Chapter 28
Ileave my brothers to it as I take the stairs down to the first sub level and claim a seat in the bar area that overlooks the gaming room below.
Most of the guards’ rooms are on that floor, so the living area was made into a game room.
It’s equipped with virtual golf, darts, pool, bowling, and casino tables.
It’s where I find her, sitting at the high-stakes game with a beer at her side and a cigarette dangling from her mouth as she inspects her cards.
She went from annoying us to sliding into our guards’ midst. It’s strange, but she seems to fit quite easily in both.
There is no way our staff would be this relaxed if we were down there.
They’d be on alert, refusing to drink or have fun, but around her, they don’t seem to care, which is exactly what she wants.
They laugh and joke around her. I can’t hear what they are saying, but she smiles as she lays a card down and takes another.
“Sir, would you like another drink?” I tilt my head up to see one of the guards who was sitting in the bar when I arrived.
It’s a small area but stocked with everything they could need.
As long as they don’t drink and work, we don’t care.
We offer them the very best in money, cars, and a good lifestyle.
It’s why they are so loyal, and the notion that one of them has betrayed us sits sour in my stomach.
I search his flat brown eyes, wondering if it’s him.
His hands shake slightly as he lifts the bottle of bourbon to show me.
It’s good, not as expensive as what I usually drink, but it will do.
“Sir?” he asks nervously, shooting his companions in a rear corner booth a worried glance. The lights are low in here, the red and gold accents tastefully done and reminiscent of a speakeasy, which is what they were going for.
“Of course, thank you,” I murmur, shaking off my stupor. It’s not like they will poison me. The only person who probably would is sitting at the table down there, and she would do it for fun. “You don’t have to serve me though. I’m invading your time off, so please, enjoy yourselves.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” he says as he tops off his drink. “Are you here to keep an eye on Karma?”
“You know her?” I ask as I take a sip and smile as much as I can to get him to relax. The mention of her name makes me curious.
“I met her today. She’s cool. Some of the others know her reputation, and others even know her .
. . well, as much as she lets them,” he admits and glances at the marble table before me.
I incline my head in invitation at his obvious question.
He sits carefully on the maroon velvet seat and watches her through the window like I was.
“I heard there are only two people she cares about in this entire world, and they are off-limits. Someone tried to hurt them once, and she killed their entire family, going back two generations. She’s not someone to mess with. ”
“I know,” I say as I watch her. “Keep an eye on her for me, will you? If she does anything you are worried about, report to me.”
“Not Kane, sir?” he asks, even as his eyes sparkle in interest. It’s something I realized a few years ago. The guards are bigger gossips than my father.
My eyes find him, and he jumps to his feet, bowing his head. “I meant no disrespect, sir.”
“Not Kane, me,” I assert as I turn away, dismissing him. I hear him leave, but my eyes are for Karma. Kane doesn’t know I’m watching her, but it’s for his own good.
There are no secrets between us brothers, none but her. Kane has been tight-lipped about whatever happened between him and Bexley when they were kidnapped. It worries me. She can look after herself, she’s made that very clear, but when it comes to her, Kane seems to have a soft spot.
She is a weakness he doesn’t know how to handle. It’s my job to make sure it doesn’t implode his life or wreck his heart.
Karma doesn’t seem like the type to stick around forever, and when she leaves, I don’t want her to take what is left of my brother’s happiness with her.
She moves around the room, playing cards and drinking games.
She laughs and smiles, but her eyes are cold as she scans everything.
If I wasn’t looking for it, I wouldn’t notice.
She blends in well, but she’s like a predator stalking her prey.
She’s getting them exactly where she wants them, and she knows it.
The man was right. She’s dangerous. If she spends more time here, she could probably bring down our entire empire on the secrets she learns alone. We need to be careful.
Two hours after she came downstairs, she’s whistling her way back to the elevator, counting her winnings.
I rise and button my suit jacket, leaving my half empty drink on the table.
The guards in the bar leap to their feet and bow.
I have long since given up trying to make them stop.
When I was younger, their fear and respect made me uncomfortable, but Father wore me down over the years.
They are here to keep us safe, and their respect is part of that and who I am. I shouldn’t deny it, but embrace it.
Heading to the stairs, I watch the glass elevator pass and hurry up, sweat trickling down my back as I take the many flights until I reach the main floor.
When I get there, though, the door is open, and Karma isn’t in sight.
