27. Sian
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
SIAN
W e arrive at the club. Tate chose to drive us there himself. It’s getting late into the night now, and the club is booming with people. How we’re going to see Daniel among all these bodies, I’ll never know, but I trust Tate and his men know what they’re doing.
We walk in, and Tate leads me to the VIP Section. “You’re to stay here at all times with me or Rick.”
“So I’m close to you and safe?” I ask.
“Yes,” he confirms. “I’ll do anything to protect you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Don’t worry.”
I look around curiously. “There are so many people here.”
“It’s happy hour. It’ll get quieter later,” Tate says with a smile. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Maybe a soda. I want to keep my senses about me.”
“We’ll pour it into a glass, so it looks alcoholic,” he teases.
He leaves, and Rick comes to stand beside me. He crosses his arms in front of him. His attitude is different. I can’t tell if he’s here to protect me or to stop me from doing something.
“Here to watch over me?” I ask with a smile.
“I know Tate trusts you, but I need you to know something, Sian. If you’re loyal to him, I will keep you safe. If you betray him, I’ll take you out.” He looks at me with dark eyes, and I shiver slightly.
I frown. “Is that what you think of me? That I’d betray the person who saved me? The only person who’s helped me?”
“It’s been known to happen.” He looks shifty, and I’m curious to know who he’s referring to.
“That other woman?” I ask.
“It doesn’t matter. If you’re loyal, I will lay down my life to protect you. That’s all that matters.” Rick steps away as Tate returns with my soda in a glass with an umbrella. I take it and sip through the straw.
“Are you okay?” Tate asks quietly.
I see Rick watching me and I nod. “Yes. Everything is fine.” I fake a smile, trying not let Ricks word bother me.
Tate nods. “Let’s sit down.”
We sit down, and Tate drapes his arm around me. I blush and snuggle up to him. He kisses my neck softly. “You never know who’s watching,” he murmurs in my ear before he kisses it.
I know we’ve been intimate before now, but this feels different, and I can’t put my finger on why. Maybe it’s because other people can see us together and we’re not behind closed doors. I smile shyly and shiver slightly. “There’s no one watching.”
“Consider it practice.”
We sit talking to each other quietly about general things, our favorite foods, the best movies we’ve watched, our favorite colors. I feel like I’m starting to know more about him. It’s nice and not forced at all.
Before I knew it, hours have passed, and the club has started to empty somewhat. The music is still pumping, and he has to lean closer to whisper in my ear. His arm is around me protectively, and I’m leaning into him. It feels completely natural. “Do you think this is enough to draw him out?” I ask.
“There’s more being done,” Tate whispers in my ear.
“Like what?”
He chuckles. “You’re too curious for your own good. Maintain a smile and I’ll tell you.” I give him a loving smile as he speaks. “Now that we know who it is, we’ve targeted his businesses and clubs. We’ve hit two today. That’s going to set him back a pretty penny, and if there’s one thing I know about greedy people, it’s that they don’t like it when people touch what’s theirs.”
“He thinks I’m his,” I say quietly.
“Let him think that. it’s not true.” We stare into each other’s eyes. “Kiss me,” he whispers.
“What?” I look at him, but he doesn’t repeat himself.
He presses his lips against mine, taking what he wants, and I oblige, melting into the kiss and placing a hand on his chest. I can’t help the groan that escapes me, and I feel him smirk against my lips. His hand traces lazy circles on my arm. I break the kiss and lean in.
“If anyone is watching, they probably think we’re a happy couple,” I say into his ear.
He smirks again and sighs. “Maybe,” he says, a little louder as the music picks up. “But that’s the point.”
I shiver slightly and grin.
“Well, well, well.”
When I hear his voice over the music, I freeze. I didn’t actually think he’d show up, let alone so publicly. I raise my eyes to look at Daniel, and my chest is tight, like I can’t breathe. I tense, and Tate removes his arm from around me.
“Sian, I knew you were easy, but you know I’m always free for you,” he sneers.
I blush and look way, tears prickling at my eyes.
Tate glares at him as he stands up. “I knew you’d come. You’re arrogant and predictable.”
I watch from the corner of my eye for any sign of danger. Daniel pulls a gun out of the waistband of his pants, not at all bothered about there being innocent bystanders. There are a few men at either side of him.
Tate seems so calm as I look up at him. “Clint, clear the club. Everyone must leave. I won’t have innocent blood spilled because of this asshole.”
“Aw, you’re going to hurt my feelings,” Daniel says with a smirk. “Tell me, how good is Sian to fuck?”
Tate looks at Daniel coolly. “I know you don’t know what it feels like unless it’s forced upon her, so I’d stop right there.”
“Or what? Come on. She’s tight, and she’s a screamer. The best of both worlds. The last time I fucked her, she screamed herself hoarse.”
I clench my fists and stand up. Tate puts an arm up to stop me from advancing, but I face Daniel. I won’t let him do this. I am not his to victimize anymore. “You’re sick in the fucking head, Daniel. I never enjoyed sex with you. Ever.”
