London

We drove back to his estate thirty minutes away. Crewe drove with one hand on the way, his eyes on the road straight ahead. His other hand rested in his lap, and dusk was slowly settling across Tuscany.

It was beautiful here. I loved the warm sun, the green vines of the vineyards, and the dusty dirt that flew into the air when we drove down the road. In some ways, it reminded me of home. In others, it didn’t remind me of anything I’d seen in my lifetime.

Crewe didn’t make small talk. He seemed to be in a bad mood, but I wasn’t sure why. I behaved myself the entire time and rarely spoke unless I was spoken to first. I could have given a lot of smartass comments, but I didn’t. I was just grateful to be with him instead of back at the house with his psychopath partner and his violent henchman.

I wasn’t trying to run.

If I did, he would kill Joey. I didn’t have any other option but to make the best of my situation. I wasn’t sure how long I would be there. Maybe I would be there forever. If I could make him fall in love with me, he may leave Joey alone and let me go.

But the more I got to know him, the more unlikely that seemed.

Crewe was heartless.

He lost his family, and I knew something serious happened with Josephine. He carried too many scars, too much hatred. But at the same time, he did have his soft moments. He told me I was beautiful and told Dunbar to keep his hands off me. If he really didn’t care, he wouldn’t intervene.

And I still suspected he changed his mind about Bones for a different reason.

But I would never really know the truth about that.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re mad?”

He kept his eyes on the road. “Because I am.”

I should have been more specific. “Why do I get the feeling you’re mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself for allowing you to come with me.”

“Why?” I blurted. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Crow asked if he could have a go with you.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles slightly turning white. “Cane did the same.”

I was grateful he didn’t share me. Crow and Cane were good-looking, but I didn’t want to be loaned out to strangers. It had been difficult enough for me to sleep with Crewe to begin with. Now sleeping with him was so natural I didn’t think twice about it. “You didn’t act like I meant anything special to you…”

Crewe clenched his jaw.

“And I don’t mean anything to you, so why do you care?”

“I just do. I shouldn’t have let you come. It was a stupid decision.”

“You’re being really unfair. I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not my fault they’re both perverts.”

“They aren’t perverts,” he said quietly. “They’re men. When men see a beautiful woman, they want to fuck her. It’s pretty fucking natural.” His jaw was still clenched as he spoke.

“Then you shouldn’t be upset.”

He turned his head my way, the anger in his eyes.

That wasn’t the smartest thing to say. “Crewe, if you’re gonna keep me around for a long time, put me to use. Let me help with your business. Give me something to do. I don’t want to be at the mercy of your employees every time you aren’t around.”

“I don’t care how you feel, London. I’m sorry if that wasn’t apparent.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked out the window. “Why don’t you just kill me…?” I had hope prior to this, hope that something good would happen. But now, all optimism was disappearing.

He turned his head to look at me again.

“Just kill me,” I repeated. “You’ll get your vengeance on Joey. He’ll be miserable. Win-win.”

“Why would I do that when I enjoy being between your legs so much?”

My heartbeat quickened at his words, although I wasn’t sure why. Did that simple sentence make me aroused? Was it the possessiveness? Or was it nothing at all, just a natural reaction.

I purposely kept my eyes out the window, not wanting to look at him or see his reaction to me. I didn’t respond to his flirty words, refusing to do so.

His hand grabbed my elbow, and he loosened my arm before he grabbed my hand. He rested it on my thigh then brushed his thumb along my knuckles. Like he did on the plane, he showed me affection that surprised me. It was tender and sweet, a great contradiction to everything he was.

My heart rate slowed down again, and just for a moment, I felt at peace. I felt safe, like nothing could hurt me while he consoled me. I liked this version of Crewe, when he showed compassion that derived from nowhere.

“I’m not gonna kill you, Lovely. That’s the last thing I want to do.”

“Then what do you want to do with me?” I didn’t pull my hand away because it felt nice. I wanted him to keep touching me. It made me feel alive, not hopeless and dead.

“For now, this.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “That’s all.”

It wasn’t an answer, but at least it wasn’t a death threat. As long as I was useful to him, he would keep me around. If he liked me enough to kiss my hand, maybe I had a chance after all.

But I still doubted it.

When we entered the bedroom, it was nightfall. The stars appeared in the sky and could be seen through the open window. I hoped Crewe didn’t have plans for the night. There was a lock on the door and I doubted Dunbar would go out of his way to make me miserable, but I preferred it when Crewe was around.

He kept everyone in line.

He dropped his jacket and removed his watch, taking his time undressing in front of the closet. His tie came next then he unbuttoned his shirt.

I tried not to stare at him.

His physique was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. I’d never seen a man so hard and strong. He had lean muscles on a tall frame, his biceps leading to tight triceps. His pecs were so sculpted they didn’t look real. He had a light tan line around his neck where his collared shirt ended, but it was so faint it was hardly noticeable. His shoulders were just as toned as the rest of him, packed with muscle but slender at the same time. The only time I’d ever seen a man look this beautiful was in porn, and that was all lighting and angles.

Crewe looked like that no matter what.

I swallowed when I realized my mouth was dry. I was a prisoner to a royal criminal and I shouldn’t feel anything but fear and disgust, but I found myself feeling so many contradicting emotions that none of it made sense.

