Chapter 7
KIERAN
Seventeen months before Eden went missing…
“ W hat do you mean no ?” Lochlan protests behind me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him throw a look at Rohan. “You never go into the city without me. It’s a rule.”
“Because we are such a rule-abiding bunch,” I answer dryly.
“It’s for your safety.” Rohan’s tone is neutral, but I hear the underlying accusation. “Besides, if I have to stay behind, it’s not fair to leave me with Lochlan.”
I turn around to see Lochlan roll his eyes. “Like I want to be stuck with him.” Lochlan looks at me as he motions to Rohan. “He’s so boring .”
Lochlan says the word with so much disgust you’d think Rohan was diseased.
“You two have your own homes,” I remind them, adjusting the cuffs I’ve rolled up. I hate having sleeves get in the way of my mobility, so they hug my biceps, leaving me plenty of room to move. “Go there.”
“I’m going with you .” Lochlan crosses his arms, giving me a look as if his word is final.
How cute.
“You are not.” I snatch up my gloves but don’t put them on yet. “You are staying here.”
“Is this because of the last time?” I stalk past Lochlan to my boots. “I swear I won’t turn the betting tables into a bloodbath. I’ll mind myself.”
Rohan snorts. “You don’t know the meaning of that.”
“You treat me as if I am a child.”
“Well, you act like a child?—“
“I’m leaving,” I snap at the two of them. I already have enough to worry about tonight. I don’t need them adding to it. “Don’t kill each other while I’m gone.”
“Kieran.” Rohan’s sharp tone has me turning back around. I quirk a brow in question and hope he can’t see right through me. “You are taking Jude?”
I nod. “I’m taking Jude and am not looking to draw attention to myself.” I cut a look at Lochlan, who at least looks a little sheepish. When he acts like this, it’s almost hard to believe that he’s the most bloodthirsty of us three.
And that is saying a lot considering I got my first kill at the ripe age of six.
Rohan gives me a sharp nod, though I have no doubt that he’ll push more later. For now, he stays silent as I turn on my heel and head for the door where Jude already waits.
Behind me, I hear Lochlan protesting, but Rohan’s sharp tone cuts through. “Just let him go,” he snaps, accent thick with agitation. I almost chuckle listening to those two, but I hold it in, glad I was able to slip away.
I wasn’t lying when I said I was taking Jude. He will be the one behind the wheel, driving me down the mountain into the city itself. The one eyeing me suspiciously as he pulls up to the chalet that I own in case I ever have meetings I need to take away from the compound.
And the only one that knows what I’m really doing tonight.
But given the majority of his loyalty lies with me, he doesn’t fight me as I exit the vehicle to head inside.
I know he isn’t fond of leaving me here alone, but I insisted on no guards tonight.
I’m not keen on having witnesses, especially when this is a secret—the only one I can think of—that I’ll be keeping from Lochlan and Rohan.
I stop at the stocked bar along the wall of the open living space and pour myself a generous glass of whiskey. I don’t feel fear. I don’t get nervous. But tonight is the closest I’ve ever gotten to experiencing those emotions.
I cross to the reinforced glass along the backside of the chalet.
Even though this one is set apart from the others that the upper class lives in—a luxury to stay in the city proper and elevated up from the slope and foothills of the mountain—I’ve taken extra precautions to avoid any incidents.
There’s no outdoor patio like at my actual home, no space to step out into the cool evening air, so I’m left taking in the view from the windows—which are nearly impenetrable, of course.
Sipping from the glass, I enjoy the silence. It’s so rare that I even get that. But for tonight, I want the chance to have something new without anyone else tainting it.
Or at least I hope I will.
When the door opens behind me, I’m careful not to tense. I take another sip as if I’m unbothered, but when I hear the click of heels, I can’t stop my grin.
“I have been fetched by your loyal dog.” Eden’s words have a bite to them, and I turn slowly to face her. “The least you could do is acknowledge me.”
I wasn’t certain she’d come. Jude was initially against this plan altogether, but I eventually convinced him.
He insisted on dragging up every piece of information about Eden he could find and even followed her for a few days to ensure my safety, but I told him I didn’t want to know a thing he found.
I wanted to learn whatever she would tell me. I wanted to earn it.
It took a week, but he finally agreed to escort me down here and retrieve her. I told him not to force her to come if she rejected the invitation. I would have drunk here all night if he had come back alone.
