Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
JACE
“Uh… Viv, we have a little problem.”
“My ex and his micro penis?” She holds my hand over my truck’s center console, huffing a laugh. “Not my problem anymore.”
I admire her fortitude.
Vivian didn’t flinch when I told her I had some men take David captive. That we’re holding him in our hidden bunker to interrogate him to be sure there are no more copies of that video.
Most men will break after a week of dark, solitary confinement. Sure, we give them food and water… and a bucket.
But I suspect the scumbro’s precious ass won’t make it forty-eight hours before he cracks.
“No.” I check my rearview mirror again. We’re in the far left lane of four on the interstate, heading north. “Someone’s following us; that’s the problem.”
She nods, letting go of my hand. Tugging her seat belt tighter, she says, “Do your thing.”
Checking my mirrors, I accelerate, passing a sedan on our right. Swerving in front of it, I cut across three lanes and off-road over the grassy exit hill. Its mud is no match for my truck, gunning onto the paved exit ramp.
“Who was it?” Vivian glances back, confirming we lost them.
It was a black SUV, not my father’s style.
I keep checking the mirror. “Probably Sheremetev, tailing us to find Sasha.”
“Which one is he again?”
“My father’s enemy, the one who kidnapped our sister from our father’s compound in Moscow and forced her to be his wife.” I clench my molars. “Among other things.”
“Your sweet sister: I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, he’ll be the one who’s sorry one day. Between Sasha’s English lessons, her rage, and the rifle she’s learning to shoot, she’ll get revenge.”
I want our sister to get justice. As the queens have taught us, I don’t want the kings stealing the victory from her.
Sure, we’ll protect and support Sasha, but she’s a queen, a lioness too. I’m confident that, in time, she’ll be strong enough to destroy her former abuser.
Vivian reaches for my hand again, squeezing it. I roam through the side streets of North Charleston, making sure we lost our tail.
“What if it wasn’t Sheremetev?” She sounds pensive.
“You mean, what if it was one of your ex’s cousins?”
“Yeah.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see her chin lift. “I’m not afraid of them; I just want to grab my rifle too.”
“Smokeshow, you can’t shoot that rifle.”
She whips her stare at me, her ponytail in a swish. “The hell I can’t.”
I smirk, taking a right. “No, I mean, the hell I can handle my queen packing heat and a strap-on. My balls will explode in admiration.”
It twitches my dick again, remembering the erotic memory of Vivian taking me that way last night, of how hard I came with her. It’s only topped—pun intended—by the certainty we’ll do it again.
My entire world is loving this woman now.
And love always tries for each other. It gives and takes. It talks and explores.
Hell yes, there are things shared only between us.
Parts of her that are all mine.
No one gets to hold Vivian. No one has her heart. No one can touch the tender places inside her but me.
Hell, no one will ever touch her again without her consent and mine.
She finally has her power back, and it’s my honor to protect it.
Hell, it’s my privilege to pleasure her.
At least once, I’ll make sure she gets her fantasy.
I won’t share her, I’ll worship her. I’m a beast, a buck, the stag who proudly wants to watch his woman get what she wants.
And if that’s me and the kings for a night, then Vivian was born to be mine.
She truly is my queen.
“Seriously though.” She grabs me out of my heated haze. “David’s cousins know by now they were robbed. That somehow I had their servers taken, and they’ll come after me to find out who.”
I smirk. “Good. I’m thirsty for blood in your honor.” She’s quiet. I glance over, seeing her wheels turn. “Viv, I told you the kind of monster I’ll be for you. If you can’t watch, don’t. But if I even see a man thinking about hurting you, he’s dead.”
She can hear it in my tone; I’m serious. Savage even.
“I’m not bothered by you protecting me, or by me defending myself.” Her tone mirrors mine. “But where’s the line? When does defense become an offense so morally wrong that you become the evil you fight?”
That’s.
THE.
Question.
It’s the one I’ve been asking myself lately when it comes to my father.
Years ago, I obsessed over killing him. I planned to lock him alive in a coffin and walk away. Then, when I found out how he stole our sister from our mother, I wanted to put a bullet between his eyes first.
