Chapter 14
Love’s A Hard Game to Play
“Where are we going?” I ask Jagger as he pulls onto the road back to Ravens Hollow.
We haven’t been out of the house in a week.
And I was starting to think they would never let me out of that place again.
As much as the time to recover has been necessary, I was going a little stir crazy trapped with the three of them.
“The Raven’s Nest,” Jagger grumbles over his shoulder, like he hates the idea, but I know he wouldn’t be taking me there unless he was fully on board.
I glance at Cruz seated beside me in the back of Jagger’s Range Rover, confused as hell. “What? I thought it wasn’t safe?”
Cruz smirks, all cheeky. “Your funeral was held this morning, and your brother’s private plane left just over an hour ago for Italy. You have your new look and ID. Looks like the coast is clear for you to venture back into the real world.”
I nibble my bottom lip as I watch the town whiz past through the extra-tinted windows, excitement and anxiety churning through me at that thought. The boys’ protection might be suffocating, but heading back into the real world also feels scary in a way it never did before.
Cruz’s fingers brush over my bare thigh. “Relax, little darlin’, you’re getting some freedom.”
I nuzzle into him, comforted by his strong arms and the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat under my ear.
He makes me feel so safe. As Jagger drives on, Cruz plays with my hair so softly it makes me sleepy.
I close my eyes and try to relax as I listen to the chill music they’re playing through the car, wondering how this is going to work now that I’m someone else.
I don’t feel all that different, even if I look it with my makeover.
The mini denim skirt, black graphic tee, and leather jacket complete my look today and definitely give off biker-chick vibes and not little princess like the girls at the club were used to seeing me as.
But is it enough? And does it even matter all that much if my brother is no longer in town?
I guess the cops did still want me for questioning.
“We’re here,” Asher announces from his place in the front.
I blink sleepily up at Cruz then sit up.
He pulls me toward him for a quick kiss before he reaches for the door handle and lets himself out.
I stare at the locked car door, not sure if I want to get out.
I’m dying to see Sloane, and I have missed this place like crazy, but what if someone recognizes me and word gets back to my family?
It could happen, I’m sure he has spies everywhere.
Asher opens my door and holds his hand out to me. “Don’t look so worried. We’re going to be spending the day in the room next door. The only people you’re going to see are Sloane, Onyx, Romeo, and me.”
I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding and take his hand, letting him help me out of the car.
Instead of going in the back entry I’m used to, we move to the opposite side of the building, finding a door painted in gleaming gold. Asher knocks twice, and Onyx appears. His steely gaze runs over me, then he steps aside.
The man makes my blood go cold. I have no idea how Sloane ended up with him, but he’s a scary man.
Cruz drops a quick kiss on my lips. “Catch you later, little darlin’, we have a couple of errands to run.”
The way he says it makes my skin go all goosy because I get the impression I wouldn’t like whatever it is he and Jagger are up to.
Jagger’s stare lands on me. “Behave,” he growls out. Then he points at his brother. “Don’t fucking let her out of your sight.”
I sigh heavily, not this shit again. “Maybe I should be saying the same to you,” I mutter under my breath.
“I heard that,” Jagger snips as he walks away.
Asher’s hand hasn’t left mine, and I now get the district impression that he’s holding me so tightly not because he wants to be close to me, but because he doesn’t fully trust me not to make a run for it.
I honestly thought we would be past this shit after the last few days locked up together.
After what happened last time I tried to run.
Why would I risk it again? We move through the back door quickly, then Onyx closes the door and locks it behind us.
As soon as the door is secured, Asher moves to rest his arm on my shoulders, and I know that hold was to keep me from running.
I try to ignore the weight of it pressing down on me as we take a look around Sloane and Romeo’s new club.
The space looks incredible, opulent and decadent with its dripping crystal chandeliers and gold trimmings.
I can sense the excitement of the game before a single contestant has even stepped onto the stage.
Hearts will be filled, and I’m sure broken too, right between these walls.
Sloane steps into the room in black wide-leg pants and a cream silk blouse, her heels clicking along the concrete floor as she approaches us.
