Chapter 19
Nineteen
GENEVIEVE
“ H i, dove.”
No, no, no! Genevieve drew in a shallow breath and grasped her stomach, her insides coiling with nausea. Groggily, she blinked awake and shifted her hazy eyes, taking in the massive room. Contemporary furniture lined the space, and a huge set of full pane windows spanned the length of a multistory wall, showcasing a view of a desert-scrub-covered plain with rocky hills in the distance.
Jed hooked his arm over the back of a modular dark gray leather sofa, sitting on the armrest and towering over her with his leg draped by her side. A chill-inducing grin spread across his sharp features, bringing to life the wicked, unexplained scar that lined his jaw.
Genevieve’s skin broke out in an icy sweat. “Where are we?”
“And why should I tell you that when you’ve behaved so badly?”
She shifted, and the desert view spun in a dizzying circle. “Did you drug me?”
“It was necessary for our safety, dove. We had to get you out of Reno without causing a scene. ”
We?
Archer. Oh no, Archer! What had he done with him?
She gulped through her dry throat and croaked out, “Archer?”
“I’m here.” Archer ambled into her line of sight and braced his leg on a nearby cream-colored armchair, folding his hands across his washed, ripped jeans.
Genevieve gaped at him. “Are you okay?”
“More than fine. We both are now.” The corner of Archer’s mouth slowly lifted, and he crossed his fingers. “Besties for life, just like you promised.”
Oh no! Please don’t tell me my best friend is a backstabbing creep. “Did Jed do something to you?” Please, please, please, let there be an explanation.
A harsh laugh boomed out of Jed. “No, dove, there was no need for me to do anything like that. Unlike you, your bestie decided to reap the benefits of being on my side. An important lesson I will firmly instill in you if it takes the rest of our lives.”
“Archer,” she breathed out in disbelief. “What is Jed talking… Did you betray me?”
“Betray you ?” Archer scoffed, arching a perturbed brow. “You betrayed me . You were my support network, then you left without a word and never even called? Marshal came in the week after you left wanting exactly what I wanted—to bring you back home to us. We thought you’d contact me. Almost three years and not a word. Friends don’t do that.”
“I was right about you. Until I met…” Better not mention Brendan…yet. Genevieve swallowed deeply. “Until I met people outside of Reno, I never trusted a soul other than my mother, and I was right—you aren’t trustworthy. Friends don’t backstab or lie, no matter what the reason.” She pointed up at Jed while holding Archer’s narrowed gaze. “You told me you’d never even met him.”
“Of course I did.” Archer clicked his tongue. “I told you what you needed to hear. Both Marshal and I knew you’d attempt to run off again, and who better to bring you back than me.” He bore the cool crystal blue depths of his eyes into hers, their shimmering glint sending a rippling chill down her spine. “You belong in Reno with us. It’s your home. You’ll forgive me over time, just as you will Marshal. We love you, and we’ll never let you go.”
He's gone batshit crazy! What the hell? Genevieve licked her lips. “Arch, Jed’s brainwashed you. You’re not?—”
“Oh, come on, Gen. How does it benefit either of us if you leave again? Contrary to what you might think, I do care about you.”
Then you’d help me escape, even if it meant I’d never see you again.
“We’ll remain friends for life,” Archer continued, “and Marshal’s giving me more money than I know what to do with, just as he promised he would if I became one of his men.”
Her mouth drifted open. “One of his men?”
“Yes, my new role is your personal assistant and, dare I might say, private security tracker.” Genevieve squeezed her eyes shut, moisture pooling as Archer droned on, “You’ll forgive me eventually, especially after you realize how good you have it. You’ll be Marshal’s wife with the freedom to spend all the money you’d like, shopping around Reno with me by your side.” He fanned out his arms. “You’ll get to raise your kids in this private paradise with multiple pools, a playground—heck, it even has a game room. We’ll have a personal chef, a driver, and a nanny once your kids come along. All I have to do is keep you in line, and we can spend hours together. No more grueling work in the salon. Surely, you care enough about me to want a better life for me too.”
Genevieve shook her head in disbelief, trying to process how her supposed best friend for the past seven years of her life had been a snake in the grass. Perhaps it was his head she needed to cut off.
Jed bent down to her ear. “You think you can outsmart me, dove, but you will never outsmart me. I have a play for every one of yours, and I always win. You are mine . Brendan King will die for attempting to take you from me, and your friend Archer will become one of my right-hand men for bringing you back.”
No, not Brendan. I’ll do anything to keep him safe. Anything!
A warm tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. At least Brendan was safe in The Golden Star. Would he see the video footage of her with Archer and think she ran off and betrayed him? Perhaps it was for the best. Brendan would be safe. If he lived, she could bear any kind of imprisonment. Him and… She froze before gasping in a tense breath.
“Jed, my mom?”
A biting chuckle escaped his throat, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. “Mighty groggy there, aren’t you, my dove? I was waiting for you to ask that.”
“Please,” she breathed out, “I’ll do anything.”