I could see myself doing it.
But while a dark storm of revenge raged inside me, Vivian became the light shining through. Her love evaporated the clouds, and all I can see is a future with her, not my past.
“You’re right.” Slowly, I pull into the lot outside the old naval bunker we own.
Random cars are parked around, but our snipers hide on the surrounding buildings, guarding us.
They know my truck as I park and turn to her.
“I promise, I won’t kill anyone unless it’s to defend you.
But for now, you can stay here while I interrogate him because it’ll get bloody. I need to make sure you’re safe.”
She smiles. “Can I help?”
I’m not sure if she’s kidding. Her head is held high, but her hand shakes as I hold it, walking toward the bunker, nodding at the familiar guard posted at the metal doors.
The sun is setting on the day. I wish we could’ve stayed in bed in her studio—I could hold her forever—but I can’t put this off. I need to assess her risk.
And end it.
The guard opens the door as a husky voice calls out, “You gonna play without me?”
We whip around to find Nick standing there. His beefy arms crossed. His dark, bearded smile proud. His blue eyes twinkling beside his husband, Zar.
Fuckers: they were waiting in a car for us to arrive.
“How did you know?” I’m not mad; I’m impressed.
Zar nods toward Vivian. “We had a spa photo shoot that was supposed to start today, and she’s never missed a day of work.”
Nick adds, “And Grant never misses a chance to piss you off. He told me about your arrangement with Daddy Dearest and didn’t want you going rogue again.”
I huff. “Oh, so everyone knows.”
Nick shrugs. “Knows that you’re playing the long game with that fucker? Yeah. But needing some backup with this piece of shit who’s been tormenting Viv?” He gestures to where our father’s soldiers secured David for me. “The pleasure will be all mine.”
Zar rolls up his starched sleeves. “And mine.”
“Just a minute.” Vivian’s hand flies up. “I’m not a damsel in distress; I’m a bitch on a mission. If anyone’s playing games with my ex, it’s me. Are we clear?”
They salute, grinning, but I tug her hand. “Let me be clear,” I warn. “He’s got a ball gag in his mouth because if I have to hear one whiny word from him, it’ll be his last. Don’t take it out unless you want him dead.”
“Couldn’t agree more.” She keeps stride beside me. “I can tell by his eyes if he’s lying.”
It’s what I’m counting on as the guard closes the door and the four of us march down the long, underground corridor.
Old beige paint peels off the concrete walls. Safety lighting illuminates the way. The floors are bone dry. This old bunker by the river is nothing like the rum-runner’s tunnel Vivian and I used to escape The Mercier, but still…
It makes me sweat.
She can feel it in my hand. “Talk to me,” she whispers. “Talking is breathing.”
“I don’t…” I swallow, vision tunneling, air thinning. “I don’t know…”
She halts, turning to Nick. “I need your help with my initiation.” The sudden change of focus distracts me.
“I love Jace and want to be his queen, but that means I need a second king, and I’d be honored if it’s you.
I’ve known you for years, and I trust you.
” Softly, she beams at Nick. “But I’ll never coerce you to…
bond with me. I won’t even let you try; it doesn’t feel right.
” She tugs my hand. “But we have to do something. Will you help us?”
She means me.
She means now.
She’s bringing this up to stave off my panic attack. Not a worry. I’m suddenly attacked by even more love for her.
Nick closes the distance, resting a hand on her shoulder and mine. The weight comforts me. “If my rainbow could be straight,” he offers, “it’d be for you. But you’re right; it’d be like forcing a wet noodle in the wrong hole.”
Zar laughs. “Though it gets damn hard to fill my hole.”
“So what do we do?” Vivian wraps her arms around my waist. “I want Jace to initiate me soon. I don’t want to wait.”
“You don’t?” I’m shocked out of my phobia. “What happened to slow?”
“Uh, I’ve been trapped in hell, and now I’m free to love you.” She gazes up at me. “Plus, you and the kings and queens have burst into my life like a party that never ends. Why wait?”
Zar crows, “Darlin’, Jace has been waiting so long to make you his queen, he’s gonna break his throne doing it, and I, for one, am here for the show.”