His slacks and shoes came off next, and he stood in his black boxers.

I finally looked away, not wanting to get caught looking.

“I know you like what you see.” He slowly walked toward where I sat on the couch. He had a noticeable V in his hips, lines caused by his tight abs. There was a distinct bulge in the front of his shorts, the outline of his long cock in the fabric.

“You shouldn’t make assumptions.”

He kneeled in front of me, his muscled mass coming into perfect view. He leaned in, one arm sitting on the armrest while the other touched my thigh. He looked at me with those light brown eyes, commanding me with just a look.

Now I couldn’t turn away.

He leaned farther in until our lips were just inches apart. “Shallow breathing. Dry mouth.” His hand squeezed the area just above my knee. “Quivering thighs.” He grabbed my wrist next and felt my pulse. “Rapid heart rate.”

I swallowed the shame as best I could.

He placed my hand over his chest, right over the skin where his heart was beating. “Rapid heart rate.” He pressed his lips to my ear, his breaths falling on my earlobe. “Shallow breathing.” He moved his mouth to mine and gave me a slow kiss. “Dry mouth.” He grabbed my hand and forced my palm over his definition in his boxers. “Raging cock.”

My hand automatically squeezed his length, my arousal making all the decisions for me. He was the biggest man I’d ever taken, but the painful stretching somehow felt incredible. I’d never been with a man like him before.

He leveled his face with mine. “Let’s be real with each other. Tell me you want me.”

I looked him in the eyes and didn’t hesitate. “I want you.”

His eyes became heavy-lidded, the answer obviously pleasing him. “I want you too.” He kissed me and sucked my bottom lip into his mouth. “I don’t want any other man to have you because I want you all to myself.”

My hands moved into his hair, and I deepened the kiss, getting swept away by the arousal between my legs. He placed a transmitter inside my brother’s brain, but that didn’t stop me from wanting him. He kept me as his prisoner, but I still wanted to feel him between my legs. I hated this man, wished he were dead, but I still wanted to feel his come inside me.

Didn’t make any sense.

Crewe lifted me from the couch and set me on the bed. His boxers were off, and his hard cock was already oozing at the tip.

I unbuttoned my jeans and shoved them off, eager to get him inside me.

He grinned in his typically arrogant way before he helped me get my panties off. He didn’t bother with my shirt before he climbed on top of me and shoved himself deep inside my pussy. He was never gentle with me, fucking me like I didn’t mean a damn thing to him.

But I liked it.

I had a dream I walking down the road when a car sped by and slammed right into a tree.

I ran to the window to see if I could help whoever was behind the wheel, and I came face-to-face with my father. Eyes wide open with blood gushing down his face, he was already dead. My mother was in the passenger seat, a branch impaling her right through her stomach. I could smell the smoke from the engine and the blood from their wounds. In the back seat was Joey, a grown man as I last saw him. He was dead on impact. “Ahh!”

“London.” Crewe’s deep voice sounded in my ear, bringing me back to reality. “It’s a dream. Wake up.”

I kicked the sheets away like they were nets about to drag me underwater. Sweat was streaked up and down my arms and the backs of my thighs. I fought against an invisible foe, running from the car in my dream.

He grabbed me by both shoulders and shook me. “London, wake up.”

I finally opened my eyes and saw the dark bedroom around me. I knew I was with Crewe, but I couldn’t remember where. It was all a nightmare, a horrible dream that wasn’t real. I jumped out of bed and felt the cold draft since I was naked. I ran to the fireplace then darted to the couch, moving so I wouldn’t stand still. “Where am I?” This wasn’t Scotland. This wasn’t the island. I couldn’t remember where I was. I was still asleep.

“Italy.” Crewe got out of bed then slowly approached me, over six feet of pure man. “We came here to do business with Crow and Cane. You met them earlier today.” He kept his voice low as if that might keep me calm.

I wrapped my arms around my body to hide my nakedness even though he’d already seen me. I backed farther into the chair and breathed deeply, trying to catch my breath and stop my frantically beating heart. No matter what I did, I couldn’t calm down. My family’s dead faces kept flashing before my eyes.

“I can’t lose him…I can’t.” I burst into sobs, heavy sobs that made me shake.

“Lovely, whom? Can’t lose whom?” He inched closer to me until his hand moved to my shoulder.

“Joey…he’s all I have left.” I covered my face with my palms and wept, my body shaking from the exertion. I didn’t cry in front of people. I didn’t cry at all. It didn’t solve anything. It didn’t make my problems go away. But I was out of my mind and still partially asleep.

Crewe wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest, his strong arms acting as steel gates. His fingers moved into my hair, and he stroked me. “Shh…just a dream. Everything is alright.”

I forced myself to stop crying, to stop feeling the violent emotions raging in my chest. With every single breath, I slowly calmed down until I was back to normal. The tears absorbed back into my skin, and I listened to Crewe’s heartbeat for comfort.

It was just a nightmare.

A dream.

It’ll be alright.

