24. Twenty-Four
TWENTY-FOUR
THEO
A fter the mission to save Mila went awry, with Haven choosing to stay behind, I spent hours gathering as much information on Haven as possible for Kai’s sake. Poor fucker was a mess, pacing and drinking in frustration. It was taking longer than expected to regain access to The Collectors’ systems. I assumed they had discovered they’d been hacked and all cameras were offline so they could handle the damage control and prevent further breaches. In the meantime, I would wait patiently until their systems were back online and help Kai find closure, one way or another.
Several hours had passed, and Kai’s agitation had only grown. He alternated between furious tirades, despondent silences, and watching Archer and Mila with a sad expression, the whiskey in his glass gradually diminishing. I kept my distance, knowing that any attempt at consolation would be met with a snarl and a string of expletives.
My eyelids grew heavy, and I fell asleep on the couch, my dreams instantly bringing me into Wrenly’s arms. I was about to bury myself inside her when Kai roughly shook my shoulders.
“I was having such a good dream until I woke up to see your ugly mug.” I rubbed my eyes with a groan.
“Can you drive this ugly mug to Riverview General Hospital in the city? ”
Wrenly’s hospital.
“Why can’t you drive yourself?”
“Because I drank too much. Come on, man. Get up. It’s an emergency.”
“Kai, what in the hell is an emergency at 4 a.m.?”
“ Haven .”
I abruptly sat up, my body tense in anticipation of whatever he would say next. “She’s alive?”
“For now. She’s in surgery.”
“Okay, yeah.” I sighed. “Let me get my keys, and I’ll get you there.” I grabbed my jacket and keys and led the way to my Lexus. I tapped my phone screen and saw it was dead. Fuck . I had forgotten to put it on the charger before I’d passed out. I plugged it into the car charger and drove silently toward the hospital. Once at the hospital, I grabbed my phone, slid it into my pocket, and followed Kai as he ran into the emergency room entrance. He scanned the hallways for signs of the elevator, and we raced through the sterile corridors, our footsteps echoing off the floors. He mashed the button to the fifth floor repeatedly, and I grinned.
“Don’t say a word.”
I couldn’t contain my laugh—whether from lack of sleep, delirium, or the fact that he was not his usual calm and collected self. When the doors finally opened, he bolted out, nearly knocking over a startled nurse.
The halls were decorated with photographed locations in New York City evenly spaced between patient rooms. When we reached room 5022, he rushed inside, and I saw Haven asleep in the bed. She looked small and fragile, her face nearly as white as the sheets.
I watched Kai’s face crumple with relief as he saw her chest rise and fall with each breath. I hung back near the doorway, feeling like an intruder on this intimate moment. The room was dimly lit, and the only sound was the rhythmic beeping of her heart on the monitor.
A nurse looked up from her computer and smiled at him. “Hi there,” she said. “Are you family?”
“Yes, I’m her boyfriend,” he responded.
“Oh, are you Mr. Montgomery? ”
“Yes.”
“I’m Molly. One of our emergency department nurses gave me report and mentioned you’d be on your way.”
“How is she?”
“She just got out of surgery a little while ago. She’s still asleep but recovering well.”
I placed my hand on his shoulder as a silent show of support, then watched as he approached her bed cautiously, as if afraid she might shatter at the slightest touch. With a trembling hand, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, letting his fingers linger on her unusually pale skin, and then held her tiny hand in his. He pulled a chair to the side of her bed and sat next to her, resting a hand on her shoulder.
I caught up on some text messages and then decided to give him some time with Haven and grab coffee. Both of us could use it right now. Wrenly should be getting off work any time, so I wanted to try to catch her before she left with Cavan. I could take her home instead. I went down to the hospital cafeteria, the scent of stale coffee and hand sanitizer assaulting my nostrils. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sickly glow on the few bleary-eyed patrons scattered among the tables. I ordered two black coffees, and while I waited, I checked my phone, which had enough battery to turn on. There were a string of missed calls and texts from Wrenly. Frowning, I opened the messages from her.
Is everything okay? I’ve been calling and texting all night.
Please answer.
You’re worrying me.
If you get this, I think there’s a girl here that you might know. Or Kai. Call me back.
Then I listened to her voicemail.
Fuck.
I needed to talk to her. I dialed her number, but it went straight to voicemail without ringing. I checked her location, and she was still in the hospital. I grabbed the coffee and hurried toward the emergency department, where I approached the nurse’s station. “Hi, I was hoping you could tell me if Wrenly Morgan is still working?”
“Sorry, you just missed her,” a nurse answered.
“Thanks,” I replied and redialed her number.
Voicemail yet again.
I sent a text to Cavan.
