Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LAZ
I catch Aurora’s hip, holding her upright as she sways.
She seems to be unaware of the movement, her eyes a little dazed and unfocused before suddenly sharpening once more. “What?” It comes out in a startled shout. “Noah was shot?”
“Yes.” No point in hiding the truth from her. That’s not me being an ass like Johan warned me against; that’s just me being straightforward. “But he’s okay.”
“Where is he?” she demands, sounding every bit like the mafia queen that I can’t want for her to become. “Why are you smiling at me? This isn’t funny! Where’s Noah?”
I didn’t realize I was smiling. But now I feel my lips curling even more.
Because I like this feisty omega.
She’s strong. Intelligent. An equal.
And about to hit me.
I grab her wrist before she can connect her fist with my face. Her hand wasn’t in the air, but I could see the intention in her features. So I stopped her before she could even begin.
“Noah’s in a workout room downstairs, burning off some steam. He’s not allowed to be near you in his current state.”
She gapes at me. “He was hurt enough to cause that much blood.” She points in the direction of the bathroom door, clearly assuming the savagery decorating Johan’s outfit was from Noah. Which isn’t necessarily wrong, but not entirely accurate either. “And you sent him to the basement?”
That comment must mean that she explored the estate, like I suggested.
Although, I was surprised to learn she was in Johan’s room. I only realized that because I caught her scent lingering in the air when he walked inside.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” she demands, taking a step to move around me.
But I still have a hold of her wrist, and I use it to pull her back into me. She snarls and lashes out, the jab of her elbow against my ribs unexpected.
And fucking hot.
I grab her by the waist and throw her on the bed, next to a laptop.
She bounces right up, ready to fight.
Only, I’m faster and already moving.
In the next breath, she’s on her back and gasping for air as I pin her to the mattress.
“I need you to calm down, please,” I murmur, my purr rumbling through my chest and into hers.
“Calm down?” She’s like a damn wildcat beneath me. “Get off of—”
“Noah’s fine,” I interject, the authority underlining my tone slightly derailed by my continued purr. “He just needs to blow off some steam.”
“He needs to see a doctor or go to a hospital,” she returns, her winded voice rather erotic.
Except it’s for all the wrong reasons.
Doesn’t stop my lower half from reacting to the way she’s rubbing up against me, though.
“He’s seen the doctor, Aurora. That’s partly why we were delayed. The bullet basically grazed his arm. He’s physically fine.” Mentally is another story entirely and the real reason we’re just now getting home. “He’s in a blood rage. That’s why he’s not allowed near you.”
I can’t trust him not to do something stupid like claim her with his teeth and his knot.
All without consent.
Because he assumes she’s already his. And maybe she is, but I will not let their first time happen while he’s in an unpredictable frame of mind.
“The bullet…? A… a blood rage?” Her brow furrows, her struggle ceasing. I’m almost saddened by that, as I was enjoying her fight. “I don’t… What’s a blood rage?”
I settle more on my elbows on either side of her head, my chest still vibrating in a soothing rhythm, one that will only ever be for her. “When Noah is triggered, he thirsts for revenge,” I explain quietly.
This isn’t something I would normally share.
But Aurora is important to us. She’s our scent match and our intended omega. If she’s going to become our queen, then she needs to understand all three of us in a way that no one else ever will.
“We went into the city the other night for a last-minute meeting with one of the Ricci brothers, but it was an ambush.” A fact that still fucking pisses me off. “Johan doesn’t typically attend with us, but his particular skill set was needed. Or so we thought.”
Aurora probably has no idea how rare it is that I’m taking time to explain this all to her. I didn’t even share these details with our crew.
However, I feel bad that we left her here alone for nearly three nights. That was never our intention. Nor is it something we intend to do often.
“It was a trick,” I go on. “Johan was the target. Noah realized that a moment before it happened, jumped in the way… and then went on a killing rampage.”
Her nostrils flare, but she doesn’t otherwise react to the gruesome scene I’m trying to explain. Perhaps because I’m not providing enough description.
Or, more likely, because she grew up in this life. She understands the violence that comes with it.
Yet another reason she’s our perfect queen.
“But Noah wasn’t satisfied with the carnage. After the doctor fixed him up, he went on another rampage. That rampage is why Johan is covered in blood.” He’s not one to get physical, but when Noah caught up with Bastian Ricci—the one who betrayed us at the meeting—he helped Noah ask a few questions.