I had to talk myself through this hardship, but I was used to Joey being the one to console me. Even when I had a bad day in class, I called him and told him all about it. He wasn’t just my brother. He was my whole family wrapped up into a single person. Without him, I was all alone. “I’m sorry…” I pulled away from Crewe, knowing I irritated him with my episode. He’d been woken up in the middle of the night with my tantrum, something he couldn’t care less about. “Sometimes I have really vivid dreams if I drink too much…” I didn’t want to see the anger in his eyes, so I didn’t look at him.

He grabbed me by the elbow and guided me back into his chest. “It’s alright, Lovely. I have nightmares too.”

“You do?” Once my face was pressed against his chest again, I felt better. His heartbeat consoled me in a way I could never explain.

“All the time.” He guided me back to the bed and pulled the covers back so he could tuck me in. “You aren’t alone.”

My head hit the pillow, and he pulled the covers over me, tucking me in like a child.

He got into bed beside me, and instead of sticking to his side, he wrapped his arm around me and spooned me from behind. “You want to talk about it?”

My arm rested over his, gripping it like a lifeline. I could feel his pulse through his skin, the blood pounding away and giving him life. He was my captor, but he’d never made me feel more safe. It didn’t make any sense. “No…”

He kissed the back of my neck before he rested his face against my hair. “I’m here if you change your mind.”

I closed my eyes and felt sleep begin to take its toll. “I know.”

I slept in late because of my rocky night.

Crewe was gone, probably already showered and ready for the day. He was usually awake as soon as the sun was up. He seemed to hit his private gym then got ready for the day. I knew he exercised because he wouldn’t look like that unless he were committed.

I was relieved he was gone so I wouldn’t have to face the humiliation right away. I had bad dreams from time to time, but nothing as intense as that. It felt like I was actually there, seeing the blood drip down their faces and seep into the clothes.

It was a dream I wanted to forget.

But the more terrifying the dream, the more difficult it was to block it out.

I wished I could call Joseph. He was the one person in the world I could talk to about this.

After I showered and got dressed, Crewe walked inside. He already in his suit and tie, jumping into the workday. Instead of giving me his typical look of indifference, he stared at me like I was damaged goods.

Which I hated. “What are you up to today?” I didn’t give him the chance to ask how I was feeling. I didn’t want his concern, not after I’d embarrassed myself. When he held me, I should have pushed him away.

But I needed him too much.

“I’m heading down to the headquarters to meet with Crow and Cane. Just forgot my watch.” He grabbed it off the dresser and fastened it around his wrist.

I was disappointed he was leaving. I would be stuck in this house with all of his men. As long as I didn’t leave the room, they shouldn’t bother me. I could wait to eat until he returned. “See you later.” I didn’t beg him to take me like I did yesterday. After the pathetic way I cried in his chest last night, I wasn’t going to show an ounce of weakness again. It didn’t look good on me.

It didn’t look good on anyone.

He adjusted his cuff link as he looked at me. I’d never cared for brown eyes, but I loved his. They were warm like mocha but dark like the bark of a tree. They could be intense or playful at any given time. “Would you like to come with me?”

I froze in place because I couldn’t believe he made the offer. After meeting with Crow and Cane yesterday, he was angry that he took me to begin with. Now he was asking on his own? It only took a few seconds for me to figure out why. “I’m okay. Thanks anyway.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to come?”

“No. I’ll stay here.” I didn’t mind pestering him until I got what I wanted, but the last thing I wanted was his pity. If he felt too terrible handing me off to Bones, that was one thing. But this was another.

He slid his hands into his pockets as he stared me down. “London.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to give in. “Hmm?”

“I know you want to come, so what game are you playing?”

“I’m not playing any games. You’re only inviting me because you feel bad for me. Don’t feel bad for me. I hate that.”

He glanced at his watch like he was running late. “I think having a pity party for yourself is worse than my feeling bad for you. But do whatever you want.” He walked to the door with no intention of looking back.

I didn’t want to be here alone, not when I had no idea how long he would be gone. I couldn’t explore the property when Dunbar was giving me evil looks all the time. He was one of Crewe’s trusted employees, but I knew he would betray Crewe if he thought he could get away with it. I could picture him holding me down and doing unspeakable things to me. And Ariel…she was a loose cannon. “Wait.”

Crewe turned back around like he’d been expecting me to say something.

“I’ll come with you.”

He bottled his arrogance for once. “I’m leaving in five minutes. Hurry up.”

It was just the two of us in his shiny black car. It was a two-seater, and judging by how loud the engine was, it was fast. I looked out the window and didn’t ask him any questions. If I was lucky enough, last night wouldn’t come up at all.

Crewe never had the radio on, which I thought was strange. He never listened to music.

“What are you doing with them today?”

“Going over weapon selection.” He wore thick sunglasses, hiding his pretty eyes.

“Why did you buy weapons from them?”

“Protection is important. I want the best of the best.”

“Do you have a lot of enemies?”

“Everyone has enemies. If you don’t, then you’re doing something wrong.”

That was debatable. “I can stay in the car if you want…” He’d already done something nice by letting me come with him. I’d rather sit in a hot car than be back at the house with his men.

“Why do you hate Dunbar so much?”

“Because he’s an ass. He’s hit me twice now.”

“He thought you were escaping.”

I shook my head. “No. He has a problem with me. I honestly believe if you weren’t around, he’d do something worse to me…just because he wants to.”

