Chapter 12 Kiera
KIERA
I ran across my room, grabbing the same shirt and pants that had been left for me that morning. Grabbing the knob, I slowly peeled the door open, desperate to hear what Dom was screaming about downstairs.
Something had gotten her panties in a twist — not that it seemed all that hard to do.
But all I could hear from upstairs was muffled arguing and raised voices.
I need to get closer.
Biting my lip, I moved out of my room and down the hall. This time, I knew which way to go. The last thing I needed was to get caught snooping where I wasn’t supposed to be.
Careful not to creak any of the floorboards, I moved along the edge of the hallway toward the staircase.
That’s when I heard the first of Dom’s yelled words. “I told you no fucking houseguests. Ever.” I could hear the snarl on her face from here, her words hissing through clenched teeth.
Whatever meeting Dom had been to clearly aggravated her temper. Though I’d yet to see her anything but aggravated.
But Leo and Spencer’s words were far too quiet to make out.
Inching closer, I stopped at the top of the grand staircase, hiding around the corner just in case Dom rushed up them.
Dom held the line. “I want her out of my house.”
I could’ve heard that bite from space. It wasn’t clear to me yet what the arrangement was between Leo, Spencer, and their psycho roommate. But in a mansion this nice, there had to be a deal — and Dom was certainly the one setting the rules.
Now it was clear, Leo and Spencer were guests, just like me. Even if they’d gotten comfortable.
To my surprise, Spencer’s voice raised to meet Dom’s volume. “Dom, stop. Her boyfriend is an aggressive asshat.” There was a pause before she continued. “You should have seen the way he touched her. I’m not letting her anywhere near him.”
Without missing a beat, Dom growled. “Then take her somewhere far away from him.”
Her initial rage morphed into something quieter — more dangerous.
Rounding the corner, I moved down the steps slowly. I couldn’t afford to miss what they were saying any more than I could afford being caught eavesdropping.
Every time I lifted my foot, my entire body tensed. I flinched as my toes made contact with each new step, praying that the boards wouldn’t creak. And if they did that they would pass it off as an old house shifting.
“Dom, come on. I’m being serious.” Spencer was getting pissed off now, not liking Dom’s dismissal of her concerns.
As I neared the bottom of the steps, leaning forward to scope out where exactly these three bikers were having this intense argument, I could hear Dom preparing to speak.
Before she could, Leo’s heavy feet stepped forward. “Dom. Enough. It’s not safe.”
From what I gathered, Spencer was the youngest of them. Almost like a dorky little brother to the other two. But Dom and Leo were closer in age, closer to equals than anything else. Even with Dom’s obvious wealth.
Leo commanded respect from every room, and I couldn’t tell if that quiet and calm dominance was her nature or the product of her work.
Nearing the doorway to the living room, where all of this was happening, I could just snag glimpses of them. Leo stood just in front of Spencer, her veins bulging as she tried to control her frustration with Dom.
Spencer, with crossed arms, was shaking her head as she stared Dom down.
In a white button down with the top few buttons undone, Dom shook her head. “You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Leo pointed to the tattoo on her neck, the hilt of a sword just peeking past the collar of her tight t-shirt. I remembered the way it plunged beneath her sports bra and down to her stomach, the wings spread across her broad chest and shoulders.
I still wasn’t sure what it meant. But from the furrow of her brow, I could tell Dom did.
With her finger pressed to her throat, Leo snarled at Dom. “Whether you like it or not, she’s ours now.”
Dom’s body tensed like the truth was opening before her.
What fucking code of honor bullshit is that?
And why was Dom respecting it?
My brow furrowed as I eyed the tattoo. It was intricate, far more detailed than most tattoos I’d seen.
After a moment of silence, Dom’s shoulders rolled back as she sucked in a breath. “She’s not allowed out of this house. And she can’t be in the house alone. If you two fuckheads need to leave, lock her in her room.”
Spencer stepped forward to fight it, the restriction a bit too cruel.
But Dom had hit her limit for compromise. “She has a toilet, she’ll be fine.”
Only once Spencer took a step back did Dom finish her rules. “And she’s not allowed anywhere near the South Wing.
It was settled, my two saviors nodding their agreement. My stomach dropped, realizing I’d be staying with these three complete strangers in this strange mansion that made my head swim.
Before one of them could head upstairs to tell me the news, I stepped into the doorway, making all three of their heads whip around.
There was no point in pretending I hadn’t been listening — Dom already hated me, despite not even knowing my name, so it wasn’t like I could make much worse of an impression on her.
Besides, it wasn’t like she could kick me out now — whatever that tattoo was clearly meant that they were stuck with me.
Clearing her throat, Leo took a step back from Dom. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.” I shrugged, rolling my shoulders in what I hoped passed as nonchalance. Dom’s lip curled at the gesture. She was flushed with anger, her chest heavy with frustration as she tried to settle herself.
“Great, then you’re all caught up.” Spencer nodded toward me. “Dom, meet Kiera.”
Dom’s eyes widened as she met my gaze, the color draining from her face.