Endgame

Chapter 2

EVERETT

“Judge Alder.” Aurora’s lawyer jumps to his feet.

My statement has taken him by surprise, so much so that he isn’t bothering to button his jacket.

Is it fear for his reputation or his client’s freedom that turns his face pale?

“Your Honor, if I may. This sentence, don’t you think it’s too harsh?

We’re talking about shoplifting, not murder. ”

A dark, warm satisfaction settles where my heart used to beat.

Yes, I am being harsh. I am being unreasonable.

And yes, I know, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you can’t get life in prison for shoplifting. Not even when it’s your third strike.

I don’t give a damn. I don’t play by the rules. I have friends in high places who owe me a favor or a million. I can make almost anything happen.

That’s why I’m in this court in the first place.

Why I hired two corrupt private investigators to monitor Aurora’s moves. After her second stint in prison, I had them rotating shifts outside her home, waiting for her to go on another one of her infamous shopping sprees.

Their orders were simple. Follow her. Wait for her to shoplift. Alert the clerk that a thief is attempting to exit the store.

I could’ve done it after her first time behind bars, but even my connections can only get me so far.

So, here we are.

Me, overruling her case. Aurora, frozen and at my mercy. She doesn’t so much as blink.

A month or two in prison wouldn’t have bothered her in the slightest. She’s been there, done that.

The prospect of spending the rest of her life behind bars? No one’s immune to that.

Especially not spoiled, little, rich girls.

Her pink lips are parted. Delicate jaw slack.

A lock of her hair has escaped her immaculate bun, draping over one widened blue eye. She hasn’t bothered tucking it behind her ear.

Her button nose is as red as her cheeks and neck, evidence of the heat crawling beneath her skin, of the humiliation.

Satisfaction rolls through me like a fine, aged wine.

Blackmailing her is going to be easier than I thought it would be.

Soon, I’ll have her tears.

I’ll become the master of her fear. Own her troubled gaze. Those rapid heartbeats I hear all the way from my bench—they belong to me already.

She’s mine to ruin.

All three Clarkes are.

The family who destroyed mine. They’ll pay for everything. Only a matter of time.

For now, I have this. Her third strike and the discretion to impose a sentence well beyond what the statute typically recommends.

That’s the leverage I hold over her.

The noose I’ll tighten until she has no choice but to walk straight into the lion’s den.

Into becoming my wife.

My captive, if I’m being honest.

She’ll suffer. She’ll hurt.

I won’t.

Aurora is a gorgeous young woman. A temptation. When I fuck her, I’m going to enjoy myself.

But her breasts, her bitable lips, the swell of her hips, they’re nothing more than a perk.

I would’ve put her in this position even if I weren’t attracted to her.

Avenging my family is my endgame.

That’s what’s waiting for her.

Shame, really, that she’s alone here. Her parents won’t witness my plan as it unfolds. They’ll hear about it later, though, and that’s fine.

I’m in no rush.

I’ve been patient for the past twenty-three years.

For the first twelve years of those, my family and I had been looking for Lotus and her baby.

Then, one day, her remains were found. Her baby’s weren’t, though the coroner told us they must be out there since it was evident that Lotus had delivered her child.

The next day, Mom died of a heart attack, and a few weeks later, so did Dad. The doctors said their hearts just gave out for no apparent reason.

There was a reason, all right.

Grief.

It was then that I went to clear their home before selling it and getting rid of the devastating memories.

What I found there was equally heartbreaking.

Lotus’s diary.

Heat courses through my body as I remember the words written in a shaky script.

I loved Winston Clarke, and he raped me.

I could’ve murdered Winston and been done with it. God knows I’m wealthy enough to cover my tracks.

Torturing him and his family far outweighs a quick death.

“Umm,” Aurora starts, then snaps her mouth shut, her lips twisting.

Then she changes in front of me. Her thick lashes bat on soft cheeks as she blinks furiously. Rage that matches mine reflects in her expression.