“You say that, but your screams said something else.”
Tate restrains me. “It was screams of pain, you fucking psycho.” I spit the words at him.
Tate looks at me. “Stop.”
I fall silent and look behind Daniel. The club is emptying rapidly, and I look at Tate, who is still calm. He’s so in control. He’s a master at this. My emotions are running rampant, while he keeps his in check.
Daniel smiles and waves his free hand, motioning for someone to come over. Tate tenses, and I watch as a woman walks into view. She stands next to Daniel and looks at Tate. I don’t like the way she looks at him with such longing. Surely, Daniel notices it as well. It must really piss him off if his underlings are also after a piece of Tate instead of him. She’s gorgeous; tall and well-built, with long hair. Her makeup is pretty, and she’s wearing form-fitting clothes that show her perfect figure.
Tate looks at Daniel. “I know Jodi works for you. I figured that out already. Do you think I’m shocked?” I’m sure I’ve heard the name Jodi somewhere before. I wonder if this is the woman Tate trusted who crossed him.
Daniel raises his gun and places it against Jodi’s head. Her eyes widen with fear and tears began to form. “Daniel...” she says quietly.
“Shut up,” Daniel snaps. “Yes, Tate. Jodi works for me, but I also know she was the fucking bitch who betrayed me when she set you and that dumb nut free. No doubt her guilt was setting in.”
Rick bares his teeth. My eyes flick back to Daniel as he speaks again.
“She fucked up my fun. I figured it out fairly quickly, and I kept her around just in case I could use her for something else. Turns out, tonight is the night.” Daniel stares at Tate then looks at me.
My heart clenches in my chest, but I try not to let it show. Daniel laughs and pulls back the hammer of the gun. Jodi is shaking now, and I look at Tate to see his reaction. He’s still completely calm. He doesn’t care about Jodi, or at least he isn’t showing it. But she saved him. How could he not care about someone who risked her life to save him?
“Do you know what’s a lot of fun, Tate? Being one step ahead of you the whole time,” Daniel says. “Have you not wondered how that was?”
Tate inclines his head. “I have a theory, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
He points his gun toward Liam. “Have you met my cousin?”
Tate and I look at Liam, who smiles brightly. “Sorry, Tate. My loyalties lie with my family first, though infiltrating your empire was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
Tate gives a short laugh, draws his gun, and shoots Liam in the head before anyone can do anything.
Daniel roars, pointing his gun at Tate, who immediately points his gun back at Daniel. “See, I deal with traitors, Daniel. Unlike you. I knew Liam was up to something, and I knew word would reach you about me bringing Sian here tonight.”
I shake next to Tate. When he took the shot, my hands flew over my ears. The gunshot was deafening.
“You’ll fucking pay for that in ways you can’t imagine,” Daniel shouts.
Tate doesn’t lower his arm. “Who knew Sian was the one to bring you out of hiding after all this time? And she found her way to me. Me, Daniel. The one you had but who got away. I may not have known it was you who captured me all those years ago, but trust me, revenge will be sweet. I’ll give you some credit, though. You run a tight ship, staying off my radar for so long, but not anymore.”
Daniel takes a deep breath and points the gun back at Jodi. “Yes. Something happened. Sian happened.”
I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat. This can’t be good.
“Sian?” Tate barely glances at me. “What has Sian got to do with it? I thought you wanted to ruin my empire and claim it as your own, and the only person standing in your way was me. Your first attempt didn’t exactly go to plan.”
“That is my plan, but then I was informed by my spies that Sian was seen with you. I don’t like it when my possessions misbehave. She thought she could get rid of me. I guess I was too soft with her, and she didn’t get the message that she will always belong to me. The only reason I let her think she was on her own was because I had my mind set on taking you down, and I’m here to remind her that she belongs to me. The fact she’s got the hots for my greatest enemy was a coincidence I couldn’t help but exploit.”
“Why do you want Sian back? So you can kill her?” Tate asks.
“No. I want to have fun with her. I just told you, she belongs to me. I don’t just kill anything that belongs to me, Tate. I want to hear her beg me for mercy. No matter what you say, Sian is leaving with me. She knows her place is with me. You can’t protect her. No one can. She’s mine, and it’s time I claimed her. Didn’t she tell you how I marked her the other day?”
“When you raped her.” Tate shakes his head. “That isn’t marking her. That’s the sign of a weak man who can’t get what he wants so he takes it by force. That’s where we differ. I have loyalty and respect from those around me and fear from those that aren’t.”
Daniel’s face turns red, and I smirk. He inclines his head. “Well, unfortunately, we’ve reached an impasse, because I assure you, Sian will be coming with me tonight. You’re not going to get what you want this time. Sorry, Tate.”
I look between Tate and Daniel, and my blood runs cold. I know what it means for me if I leave with Daniel, but I also know Tate won’t let that happen. He promised to protect me at all costs, and I believe him.
Don’t I?