26. Asher
“Well, this feels like déjà vu,” I remarked, studying Royce and Willow. “Same threats, different day.”
“Fuck you, Asher. You used me.” I shrugged—he wasn’t totally wrong. I saw an opportunity and I went for it. I also saved his ass, so he should be thanking me. “What kind of shit are you smuggling?”
“Don’t worry about it. My men are getting it off the boat as we speak.”
Royce wasn’t pleased with this turn of events at all.
“Off my boat.”
“You insisted on buying it,” I replied.
“Exactly,” he gritted. “Which means everything on it is mine.”
“That’s not how the world works.”
“And what if I take it back?” Royce challenged. Judging by the look in his eyes, he’d probably try. He’d be sorely disappointed because the product wasn’t anything he imagined.
“There is nothing you can do with this cargo,” I drawled. “Trust me. It’s not my usual.”
“Well, whatever it is, you care about it, so?—”
“The last person who tried to steal from me ended up in a coma,” I said dryly, cutting him off. “Consider it fair warning. I hate to damage that pretty face.”
Royce scoffed, judging by his expression, he wasn’t concerned at all. After all, the fucker thrived on challenges. I’d bet he spent his days in the military with a hard-on.
“Whatever it is, it’s here now. Let’s drop it,” Willow chimed in, trying to calm her husband. “As long as it’s not illegal.”
Royce rubbed a thumb across his bottom lip. “The last person who tried to fuck with me ended up castrated.”
Jesus Christ, and he’s bragging about it.
My gaze flicked to Willow who paled slightly. I’d seen pictures of what Royce had done to Stuart Harris. It wasn’t a pretty sight. If she’d witnessed it, it was pretty remarkable she agreed to marry him.
“Fuck with me, Royce, and you won’t like the outcome,” I remarked wryly. “If you need money?—”
“Why would I need your money?” Damn prick. “Anyway, moving on. Why did you have the boat’s navigation locked to get us here?”
“So you could bring me my shit. Duh.”
“Ummm… what’s going on?” Royce’s new wife watched us, wide-eyed, her head swiveling as she tried to follow our exchange. “I feel like I missed an important piece of conversation here. I thought we were renting the boat, Royce.”
“You were, until you weren’t,” I told her smugly, then extended my hand. “I’m Asher Varangr.”
She hesitantly took my hand and shook it. “Willow Auc?—”
“Ashford.” Royce was quick to correct her. I almost expected him to pound on his chest like a gorilla and shout mine. Pathetic.
“Well, at least you saved money on initials,” I retorted dryly while Willow flashed her new husband an intimate smile, causing a pang of jealousy to hit me and catching me totally off guard. I’d never been close to anyone, not my mother or my grandfather. The former died before I’d uttered my first word, and the latter only knew how to discipline. The truth was my grandfather was bitter for missing his chance with his blast from the past,and he held it against my mother and myself.
“Well, since you’re here, why don’t you join me for a party that I’m hosting,” I said, addressing Royce. “You might remember it as the one your brother Winston usually hosts.”
His eyes flashed in surprise. “When did he stop?”
“When he married Billie.”
A calculated look passed my half-sibling’s expression, and I knew he was caught in a memory. The party always drew the kinkiest guests, and Royce fell into that category.
“What kind of party?” Willow asked curiously. “Is there a dress code?”
My lips twitched. “There sure is. I’ll let your husband fill you in.”
With that, I urged them forward, bringing my plan one step closer to fruition.