Chapter 10
TEMPEST
The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil. — Hannah Arendt
Okay, wasn’t expecting that. An expression of pure lust crossed Louis’s features.
What the hell sort of game was Cassian playing at?
Did he know what he’d left would affect Louis this way?
Louis suddenly groaned and stumbled back.
“S-sorry. Sorry. I just…” He shook his head. “Tie me up, you need to tie me up.”
“So you don’t kiss me?”
His eyes blazed with fury. “Kiss you? The last thing on my mind is being tender and wasting time with a kiss.” He clenched his teeth.
“You’d be lucky if any of your clothes stayed intact.
” He swayed and then squeezed his eyes shut.
“Hurts. It hurts. The hell would he put something like this in here?”
“Control.” I fished for my phone. “Of your baser instincts, I’m assuming. You’re doing great, though!’
“Was that a joke?” he hissed. “Are you joking right now? Have you ever had a dick so hard you could use it as a hammer?”
I made a face. “Yeah, I’m going to have to say no.”
“You know what I mean.” He rubbed down the front of his trousers, hands shaking. “This is bad. I can’t—” His breath came out in an exhale of curses. “Like I said, tie me up.”
“It’s a trick.” I pointed my phone at him. “You just want me to get close, I’m not tying you up.”
He reached for the gun in the back of his pants and set it on the counter. “Shoot me. Please.”
“I’m not shooting you!” I shrieked. “What do you think my dad would say?”
Louis laughed hysterically. “Oh, I don’t know, good job? He’d probably buy you a sports car!”
I huffed out an almost laugh. “True.”
“So do it!” He clutched the edge of the countertop with his fingertips. “Tie me up, shoot me, I don’t care if you get stabby, just give me something else to focus on because this is the worst out of all of them and you’re you!”
“Me? What did I do?”
“Other than this?” He pointed at himself. “You’re beautiful. You exist. Plain and simple. It’s biology, Tempest,” he snapped. “I’m aroused. I’ve been given God knows how much of some drug that feels ten times stronger than ecstasy—don’t ask—and then there’s you. You’re… you.”
His heated gaze dragged over me, slow and unashamed.
“You’re stunning. From the way you lick your lips to the way you smell like temptation itself. Smoky. Citrus. Vanilla.” His voice dropped. “Your scent gives you away—hidden in plain sight. Like you’re begging someone to crack you open and figure out what makes you moan, laugh, cry… scream.”
My breath hitched.
“It would be the best hunt of my life,” he continued, relentless, raw.
“Finding every part of you no one’s ever touched.
Laying claim to that? Experiencing that?
” His jaw tightened. “You think this is just about a drug? No. This is about magnifying what any sane man feels when he’s forced into your presence—feeling inferior, desperate to unravel every layer that makes Tempest Alfero exist. To beg—to beg her to stay. ”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
No one had ever spoken to me like that.
Men usually kept it simple—you’re hot, you’re sexy, nice body, great kisser. They praised flesh and ignored the soul, like the two weren’t a package deal. I used to love it. Dissociation was easy. Safe.
Until I realized that missing piece—the part I kept locked away—was exactly what I wanted someone to see.
And when I finally did show it… no one wanted it.
Until now.
Louis’s gaze softened, just a fraction. “You’re so pretty,” he said quietly. “You torture men without even trying. What a gift.”
I took a step toward him.
He shot his hand out. “Don’t. I’m serious, Tempest. I can’t do this. We can’t do this—not like this. Please.”
Sweat poured down his face, tracing his jaw.
“I’m trying really hard,” he muttered. “Leave it to me to get taken out by an aphrodisiac and you.”
Slowly, deliberately, I reached for the gun on the table and lifted it.
“Does it count, then?”
His eyes flicked to the weapon. “Does what count?”
“My first kill.”
“In what universe did I tell you to kill me—”
I fired.
The bullet tore into the soft tissue of his outer shoulder and exited, lodging in the wall. I calmly set the gun back down.
“I meant your libido.”
He groaned, clutching the wound, glaring at me through pain and disbelief. “Fantastic. We’ll tell the family the reason you’re mad is because you finally did the impossible—killed a man’s sex drive.”
I smiled. Then I sobered as he slumped, blood spilling fast.
“Little help,” he muttered. “And if I pass out, it’s not you. It’s me.”
I hauled him upright. “’Tis but a flesh wound.”
He gripped my arms. “How dare you quote Monty Python when I’m on my deathbed. You’re not allowed to be interesting right now—it makes me want to stay conscious.”
I staggered under his weight, dragging us toward the bedroom. “Good. Because you’re too heavy to carry unconscious, and I prefer your eyes open.”
He snorted. “Creepy. Who kisses with their eyes open?”
“We’re not kissing.”
“Didn’t kill my libido,” he slurred. “Give me five minutes and I’ll be slamming something else into you instead of a bullet—”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re delirious.”
His mouth brushed my neck as he shuddered. “Yeah. But it smells good here. And it’s soft.”
“My neck?”
“Mm. You. Funny girl with your giant protective shell.” He sighed. “I shall call you my turtle.”
“Please don’t.”
“Turtle,” he snapped weakly. “Strip for me.”
“And that,” I muttered, dumping him onto the bed, “is severe blood loss.”
I went in search of first aid. When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I barely recognized myself—or the very real smile on my face.
It wasn’t exactly the easiest thing, taking the bullet out and attempting to dress his wound, but I had no choice.
He’d already passed out so that was the easy part—that was after multiple attempts to get me naked and at one point saying the world would end if I kept my top on.