When Wrenly gets out there, don’t leave yet. I’m here with Kai, but I’ll be right out.
You got it, boss.
I headed back up to the fifth floor to give Kai his coffee, and when I walked in, I almost collided with Wrenly. I handed one to Kai and then looked at her, scanning her from head to toe. Her cheeks turned pink, but she didn’t act like she knew me—not in front of Kai. She fidgeted with her scrubs, shifting uncomfortably as if trying to smooth out invisible wrinkles.
Kai looked at me, and for a second, his eyebrow raised as if trying to assess the situation. I knew he had questions, but he would wait to ask me. “Theo, this is Wrenly. She’s the nurse who took care of Haven.”
“Wrenly, is it?” I extended my hand. What was she up to? If my little bird wanted to play games, I would play along. “Nice to meet you.”
She placed her hand in mine, lifting her chin. There was something in her gray gaze that made me uneasy. Anger? Hatred? Fear? She was pissed, but she kept her face calm while fury radiated off her. Those smoky gray eyes I would happily drown in stared at me without blinking.
Challenge accepted.
I didn’t release her hand but met her stare with the same intensity.
She yanked her hand from mine and pretended to check her watch. “I’m sorry, but I really need to get home and get some rest. I worked all night. It’s nice to meet you,” she told Kai, giving me a nod before leaving the room without another word.
I watched her retreating form, doing my best to keep my crazy contained. What the hell was that about? I knew I had missed her phone calls, but the cold fury in her eyes had caught me off guard. I needed to talk to her.
“Do you know each other?” Kai asked, jolting me out of my racing thoughts.
“I’ll give you two some time alone,” I responded. Without another word, I picked up my jacket and stepped out the door, glancing down the hallway just in time to see her take a quick turn. I hurried along the corridor, turned the corner, and saw her standing by the elevator with her arms tightly crossed.
I caught up to her just as she stepped in, and I slipped inside before the doors closed. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, her jaw clenched tightly. The tension in the small space was suffocating.
“Do you want to tell me what the fuck that was all about?” I did my best to keep my voice steady.
She remained silent, her gaze stubbornly avoiding mine as the elevator descended. I reached out and slammed my palm against the emergency stop button, bringing the elevator to an abrupt halt. Her head snapped up, eyes wide with surprise.
“We’re not going anywhere until you talk to me,” I growled, my patience wearing thin.
She let out a bitter laugh, her eyes blazing with fury as she whirled to face me. “Oh, now you want to talk? After ignoring my calls and texts all night? And then I find out you’re here with Kai.”
“My phone died. I didn’t get it turned on until we got here. I went to the emergency department, and they said you had left.”
“And you were too busy to send me a quick text to let me know you were okay? I don’t buy it, Theo.”
“What the hell is going on with you?”
“You really have no idea, do you?” Her voice was low, almost a growl.
I stepped closer, crowding her against the elevator wall. “Why don’t you enlighten me? ”
She held her ground, her eyes flashing dangerously as I loomed over her. “One minute, we’re tangled up in each other, and the next, you’re shutting me out. I never know where I stand with you. As long as The Brotherhood exists, I’ll always come second.”
I stared at her, stunned by her words. “That’s not fair. You know how important you are to me.”
She scoffed as she shook her head. “Do I? Because from where I’m standing, your loyalties seem elsewhere. I can’t keep doing this.”
Her words hit uncomfortably close to home. Her breath hitched as I leaned in, mere inches from her face. “Do you think you have a choice? That you can walk away now? No, Wrenly. You’re mine.” I slammed my hand against the wall beside her head, making her flinch. “You knew what you were getting into when we started this. Don’t act like you’re surprised now. Like there’s anywhere you could run that I wouldn’t find you.” I pressed my body against hers, pinning her to the wall. “You’re in too deep. We both are.”
She inhaled sharply but didn’t push me away. I raised my hand to caress her cheek as my thumb traced the soft curve of her lower lip. Her eyes fluttered closed briefly before snapping open again, her anger still simmering in their depths.
“You don’t own me, Theo West,” she hissed through clenched teeth, her body rigid against mine. “I’m not some possession you can claim.”
I chuckled darkly, my thumb still brushing over her trembling lower lip. “You keep telling yourself that, little bird. But we both know the truth, don’t we? You’re just as addicted to this as I am.”
She shook her head vehemently. “No, I’m not like you.”
I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against her ear. “Aren’t you? The way you melt under my touch. The way you crave my presence. The way you come alive in my arms, surrendering to the darkness in your soul. You can’t deny it. We’re cut from the same cloth, you and I—shattered by death and haunted by the devil, remember?”
Her breaths came in shallow gasps as my words washed over her, the dark truth of them sinking deep into her bones. She wanted to deny it, to push me away and cling to the illusion of control. I could feel her heart pounding against my chest, matching the furious rhythm of my own .
