Who knows what his brothers might do to me? Maybe this is all a trick. Maybe this is how it all ends.
But I can’t help it. I fall asleep. Because right now, it doesn’t matter what my mind is telling me, my soul feels safe with Cade. Maybe it’s just for the moment, but still, I’m safe. I know it, and I’m starting to think it’s not my body or soul I need to worry about.
It’s my heart.