Instead of shutting me down right away, Crewe considered what I said. “Dunbar has been working for me for a long time. He wouldn’t cross me like that.”

“I’m not so sure…”

“You need to give me more evidence than that.”

“It’s a gut instinct. I can just tell.”

Crewe drove with one hand, his other arm on the windowsill. “I don’t know about that.”

“You’ve never been a woman. You don’t know what it’s like to feel like prey all the time. You wouldn’t understand.” I knew when a man wanted to cause me harm for his own sick pleasure. If Dunbar thought he could get away with it, he would force me on my stomach and take me like a dog.

Crewe turned to me, his gaze unreadable behind his glasses. He looked handsome in anything he wore, even sunglasses that hid some of his face from view. He could be wearing a sombrero and tights, and he would still look good. “I know what it’s like to feel like prey. But no, I don’t know what it’s like to be a woman. You have me there.”

I wondered if he was referring to his family’s death. He was probably the last target on the list, but they never succeeded. “Do you think you could take me back to Fair Isle? I could be one of your women that you just see while you’re there.” He had women in Edinburgh, and probably everywhere else too.

“You like it there?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t be in your way, and I like Finley. Actually, he’s the only employee you have that I feel comfortable with.”

“When do you get in my way?”

He had a terrible memory. “It was just yesterday when you said how annoyed you were that you took me to see Crow and Cane.”

“But you weren’t in my way. And no, we aren’t doing that.”

I hid my disappointment as best as I could. “So, where you go, I go?”

“Exactly.” He drove farther into the city and down a few streets until he reached a deserted complex. When he pulled up to the gate, the camera must have recognized his face because the doors opened and allowed him to pass through.

I searched the concrete complex and stared at the warehouses. It didn’t seem like anything illegal was going on at first glance. “If I’m always around, how will you spend time with your other women?” I didn’t like to think about him with anyone else. The fact that they were free and consensual just annoyed me. I’d give anything to have something consensual again. But I knew I was annoyed for other reasons too.

“I’ll make it work.” He killed the engine then got out.

I hid the sour look on my face as best as I could before I got out and joined him.

Crewe took my hand and pulled me with him, keeping me right by his side as he moved. He entered the warehouse and greeted the men and located Crow. His hand never left mine, and when he was face-to-face with the man we saw last night, his arm snaked around my waist. “Crow.”

He nodded. “Crewe. Excited to see our inventory?”

“Impress me.”

“This way.” Crow guided us to a back room where we had privacy from the rest of the men. Cane was already there, placing the different guns on display. They were all black, military looking. Some were machine guns, and others were hand-held pistols.

I felt a little nervous.

“They’re unloaded.” Crow smiled at me like he knew I was terrified.

Crewe kept me close to him as he examined everything. The only time he took his hand off my waist was when he used both hands to grab the AK-47. He felt the weight in his hands then aimed it at the opposite wall. He’d obviously handled guns before because it was clear he knew exactly what he was doing.

That made me uneasy. If I were back in New York, I’d be sitting in class right now learning about the nervous system. But instead, I was in Italy with a man who intended to keep me and fuck me for as long as he wanted. He was examining a hoard of weapons he was about to buy from criminal masterminds.

How did Joey get mixed up in all of this?

“What do you think?” Cane asked. “Your woman seems impressed.”

I shot him a glare.

Crewe didn’t correct him. “Everything is well-made. You didn’t cut corners.”

“We never cut corners,” Crow said. “You get what you pay for.”

Crewe returned the gun to the table then moved on to a handgun. He felt the weight in his grasp then checked the barrel. It was empty like they claimed. He moved on and examined the different specimens, looking at minor details that I didn’t notice with my untrained eye.

Crow turned his gaze on me, watching me like I might try something.

I stared back, threatening him with just my look.

The corner of his mouth rose in a smile, and he looked away. “Your woman has a backbone, Crewe. That’s hard to find.”

“She has a fist too,” I said. “And she’s not afraid to throw it in your face.”

Crow grinned wider. “Don’t let her go, man. She’s a keeper.”

Crewe grabbed another gun and examined it like he hadn’t heard a word we said. “Everything looks good. Let’s pack it up.” He came back to my side, his thoughts still lingering on the weapons in the room.

“Of course it looks good,” Cane said. “Fine Italian craftsmanship right here.” Cane walked out of the room, probably to tell his men they needed to get everything together.

That left me with Crewe and Crow.

“How’s Vanessa?” Crewe asked, probably to make conversation while we waited.

Crow’s good mood immediately disappeared. He didn’t turn angry, just dark and inhospitable. His green eyes looked darker, and his body stiffened noticeably with unease. Like a wild animal that had been provoked, his nostrils flared. “You know I’m in the middle of a war. And she’s the leverage.”

“What does that mean?” Crewe asked quietly.

I listened intently, knowing whatever Crow had to say was important.

“Bones took her. I’ve offered every asset I possess, and he still won’t return her.” He stared at the wall without blinking, his thoughts elsewhere. His body was absolutely still because he wasn’t breathing. “I’ll get her back…somehow.”

