Drayton
How could words not only complete you but confuse you at the same time?
I’d been fine before Marian’s declaration.
Happy, even. And she sounded genuine. She’d done everything I asked.
But her words rattled me. They set off alarms a part of me wasn’t ready to feel.
But I couldn’t ignore what the other voice told me.
Revenge. Even as I kissed her and eased her down my cock, Elec’s words kept pushing in.
Chosen. Chosen. Chosen. God, it felt so right hearing him say it.
I wanted her as my real chosen, like the way it should have been.
It left me obsessed with wanting to touch her.
To lose myself in the part of her that I once loved.
But then she had said my name, erasing those and reminding me of my plan of revenge I’d discussed with Elec.
When those emotions abruptly ended, they were replaced with what I felt was a warning.
And that was also from Elec. “You will both be in my presence when you see this proof. And you will bring her to Headquarters. We talked about this.”
Marian, at Headquarters? In the presence of Elec?
As much as I wanted to know the truth about what happened so long ago; as much as I loved the idea of actually seeing it, having her near him left me unsettled.
The fear she’d shown when talking to him.
.. I told Elec I would bring her, but now it felt different.
I felt afraid for her, and maybe that was the true source of my anger.
Things were happening too fast. These feelings.
This revenge. My brain said I wanted both.
I wanted the old and the new, but that was impossible which told me, I wasn’t done. I couldn’t be done.
Had she paid enough?
I wasn’t sure there would ever be a timeframe on the devastation we all suffered, but there was still the fact that she could be innocent and that was warping everything.
This fucking injustice.
Both emotions were wrapped around me, going back and forth. Even now, I could feel the passion twisting into something more. Something darker.
“Dray.”
The soft continuous sounds that left her led me to her lips, but it was the heart she held between us that kept drawing my attention. Between us. Yes. I couldn’t forget. Not yet. There was always something trying to keep us apart. Someone.
Revenge.
Revenge.
“Dray. God, I’ve missed you. Dray.” She moaned loudly, nearly stealing me from my thoughts. “I had hoped someday—”
I hugged around her, crushing and cutting her off at the impact. I had her bent arms trapped at her sides with Bastian’s heart nearly touching her cheek.
“You hoped someday, what?”
My thrusts were slow but forceful. Marian immediately picked up the underlining fury in my tone. Fearful eyes stared right into mine.
“Drayton. Drayton, you’re hurting me.”
“Someday, what, Marian?”
She was wiggling, beginning to twist in my hold.
“You hoped we’d run into each other? That I’d forget what you’d done and bring you home?
Fuck you in some backroom so you could go back to your perfect French family?
” I kept one arm around her, grabbing the heart from her loosening grip.
Muscle and blood shot out across both of us as I squeezed the organ to mush.
“This is what I think of your other life, Marian.”
I let go. The top of Marian’s body pushed back as she slapped me.
It was so hard, fire blazed across my cheek.
She tried pushing away, but I only wrapped back around her, beginning to thrust again.
Marian went wild. My hand fisted her hair as her teeth bit hard into my pec.
I jerked her back, feeling blood leave the indents as I moved in only inches from her face.
Tears filled her eyes, but they didn’t spill free as she stared me down.
I let go, putting up my hands in surrender, but my expression wasn’t submissive.
It was hard. Maybe even unfeeling as I leaned back in the chair and thrust my hips, throwing her forward.
“You’ve missed me. You want this. Go ahead and continue what you were saying. Just do your duty.”
Marian didn’t speak. She didn’t move off my cock.
Angrier, I became, but my lust didn’t disappear. It got stronger as the rawness of revenge left me goading her.
“Come on. I’m waiting. Ride me like the good little wife you’re going to be. Show me—”
“Fuck you! She slapped me again. “Wife? This is how you treat someone you’re going to marry? This is how you treat your chosen? I’ve earned that title now! Did I not show you I would do anything for you?” Her lids lowered even more. “You make me sick. I was wrong about you. You’re no heir.”
My hand shot out, wrapping around her throat as I led her to me.
“Say that again.”
“Drayton Pennington is the heir.” Her tone deepened, turning almost monotone. “But you’re not acting like a Pennington.”
