Chapter 32
Fuck.
We are so fucking fucked.
I don’t know how Brad remains cool as a cucumber in a snow storm, but I’m near shitting myself in fear.
We’ve never been recognized. Every previous operation ran like a finely-tuned machine.
But, everything about this one is fucking cursed.
Falling for my target. The storm. A shark attack.
The pit in my gut watching my love walk away from me like it wasn’t killing us both inside.
“What do we do?” I ask Brad, trying to present a calm and level exterior. The sweat beading across my skin brands me as a liar, and my partner notices it immediately.
“Relax, first of all. Second, we aren’t some disposable newbies. The boss isn’t going to execute us. We’ll definitely get a tongue lashing, and maybe even a meeting with Rich, but he won’t kill us. We know too much, and bring in more cash than any other team.”
Brad’s right. I can’t deny that I’m good at what I do, no matter how much I hate it.
The rest of the walk to Bleakcrest is long and silent, allowing my emotions to war all too violently. Am I still scared shitless? Absolutely. I’ve seen what Richmond can do. Let’s just say I don’t want to be the unlucky one at the tip of one of his blades.
But…
I’m near beaming at the possibility of seeing Rose again. One quick stop to end things with Cynthia, then Rose’s pussy isn’t going to know what hit it. I’m going to tongue-fuck that pretty cunt until it drowns me.
The double doors don’t make a sound as Rylan and Karson open them for us.
Secretly armed to the teeth, they guard the door.
Not a trace of the arsenal they carry on them is evident.
They nod as we pass through, though I swear a scowl contorts Karson’s face as Brad enters.
They’ve never really gotten along, so I’m not surprised.
The guts of Bleakcrest are empty—silent. There’s a charge in the air I’ve never felt before. Something happened while we were gone, but there isn’t a thing out of place.
Reid, the butler, escorts us to Maximus’s office where we wait uncomfortably outside. The seconds drag on, accumulating into a handful of torturous minutes.
Reid is a dutiful soldier, guarding the entrance to Maximus’s villainous lair. Sometimes I wonder if they’re more than boss and employee. There’s a familiarity between them I haven’t seen Maximus share with anyone else.
My mind races back to Rose as we wait. I can’t help it, she’s found the vacant part of my heart and curled up within it. Infusing her light into the darkness that sleeps there, chasing away the demons. Her laugh echoes around the cavernous space, filling it with the warmth in her eyes.
“Come in.” The boss’s tone is sharp, clipped, it makes me startle. He’s in a bad mood, and that doesn’t bode well for either of us.
Reid swings open the door, allowing us to enter first. His towering form lingers in the threshold, blocking our exit.
Not good.
Not fucking good.
The tension mounts as we stand there, waiting for instruction or permission to sit. Sweat trickles down my spine, sliding into my ass crack, and I fight the need to shift uncomfortably. Maximus lets the silence eat away at our sanity as he’s locked in on the screen of his cell phone.
“Leave us, Reid,” he snips without glancing up from the device.
Our escort nods, backing out of the room and closing the door behind him.
He won’t go far though. I guarantee when we’re dismissed, if we get dismissed, Reid will be waiting just outside the door to lead us away from Mr. Smythe’s office.
Raising his glare to us, Maximus sucks all the energy out of the room. “You two have been compromised. From this point on, you’re on lockdown. You are not to leave Bleakcrest. If you so much as step a foot outside, you’ll be terminated.”
On house arrest with Rose? Sounds like fucking paradise to me.
“What about our job?” Brad interjects.
“Consider yourself relieved of the position. Extraction is complete. I’d say the hardest part of your job is done.”
Maximus isn’t wrong, but knowing Brad, he’s pissed about missing out on the rest of the trip. The part where he gets to flirt, and fuck, and actually enjoy the cruise.
I couldn’t care less, more time here is what I’ve wanted since I laid eyes on Rose as she crossed the gangway.
“What about our position on the ship? Surely it will be too suspicious if we don’t return?”
Why won’t he shut the fuck up? It’s almost like he doesn’t want me to have time with Rose. What’s his angle? He liked Chelsea enough that I’m sure he could work in some time with her. She seems to fit his desires very well.
“Your replacements are being prepped as we speak.”
“But—“
It’s fucking agony, holding my tongue. But Brad is only digging his own fucking grave. I won’t go down with the ship because I don’t give a flying fuck about the vacation.
“Dismissed,” Maximus says, curt and final.
Every rigid muscle in my body loosens as relief flows through me.
Brad’s pissed. He turns, quickly moving to the door and flinging it open without waiting for Reid. He storms off down the hallway before I can follow.
“Samuel,” Maximus barks.
Slowly, I turn back to him, locking eyes.
“Miss Rose is not to be disturbed. Her purchase has been arranged, and she has some…recovering to do before then.”
Dread threads through my body, pulling every muscle taut with unease again. What does she have to recuperate from? “Sir, you can—“
“This routine of yours is growing tiresome, Samuel. Pick a toy and stick with it. If you’re bored with Cynthia, Miss Chelsea is unclaimed.”
My lip curls in disgust. I will not fuck my future sister-in-law.
“But know that if you kill that one, it won’t be me you have to contend with. Karson will come for your head.”
My eyes snap up. If she’s Karson’s for the time being, why is he offering her to me?
“And I’ll let him.”
Fuck.
Any sway I thought I had with the boss evaporates into thin air as the ground beneath my feet crumbles away.
“Are we clear?”
“Yes, sir.” I grind out.
“Say it.”
“Rose is off-limits.”
A sick smile pulls at his lips. “Good. You’re dismissed.”
Nodding, I leave the room.
My pace is quick as I cross Bleakcrest. Coming up on the blue wing, I stand outside the sky room. What I’m about to do could damn us both.
But nothing will keep me from Rose.