Jed brought his face within inches of hers and held her chin, eyeing her lips. “I know you will, and it’s about time I acted on that. You will never spend another night out of my arms. I’m done playing games.”
More tears spilled out to her utter, uncontrollable embarrassment. “Is she safe?”
Flashing her a calculated smile, Jed whispered, “Of course she is, dove. I made you a promise, and unlike you, I keep my promises. I told you I’d never harm her.”
Genevieve pierced her lip with her teeth. “But?”
“But what?”
“You’re the one playing games, Jed. Please don’t. Not about this. Can I see her?”
“When you’re my wife, you can see her as much as you’d like.” Jed released her chin and held out his hand in a grand gesture like the world was at her fingertips. “This is our new home. Your mom, Archer, and your favorite two guards, Killian and Mateo, will all live here with us, and of course, there will be a whole brigade of other security to keep you in and others out. A maximum-security contemporary paradise.”
“A prison,” she spat. “You’ve lost it, Jed. This is crazy.”
“I love it when you call me Jed. It’s the only thing you’ve done right since you’ve returned to Reno. Makes me crazy to hear my name roll off your lips, but I’ve always been crazy. You just forced me to show you what that means.”
He bent down and traced her cracked lips with the tip of his finger, continuing to eye their fullness with hunger. “Now, let’s discuss your new rules. When you’re not with me, you’re with Archer. You never get to be alone, except in our master suite, and you’ll only leave this house with me or Archer. The quicker you embrace your life here, the happier you’ll be. If there’s any hope in that conniving mind of yours that lover boy’s court cases are gonna work out, you can lose hope.” He leaned in so their mouths brushed, his smokey gray eyes smoldering. “I always win.”
Her stomach rolled as she forced herself not to pull away from him. “Your drug dealings will never be a secret. Brendan will expose them and you.”
“ Never say his first name again. You’ll regret it if you do.”
“Whatever you say, Jed ,” she purred. “You’re the boss.”
“Placating me, huh? Why, dove? Not that I mind.” He rubbed his nose against hers, and she prayed it was only a matter of time before she could use the skills Pansy had taught her. “You know it only makes me more dominant when you resist? Especially right now when you need to be taught a lesson.”
“I’m only placating you because I don’t think you can win. ”
Jed threaded his strong fingers through her silky mass of golden-brown hair, tugging until a pained gasp escaped her throat. “I always win. You’ll submit.”
“We’ll see.” Genevieve reached up and gripped his angular jaw, leveling their eyes. She dug her red-coated fingernails into his charcoal-black stubble.
Jed let out a groan of pleasure, and a rock formed in the pit of her stomach. End this, Gen. Don’t back down.
She cut her voice low, enticing him with a throaty whisper. “How do you plan to hide your drug warehouses and my forced signature for them, babe? How do you plan to get away with it? If I’m to be your wife, I might as well hear your brilliant plan. The FBI will call me in for questioning, won’t they? Since my signature is on your storage space.” She pushed through the pain as he purposely tightened his grip on her lengthy strands. “Or perhaps you’re all talk? Perhaps Mr. King can beat you?”
“ Enough .” Jed enveloped her hand, forcing her fingers from his jaw to his lips, and kissed each one as he slowly drawled out, “There’s not a person on my team who will ever expose me. Everyone knows to keep your name safe as well. Once we’re married, I’ll have the properties transferred to partners who I don’t care if take the fall should the FBI get involved. We’ll pin the drug dealings on others and expand our casino network if need be. There’s no way out for you, dove. I don’t ever want to hear another word about it.”
Genevieve traced the scar along his jaw. “What is this from? I always wanted to ask but didn’t have the guts to bring it up.”
He clamped down on her fingers. “If I wanted to explain, I would have.”
“I’m not afraid of you, babe,” she whispered. “Not anymore. If you wanted to hurt me, you already would have. It’s the only thing you’ve done right so far since I’ve returned to Reno.”
After a brief pause, he released her fingers and rumbled out a chuckle. “Touché, dove. I’ve always loved your witty side.”
Genevieve brought her mouth to Jed’s, kissing him with contrived passion while running her tongue along his bottom teeth. She slicked her fingers through his coarse black hair, enticing him by digging her fingernails into his scalp. The sick knot in her stomach twisted, hollowing out. Brendan, I love you. I hope you can hear me. I love you so much.
A heated groan ripped out of Jed’s throat. He slid his hand around the back of her neck, hungrily taking over the kiss. “I want all of you.”
Genevieve pasted on a smile, trying not to gag. “Tonight,” she whispered, “I promise.”
That gives me—what?—like six hours to escape? She erased the dire thought from her mind. Don’t panic, Gen. Not now.
Jed rubbed her now glistening lips with the pad of his thumb as if still savoring their kiss. “I’ll hold you to that promise. I’ve lost my patience with your games. You’re mine, and this is not a game. Understood?”
“Yes, Jed, believe me, I understand.” Resuming her whisper-soft caresses along his scar, she challenged him with a glare. “If you truly want me to fall back in love with you, then be vulnerable with me, and I’ll be vulnerable with you.”