My ears started ringing, and shame had me taking her in. Blood was splattered over her face, and tears quickly raced down her cheeks as her lip quivered.
“Apologize, Drayton.”
I blinked hard, easing back my hand from her neck. Her sorrow had my thoughts clearing to nothingness. My shoulders sagged, and I knew she saw my vulnerability. The pain for both of us, it consumed me. I hated that, but I couldn’t control these ups and downs. I couldn’t even make sense of them.
“You hurt me. Apologize right now.”
My lips parted through my hesitation. My actions were vile. Disgusting. I knew that, and I was a dick to let myself go there after what she’d done to Bastian. What the hell was wrong with me?
“I’m… sorry.”
She sniffled, almost appearing surprised.
“You went too far. I am you’re chosen and your equal.
You may feel angry at me sometimes. You may even want to hurt me.
You will not do that anymore. I don’t deserve that.
Do you hear me, Drayton? You can’t hurt me anymore.
I know I caused you unspeakable pain, but you love me, and it’s time to show me that.
You’re going to see I was innocent, and you’re going to regret some of the things you’ve said and done.
I know you. Just know I understand. Part of me even believes I deserve it.
But it ends now. You’re going to protect me with your life, because as of now, I am your life. ”
Marian pushed against my chest as she eased off my cock and stepped down, grabbing her sweatpants. She slid them on while I took her in.
“You may be right, but you don’t give me orders.
I know my place, and I know what I’m doing.
I went too far. I admit that. But just because we’re getting married doesn’t mean everything is back to the way it used to be.
” I stood, pulling up my own sweatpants.
“I told you I need time. I… I need time.
I went to stalk to the door, not able to as my feet rooted into place. Walk before her? Leave my chosen behind as I put myself above her? Never. I growled, pointing to the door. “Go.”
One of Marian’s eyebrows lifted to me, and she headed for the door at a leisurely pace.
“What happens now?”
“We marry.”
“I know, but how? Where? When?”
She entered the darkness of the hall as I followed.
My head was buzzing with the questions. The dim light had me squinting as the throb in my head increased.
“Colorado.”
“Really? Is that where we are?”
“No.”
“Where are we?”
Confusion had her turning to me just as she pushed the other door open.
A brighter light flooded around us, and I didn’t answer as I cut my gaze up, cursing.
Three of my men were laughing in the living area, and they were laughing at whatever Quinton was telling them.
I should have known he wouldn’t leave Marian for long.
To make it worse, she was already looking towards them and had a damn smile on her face.
“Shower.”
She headed in, pouting her lip the slightest amount. “I will. First, I want to see how Penny is.”
And with that she was jogging off. And me, I was glaring as the men all turned to us. To her.
“How’s Penny? Did you talk to her?”
Quinton’s gaze was cautious of me as I neared, but I could tell he was trying to be at ease around Marian. “I did. I told her you were busy but would call her the moment you were able. She’s okay. She’s staying with Katia and another agent named Charlee until they can set her up somewhere new.”
“Could I—” Marian’s voice died out as she turned to look at me.
I knew she wanted to ask to keep Penny, but she quickly turned back to Quinton, forcing a smile.
“I’m happy to hear it. I’m sure they’ll find her a great place to stay.
I should go shower. I’m a mess.” She glanced at the men who were soaking her in.
Men… she should have never seen in this place.
“You all must be Drayton’s friends.” My jaw tightened at the name, but my men didn’t inform her that it wasn’t what I went by.
To them, I was Sinn or The Devil. That was who I was, and Marian would find that out soon enough.
“It was so nice meeting you all. I should really go.”
They nodded, turning to me as she quickly disappeared around the corner. Only two met my eyes, Quinton and Nolan. Zach and Warden only glanced up, but they kept their gaze diverted.
“She got you good.” Quinton pointed to the bloody bite on my chest. “I’m sure you deserved it.”
“What are you doing here? I told you to leave.”
He shrugged. “I did leave, and I ran into these three. They were headed this way. Hell, you should be thanking me.”
I glanced at the three men standing next to Quinton. “Did I not make myself clear last week? I’m getting married. No meetings this month.”