Her chest heaves. Her breasts stretch against her expensive suit jacket.

I don’t want her. Pure, feral attraction, that’s all there is to it.

“Your Honor?” her attorney tries again.

Sticking to my silence, I terrorize both him and her for a while longer.

My eyes are locked on her blue ones. Aurora senses my hate growing, tugging on the collar of her blouse. She manages to be graceful despite her predicament.

“Shoplifting or not, she’s crossed too many lines for too long. The law offers me discretion. I intend to use it to the fullest extent and beyond, if necessary.” A fresh wave of resolve hardens my chest. “While the world’s been content to look the other way, I will not.”

“Your Honor, Sir.” Larry’s voice is lower. I hear it, regardless. The courtroom has been deadly silent since I announced Aurora’s sentence. Even the ADA stares at me, stunned. “May I approach the bench?”

The right answer to that would be you may.

Too bad whatever part of me that used to care about fairness got buried under decades of hate and grief.

“You may not.”

At that, Aurora’s eyebrows fly up. Her blue orbs sink their claws right into my soul, shutting out the audible gasps in the courtroom. No, I won’t give in and get lost in those ocean-blue eyes. I won’t.

What I do is make sure she sees I’m talking to her. “You, however.”

Sensing the challenge in my tone, her chin lifts. Jaw clenches.

Her attitude. It won’t get her anywhere with me. While I haven’t met her more than a handful of times, and only after my parents died, I know what she’s like.

Always keeping to herself. Quiet, resentful. Thinking she’s better than everyone else.

Considering our group, she probably is. Nevertheless, guilt by association is still guilt.

This look she’s giving me, though, is different from her usual contempt.

She’s readying herself for a fight.

So am I.

Tension coils through my arms beneath the suit, my sleeves stretching on my skin. The hand I have in my lap curls into a fist, my nails digging into my palm. I inch forward, narrowing my eyes.

“Me, what?” Christ, would you look at that? Winston would be proud of her derisive glower.

He wears it so. Fucking. Well.

I jerk my chin. “To my chambers.”

“Okay,” her lawyer says, not one of mine. I’ve had my family’s law firm partners decline to take her case this time. I might’ve quit my position there, but it’s clear to everyone who owns them. “Fair enough.”

They both get up.

“I thought I was being clear, Miss Clarke.” I dip my chin. “Only you.”

“Why?” Her voice sharpens, a little edge slipping through. “I’m entitled to have my lawyer present.”

I’d feel sorry for her, except this is what I’ve dreamed of. This moment. Her pain. The sliver of hope I’ll get to crush over and over again.

“Only you,” I repeat.

Her shoulders roll back like she’s trying to tower over her five-foot-three frame.

It won’t help her. Nothing will.

“Or else?” she says, a spark of defiance in her eyes.

The nerve of her.

How dare she lean in? How dare she cock an eyebrow, like we’re equals. Or worse. Like she’s above me.

No Clarke will ever rule over or intimidate an Alder. Never again.

Aurora will learn that first.

And she’ll learn it the hard way.

My revenge will leave its mark everywhere. On her skin and her soul.

“Or else you’ll be transferred to serve your sentence effective immediately.” My pulse is slow yet loud in my ears. “Matter of fact—”

“Fine, I’m coming,” she snaps, gathering her purse.

The thin strap goes over her shoulder. Her scornful side-eye to her attorney scalds him. He turns bright red, and I can’t decide if I’m impressed or annoyed.

To hell with both of them. I don’t spare either a glance as I stride out of the courtroom.

Aurora’s heels strike the marble floor of the secured corridor in hurried bursts as she scrambles to match my pace.

Her huffs and low curses are just as audible.

Brat.

She wouldn’t act like that if she knew how hard it makes me.

“Keep up,” I snap.

The clicking of her heels suggests she’s running. She’s at my side within seconds.