There’s a strange scowl etched on her face as she looks her brother over, then her attention comes back to me, her eyes narrowing in a way that sends a chill over me. What the hell?
“What the fuck, Ash…” she growls at him.
“Georgina worked her magic,” Asher cuts her off with a chuckle.
She stops just before me, looking right into my eyes as her lips morph into a sinister grin. “Oh my God, sis, you look sexy as fuck!” She pulls me out of Asher’s hold so she can inspect the ink on my neck. “Love it all.”
“Georgina’s a miracle worker,” Asher agrees, grinning at me.
“That she is. I didn’t fucking recognize you. Here I was thinking Asher had some new chick on his arm, I was about to castrate him.”
“Harsh, sis, even for you.” He pulls me back into his arms, looking down at me with those adorable puppy-dog eyes. “I’m a one-woman man now. Dahlia is the only girl for me.” He leans in and kisses me, making a real show in front of his sister.
My hand tangles into his shirt, and I shove him off me when I’ve had enough of his dramatics. “Asher,” I chastise him.
“Little princess,” he says back in the same tone, like he could give two fucks we’re now in public.
“Don’t we have work to do?” I ask instead of getting into it in front of his sister.
“We sure do.” Sloane grins. “I was going to Zoom you in, but now that you’re here in the flesh, it’ll be easier to explain.
” She looks between us, her eyes lit up in a way that scares me.
“I saw that you and Asher sent out the invitations, and they looked amazing. You’re now my new social media girl.
But today I need something different from the two of you. ” Her grin widens and so does Asher’s.
“What is it?” I ask, unease filling me.
“Can you two do a bit of a test run for me? I need this stuff top secret, so I can’t get anyone else from the club to do it. I promise it’ll be fun.”
I stare at her deadpan, not believing her for a second. “I’m no good at games, Sloane.”
Asher drops a kiss to my cheek. “Well, that’s where you’re in luck, because I’m excellent at them, and we’re a team. I got your back, baby.”
I glance back at Sloane, giving her that “don’t do this to me” look.
Her perfectly shaped brow furrows. “You won’t properly have to play. I just need to run through some test scenarios with you guys. See that the stage works with our camera positioning and shit like that.”
I huff out a breath. “If we have to.”
Asher pulls me into him. “Quit your moaning, this is going to be cool.” He takes me by the hand, and we follow Sloane up the stairs to the side of the stage where there sits a large red velvet armchair, and beside it is a partition wall.
Asher leads me to the seat. “This is where you will sit, my lady.”
I lower down into the impossibly soft chair feeling a scattering of butterflies in my stomach, even though the room is just empty rows of chairs where the audience will be.
Asher scoots behind the partition wall, a menacing look in his eyes. Oh God, he’s having way too much fun already.
Sloane hands me an iPad. “This will be where you answer my questions. Be careful what you answer because your responses will be flashed up on the screen for our audience to see.” She then moves around the partition and says the same thing to Asher.
“Isn’t there supposed to be like three guys competing or something?” I ask, more to be cheeky than anything else.
“Hey,” Asher complains. “Am I not enough for you?”
Sloan’s grin widens. “I can rustle up some other guys if you like.”
Asher pops his head back around the partition. “Not happening, Sloane, Jagger would kill you and me.”
“Sorry, sis, better play it safe. Don’t want to enrage the beast then send you home to him.” The smirk on her face tells me she would love to do exactly that, but she knows better.
“Shame, could have been fun,” I tease, just to see what Asher will do next.
He closes the gap, a hand coming to both sides of the armchair as he stares me down. “Watch it, you, or I will skip to game three and make sure you regret your taunting.”
I snicker a laugh, trying to hide it behind my hand. “You’ve been locked in a house with Jagger too long. You’re starting to sound like him, all bossy and shit.”
His eyes darken, the look on him sexy as all hell. “Jagger’s not the only one who knows how to dish out punishment.”
My cheeks heat, and my heart pounds. Why do I want to test him out and see what Asher’s brand of punishment is like?