Chapter Fourteen
Orchid
He won the vote. He’s going to take my daughter.
Her blood turning to ice, Orchid opened the door to their study, where just over an hour ago, she’d been tied to a chair, confessing to them all her sneakiness. She’d also have to find another way to catch the cheater who frequented House of Saber, but that was for later.
Without her express permission, her body came alive again the instant she set her eyes on them. The fresh scent of their cologne hit her at once. Their hair was still damp from their showers, and they’d changed into track bottoms and T-shirts. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off them. The sizzling sting down her spine spread to between her legs.
Er, no. Delete. Delete. Delete. Why was she being so stupid? Did she learn nothing from Sara Hathsfield at all? Besides, she had more important matters to take care of.
What was her father doing here in their house this late, and why had he said what he said?
“Papa,” she said, and her heart broke in half at the sight of the man who had raised both Liliana and Orchid most of their lives after their mom had passed away.
“Orchid,” he said, hugging her to him. “My darling girl,” he added softly.
“What’s happened?”
“Wolf managed to get an early meeting with The Order. He was impatient to make you his bride. I lost the vote. Even if I resign from the board, it doesn’t take away his privilege to claim you. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to do,” her father said, breaking down.
“It’s okay, Papa. I’m not afraid of him. I can take care of the situation myself.” And she could. Steve Barker was no match for her, even if he called himself a wolf. The man had no idea what she was capable of wreaking. One thing was certain: she was not going to marry him. 100% certain.
“The fuck you will,” Cash said under his breath, soft enough that her father hadn’t heard him, but she was so in tune with everything about them, that she heard Cash’s rough voice as clearly as if he had said it out loud.
“Oscar,” Brent said, sliding a sheet of paper across the desk. “Sign this.”
“What is it?” her father asked wearily as he lifted the document and scanned the text.
“You’re signing your daughter over to us. As our bride,” River said. “She’ll be untouchable around the globe for the rest of her life.”
“She’s ours. She’ll belong to us, to the KAI Empire,” Cash added.
Orchid felt as if she’d been struck by lightning twice. She must have misheard them.
As their bride?
What?
“I… I don’t know… what to say,” her father stuttered. “You’ll do this? For us. Orchid?” He glanced at her, his eyes brimming with tears of relief. “It’s the only way you’ll be free of Wolf. You’ll be safe with Brent, River, and Cash for the rest of your life, Orchid. Wolf will have no claim on you anymore. He wouldn’t dare try to take you. Dear god, thank you. Thank you,” her father said, turning to face them now.
He thought she would be safe with them.
Her heart pounding painfully in her chest, Orchid looked at the three men who had stood up from where they’d sat, their hands in the pockets of their track bottoms, their T-shirts outlining layers and layers of brick-like abs.
Time stood still. And everything became crystal clear.
Oh, no. Oh. No.
Orchid groaned out loud and did the only thing she could do. She fled.
The last thing she heard was her father calling her name, confusion filling his voice.
Once inside her bedroom, she locked the door and began to pace the floor, then had to sit down when she became overwhelmed. Rinse and repeat.
She had no idea how much time had passed since she ran from the room like a first-grade coward. That was not like her at all. She faced her problems head-on.
Except this one.
Had ten minutes gone by, or twenty, or an hour? She only knew she would be walking a hole into the plush carpet under her feet by the time the sun rose again.
She was startled when there was a knock on the door, her heart missing an entire beat.
What was she going to do?
“Orchid?”
No. No. No.
This was worse than her having to marry Wyoming Wolf. At least she knew where she stood with him.
But this… with Brent, River, and Cash…
“I’m a bit busy right now,” she said, then cringed. What was her plan, anyway? Was she going to hide out here forever? Yes. That was the plan.
She didn’t dare breathe, thinking they would break the door down, but she was only met with silence.
More time passed, and then there was another knock on the door.
“Um, still busy,” she said. Then she heard a whining sound on the other side of the door.
Tulip?
She rushed toward the door, unlocked it, and flung it open.
“Tulip,” she cried, bent, and picked up her favorite, well, her only fur person, in the whole world. “Tulip,” she said again, cuddling her dog tightly toward her. She missed her bundle baby so much that tears started to fill her eyes.
But how did Tulip get here? Her father didn’t bring her over. He was too preoccupied with mafia business, and he wasn’t really a dog person. So that meant...
She looked up, and coming toward her were the three men who had, in a week, turned her life upside down and inside out.
Brent. River. Cash.