“I see what this is, your ultimatum. It has to be illegal. And…even if it isn’t, I won’t blow you in exchange for a reduced sentence.” Aurora’s venomous, yet her shame is present. Right beneath the surface. “I won’t.”

My lips curl into a snarl. “You think I want your petty thief’s lips anywhere near my cock?”

Of course the fuck I do. I’ll have it too.

“Then?”

When we enter my chambers, I wait for her to come inside and slam the door shut behind her.

Aurora yelps. I seize the opportunity to be a bigger asshole still, ripping the purse off her shoulder. Staring at her as I do.

Her cheeks are bright red with anger and shame as she watches me going through her belongings. “Give it back, asshole.”

“Be careful how you address me.” I pluck out her phone, throw it on the floor, and crush it beneath my shoe.

“What the fuck?” She does her best to still her shudders. Her fists are on her hips. Her jaw is clenched. Neither works. “You—well, okay. Fine. Destroy my phone. It’s not like I have outgoing phone calls, other than to my parents. Your friends, remember?”

My friends.

My. Fucking. Friends.

In two seconds flat, I throw her purse on the floor and crowd her space.

Step after step, she moves backward as I move forward.

Her stare dares me to cross another line. To fucking try her.

I’d be lying if I said the push and pull between us wasn’t stirring something primal in me, that I don’t take longer strides just to stay close.

Close enough to smell the fear beneath the fire.

Her back slams against the wall. Shadows play across her face as I flatten a hand next to her head. As I lower my face to hers.

What a sight.

Blown pupils. Quivering lips.

When she bites the bottom one, my whole body stands at attention.

“Your parents,” I hiss, my free hand curling around her neck. I give it a squeeze, getting off on her gasp. On the fear spilling from her blue eyes. “Are not my friends. You are not my friend.”

“But the Royalty—”

“Fuck the Royalty.”

My growl matches the violence vibrating through me. With my hand firm around her neck, I push her harder against the wall.

My thumb grazes over soft skin until…

There it is. Her pulse, fluttering beneath my thumb.

This little trapped and terrified butterfly.

Getting what she deserves. Like her parents do.

“You’re so scared of me.” I’m close enough to kiss her. “Aren’t you?”

“Fuck you, you psycho on a power trip.” Her hand rises to slap me.

“I’m not on a power trip.” I let go of the wall, wrestling both her wrists in one of my much larger hands. The only reason I release her throat is to slam both her arms over her head. “I am power.”

We both breathe hard. I get off on the sight of my fingers as they wrap around her throat again.

Once she’s mine, I’ll make sure she always walks around with a collar. Her wedding band will remind her of who she belongs to. The collar will serve a whole other purpose.

I give her a sense of what’s coming by grinding my hips into her. It’s so she’ll fear me. I want her to feel how big my cock is, to imagine how it’ll split her in half.

“What do you want?” Though her voice is gravelly, her attitude lingers.

She’s talking down to me, as if I’m the one who owes her something.

Ridiculous.

More ridiculous is the way I can’t look away if I wanted to.

I give her throat another squeeze, instantly relieved by the sound of Aurora’s whimper.

“What gives you the impression that you get to make demands?”

“You can’t do this.” She swallows, her throat bobbing beneath my palm. “I know my rights.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, princess. Starting today, you don’t have any.”

The tension between us is all wrong. It’s not the hatred I expected.

It’s something darker, hungrier.

A rush.

I hate that I’m heady with it.

My teeth gnash from the pressure forming in my head.

I chalk it off to the metaphorical mountain air I’m breathing in. I’m right there, at the peak. The pinnacle of my life’s goals.

“I do!”

She’s a feisty one. Breaking her down will be that much more fulfilling.

“You have options.” When I bring my face closer to hers, her breath quickens. She isn’t blinking. I don’t think I do either. “Two of them. Nothing more, nothing less.”