“You can’t escape this,” I murmured against the sensitive skin of her neck. “You can’t escape me. No matter how hard you try, you’ll always find your way back into my arms. Into my bed. Into my very soul. You’re under my skin, in my blood. I can’t walk away from that, and neither can you.”
“You’re wrong,” she whispered, her voice lacking conviction. “I can walk away anytime I want.”
I traced the column of her throat with my finger, feeling her pulse jump beneath my touch. “Then do it,” I challenged, eyes locked on hers. “Walk away right now and prove me wrong.”
She stared at me, her chest heaving with each ragged breath. Seconds ticked by, and the air between us was charged with tension. But she remained rooted in place, unable to move.
A triumphant smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. “That’s what I thought.” My hand slid into her hair, gripping the silky strands of her ponytail as I yanked her head back, nipping at her bottom lip.
She shuddered beneath me, a soft whimper escaping her lips. I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, those stormy depths that held such conflict, such turmoil. I saw the war raging within her, the desperate struggle between her heart and her head.
“I hate you,” she whispered.
I smiled ruefully, my thumb tracing the delicate line of her jaw. “Hate and love are two sides of the same coin, little bird. They both consume you, burn you from the inside out until there’s nothing left but ashes.”
She closed her eyes, a single tear escaping from beneath her lashes. I caught it with my thumb, marveling at the vulnerability she so rarely showed. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to gather her in my arms and shield her from the world, from the darkness that swallowed us both.
I released her hair and stepped back, hitting the button to resume the elevator’s descent. She sagged against the wall, her eyes still closed as she composed herself. The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and Wrenly straightened, smoothing her scrubs as I gestured for her to exit first into the bustling hospital lobby. She brushed past me without a word, her shoulders squared and her head held high. I followed. Her steps were determined but her eyes downcast. I knew our conversation was far from over, but now was not the time or place to delve into the twisted web of our relationship.
I spotted Cavan waiting by his car that he’d parked next to mine, his brows furrowed in concern. “Everything alright?” he asked, his voice carefully neutral as his eyes darted between us.
Wrenly forced a smile, nodding. “Just a long shift. I’m exhausted.”
Cavan’s gaze lingered on me a moment longer before he said, “You good, boss?”
“Just peachy,” I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Alright, well, I’m going to head out. Text me if you need me.”
“Thanks, man.”
He nodded and got into his car. I opened my passenger’s door for Wrenly. She slid into the seat without saying a word, her eyes fixed on her hands folded in her lap. I climbed into the driver’s seat, my gaze never leaving her profile as I started the car.
The drive was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Wrenly stared out the window, her reflection a portrait of inner turmoil. I watched the city lights flicker across her face, casting shadows that mirrored the darkness within us both. Instead of driving in the direction of her house, I opted to take her to the manor. She felt like she was second in my life, so I was about to prove she was more than that to me. And if that meant exposing my deepest, darkest secrets and vulnerabilities, so be it.
She perked up and looked at me. “You missed my exit.”
“I’m aware.”
She turned to face me fully. Her brows knitted together in confusion and a hint of trepidation. “Where are we going?”
I kept my eyes on the road. “Home.”
“Home? Your home?”
I nodded.
She fell silent, and her gaze returned to the window as the city gave way to sprawling forests and hidden lanes. I could feel the weight of her unspoken words hanging between us, but I focused on the road ahead. My car turned onto the long, winding driveway, the headlights illuminating the imposing iron gates that marked the entrance to the lair of The Brotherhood, protected by tall stone walls and trained bodyguards. I waved at the guards in the security shack, and the gate swung open with a groan. I parked the car and walked around to open her door, offering my hand. She hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in mine, allowing me to help her out of the vehicle. We walked up the stone steps, our footsteps echoing in the still night air until I unlocked the heavy oak door, ushering her inside. She had been here once before, after the quarry incident, but it had been under different circumstances. I placed a hand on the small of her back.
“Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour.”
She followed me silently, her gaze roaming over the lavish furnishings and priceless artwork adorning the walls. I showed her each room and introduced her to the guards who walked the halls. Kai was at the hospital, and Archer and Mila were probably locked in their room, so those introductions would have to wait until later. I led her through the formal living room, the dining room with its mahogany table, and the library with its floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Each room held a piece of The Brotherhood’s history and a glimpse into my world. Once I saw how drained she looked, I decided to conclude the tour and finish it once she had a chance to rest. She followed me up the grand staircase without question and through the dimly lit hallways. Our footsteps were muffled by the thick Persian rugs. Portraits of stoic-faced men lined the walls—our ancestors, their eyes seeming to follow us as we passed. I stopped in front of my door at the end of a long corridor, turned the knob, and pushed it open. She stepped inside hesitantly, her eyes widening as they adjusted to the soft glow of the room.
