Chapter 5
Keir
“She hasn’t picked up the damn phone or called us back, Keir. We might as well start the hunt.”
I looked over at my brothers, my jaw tight. Selene might be a problem. She’d offered us the use of her resources—then fucking ghosted us. Not a good move.
“Yeah, you’re right. We need to verify the intel on that abandoned house. We can check it out tonight.”
Kaz grunted in agreement, and I nodded. “Might as well. She could be there.”
She as in Katherine.
Two years ago, we found out Kaz had a half-sibling out there. A sister. But no matter how deep we dug, she was a ghost. Then we got a lead—a gritty, low-resolution photo of an eighteen-year-old girl with Kaz’s cool blue eyes and black wavy hair. She was being held by the Russians, trafficked.
That was all we needed. We tore through every lead. Dead ends. Silence. Until now.
“Alright, so we hit the house in a few hours,” I say, flipping a knife between my fingers. “And in the meantime, we try to reach the infamous Selene again.”
Kaz just nodded, his usual silent agreement.
Dario sighs. “Fine. But first, I’m ordering some Italian. Y’all in?”
Kaz grunted again. Dario snickered.
“Alright,” I say, stretching as I stand. “But order quick. We only have an hour before it’s dark.” Then, with a dramatic skip, Dario heads for the door.
Kaz and I exchanged a glance.
“Why the fuck do we let him live?” Kaz muttered.
I shrugged. “Too much work to get rid of him.”
Dario was a special kind of psychopath. He grew up in a normal middle-class home in Boston, yet his dark thoughts rivaled Kaz’s. He was like a golden retriever with a split personality, all grins and murder.
We were staying at the Bellagio penthouse. I headed into the bathroom for a quick shower, cranking the water ice-cold.
I hadn’t been able to get my princess’s voice out of my head.
And I’d been rock fucking hard since yesterday picturing her.
Selene.
I gripped my cock, stroking once, rubbing my thumb over the head. A groan slipped from my lips as I imagined her on her knees for me.
But the image wouldn’t come. I wanted her, but I didn’t just want any version of her.
I wanted her. The woman who called me out yet let her breath hitch when I spoke to her. The one who was too fucking sharp for her own good.
I let go of myself with a curse, smacking my head against the cold shower tile.
Not yet.
I finished showering, dried off, and pulled on black boxers before stepping back into the main suite.
Dario was lounging on the couch, flipping through his phone. He glanced up, smirking.
“Keir, you’ve had a hard-on for a while. Want me to take care of you?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, the next time my cocks near anything, it’ll be my princess.”
Dario howled with laughter. Kaz just scowled from where he sat, arms crossed.
A knock sounded at the door. Dario hopped up to answer it, returning with arms full of takeout bags.
“Dinner!” he shouted.
I groaned. “I swear, you think we’re deaf sometimes, eejit.”
Dario grinned. “I love it when you talk dirty to me in Irish, Daddy.”
I smacked him upside the head as I reached the table. “Gobshite. Just ‘cause I’m older doesn’t make me your Daddy.”
At thirty-eight, I was the eldest. Kaz was twenty-eight. Dario? Twenty-three and fucking annoying. I might have been their leader, but the only time I liked hearing “Daddy” from Dario’s mouth was in the bedroom.
And even then, it was a rare occasion when we both were seeking a release.
? ? ?
The SUV rolled down the gravel driveway, headlights off. Kaz pulled off to the side half a mile from the house, cutting the engine.
“Alright, we check the tree line first,” I murmured. “Then we move in.”
They nodded. We climbed out, moving silently through the trees, eyes locked on the dark house ahead.
Something felt off.
Too quiet.
We circled the perimeter, checking for movement. Nothing. I motioned for the boys to move in. Low crouch, guns up.
I expected an ambush. We were told this place was a hot spot for those sick fucks.
What I didn’t expect was—
“Holy fuck.”
Dario wasn’t wrong. It was a bloodbath.
Bodies littered the yard. Ten of them.
Some had their throats slit. Others were gutted.
And some? Their necks were twisted at odd angles, snapped clean.
Only one had been shot. His throat was cut, but the bullet wasn’t the kill shot. It had grazed his arm.
Whoever did this had been fast. Precise. Ruthless.
I exhaled sharply, surveying the scene. No mercy. No hesitation.
Kaz let out a low whistle. He looked… impressed.
Dario? He just grinned. “I think I’m in love.”
I said nothing.
Whoever did this meant business.
And I had a feeling we weren’t the only ones hunting this group.