I think whatever was in vial also had some very happy drugs because the guy was snoring now like he didn’t have a care in the world.
I finally had time to shoot a scathing text to Cassian.
Tempest
What the hell was in that vial? He lost his mind.
His reply came instantly.
Cassian
This was just part of the game, a fun part.
Did you enjoy yourselves? Let off a little steam?
It was meant to flood his system with endorphins and serotonin along with some—bonuses.
One more dose tonight then he should sleep for several hours, enough for his body to heal before the final vials.
A meeting time has been established. It’s best he rest now anyways.
Tempest
Meeting time? When? How long do we have?
Cassian
Five days. Mid-week next week. Two more vials will be sent. Have him take them exactly as instructed. Once administered, let him sleep until the meeting. He’ll do great. Don’t forget your end of the bargain.
Tempest
My end, your origin story, got it. You know, I’m sure if you just kill enough people you can find out yourself.
Cassian
Tried that, it seems some people are willing to take some secrets to their graves, but once you’re a part of the secret you have no choice but to protect it.
The Vescovi family needs me, and they’ll also protect me no matter what.
Once he’s in, he’ll find out why and you’ll win your little prize.
Power, your safe secrets, and look, you even got a husband out of the deal. How benevolent of me.
I rolled my eyes.
Tempest
Benevolent indeed.
Cassian
Rest up. You’ll need it. He may need to satiate his appetite again.
Tempest
I’ll be sure to have the gun ready.
Cassian
For?
Tempest
He got hard. I shot him. What? Was that wrong?
Cassian
Stay away from my dick, psychopath. Poor bastard.
Tempest
If he plays his cards right I might flash him some nipple later. The night is young.
Cassian
I have never wanted to be single more in my life than at this moment. Talk soon. Oh, and get that, won’t you?
Huh? Get what?
Louis moaned behind me on the bed. “If this is dying, it’s a really arousing way to go—”
I spun around. “Sleep, you’re hurt, you idiot.”
I shoved him off me with a grunt. He flipped over onto a few pillows and moaned into them. “I can’t decide what hurts more, the bullet wound or my dick.”
“Be thankful I didn’t shoot you in the dick.”
“Thank you?” He offered then looked up at me, his hair all mussed around his face, his blue eyes locked onto mine. “Your bed smells good.”
I shook my head. “Sleep.”
“Hear me out—”
I shoved a pillow over his face. “You’re too weak to fight me and I’m not against smothering you with this pillow, husband.”
I lifted it off.
He sighed. “Dirty talk then—”
I shoved the pillow back on him and pulled away. “Ready to play nice?”
“Maybe,” he grumbled. “Those were some serious drugs.”
There was a knock on the door downstairs.
It was sharper.
That was probably the door I needed to open.
Louis, still half-feral and flushed, cupped a hand to his mouth and shouted toward the stairs. “We’re busy! Doing married things! Illegal in most states!”
I nearly tripped over my own feet rushing to the door and running downstairs. I wrenched it open—and froze.
Another sleek black box sat on the threshold.
Inside: a vial glowing faintly blue.
A single note lay folded beneath it.
This time, make him suffer through it using his own willpower. Don’t give in. He won’t be able to then, he won’t now. This is nothing compared to what’s coming in five days. More vials wait. He’ll have to be stronger than this. Make him burn. Make him yearn.
My stomach dropped.
I grabbed the vial and slammed the door shut.
When I turned, Louis was panting, half-laughing, eyes half-glazed over with something that definitely wasn’t normal. He was leaning at the top of the stairs. “I take it that wasn’t Santa.”
“Unless Santa’s possessed, no.” I held up the box. “The meeting’s this weekend, it looks like you’re going to just have to grin and bear whatever else is in these vials.”
“Maybe this is part of the test.” His eyes looked unfocused, blurry. “How bad do I really want it? How far am I willing to go?”
“I hadn’t really thought about that.”
He lifted a shoulder. “It would make sense. It’s something a sinister person would do.” He nodded toward the box. “That gonna fix it or make it worse? That’s the question.”
“Both?” I guessed. “Can you feel worse?”
“Well, I sure as hell could feel better if I had you wrapped around me.” He took a step toward me. “Hands are used for touching.”
“Nope.” I shoved the box in front of me.
“Fix it,” he groaned. “Whatever demon you summoned, un-summon it.”
I dropped the box onto the table, reached in for the next vial, unscrewed the cap, and held it out. “Bottoms up, husband.”
“Maybe it really will stop it."
He hesitated, eyes flicking to mine. “What if it’s worse?”
“Then I’ll bury you in the backyard and say you died with honor. Drink it, Louis.” I was exhausted from the day. I knew he was too. We just needed to put this behind us and focus on the meeting.
Everything would be fine then.
It had to be.
He took the vial and lifted it up to me. “Cheers wife, let’s hope all body parts stay on.”
“I only care about one,” I teased.
He choked. “Which one?”
“Your brain?” I suggested. “Did it taste funny?”
He shrugged and dropped it back into the box. “Everything feels the same, I’m not sure I should be relieved or anxious for what’s to come.”
And within seconds, the wild flush in his skin began to fade. His breathing slowed. “I think I’ll go lay down now.”
“Good.” Guilt gnawed at me so swift I almost reached for his hand and said something stupid like thank you.
I almost asked if he was okay. I almost did a lot of things.
Instead, I tried to channel my aunt and uncles.
I wouldn’t be afraid. I was just making sure nobody found out an idiot Vescovi stole some state secrets from me about the family.
Now I never had to worry about it. Glorious.