I bowed my head so I could hide my face. I knew exactly who Bones was. I’d seen him in the flesh, seen the despicable look in his eyes. He was pure evil, disgusting and satanic. I tried not to shiver at the thought of what my life could have been. Whoever Vanessa was, she had the fate that I was almost destined for.

“I’m sorry.” Crewe never apologized, and he seemed to mean it.

I wondered who Vanessa was. Was it Crow’s wife? A girlfriend?

“Your sister doesn’t deserve that.” Crewe answered my unspoken question.

His sister? That was terrible.

Crow ran his hands through his hair, cringing like he was trying not to think about it. “It’s been rough on both of us…can’t sleep.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the floor.

I felt bad for being there, like I was intruding on something very personal.

I wondered if Crewe was going to mention that he’d recently seen Bones. It didn’t seem like Crewe and Bones were friends, but they obviously had a working relationship. It made me wonder if Bones took Vanessa because he couldn’t have me.

Was I directly responsible for this?

“Have you seen Bones lately?” Crow asked the question without warning, his eyes moving up to meet Crewe’s gaze.

I wondered what Crewe would say.

“A few months ago.”

Crow continued to stare at him with a poker face. “Were you doing business with him?”

“Sorta,” Crewe answered before he glanced at me. “I was going to sell London to him…until I changed my mind.”

Crow’s eyes shifted to mine. “You’re a lucky girl.”

Sadly, I actually did feel lucky. I would much rather be Crewe’s prisoner than anyone else’s in the world. He was honest and transparent. He didn’t get off on strangling me or cutting me. Plus, he was handsome and charming. The more I got to know him, the more I understood his personality. He’d been betrayed more than once—so he was cold. I wasn’t justifying his actions. I just understood them.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Crewe asked.

“I’m having a hard time tracking him down, getting him with his guard down,” Crow answered. “When he leaves his premises, he rarely takes Vanessa with him. I’d have to get the two of them alone somewhere.”

“What are you asking me?” Crewe asked.

“Is there a way you could get him somewhere alone with Vanessa?” Crow asked. “I’d be eternally grateful. Your purchase would be on the house, as a thank you.”

I wasn’t sure if Crewe would go for it. He wasn’t the most charitable person in the world. “I don’t want to get on his bad side. He’s a good business partner and ally.”

Crow nodded. “I’ve been feuding with him my whole life. He’s not an enemy you want to have.”

“Though, I’m willing to try something to make this work for you,” Crewe said. “But I can’t look guilty.”

Crow nodded. “I understand.”

“I’m celebrating the grand opening of my new distillery in Scotland. I can invite him. It wouldn’t be suspicious.” Crewe stood with his hands in his pockets, standing the same height as Crow. Both men were dark and mysterious, dangerously handsome.

I didn’t want to be in the same room as that man—ever again. He made my blood turn cold and freeze over. Even though I belonged to Crewe, I didn’t want to breathe the same air as that fiend, Bones. Knowing what he was doing to that innocent woman made me want to bash a goblet over his head.

“That could work,” Crow said. “But I’m not sure if he’ll bring her.”

“I could suggest he bring a date,” Crewe said. “But that’s the most I can do.”

Crow considered it before he nodded. “I’ll take it. Thank you.” He extended his hand. “Truly.”

Crewe took it. “I had nothing to do with this, alright?”

Crow nodded. “Understood. Your weapons are on the house.”

“That’s not necessary,” Crewe said. “If everything goes to plan, you can reimburse me. I can’t guarantee he’ll even go.”

“That’s true,” Crow said. “We’ll see what happens.”

I didn’t say anything on the drive home because I was at a loss for words. I had complained about my captivity with Crewe, but it could have been much worse. Whether he had a change of heart or truly thought keeping me with him was a better revenge, I was lucky I ended up in the passenger seat of his car.

Poor Vanessa.

Crewe broke the silence after a few minutes. “You alright?”

“No.” I rested my hands in my lap and looked out the window.

“What’s on your mind?”

“You already know.” Ariel didn’t care that I was a prisoner, but I cared that Vanessa had taken my place. No woman should be subjected to that kind of torture. My imprisonment wasn’t fair either, but I could handle it.

“It’s unfortunate.” That was all he said about it, and he didn’t seem to care.

“That was nice of you to help Crow.” Maybe Crewe had a heart inside that tin chest after all.

“I’m sympathetic when it comes to family matters.”

I guessed that shouldn’t have been surprising after what happened to his own family. He was the last member of his line. Until he grew his own family, he would be alone.

“You’re still putting your neck on the line. I respect you for it.” Respect was something I hardly gave him, not when he manipulated me by threatening my brother. But his offer of help gave me hope that he was a good man after all, if he forgot about all his bitterness.

He kept his eyes on the road, his hand on the wheel.

I shouldn’t have respected a response from that, but I got my hopes up anyway. “If Bones had taken me, do you think Vanessa would have been left alone?”

“I have no idea. He took her out of vengeance, so having you may not have made a difference. He could have gotten bored of you right away and killed you. Who knows?” He said it nonchalantly like my murder had no significance.

“Wow…he really is evil.”

“They call him Bones for a reason.”

I didn’t want to know why, so I didn’t ask. I looked out the window again. “When is this party?”

“Two weeks from Saturday.”