Can’t say I disagree with him.
There’s something about my queen’s throne being the last one to be occupied; I’ll have to make filling it a finale of epic fucking proportions.
“You’re here for it?” But curiosity fills Vivian’s tone. She’s not too shy with Zar to ask, “Here to watch Jace fuck me… or here to help him initiate me?”
Do what?
“That’s the answer.” Nick grins, nodding slowly, almost seductively. “Why can’t my queen be my king by proxy?”
“Proxy?” Forget we’re underground. I’m in our throne room, imagining it. “You mean, we’ll—”
“He means I get three kings.” Vivian sounds relieved, almost reverent. “You, as my first king, Nick as my second king by blood, and Zar as my second king in body.”
Zar winks at her, his drawl whiskey-smooth. “My kind of queen; figuring out a way to get all the D.”
“Shut up.” She laughs sweetly. “Seriously though, it’s a way for Jace to finally have his queen, for me to be his, for Nick to become a second king, and for us to complete the circle of thrones.”
“And yet you’re still getting all the D.” Zar smirks. “I’m impressed.”
Is this really happening? Sooner than I ever dreamed? Vivian’s becoming my queen?
“Hang on.” I hate to burst the bawdy balloon, but someone has to think this through. “Can you really do it?” I ask Zar. “Can you initiate Vivian as Nick’s proxy?”
“Well, alright then.” Zar quirks a dark eyebrow. “Let’s stop talking proxies and talk pricks and pussies. While my hot husband only loves pricks, lucky for us, I’m attracted to pussy too. I’m proudly bisexual.”
“When we met,” Nick adds, “Zar was already with Luca and Scarlett. It’s one of the things I love about him. He’s proud and passionate and taught me to be the same.”
“But…” Vivian asks what I forgot to consider. “Will Luca and Scarlett be okay with you being with me? Even once?”
I’m not polygamous. I choose one person, one love. I’m fulfilled by giving my heart to Vivian; my love is monogamous.
But I respect those who are poly, like Zar and Nick with Luca and Scarlett. Their love is deep and complex. It has a powerful story. It’s not just sex; their souls are combined.
It’s not the same as what the kings and queens share.
Each king only loves his queen—heart and soul. Our bodies may forge bonds, for one night or so, but our hearts are bound to one forever.
To our queen.
But this may work.
“I’ll speak with Luca and Scarlett.” Zar leans down, pecking Vivian’s cheek. “Thank you for respecting them. You know they adore you. They don’t ask details about Nick’s family, and we don’t give them, but we always ask for consent.”
Vivian glows from Zar’s warmth and turns, taking Nick’s hand. “Are you okay with it, or do you want to think about it? I mean, Zar is your husband, and I don’t want to—”
“You can stop right there.” Nick caresses her face. Not sexually. Adoringly. “I don’t need to think about what’s right; I can feel it. Like my love with Zar and your love with Jace. And when I tell you how this big brother was the first I came out to, we know this is right.”
“Really?” Vivian glances between us. “Why Jace of all your brothers?”
Nick regards me, and suddenly, we’re boys again. He’s the quiet one on the school bus, and I’m the big brother, proudly sitting beside him, protecting him, until he grew strong enough to protect himself.
I knew then he had a crush on another boy at school. Nick had told me.
And we’re grown men now.
Like last year for my birthday, when I wanted to have a pity party by myself, wishing I was with Vivian, and Nick showed up with ice cream.
He insisted we binge my favorite John Hughes romance movies—Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and Some Kind of Wonderful—without naming the real romance I was missing.
Vivian.
With Sire, I share a sense of faith. With Axel, a sense of duty. Nash and I; I can’t name what we share, but it’s deep and comforting. And Grant? He’s my mirror. Loch and I share interests, like football and romance books.
But Nick and I?
We’ve always shared our hearts. I knew he had to hide who he loved, and later, he knew I was doing the same.
“Why Jace?” Nick reaches up, tousling my hair as he answers Viv, “Because you’re getting the sweetest king.”
“Sweetest?” Looking at Vivian, I remember where we are and why we’re here. “Just remember how sweet I am when you see how savage I can be.”