But here she is.
Not only that, but she’s wearing the dress I sent with him.
I selected a sleek, black number that hugs her toned body down to her knees.
A long slit runs up her right thigh until it’s almost indecent, giving her the freedom to move and showing me more skin.
With her left hip cocked and right leg jutted out, I’m getting an eyeful of her thigh right now.
Despite the glare she’s shooting me, pride surges through me as I take her in. She agreed to come meet me. She let Jude drive her. And she put on the dress.
I take another drink as my smile grows, savoring the heat from her gaze. Seeing her all riled up only makes my dick hard. In fact, it makes me want to push her a little farther—not enough to actually make her mad but to see her control fray.
“You look so good.” Her features start to soften a little at the compliment, but I can’t seem to help myself as I tack on, “Especially in something I bought you.”
Her eyes narrow at that. “Did you really have me brought here on my night off to provoke me? I’m sure that you need the practice, but I might be too advanced for you.”
I chuckle as I cross the room, the sound low and raspy. She pulls a side out of me that I’m not even sure I knew existed.
Stopping in front of her, I take a slow sip, savoring how her eyes follow the glass. She can pretend that she is unaffected by me—I’m enjoying it—but I see the way she watches my mouth, stares at my throat as I swallow.
“That is not why I brought you here.”
Her gaze jumps up to mine, and I swear I can see her mentally chastising herself. “Then why am I here?”
I step closer, making her tip her head back. The little space between our bodies feels charged, and I want to drag her into me. But she’s going to be a battle that is hard-won. And I can’t wait.
I loop my fingers around her wrist, tugging her to the table tucked in the corner.
“You told me to try harder.” I set my whiskey down and uncover the main dish in the center of the table.
I might not have gotten any information from Jude, but I did have him tell my personal chef what to make for tonight.
“One thing you should know about me is that I can take direction very well.”
She tips her head to the side, and given the grin tugging at her lips, I know that I’m slowly winning her over.
* * *
Three weeks later…
“Are you ever going to tell them?”
I turn my head, surprised at Jude’s question. He’s just behind me, his eyes scanning the shadows between the cages as I make my way through the crowd.
I couldn’t avoid bringing Lochlan this time. He was on the verge of actually trying to fight me when he caught me trying to sneak out of my own damn house. He and Rohan have been too suspicious since I went into the city alone that first time.
I’ve managed two more dinners with Eden since then—even getting onto a first name basis. While I still enjoy the little jabs she throws my way, I’ve learned that her laugh is even more rewarding. She pretends she doesn’t want me, but I like the challenge.
I think she does, too. She wants to see how far I’ll go, and I want to earn everything she gives me. It’s led to very tense, sexually frustrated nights.
But it’s a form of foreplay we both seem to fucking love.
“They don’t need to know,” I finally answer as we skirt that cage in the back corner.
The guard lets us past, and Jude waits until I’ve opened the door that leads to the back rooms before he speaks. “Rohan is suspicious.”
“And what is he suspicious of?” Rohan trusts me with his life, so I know that he wouldn’t assume I was putting them in danger.
“That I do not know. He’s started to ask me more questions about where I take you, pulling the data on rotations and vehicle location.” We pause in the hall. “He is more subtle than Lochlan, but no less insistent on finding out where you are going.”
I step closer. “What have you told him?” No part of me believes Jude would be disloyal, but I can’t be blind in that trust. Even with him.
He cocks his head, and I can see his guard drop a little now that we are alone. “You know I keep my mouth shut, yeah?”
“That’s why you’re the only one that knows.”
“But that will only last so long.” He steps back, his jaw working. “I’d never tell you what I think you should do, Kieran. Just thought you should know.”
I squeeze his shoulder, knowing he’s telling the truth. “I’ll think about it.”
“Yeah.” He nods, and his eyes cut toward the door. “I’ll wait here.”
I consider just walking in, but I’m not sure I feel like having Eden’s blade at my throat today. So, I settle on knocking. Three loud raps, and I can hear her moving on the other side.
As soon as the door opens, though, I step inside, my hand wrapping around her wrist—which does have a blade in it, to no one’s surprise—and spinning us. Her back hits the door, closing it, and I pin her hand above her head.
I tsk. “I don’t think this is the cage, Eden.” I pluck the blade from her immobilized hand and toss it away as she glares at me. “Eager to spill some blood tonight?”