9. Knox #2
Talon’s hand lifted and rested on Harrington’s shoulder.
“I think we all know that no one’s little friends could make it into this auction.
Am I right? Let’s put it this way, I guess you’re going to know who we are by the end of the night.
Won’t you?” Talon wasn’t moving his hand, not yet.
I’d give the senator credit. He had balls because he wasn’t backing down.
“Margaux, your fiancé is on his way. He expected you to show up with him. I suppose you don’t seem to understand what kind of situation your little,” he paused for a second, “adventure has created.”
I watched my little angel, studying every movement of her chest, the way her eyes shifted, the way her brow didn’t even move. Her lips never trembled, and somehow she remained calm.
“Uncle, perhaps you should have consulted me before telling me I was moving in with a man I have no interest in. Had I some notice, no, wait. I still would have run away. Good thing these nice gentlemen were willing to help a lady out.”
Moving in? Huh. She hadn’t quite explained everything to us last night. Or maybe it was that I hadn't cared to hear her little sob story. But right now she had me intrigued beyond that body of hers.
“Lady? Oh, my sweet niece. A lady doesn’t surround herself with lowlifes and wear a dress that advertises that she’s their whore.”
And there was that knife again, although I chuckled when I saw Ronan’s knife joined by Talon’s, but he pressed his against the senator’s neck.
I looked around and noticed a few glances and whispers, but with the angle we all stood at, no one could see exactly what was happening.
“Call her a whore one more time and you’ll be breathing through a hole in your neck while we steal her away and you never get to see her again,” said Talon.
Harrington’s gaze was hard.
“Something tells me the police wouldn’t be overly helpful right now, am I right?
” he asked in a matter-of-fact tone. “I suppose we are in a stalemate for the moment. So let’s try this.
If you don’t return her to her fiancé, you will gain nothing.
However, if she were to find her way back to him, I’m sure we can find a resolution to whatever little problem you seem to think my family has caused. ”
He drank the remaining liquid and pushed a finger against Talon’s arm to move the knife away before he turned, leaving on the last word.
“He’s a man used to getting what he wants, isn’t he?” Jett asked the question we were all thinking.
I turned to Ronan and we talked without saying a single word.
We’d just thrown a wrench in the man's plans, but I had a feeling that was all she was. A small inconvenience.
“What exactly do you guys have against the Thornes?” Margaux asked.
“Not the Thornes alone, angel. In fact, they aren’t the target at all,” I said.
She studied me for a few more seconds.
“Okay, my uncle then?”
I stepped forward.
“Know anything about the Illusion Casino?”
I looked for anything to implicate her. Breathing changes. Pupils dilating. A strange stutter to her words. A twitch in her cheek or a fidget in her fingers. Nothing.
“Not really. I know it’s being knocked down for a newer casino and stadium, I think.”
I looked between Jett and Ronan. That answer seemed consistent with what any of us had expected.
“Well, then, angel, let me give you a few more details. Your uncle is gate keeping things he shouldn’t, and he’s going out of his way to hurt our business.”
Margaux went back to silence, but I swore I could see her thinking as if she had anything she could do about anything. Or could she?
Talon grew impatient.
“Now that feathers are ruffled, what should we do next?” Talon asked, but before we could come up with another plan, Margaux pulled her arm away from Jett.
“Babe, where are you going?” he asked, and I hated the pout in his voice. I stepped closer because if she hurt him, I was going to hurt her, but she wasn’t stopping at him. She took her free hand to put pressure on Ronan’s arm to release her.
“Let me go. I have an idea.”
We all stopped and stared at her.
“An idea for what?” I asked.
Her face was pink, but it wasn’t that defeated, I’m going to cry damsel pink. It was the anger rising to the surface and she couldn’t keep it hidden.
“Yes, an idea. A plan. I don’t know what you guys are after, but I’m going to get any information I can. Sound good?” She didn’t pause. “But if you leave me, I swear to god when one of them kills me, I will come back and haunt your asses for eternity.”
Jett’s hurt morphed into a grin, and fucking hell, my heart did a little extra beat too. The tone, the edge in her words?
“Alright, angel. All eyes are on you,” I said and shifted, letting her out of the comfort that was our own little cocoon of violence.