I closed the door behind us with a soft click, the sound echoing in the heavy silence. She turned to face me, and I saw the exhaustion etched on her face.
“Why did you bring me back here, Theo?” she asked.
I stepped closer, my eyes boring into hers. “Because I want you to understand. To see the truth of who I am and where I come from.”
She searched my face. “And what truth is that?”
“That you’re not second, Wrenly. You could never be second to me. This . . .” I gestured to the grandeur around us. “This is just a facade. A necessary evil. A curse bestowed upon me before I was born. But you . . .” I reached out and cupped her face, my thumb caressing her cheekbone. “You are my reality. My salvation in this darkness that consumes me. I brought you back here because I need you to understand the depths of my devotion to you. That no matter what happens out there—in the shadows and the blood and the chaos—in here, in this space between us, you are everything to me. My beginning and my end.”
Her eyes fluttered closed at my touch, a shaky breath escaping her lips. A tear slipped down her cheek, and I brushed it away gently. Her eyes opened, shimmering with unshed tears as she looked up at me.
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “Scared of losing myself in you, in this world of yours. Scared that one day, the darkness will swallow us both, and there will be no coming back.”
I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her slender frame. She rested her head against my chest, and I buried my nose in her hair, inhaling the soft scents of lavender and vanilla.
“I promise I will fight for you, for us, with every breath in my body. You are the reason I keep going. Without you, I’m nothing but a hollow shell.”
She tilted her head back to look at me as her stormy eyes searched mine. “And what if that’s not enough? What if The Brotherhood, the blood oaths, the secrets, the death . . . what if they tear us apart in the end?”
I cupped her face in my hands again. “Then we go down together, little bird. In flames and fury, in ecstasy and agony. Because a life without you in it is no life at all.”
“You’re insane,” she breathed, but there was no real conviction in it.
A wry smile tugged at my lips. “I am. But you love me for it, don’t you? The madness, the intensity, the all-consuming need. It’s what draws you to me time and time again.”
She swallowed hard, her pulse fluttering wildly beneath my fingertips. “I shouldn’t. Because I know you’ll destroy me.”
I leaned in, my lips a hair’s breadth from hers. “Or maybe I’ll be the one to put you back together again, piece by broken piece.”
I captured her lips in a rough kiss. It was a battle of wills, a clash of tongues and teeth as we poured every ounce of our turbulent emotions into the embrace. Her hands fisted my shirt, pulling me closer as if she wanted to crawl inside my skin, to merge with me until there was no beginning and no end.
I walked her backward until her legs hit the edge of the bed, never breaking our kiss. We tumbled onto the mattress, a tangle of limbs and desperate touches. I tore at her clothes, needing to feel her bare skin against mine, to lose myself in her warmth and her softness.
She arched into me, her nails raking down my back as I trailed kisses along her jaw, her neck, and her collarbone. Each gasp and moan that fell from her lips was a symphony, a testament to the power I held over her body and soul.
I knew what she needed, what we both needed—to lose ourselves in each other and forget the world outside these walls and the demons that haunted us. To find solace, however fleeting, in the slide of skin on skin and the mingling of breaths. I pulled her pants down just below her butt, lifting one of her legs, and entered her in one swift thrust, burying myself to the hilt in her welcoming heat. She cried out as her walls fluttered around me, drawing me deeper into her. I began to move, setting a slow, deep rhythm that had her writhing beneath me, her hands grasping at my shoulders, my hair, anything to anchor herself as I drove her higher. Each thrust was a declaration, a promise, a prayer. That I would fight for her, bleed for her, burn the world down for her if that was what it took.
“Let go for me, Wrenly. Fall apart in my arms, and I’ll put you back together again.”
My words seemed to shatter the last of her restraint. With a broken sob, she came undone, her body shaking and quivering as her release crashed over her in relentless waves. I followed her over the edge, my climax ripping through me with a force that left me breathless and boneless.
I collapsed onto her, my face buried in the crook of her neck as we struggled to catch our breath. For a long moment, we lay there, wrapped up in each other. The only sounds in the room were our ragged breathing and the pounding of our hearts.
I pressed a kiss to her hair, inhaling her scent, letting it soothe the raw edges of my soul. “This thing between us, it’s not gentle or easy. It’s wild and untamed, and it scares the hell out of me. But I’d rather burn with you than live a thousand lifetimes without you.”
She lifted her head to look at me. “I’m terrified of what this means, of how much power you have over me. But I can’t imagine my life without you in it, Theo. Even if it destroys me in the end.”