I hoped he wasn’t going to take me as his date. He took me the Holyrood thing, which was pretty high-profile. But maybe he would take his French diplomat or whatever. The idea of him taking someone else bothered me, but I refused to admit it—especially to myself. “In Scotland?”

“Yeah. The distillery is in Edinburgh.”

“That’s nice…” I wanted to ask if he was taking me, but I didn’t want to bring it up.

“Are you ready to talk about last night?”

I thought that was buried. “No.”

“Too soon?”

“No. I never want to talk about last night.”

He drove down the country road, passing small houses with acres of land and crops. It was a cloudless day, and the sky was a clear blue. The sun shone through the window and hit both of my thighs, making them feel warm. “We’re going to be together for a long time. You may as well make the best of it.”

“Make the best of it?” I asked incredulously.

“Yeah. I could be your friend if you gave me a chance.”

“Sorry, I’m not friends with criminals.”

He smiled like he had a comeback sitting in the back of his throat. “But you’re related to one?”

That jab hurt. “I didn’t have a clue, and you know that.”

“But you still love the guy, right?”

“Of course.” I was offended by the question.

“Even though he breaks the law every single day?” he asked. “Even though he kills people?”

“He doesn’t kill people,” I said defensively. I purposely looked out the window to avoid his gaze. In reality, I really had no idea what Joseph’s criminal activities included. All I knew was stole intelligence from Crewe and tried not to pay for it. He tried to cheat a man out of four million dollars. That was the extent of my knowledge.

“And you know this, how?”

I didn’t. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Too bad,” he said. “Your only relative lied to you. He got into a bad business even though he knew you could be used against him. He did it anyway. Me, on the other hand, I’m always honest. You’re gonna get the truth from me even if you don’t want to hear it. I’m the most trustworthy guy on the planet. You can always depend on me to deliver my promises. I’m a pretty powerful ally to have, Lovely. You should take advantage of that.”

He must have struck a nerve because I suddenly felt lonely. I took his words to heart because I knew they were true. I even said them myself. Crewe was the only man in the world powerful enough to protect me. Only if he allowed me to leave would I escape. If he didn’t let me go, I should make the best of the situation.

“So talk to me.”

“Why do you care?”

He turned on another country road, his thick tires blowing up dust from the side of the road. The engine roared to life as he hit the gas and got back up to top speed. “Because I care about you.”

“We have different definitions of the word.”

“You’re like a pet, Lovely. I want to take care of you so you’ll last a long time.”

So I was just a toy in his eyes. “I’m gonna get old and wrinkly one day.”

He turned to me and winked. “You’ll still be pretty damn hot. I can tell.”

I rolled my eyes and ignored the charming comment. I knew he would be a good-looking older man. He had all the right features to stay beautiful. When he was older, he might even be sexier.

“So, tell me about your dream last night.”

He was going to apply pressure until I broke. Since he was the only person in the world I socialized with, I was at his mercy. If I hadn’t had him for companionship, I would have gone crazy months ago. “This a two-way street.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then it needs to be a two-way street. If you want my friendship, you have to give me yours. That’s how it works.”

He focused on the road like he was considering what I was saying. “Interesting arrangement.”

“Wow. You must not have any friends if the concept is foreign to you.”

“I don’t,” he said simply. “Looks like you’ll be my first.”

I was the prisoner, but I actually felt bad for him.

“How does this friendship thing work?”

“Friends are always honest with each other.”

“Done,” he said quickly. “That’s easy.”

“They trust each other.”

“Hmm…I’m not sure I trust you not to kill me just yet.”

If I could get away with it, I probably would. “As long as you have that transmitter, I’m at your mercy.”

“True. And you know you can trust me?”

“In what way?”

“My intentions are always clear. I’ll never surprise you. What else?”

“That’s about it…other than genuinely liking each other.”

“Well, I know I like you.” He winked again. “What’s not to like?”

“And I…don’t absolutely despise you.” That was the best I could do.

He grinned. “Wow. We’re really making progress here.” His hand moved to my thigh, and he gave it a squeeze. “I think that’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever given me.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“So tell me about your dream.”

“I’ll tell you if you tell me what happened with Josephine.”

He turned to me with his eyebrow raised. “What makes you think I’m gonna share that with you?”

“We’re friends. That’s what friends do. I tell you something, and you tell me something.”

He shook his head. “I’m not telling you that.”

“Why not?”

“It’s none of your concern. That’s why. Ask me something else.” His foul mood suggested I shouldn’t push any further.

“What’s your favorite kind of ice cream?”

He looked at me like that was a stupid question. “Is that really your question?”

“It doesn’t seem like you’ll answer anything more personal…”

When he realized I was being serious, he answered. “I’m not a big fan of ice cream, but if I were going to choose, it would be chocolate.”

“Wow. I feel like we’re best friends already.”

He chuckled then turned right again. In the distance was his villa, sitting on a small hillside with tall trees surrounding it. “Tell me about last night.”

Like I was wearing an old bandage, I decided to rip it off. “I dreamt I saw the accident that killed my parents. But this time, Joey was in the back seat.” I’d already cried last night, so I didn’t have any emotion left. I said everything simply, like it didn’t really matter. “I saw all the blood…their lifeless eyes. It felt real. I think that’s why I got so upset.” I looked out the window as we pulled up to the house, avoiding his gaze as much as possible. I wasn’t embarrassed by my feelings, but I knew he didn’t care about the way I felt. He probably just wanted to know because he was curious.

