Traded (Blood Ties Book 5)

Car doors closed behind us with a thud before we pulled away from the Ares’ residence and I dared release the breath burning in my lungs. Vivienne stared out the window, lost in her thoughts. It was those thoughts which gripped me. Those thoughts which had made my pulse frantic the moment Dante’s wife and daughter reacted at the sight of her.

Vivienne knew them.

And they knew her.

Which only meant one thing. They were connected to The Order. How or why was still a mystery. One I planned on figuring out. Just as soon as we were out of here. I glanced at Gus, catching him glancing at the rear-view mirror. Even with the sons in the car behind us, I didn’t trust Dante not to take his threat to the next level before we made it to the end of his goddamn driveway.

I pressed my spine against the seat, my mind racing, replaying what the hell had just happened. Not taking sides, my ass. The moment Dante decided to step out of this, it had made him a target. He knew that. So if he knew and did it anyway, then something else was going on here.

Vivienne adjusted the sunglasses nervously as the car turned, taking us a block away. The ugly purple bruise looked even worse in the daylight. The longer I stared, the more savage I felt. I’d make her forget what those bastards had done to her. I’d make her forget…right before I tore them apart with my bare hands.

My murderous thoughts turned to Daniels, and I clenched my jaw, inhaling deep.

That piece of shit didn’t deserve to live a second longer than necessary, not after what he’d done. A nerve twitched in the corner of my eye as I replayed Hale’s call in my head. How’s London’s little bitch? I plan on taking my sweet time with her tomorrow after our little celebration. Christ, I bet she can scream.

Vivienne glanced my way, giving me a nervous smile.

Christ, I bet she can scream.

I forced an awkward smile of my own, trying my best to ease her worry.

She didn’t need to anymore. I’d make sure she was safe. I lowered my gaze, taking in her body and stilled at her belly. I’d make sure she was safe…and mine.

The ominous Victorian mansion rose at the end of the street, drawing my focus, and Vivienne’s as well.

Moving trucks were parked outside. One was backing into the service entrance while we slowed and pulled into the main driveway that ran along the side of the house. She turned her head, taking in the towering gables of the gothic mansion as Gus pulled the car in front of the garage that was separate from the house.

“You…own this?” she whispered, turning back to me in surprise. Then she corrected herself, “Of course you do. What a stupid question. You own everything.”

The moment Gus opened my door, I gave her a laugh, but it died. “I’d like you to move into the driver’s quarters for the time being,” I murmured.

His nod was instant. “Whatever you need.”

I adjusted my jacket and went to the rear of the car. This wasn’t about a need for a driver, only the need to survive. The more men I had around protecting her, the safer she was. The landscape was shifting around us, casting shadows where there had been none before. I needed to get a handle on this…more than ever before.

I rounded the car, opened her door, and held out my hand. She eased out slowly, wincing as she straightened. I didn’t enjoy seeing her in pain. It made me feel…violent.

The good doctor was about to make house calls…if he wanted to stay alive, that was.

As Carven and Colt climbed out of the Explorer, I led her to the side entrance of the house. I’d bought this place after viewing the place from photos alone. I didn’t care about the house, not really. It was the location that mattered.

It’d be suicidal to attempt open war in a Mafia stronghold. So if Hale couldn’t go to war with me, then that left a stealth attack, one we’d be ready for. But as Vivienne lowered those aviators and took in the grandeur of the old place with its cathedral ceilings, I realized the effect this place had.

“Holy shit,” she whispered, staring. “This place is gorgeous.”

The moving men grunted as they heaved boxes through the towering ornate front door with Guild limping in after them. “Through there into the kitchen,” he ordered, drawing our gazes.

I watched Vivienne’s eyes widen and fought a flare of jealousy as she smiled at him. Easy…that savage part of my nature lingered too close to the surface where she was concerned. Guild glanced our way and met her gaze, then mine, before he gave a nod and shuffled away, holding his arm against his side.

I knew there wasn’t anything romantic between them. He’d risked his life to save her, that was the extent of her appreciation. But still, seeing her watch him as he limped away stung.

“Let me show you to the east wing and our bedrooms,” I urged.

We walked through the entrance and past the stairs that would lead to the two levels of stately bedrooms above. But there was no way in hell I’d make that mistake twice. No more bedrooms upstairs for us, from now on we slept where we could escape.

The shriek of a drill rang out behind us. Most exterior doors were welded shut, and I’d installed grates on every door and window in the place. The moment we’d booked into the hotel last night I’d started making phone calls. From now on, this place would be guarded twenty-four-seven, one way or another.

Vivienne glanced at the sitting room with its moody dark wood grain and stunning herringbone wooden floor. The place grew even more mysterious and consuming as it spilled into the elegant dining room we passed.