There was something about a woman on the edge, but the way she walked away from us? Her ass was the last thing I got to watch as she stepped up next to the asshole Carrow. Fucking hell. She was creating her own tests of loyalty. Like she’d rather be on our side of hell.
“She can leave me anytime, because getting her back is going to be fun,” I said without meaning to, and the growl from Ronan told me more than anything else. He wasn’t letting her go.
Chapter 11- Margaux
If my uncle wanted me, he was going to get me. Of course, I really, really hoped the four assholes at my back were still dedicated to kidnapping me for whatever their reasoning was.
I didn’t know if there was love in the world, but they had me thinking there might be.
Impressions were funny though. Like my uncle who hid his ability to destroy anyone in his way.
The guys behind me? They’d kidnapped me on request. That had to be romance. What a first and second impression.
I glanced over my shoulder one last time before I sidled up to my nightmare. I couldn’t pretend like I wanted to see Carrow, not like I used to. But I could remember the little things that gave me some kind of joy.
My captors gave me plenty to smile about.
Give me a dress that doesn’t look like it came from the 50s?
Feed me food that a normal human would enjoy?
Don’t beat me for swearing? Yeah, they could have me, my virginity, hell, at this point I would do almost anything they asked.
Hand me a shovel and tell me where to start digging.
“Uncle,” I said, moving to stand next to him and Carrow. The look Carrow gave me was confusing. I couldn’t tell if he was in a murdery mood or just intrigued. The way he wrapped his hand around my wrist told me it was more the first. I moved closer to release the pressure on my arm.
“Where did you run off to, bride?” Carrow asked.
I smiled up at him with the same little innocent smile I’d practiced, finally finding my metaphorical mask again.
“You look different. I didn’t picture you in a gown like this.”
The way he looked me up and down made my skin crawl.
I flashed him the smile that got me attention I generally didn’t want, but it made me useful for my uncle.
“You like it?”
I tried to twirl but he yanked my wrist harder making it impossible.
“I suppose it makes you look a lot hotter, better for the magazines,” he said.
I leaned in closer and mumbled under my breath.
“At least a magazine can’t show your lack of personality.”
I had to tell myself not to roll my eyes and also not to kick him in the nuts. I also should have told myself to hold my tongue.
“What was that, Margaux?” Carrow asked, his hand slipped tight around my hip.
“Oh nothing. I’m so sorry for yesterday. I didn’t mean to scare anyone. I was in the bathroom, but the strangest thing happened. By the time I felt better, everyone was gone.”
Not sure that was going to be bought, but whatever.
They probably saw Jett, or maybe they didn’t.
They would believe whatever story made them feel in control.
They would adopt whatever narrative would make them not seem like I might have betrayed them.
I could have said nothing and they’d have a story ready for me to say.
“How irresponsible of us. Harrington, why didn’t your guards confirm she wasn’t in the bathroom?” Carrow asked, his tone causing my uncle's false smile to falter.
My uncle looked at Carrow, and for a brief moment, I thought he was going to lose his shit. Wouldn’t that be entertaining? I’d love the world to see what kind of man he really was, the monster I got to see. I had plenty of reminders on my body.
I smiled up at him as he grabbed my arm, his fingers pressing hard. I attempted to pull away, but it wasn’t going to do me a bit of good.
“How silly, wasn’t it? I apologize for any concerns. Of course I was found safe. Wasn’t I, uncle?”
Eyes flicked behind me and I wondered what they would see. Four men with various levels of scary. I waited for someone to ask about them. I’d been able to watch how these rich pretentious pricks worked and wondered how much of this we were going to pretend didn’t exist.
“Yes. Of course. My niece is nothing but obedient. Carrow, perhaps you keep her at your side tonight.”
The curls of my long hair tickled my back as I peeked over my shoulder, catching Ronan and Knox glaring. I turned my head back to the group, keeping the perfect mask on my face.
“Oh, of course, Carrow. Please, I’d love nothing more than to accompany you tonight.”
If he believed me it would confirm just how dumb I assumed Carrow was. His dad? Manipulative at best. I was curious if maybe I’d underestimate my ability to make this whole thing work for me.
I reached for Carrow’s arm and only then did my uncle release me. I ignored the throb of the blood rushing back into the place. He was reminding me who was boss, except he didn’t know that had all changed.
“Carrow, tell me. Are you in the same business as uncle?”