Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
VIVIAN
Two hours pass. The sun sets. Heavy footfalls boot down the stairs, but Jace’s brothers don’t approach my studio where I took the time to clean my lenses. And my lights. And the prop closet.
The place is spotless.
“Hungry?” Jace appears in the doorway, holding a paper bag delivery from my favorite local restaurant.
The familiar aroma hits me, making me and my stomach growl. “Is that shrimp and grits?”
“Your favorite.”
He’d know. Jace has cataloged the things I love, and I’m always searching for treasures to give him.
We sit downstairs in the former dining room, now our staff kitchen, devouring the Lowcountry classic cuisine that was my father’s favorite.
“Text him.” Jace taps my phone between us on the table. He means my ex, and my gut twists. “Give him bullshit he’ll believe because it’s me and you now.”
I pause, my loaded fork at my lips. “Me and you?”
“Yeah.” He wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Me and you, staying safe. I’m fucking sorry, Viv, but slow turned into warp speed today. You’re in my life and in my danger now.”
Calmly, I set my fork down. “Okay. Explain.”
He leans back, settling in for it. “My father is after us, and so is his enemy; they’re ruthless men. I have a kidney my father needs to live, and his enemy will kill us to get to our sister.”
“That’s it?”
That’s a lot—six vigilante brothers and a targeted sister.
We know it, but freaking out won’t help. And it’s not Jace’s fault. All he’s ever done is protect me. So it’s time for me to saddle up.
“Alright. How can I help?” I wipe my hands on a napkin. “I have millions in a trust I can unfreeze. A Nikon and a Remington I can shoot. I—”
He pulls back, grinning. “You can shoot a rifle?”
I nod. “Thanks to my mom, I can shoot both, and I don’t miss.”
I get all gooey with how Jace is looking at me—my poor panties.
“I don’t need your millions, Viv. We have money. Glad to know you can shoot anything that moves, but for now…” He taps my phone again. “Shoot him a text that buys us a few days.”
I shrug and type:
Staying at The Mercier
Shooting their new spa
Like stink on shit, David’s right there.
Vienna Sausage
Good
I’ll pay you a five star visit
Fucking asshole.
No
Embarrass yourself and me at my job and I’ll make sure you lose every sponsor in town
Vienna Sausage
You’re not that powerful sugar pie
Zar Rollins is
Shall I serve you a slice of what the CFO of The Mercier can do?
Jace watches, reading our exchange.
Though Jace is the deadliest bullet I have in the chamber against my ex, I can’t reveal him. Not yet.
“David knows I’m close to Zar,” I explain. “And the whole world knows Zar Rollins is married to Nick Barinov, the NFL hero. David won’t suspect Zar, but he fears him.”
Jace nods. “He should.”
Well, that was ominous.
I know there’s more to discover about Jace’s life and his brothers. Like Matryoshka dolls, one dangerous secret is revealed after another. But I said “slow,” and he’s doing his best.
Vienna Sausage
When will you finish
When I’m done
Like this conversation
Jace chuckles. “You’re not afraid to piss him off?”
I huff. “It’s what I live for. He may be bribing me, but he can’t bury me.”
He gives me another gooey look, this one melting me even more. As if a very hot image has captured his mind, he declares, “I’ll sleep outside your studio door tonight to guard you, and—”
“Is that where you want to sleep?”
Say no. Say no.
I may want slow, but that doesn’t mean celibate.
There’s an agonizing need between us. Its pull magnetic. It finds us one longing breath away from no return.
I’m ready.
Is he?
Jace narrows his lapis eyes, his breath deepening as if he’s a man on the edge of seizing everything he wants.
“Besides.” I help him. “Someone said something about a first kiss today. And if I’m going to die in a hail of Bratva bullets sometime soon, at least give me something I want tonight.”
There’s that saying about poking a bear; yeah, well, I just roused a ravenous lion.
Slowly, he starts unbuttoning his shirt. “Give you something you want, Vivian?”
I can’t move. Can’t speak. Can’t think anything, but…
Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.
My muscles suddenly flood with desire, watching button after open button reveal Jace’s sculpted pecs, then his shredded abs.
The ropey veins on his corded forearms flex as he frees the last button tucked into his pants.
More veins. More muscles. More everything pulsing and pointing down to where his greatest size resides, no doubt.
Holy hell, statues in Rome are jealous.
My mouth waters.
Everything between my legs awakens, definitely aroused, and a little afraid.
I stammer. “Jace, what… What are you…”
What are you doing to me? What are you planning?
Not that I’ll say no. I just want to write a million thank you cards before I die and go to heaven with your body.
“I’m going to take a shower upstairs, and you’re going to wait for me in your studio,” he demands darkly. “You’re going to set up your lights, get your camera ready, and put on some Lenny Kravitz.”
With a loud screech of his chair over wooden floors, he pushes back. Rising. Warning. Winking. “I’ll supply the oil and our first kiss.”