“Is that her? Is that the new wife?”
Nolan’s mouth twisted as he went back to looking at the bite.
“It is.”
Slowly, he nodded. “She’s pretty. Too pretty for you.”
I smiled. “And she’s the biggest pain in the ass you’ll ever meet. But why don’t you tell me what’s really on your mind.”
Nolan nodded, leaning against the wall as he pushed back the light brown hair from his downturned face. He glanced up, still coming back to meet my gaze. “Does she want to marry you?”
“Probably not.”
Again, he nodded. The other men looked between us, staying quiet, but I could see they had questions of their own.
“You have the remnants of a black eye. You have a fresh bite on your chest, and you’re both splattered with blood. We have a brotherhood. We’re supposed to have trust. What is really going on, Sinn? Why is she here?”
I let out a deep breath, taking in my closest members.
“You want to know why Marian is here? Come, I’ll show you.”
Quinton’s hand lifted, stopping us.
“Did she finish?” I nodded, and he smiled, slapping against my bicep. “I fucking knew it. I told you she would.”
“With all due respect, Sinn, what the hell, man? Finish what? Whose blood is that?”
I gestured my head for Zach and the rest to follow. We entered the darkness, only to step into the cold. Torches still lit up the space, and I watched as the men walked forward in a mix of shock and awe. Warden turned to me first.
“She—Marian did that? The tiny woman we just saw?”
All eyes turned to me.
“That’s right. I didn’t leave her a choice. That’s her fiancé.”
Zach’s mouth parted in shock, but he quickly caught himself. “Fiancé? As in, she was going to marry someone other than you?”
“That’s right.” I shrugged, moving in closer to Bastian before turning to face them.
“Marian was mine long ago. She’ll always be mine.
Now, she doesn’t have a choice. The man was abusive.
A murderer and a rapist. Not to her but to his mistresses.
You can say I saved her from a miserable future and showed her the truth before it was too late. Any of you have a problem with that?”
The men looked at each other, only to turn back to me.
“Does she love you at all?” Nolan reached over, picking up Bastian’s severed hand.
“She always has. It was her mother that tore us apart. We don’t have to worry about that anymore. The past is dead. No one is keeping me and Marian apart. No one. Is that clear?”
“Crystal. Nothing like a good love story.”
I nodded to Nolan, eyeing the door. Even though I knew Marian wouldn’t run, I didn’t like her being alone.
“Well, you’re here when I told you not to be, so now you all can clean up and take out the trash. Keep the top of the skull. I’m going to use that.”
“Got it, boss.”
“I’m going to be with my chosen. We have a wedding to discuss.
” I pointed to Quinton, pausing as I swallowed back the weight of the situation.
“You stay here why they take care of Bastian. I need to make some calls to see if everything’s prepared.
We might leave today, or it might be in a few days.
I want you close until I know more.” I stopped, again feeling the shock and heaviness.
It mixed with the tiredness I couldn’t shake.
I was heir. More, I was about to marry a woman I’d viewed as my enemy.
One, I loved. The gravity of the truth hit hard.
How long had I dreamed of this? I never thought it would happen, but it was. And soon.
“You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah.” I paused. “Quinn, I’ve been an asshole. I—”
“Am forgiven.”
“I’m sorry. The last few weeks.” I stopped myself. “I want you as my witness. My shadow. I need you, Quinn.”
For seconds he didn’t speak.
“You want me as your second?”
“I’m heir. I need someone to have my back.
I trust no one but you. …You stood up for Marian.
You didn’t back down. I need that. She needs that.
I know tradition usually calls for a brother or father to step in as the shadow, but we both know they’ll want back what is mine.
I don’t see them taking this well. Especially after I arrive to inform them with Marian as my wife.
” I held tighter to the knob. “Will you do it? Will you take the risk and be my second? Will you come with me and Marian to Colorado so we can marry, and then home to Chicago?”
Seconds passed. A grin finally pulled against my cousin’s lips, and he stepped forward, hugging to me like he was trying to break me.
“Bet your fucking ass I’ll be your shadow. And best man,” he winked. “We’ll get you married, and then we’ll go home.”