“I don’t do vulnerable. It’s a woman’s way of bringing up crap that doesn’t matter.”
“Please, babe.” Genevieve pouted. “It matters to me. I want no secrets between us. You want the truth? Do you really think I had any interest in Mr. King?” Smirking, she rolled her eyes. “Of course not. He was merely a meal ticket. All I want is to be free. Don’t trap me at this complex, and I’m yours again.”
Jed chuckled as if she were amusing entertainment. “Oh, come on now. We both know you’re feeding me lines. I’ve told you over and over that you are free to do anything you want so long as you’re mine, but that hasn’t been good enough for you. I offered you the fucking world, and you still ran from me. Take the world, dove. It doesn’t get any better than me.”
Brendan is a thousand worlds better than you. And without Brendan, I’d rather be dead than with you!
She sobered her voice. “You want me to stop feeding you lines and have a real discussion? Great, let’s do it. Stop working against me. I want my name clear. The false warrants aren’t fair. You slapped me with those before I even ran the first time.”
“Fair isn’t in my vocabulary. If you’d agreed to marry me the first time I asked, I never would have gone there. I’ve been very straightforward with you. When we’re married, I’ll clear them.” He tapped her nose. “When will you catch on? Every discussion I’ve ever had with you has been real. Unlike you, I mean what I say. I’m no fool, Gen, so don’t try to play me for one.”
She nodded. “All right, fine. I’ll keep it real then—let’s talk about why I ran. The drugs scare me. I don’t like the danger being your wife will bring, and I want our future kids safe.”
“The drug trade keeps me the law in town, and I’ll never give up power.”
“Maybe it would be easier for me to accept if I understood it. Why do you deal? Isn’t the casino business good enough?”
His stony eyes crinkled to slits. “I don’t like you questioning me, dove.”
“Jed, you’re the one who wanted me to stop playing games.” She crooked her index finger, pointing at her chest. “This is me not playing. How can I give my heart to you fully if I can’t back what you do? Even with the support of the Reno police, it seems unethical to keep dealing. Drugs ruin people’s lives, and I don’t want to be part of that. Surely you can understand that. ”
“People ruin their own lives. If they didn’t get the drugs from us, they’d get them from someone else. Why shouldn’t it be us? It’s their choice to use them. The world is a rough place. I’ll keep you and our kids on the innocent side of it and take the dark side on myself. I’ll always protect you. Never fear that. Even when you’re running from me and won’t protect yourself. Let me.” Jed slid off the armrest onto the sofa. Relaxing against the firm gray cushions, he tucked her under his arm. “Don’t fight me, dove.”
“Is the dark side the reason you have this scar?” Twisting her neck up, Genevieve pecked kisses along the puckered skin. “I’ve always thought it looks badass, babe.”
He grunted out a throaty laugh. “Glad you think so.”
She lifted her legs onto his lap. “Be vulnerable. Tell me about it. Please. ”
A sly grin lit up his face, and he wrapped a lock of her hair between his fingers, toying with the strands. “Then you’ll answer a question for me in return. Understood?”
She nodded. “Understood.”
“We were receiving a shipment of heroin, and the smuggler delivering it to us got greedy. He requested more money than we’d agreed on at the last minute. I pulled my knife, and he pulled his. I took him out, but he left me this scar—a visible daily reminder to keep myself the law in this town.”
Genevieve feigned a sympathetic look. “How old were you?”
“It was early on in my late teens when I first started. It would never happen today, but back then, I wasn’t the law yet. Now, we’d have our men slit the bastard’s throat just for making eye contact with us.”
“We? You mean you and Roman?”
He nodded. “Roman, Luke, Ace, and I. I started dealing on my own when I was eighteen, and by the time I was twenty, I’d recruited all three of them. We were just greenhorns in those days. Now, we assign the dirty work to others.”
“It’s hard for me to imagine your network being that big. It’s been invisible to me all these years. How many others?”
He casually splayed his fingers through her hair, silking them deeper into the strands. “I don’t know. Hundreds nowadays. Luke keeps track of our numbers, and I make the big decisions if there are issues with any of them. I never off people myself anymore unless I want to watch them die.”
Genevieve gnawed on her lip, trying to hold back a smug smile. That ought to put him under.
Knotting her hair in his fist, Jed tugged her ear to his mouth, biting her lobe. She gasped, sinking her teeth into her cheek to keep from crying out.
“Very rarely, but every now and again, there’s someone I want to watch die.” After a menacing pause, Jed continued, “Like lover boy. I think I’ve warned you before… Anyone who dares to touch what’s mine, I’ll take full pleasure in killing myself.”
Her throat seized up, and she tried to slow her breathing. A predatory expression crossed Jed’s hardened features, tangling her stomach in convulsing knots.
Jed doesn’t want to play games, my ass , Genevieve thought . He clearly gets off on his quests for control. But not for long… I’m done playing. She took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Don’t worry, Momma. I’m going to cut off the head of the snake and drain every ounce of venom.