Chapter 12
Aurora
“So Dad’s not here?” I ask, flopping onto the couch across from Caleb.
I arrived in a car with a driver my brother sent for me. The ride took two hours. Officially, my parents’ mansion is near Shaker Heights, but with the fifteen-plus acres, the house is well hidden from prying eyes and the road.
“You came two days late.” Caleb sets aside the corporate reports on the table.
He even works sitting in front of the TV.
A real workaholic, like our father, though he does seize every chance to take off for some rock concert.
“He has an urgent meeting in Dallas. Closing a merger with a facilities management holding company.”
“I see.” I sigh, although I have no idea what kind of management that is or why he’d fly to Texas for it.
“The competitors tried to push back, but you know Dad. He can cut off anyone’s air supply,” Caleb continues with a smile.
I pull my jean-clad legs up under me and tug at my turtleneck. I had to take off the choker so my family wouldn’t ask questions, and now, strangely, my neck feels empty. At home, I have to wear clothes that cover my neck and thighs to hide the hickeys and bruises Desire left in the shower.
“I bought him his favorite silk ties,” I state. Father’s always had a strange passion for strong silk—he says it’s the most reliable and delicate material in the world.
I’m speaking into a void. My brother’s eyes are back on his papers.
I turn to the window, staring blankly at the manicured garden.
The moment I stepped over the threshold of this house, I fell right back into the gray, indifferent reality.
No one here cares about me. Caleb, like our father, is always busy.
And Mom, wearing a silk scarf to hide the slow regrowth of hair after her rehabilitation, has announced that we’re going to have a “serious talk” before taking off to the mall with her friends.
I know exactly what that talk will be about: why I missed my last scheduled session with Dr. Getix and how I dared to switch clinics without her knowledge. Maybe she’ll bring up Zack for some reason.
“You know, you look … calmer,” Caleb says, not even lifting his eyes from the endless numbers. “You don’t jump at every sound anymore, and your face looks fresher. Did the new doctor help that fast? Mom mentioned you switched doctors on your boyfriend’s advice.”
My eyes widen. Wow, he actually noticed.
If only Caleb knew what kind of “therapy” put the color back in my cheeks. If he knew my “doctor” put a collar on me, pinned me against the wall in the shower, and made me scream through orgasms in a house with a real lion. I pull the neck of my turtleneck a little higher.
“Yeah, I guess.” I pause then ask, “Do you know the Sterlings?”
My father and brother are constantly moving in high corporate circles and, in theory, should know how dangerous Desire’s family is. But they haven’t raised an alarm or forbidden me from seeing him. Maybe the Sterlings just don’t publicize their brutality?
“Sure. They’re known for their marine freight corporation, first and foremost.” He shrugs.
A chill runs down my spine. It’s terrifying to imagine what exactly the Sterlings are shipping on their boats under the guise of legal cargo. Weapons? Drugs? People for sale?
Caleb isn’t much of a conversationalist, so I wander around the house a bit to occupy my thoughts.
Going up to the other living room on the second floor, I stop by the window and stare out at the manicured garden, but instead of trees, my imagination paints a picture of Desire, his face hidden behind the white-and-gold mask, killing that gray-haired man in the suit. I think his name was Robert.
And he’s killing him because of me.
The thought of it makes a heat bloom low in my belly.
My cunt burns, and I sigh heavily, squeezing my eyes shut.
I really need a doctor. I can still turn back: stay here, safe, obey my mother, and go back to Dr. Getix or any other psychotherapist. Because there is no Desire here, within the walls of my parents’ home, and won’t be …
“Miss Aurora, Mr. Sterling has arrived to see you.” The prim voice of our butler, James, with his trademark British accent, makes me nearly jump out of my skin.
God, he’s here! Why?!
“Your boyfriend?” Caleb happens to be walking by, still not looking up from his reports. “Unexpected. Well, let him in, James.” He nods to the butler then turns and winks at me. “Going to introduce me to your boyfriend, sis?”
“Of course.” I force out a tight smile.
My heart pounds wildly as I follow my brother into the spacious foyer on shaky legs.
When the front door opens to let Desire in, all logical thoughts fly right out of my head.
He’s devilishly attractive in that black Armani shirt with the top button undone and his hair casually styled into a side part.
My thighs clench. This polished, unfamiliar version of him hits me like a fucking aphrodisiac.
Then, stepping in beside him, is a gorgeous brunette around nineteen in a leather biker jacket.