Frowning, I step into the elevator, searching it before turning and stepping out, only to freeze as something sharp presses against my neck.
I feel her heat behind me, a trickle of my blood gracing my neck from the sharp edge of whatever blade she is holding against my skin.
How did she even know I was following her? Did someone tip her off, or is she that good?
“Following me, pretty boy? Are you aching for a round two?” she whispers into my ear.
A shiver runs through me, and desire I try to ignore pools in my gut.
It’s just another of her weapons, but it doesn’t seem to stop my lust for her.
“You think I didn’t see you watching me all night?
You aren’t very inconspicuous. You don’t blend. ”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I murmur, not moving in case she decides to slit my throat for fun. “I was just keeping an eye on you. I’d be a fool not to with an assassin like you in our house.”
“I prefer the term homicidal cleaner. Besides, you invited me to stay,” she teases as she moves silently around me.
Despite facing me in the ring, she still thinks I’m weak.
They all do. The second brother, never quite comparing to Kane.
I like to be underestimated, especially in court, but for some reason, the idea of her thinking I’m powerless irritates me, and I make a rare impulsive decision.
Swinging my hand up in a quick movement she doesn’t even see coming, I catch the dagger as it knocks free from her hand without cutting me. I catch it midair and spin it, pressing it to her neck. “I guess I win round two.”
“Do you?” She smirks and looks down. Following her gaze, I see her gun pressed to my balls. I didn’t even see her move. Laughing for real, I shake my head even as I keep the dagger against her throat before I remember why I’m keeping my eye on her.
“What offer did my brother make you?” I ask. Kane mentioned something about it earlier.
Her head tilts as she watches me, her smile fading to something entirely different.
Goose bumps erupt on my arms, and the breath in my chest catches as she leans into me.
My eyes widen as she moves so close, I can smell the beer on her breath.
“To own all three of you, to belong to you . . . to be yours.” My mouth drops open as she chuckles.
“Your brother is insane. Don’t worry, I have no inclination of taking it.
I will never belong to another, and I certainly don’t want three prickly Sai brothers as my own.
” Removing her gun, she steps back as she winks before she turns to walk away.
I watch her go, swallowing hard, and before I know it, the question slips free.
“Why?” I call, and she stops with her back to me.
I hurry to catch up until I’m right behind her, and I can’t seem to control myself.
I should be careful because Karma is a walking weapon, but it seems like I’d be willing to cut myself on her for just a taste.
Sliding my hand around her throat, I feel her there, steady and strong, as I slide my other hand to her hip, slipping her dagger back into place.
“Why wouldn’t you want all three of us? It’s something every woman in the world dreams of. ”
My voice is huskier than I wanted it to be. Being this close is muddling all my intentions, and desire leads my actions despite my intentions. My cock is hard in my pants, so I pull my hips away so she doesn’t feel it.
“I’m not every woman,” she responds, and despite her steady heart rate, I hear the breathlessness in her tone. She’s not as unaffected as she wants to appear.
“No, you’re not. That’s why he offered.” I lean down and inhale her scent.
My eyes close in bliss at the sweetness that is all her.
No perfume, just her, and it drives me crazy.
She’d kill me and not think about it after.
I should protect my family, but one word from her and that was all it took for my desire to roar to the forefront of my brain.
It’s clear Kane feels the same way and is trying to tie her to us.
That in itself is surprising, not to mention the fact that he clearly knows we all want her.
Zayn has made it obvious, and Kane tried not to, but he knew I wanted her.
Instead of stealing her away, he tried to give us what we wanted.
“You three are really not all that,” she snaps as she spins and glares at me. “If I want something, I take it, so clearly I don’t want you.”
“That’s the first time I’ve seen you lie.” I smirk as I lean closer, copying what she did. Her eyes widen before she can control it, and I feel her heartbeat speed up under my hand. “Your heart gives you away, Bexley.”
“And your heart . . . or your dick, will be the reason you die if you continue,” she warns.
Grabbing my hand, she twists it and me and slams me into the closest wall.
I relax into her grip, grinning as her mouth brushes my ear.
Her warm breath blows across the sensitive shell.
“This is the closest you will ever get to having me, so think about it when you get off later.”
“Oh, I will,” I promise as she releases me, and by the time I turn, she’s gone.
Banging my head back to the wall, I take a deep breath and frown.
So much for trying to keep my family safe. One look and I was no better than my brother.
What kind of black-magic hold does Karma have over us?