The mammoth fifteen-seater black table barely made an impact in the massive dining room. This place was even bigger than the city residence and half the price, considering the neighborhood.

“That’s different.” She stared at the table.

“It came with the house,” I offered.

She smiled at me, and this time it was genuine, curling those beautiful lips.

I leaned close to her ear. “You should see your bedroom.”

Her eyes widened before she carefully dragged her teeth across her lip. It was all I could do not to kiss her.

“Come on.” I tugged her hand, leading her further along the hallway to the east wing of the house. “Let me show you our wing.”

“A wing, huh?” She glanced over her shoulder at the stairs. “Not upstairs.”

“No. Not upstairs.”

There was an audible exhale. “Good.”

I curled her arm around mine, leading her past the open double doors. Moody dark grays darkened the hallway as we switched from the original hardwoods to new plush dark carpet. “My bedroom is first on the left.” I nodded to the closed black door, then Carven’s on the right. “Yours is the black door next on the left and Colt’s is on the right directly opposite yours.”

My pulse kicked at the words, but instead of jealousy, there was a wave of relief with her wedged among all three of us. We’d keep her secure…and busy.

“Colt’s bedroom?” she whispered. “He’s not sharing one with Carven?”

I met her surprised stare. “Apparently not.”

Her cheeks reddened under the bruise, making me smile, until she shifted her gaze to the last door beyond hers. “And that? Whose bedroom is that?”

The kick of my pulse boomed even louder. “It’s not a bedroom.”

“Oh, what is it?”

I strode past our bedrooms, stopped outside the black painted door, and turned to her. Secure grates and trip switches on the windows weren’t the only things I’d had secured in the house overnight. She stared at that door and I could almost see that perfect, headstrong mind ticking overtime.

I reached out and grabbed the handle but I didn’t turn it, not yet. Instead, I met the excitement in her eyes. “You know what they say about curiosity, Wildcat?”

There was a flicker of concern before that defiant spark ignited. We were back there, the push and pull, neither of us wanting to succumb to that goddamn inferno blazing between us. She jutted that adorable chin higher. “No, what do they say, London?”

My lips curled higher as I twisted the handle and shoved the door wide. I didn’t need to look at the room. I saw it all in the widening of her eyes and the catch of her breath. She pressed against the door frame as I moved closer. “She gets fucked by the machine.”

Her breaths raced as she turned those beautiful brown eyes to mine.

I lowered my head to whisper against her ear. “What, no witty retort? Don’t tell me I finally silenced you.”

I lifted my hand and dragged the back of a curled finger down her arm. She slowly turned her head, our lips so…damn…close…

“You in need, pet?”

Those lips parted. Her breath became mine. “Maybe.”

I leaned in, gently kissing the corners of her split lip. Desire and rage swirled inside me. The violence felt…soothing.

“Are we safe here?” she whispered against my mouth.

I pulled away, staring into her eyes. “The truth?”

She nodded.

“Then no. We’re not safe anywhere, not until this is over. But you can damn well believe we’re not taking another risk. Not with you. You’re going to be guarded twenty-four-seven.” I moved my finger to the outside of her breast. “Think you can handle that, pet?”

She licked her lips. “I’m sure I can make do.”

I smiled until my phone vibrated in my pocket, wrenching me back to reality. My happiness turned to rage when I looked at the caller ID. I was aware of everything about her, including the way her eyes darted to my hands as I answered the call, before they shifted to me.

“Is he dead?”

I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth nearly cracked.

“At least tell me that, for fuck’s sake.”

“No,” I answered Hale.

I concentrated on the silence on the other end of the line, waiting for the slow exhale. But it didn’t come, making me turn away from her. The hairs on the nape of my neck rose as Hale spoke once more. “In that case, I’d like to propose a trade, his life for the contract.”

My gut clenched.

“Fuck you,” I forced. “How about that?”

“They’re my most lucrative possessions. But I wanted your whore for myself.” The bastard kept talking, digging himself deeper. “The moment Daniels had his fill and fucked the scent of you off her, she was to be mine.”

My fist tightened around the phone until it crackled. Harsh, consuming breaths filled the speaker and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stifle the sound.

“Fifteen minutes and I’d ruin her.”

“I’m going to kill you,” my voice was devoid of emotion as I murmured. “I hope you realize that. One day, you’ll open your eyes and I’m going to have a gun to your head. I want to look into your eyes when I pull the trigger.”

The response was slow and careful. “Until then,” Hale answered. “Daniels for the contract and we leave her alone.”

I lifted my gaze to the only one I’d make a deal with the devil for. “Fine,” I answered, then lowered the phone and ended the call…with my heart in the back of my throat.

The only question was…

Why the fuck did he want Daniels that bad?

I pushed the question to the back of my mind as I closed the distance, pressed her against that doorway, and kissed her.