She swallows, her lashes fluttering a little. “Oh.”
I smile. “Better?”
Her lips curl down. “I’m fine.”
I take in the silky tank top she’s wearing—it matches her tiny shorts—and meet her gaze again. “Indeed you are,” I agree, my purr deepening into a low growl.
Violence always turns me on. Watching Noah work with Johan tonight just stoked my need even more.
Which makes being around this omega quite dangerous.
Fortunately, my control is resolute. But I’m not a saint, either.
That last part is why I don’t move away from her, even though I probably should.
However, I rather like the way my cock feels nestled between her splayed thighs. She’s warm, her pussy radiating a heat that calls to my knot.
I lean down to run my nose along her cheekbone, inhaling as her scent heightens. “You smell amazing,” I admit in a whisper, loving her honeyed sweetness. “It makes me want to taste every inch of you.”
I should stop.
I should pull back and let her breathe.
But the weight of the last few days holds me in place.
I just want to exist with her for one more moment. Lose myself in this sensual connection. Let her feel safe and wanted by me.
“I’ll never force you to do anything you don’t want to do,” I promise her, my lips traveling to her ear.
“And it kills a part of me to know that you fear me.” Because I sense it in her tension.
Smell the subtle sour note of it in her aroma.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to earn your trust, Aurora. ”
I press a kiss to her thundering pulse, my eyes closing as I inhale one more time.
Then I pull away from her and sit on the edge of the bed, aware that she needs space to process everything I’ve said.
Yet I can’t seem to leave her for Johan to find alone. I just want to… be close to both of them.
Noah is probably beating the shit out of a punching bag right now or jumping rope so fast that the strands are threatening to break.
He might even be throwing knives at a target.
I would go find out, but he’ll just invite me to spar. And in his current state, he’ll best me. Something I don’t really want to experience right now.
“Which Ricci brother did you meet with?” Aurora asks after sitting up and leaning back against the headboard.
I run my fingers through my hair, aware that it’s a mess, and blow out a breath. “Bastian.”
The way her mouth tightens tells me she knows him, or at least knows of him.
But it could also be the same way she’s heard of me.
“Have you met him?” I ask, wanting to know for sure.
She nods, her lips flattening. “Unfortunately.”
I arch a brow. “Am I going to be disappointed that he’s already dead? Similar to how I feel about Gideon Henderson?” Because I really want to go back and kill that bastard again. And if Aurora’s history with Bastian is unfortunate, there’s a good chance that I’m going to want him to die again, too.
She swallows, my attention catching the movement before lifting up to her full lips. I eventually return my gaze to hers, still waiting for a response.
“My father had a list of potential mate candidates, one he compiled when I turned sixteen.” She grimaces. “Bastian and Stefano were on it.”
“Was I?” I wonder out loud.
She doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“He never informed me of it,” I tell her.
“That’s because he chose Stefano.” Her eyes narrow a bit. “He wanted to strengthen alliances with the Riccis. I think that’s why Gio never told him where to find me.”
Well, that’s interesting information. “Gio doesn’t want to align more with the Riccis?”
She snorts. “No. He wants to go his own way. Or, well, he used to, anyway.” Her lips twist. “I don’t know his goals anymore. We haven’t discussed family or business in a very long time. I just knew I would eventually have to come home.”
Yes, that part I know as well because of Johan’s snooping into her background. He found a very telling conversation between Aurora and Giovanni where he made a comment reminding her that her freedom was temporary.
That’s one of the many details he used to coax her out of Widows Peak the other day.
“Perhaps alliances are something I need to discuss more with your brother,” I murmur.
It’s already my intention, especially with Aurora being my scent match. But I wanted this coupling before I even knew that part. She became our desired queen after she stole all that money from our organization.
“I don’t want to be a mafia jewel,” she informs me flatly. “I’ve seen what that did to my mother, and I’m not interested in being used by a pack or paraded around like some sort of porcelain doll.”
My eyebrow arches. “That’s an interesting assessment.” It also tells me a lot about potential misconceptions regarding our intentions with her. “For the record, I expect our omega to not only help us run the organization but also become the queen of it.”
“I see.” She picks up the laptop beside her and opens it, her eyes leaving mine.
I suddenly feel dismissed.