He pulled up to the driveway but didn’t get out to hand his keys over to one of his men. He kept the car running, our faces hidden behind the tinted windows. He reached over and grabbed my hand, his long fingers warm and comfortable. Once his fingers were wrapped around mine, I felt better. He had pronounced knuckles, masculine hands that handled my feminine curves with ease. His hands hinted at his strength, the power he possessed from a lifetime of wealth. He had the ability to move mountains, to make a queen blush. No matter how much I hated him, I respected his majesty. No other man in the world had the kind of influence he did. “I have dreams like that, wondering how my parents suffered before they died. I have dreams of my brother as a man, how he would have aged if he’d lived. They come and go. Some nights are worse than others.”

At least he understood.

One of his men approached the car but didn’t open the door. He purposely waited for his employer to make the first move. Crewe glanced at him before he took off his glasses and set them on the dashboard. “I want to say it gets easier as time goes on. But it never does. It’s been over twenty years, and I still haven’t made my peace with it.”

“How could you, when your family was murdered?” My parents were killed by a drunk driver, but it was unintentional manslaughter. The drunk driver didn’t have a vendetta against my parents.

“Even after I kill the man was who responsible for this, I’ll never find peace. I’ve accepted it. I’ll always look over my shoulder everywhere I go. I’ll always sleep with one eye open. I’ll carry on my family name without them, but I’ll never forget where I got my surname.”

I turned my hand in his grasp so I could feel our palms rub together. My fingers caressed his, and I could feel the dry calluses that marked his hands. I never noticed them against my tits because I was too focused on what we were doing together. “Looks like we have a lot in common.”

“We do. And I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Does that mean you believe in fate?”

He stared at our joined hands before he looked at me. His eyes were impenetrable, impossible to decipher. “I believe what I see. And right now, I see you.”

He sat on the balcony with the phone glued to his ear for a few hours. It didn’t matter what country he was in, work never stopped. Ariel probably did a lot of work herself, but there were things Crewe had to attend to on his own.

I stayed in the bedroom and watched TV even though everything was in Italian.

He finally hung up the phone and walked inside, wearing his slacks and a collared shirt. His tie was loose and uneven.

I looked at him when I felt his commanding gaze.

“I have one more phone call to make.”

I already knew what demand he was going to make. I’d seen that look on his face enough times to know what was coming next. Now that he had complete power over me, he could pull my strings like a puppet.

“I want you naked on your back, legs spread. I want you to touch yourself until I’m done—and think of me.” When he came closer, I noticed the bulge in the front of his slacks. His fingers moved under my chin, and he grabbed me with restrained force. “Understand?”

I knew what response he was looking for. I knew what kind of mood he was in. “Yes, sir.”

He dropped his hand and walked back outside. He shut the door then pulled out his phone for the last call of the day.

I swallowed the lump in my throat because my mouth was suddenly dry. Goose bumps marked my arms, but it wasn’t because I was cold. Instead of being repulsed by the arrogant way he bossed me around, I was aroused.

I wanted him to go down on me.

He’d done it before, and it was the most amazing experience I’d ever felt. No man had ever made me feel that good, even the ones I thought I loved. But I didn’t want to ask for it. It wasn’t like I had any right to. That wasn’t how our arrangement worked.

I did as he asked and got on the bed, my thighs spread apart. I’d touched myself before, but not because a man asked me to. He was going to walk in at any moment, and he would know if I’d followed directions or not.

My hand moved between my legs, and I rubbed my clit, picturing his mouth there instead of my fingers. My breathing slowly increased, my nipples hardened, and my eyes closed as I got into it. I moved my hand in a circular motion and arched my back as I pictured his mouth down below. In the beginning, I was self-conscious, but the more aroused I became, the less I cared how I looked. I doubted I looked sexy. At this angle, my appearance probably wasn’t flattering.

When I heard something hit the floor, my eyes flashed open.

Crewe had already dropped his tie and shirt. Now his slacks were gone, and he stood in his boxers. His eyes smoldered as they took me in, the heat flushed across his face. He’d been watching me, but I had no idea for how long.

My hand stopped, and I suddenly felt embarrassed.

He grabbed his boxers and pulled them down. “Keep going, Lovely. Don’t let me interrupt.”

My hand moved again, and I stared at his long cock, suddenly hotter than I was before. He was the biggest and thickest I’d ever taken, and I wanted him now. It didn’t matter who he was or that I hated him. I wanted this man more than any other.

He moved up the bed until he was suspended over me, my thighs still wide apart. He watched me with arousal in his mocha eyes, just as turned on as I was. His head was oozing from the tip. “You’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, you know that?”

My free hand wrapped around his neck, and I pulled him in for a kiss, wanting to feel his mouth against mine. The second we touched, I felt the jolt of pleasure rush through me. I rubbed my clit harder, getting swept away in the passion he elicited.

He kissed me back just as hard, breathing into my mouth.