My fingers curl into fists, itching to grab her chestnut hair. What the hell is this?! That bastard was supposed to be out killing another mafioso but instead brought some rocker chick to my house?!
“Wow, so this is where your girl lives, Dez?” The brunette whistles, looking around curiously.
Caleb, who has come up behind me, fixes his gaze on the girl’s worn leather jacket with a faded patch on the back.
“Is that an original ‘The Void’ tour jacket from ten years ago?” my brother asks, stunned.
The brunette blinks in surprise, then breaks into a wide smile. “Keen eye. Yeah, the legendary closed concert in Seattle. I wrestled it away from some crazy collector.”
“No way, you’re kidding …” Caleb breathes out, taking a step toward her. “I’ve been trying to find one for like three years, at least. They trashed half the equipment on stage during the finale.”
The brunette eyes his gray sweatshirt and expensive lounge pants with obvious skepticism. “You’re telling me you actually listen to garage hardcore?”
“If the music doesn’t vibrate your ribs, why listen to it at all?” Caleb smirks.
Desire laughs quietly. “True. Everything after they broke up is just sterile, polished silence. I’m Desire.” He steps forward and extends his hand to Caleb.
“Caleb.” My brother readily shakes it.
I stand rooted to the spot. It took Desire exactly a minute and a half to win over my conservative, perpetually busy brother without firing a single shot.
“And this is my favorite cousin, Meg,” Desire continues. “She’s just been visiting friends in Cleveland, and I thought, why not stop by and introduce her to my princess?”
I blink. Cousin? All my suffocating jealousy crumbles to ash, replaced by overwhelming relief.
While I’m still in shock, Desire approaches me. His palm lands on my waist, pulling me against him. “Hey, sweetheart.”
He leans in and kisses me deeply, slipping his tongue in and crushing my lips until they hurt. I’ve never allowed myself anything like this in front of my family, but my body melts, surrendering to his force. I don’t try to push him away.
A little breathless, I open my eyes, expecting awkwardness or protest from my brother, but Caleb doesn’t seem to care about us at all. He’s not even looking our way—he can’t take his eyes off Meg as she enthusiastically tells him about rock music.
“Meg, Desire, please, be our guests,” Caleb says, snapping out of it.
We move to the living room, and I barely have time to register the change of scenery before Desire sits me on his lap. Meanwhile, Meg laughs brightly and slaps Caleb on the arm in a familiar way, capturing his full attention.
“Comfortable, babe?” Desire whispers into my neck, his hot breath washing over my skin. At the same time, his hand, hidden from my brother’s view, squeezes my ass hard enough to hurt.
Devil. What a fucking devil he is. He found out about Caleb’s taste in music and brought Meg along specifically to disarm and win him over. I’m not even sure she’s really his cousin or just another gray-collar slave from the Kingdom.
“Of course. And you, honey?” I smile innocently and kick him hard under the glass coffee table.
His dark eyes narrow, and his rough fingers squeeze my ass even harder, pressing on some pressure point, and my leg almost goes numb. Bastard. Did he learn that from those Asian thugs with razors too?
“I always feel wonderful with you, sweetheart.” He keeps his voice steady, but I hope he’s in a hell of a lot of pain.
“Desire, I have to say, you found an excellent doctor for my sister.” Caleb suddenly decides to remember I exist. “She’s clearly doing better. I guess you make sure she takes her pills on time.”
“No, I just threw them out the window.” Desire smiles, patting my thigh.
Caleb freezes, then just shrugs it off with a careless smirk, clearly taking it as a joke.
“Well, if such a radical approach is helping her feel better, why not?”
“Is Mr. Vance not at home?” Desire asks, scanning the rich furnishings of the living room. “I’d be honored to meet him.”
“Father’s in Dallas.” Caleb waves it off.
“Truly a shame.”
I turn my head slightly to look at Desire. I’ve studied my Prince Harming well enough by now to know that he means it. Why the hell would he want to meet my father?
Be that as it may, I have a second leg, and I use it to stomp hard on the toe of his shoe under the table. A satisfied smile spreads across my lips as he flinches almost imperceptibly.
“Honey, didn’t you have urgent business in Winchester?” I ask.
“It had to be postponed,” he hisses through his teeth, barely audible. His fingers squeeze my other ass cheek, finding another spot with unerring accuracy, and my second leg goes numb instantly. “Family matters brought me to Cleveland, and that allowed me to see you.”
“How wonderful, honey!”