“You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen,” I said against his mouth. I didn’t think before I spoke. My hormones were doing all the thinking for me. My job was to make him fall for me, and flattery might be the way to do it.

He paused our embrace to look me in the eye, satisfied by my response. He kissed me again before he pulled my hand from between my legs. He pressed a small kiss to my fingertips before he placed them in his mouth and sucked.

My thighs squeezed around his hips automatically, my nipples hardening at the same time.

He sucked the taste of my pussy from my fingers before he pulled his mouth away. “Lovely, what were you thinking about?”

I knew exactly what that question meant. “You.”

“And what was I doing?”

I was embarrassed to say the truth, even though I couldn’t embarrass myself more. He’d already seen the worst of it. Instead of answering him, I kissed him again. Maybe that would be enough to get right to the point.

But he was too stubborn for that. He pulled away. “Tell me.” He kissed the corner of my mouth and pressed his fingers against my clit. He rubbed me aggressively, touching me better than I touched myself.

When he made me feel so good, I couldn’t think straight. “You went down on me.”

His fingers slowed down, and he gave me one final kiss. He trailed kisses down my body until he reached the apex of my thighs. He scooted down until he was on his stomach below me, his face between my legs.

I immediately writhed, my fingers digging into his hair. “God…yes.” My nails moved into his shoulders, and I nearly sliced the skin. My hips flexed, and I pressed myself farther into his mouth. I wanted every inch of his tongue against my clit. I wanted it inside of me, outside of me. With this blinding pleasure, I couldn’t think about anything other than how good he felt, of getting more of him. “Crewe…” His name shouldn’t have left my lips, not when it increased his power over me, but I didn’t care in the moment.

He blew on my slit before he circled his tongue around my clit again, applying more pressure until he hit me in the perfect spot. He made me come violently, sending me over the edge when I didn’t realize I was standing on the cliff face to begin with.

“Crewe…” My head rolled back, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensual fire that ripped through me. It was powerful, incredible. It was of the best orgasms he’d ever given me, the kind that made my pussy clench even when he wasn’t inside me. I pooled at my entrance, and Crewe licked it away like he wanted every drop.

When the climax subsided, it slowly faded away. The tenderness between my legs throbbed even when the ecstasy was gone, so every touch of his tongue still made my hips jerk with pleasure.

He lifted his head and raised himself up, a gleam of moisture coating his lips. His cock twitched with arousal as he moved himself on top of me. His skin was flushed with blood where his muscles flexed and worked to hold himself up, and a thin line of sweat formed over his pecs and neck. I wished I weren’t so attracted to him, but there was no way my body could ignore how incredible he was. Not only was his body awe-inspiring, but he had a rugged jawline and warm, mocha eyes.

Instead of remaining satisfied, I wanted more. I wanted his thick cock inside me, to stretch me deep and wide like every man should stretch his woman. I gripped his biceps and guided him farther on top of me. “Fuck me now.”

A quiet growl escaped his lips, and his eyes hardened. He widened my legs and pinned his arms behind my knees, adjusting my hips and stretching my lower back in a way he never had before. He bent me exactly the way he wanted me and pressed his head to my entrance. Slowly, he sank into me.

Somehow, that felt more incredible than his face pressed between my legs. “Crewe…”

“Fuck, that is some wet pussy.”

“Because you make me wet.”

He stopped sliding into me and stared at me with his smoldering expression. “Lovely…Jesus Christ.” He sank the rest of the way, inserting his entire length until his balls hit my ass.

My nails dug into his triceps, feeling the solid muscle that was tighter than a rope.

He didn’t rock into me slowly like the other times we’d had sex. He pounded into me hard right from the beginning, tapping the headboard against the wall with the velocity of his thrusts. He breathed hard through the exertion, his powerful body becoming coated with sweat within minutes.

My hands dragged down his chest, and I felt my tits shake as he fucked me hard. I loved watching his face as he moved inside me, the sexy clench of his jaw and the hard look in his eyes. Sweat formed at his temples and a drop splashed onto my chest. I loved watching him fuck me as hard as he could, taking me roughly as if he couldn’t bear to have me any other way.

I was gonna come again. I could feel it deep inside my pussy where he was hitting me. Like there was a special button inside me, he pushed the trigger. My hands moved up the back of his neck, and I gripped his hair, holding on to him as an anchor while the fire swept through my body. “Crewe…I’m coming.”

He breathed hard through his thrusts. “I know.” He pumped into me harder, grinding against my clit and giving me an extra push that gave me a more powerful orgasm than before. I spiraled into a chaotic whirlwind of satisfaction and screamed through the sensation, not caring if everyone in the house heard me.

“Give it to me…” My hands slipped through his sweat as I tried to grab on to him.

He closed his eyes and released an involuntary moan before his thrusts ceased. He inserted himself completely inside me before he came, his cock thickening within me as he released. Another violent moan escaped his mouth again as he finished, filling me with every ounce of his seed.

Now that the fun was over, I lay back and caught my breath. I didn’t realize how sweaty I was until we were both satisfied. My body had been moving with his the entire time, my body meeting his thrusts as I took his length when he gave it. I didn’t even realize it was happening. When Crewe and I fucked, I didn’t think about anything else but our bodies moving together.

And I suspected he didn’t either.