Fourth a Lie

The copper-haired one wrinkled his nose. “Think we’ll still help ourselves to that whore behind you. Her moans are making me hard.”

I clutched Jinx tighter to my spine, my biceps bunching from holding her weight awkwardly behind me. “One million. That’s generous.”

“It’s insulting,” the taller one muttered. “A million split three ways? Fuck off and step aside. She’s ours.”

“How many of your men are left?” I backed up a little, keeping Eleanor’s nakedness hidden behind mine, closing the gap between us and the wall.

The short dark-haired one seemed most open to my offer. His sneer had gone, calculations running through his eyes. He mulled over my question before answering, “We came as a team of ten. Why? Think you can kill all of us?”

“Already said goodbye to four.” I grinned even though I wanted to trip to the floor and sleep for days. “What’s another six?”

“Cocky bastard.”

“Like I said, I won’t kill you if you leave now.”

Eleanor flinched, her body no longer just fighting against mine but seducing it. She rubbed against me. She pressed lusty kisses down my spine. She’d lost any sense of calmness, drowning beneath another wave of elixir.

“And by the way, I didn’t mean a million total.” I nodded like the unflappable hotelier that I was. “I meant a million. Each.”

A spark of interest finally arrived, followed by humour. “Expect us to believe you’ll wire a million into our accounts in a week if we leave?” the tall one stepped forward, making Eleanor moan behind me.

Moan with need not fear.

Fuck.

“Sorry, mate, we’re not idiots. We don’t take IOUs. We take cash.” He licked his lips as Eleanor writhed harder against me, forcing me to dig my fingernails into her arms, doing my best to keep her protected despite her undoing my control. “Hard, cold cash—”

“I have cash. In my office. Go see for yourself. The safe is hidden behind a painting of a caique parrot in the corridor. The combination is 44884.”

The copper-haired one laughed coldly. “Just have a measly three million sitting around in a safe, huh? Yeah, right. We’re not leaving. Not until we fuck that tasty thing behind you. We’ll even be nice. We’ll let you watch. And then we’ll take you to Drake to finish what he started.”

All three men stepped toward me.

Eleanor groaned, terror tangling with her thirst.

My muscles bunched with rage, preparing to take on three men regardless of my current condition. I might win another battle. I’d won the last one through sheer adrenaline. Tritec-87 had helped but keeping Eleanor away from my brother had been the reason for my invincibility.

This would be no different.

My heart pumped as they took another step.

Eleanor tried to get away from me, her skin flushed and sticky against mine. I wanted to snarl at her to quit it. To listen to me. To help me. Instead, I kept my entire attention on the pack of men slowly backing us into a corner.

“There’s five million in there, not three,” I hissed. “It’s a bolt fund.”

All three men froze. They shared a look.

“Five?” The copper-haired guy’s eyebrows shot up. “You have five fucking million just sitting there.”

“In cash and diamonds.” I struggled to stay human and not crouch ready to attack. I hated that I bargained with these assholes. It felt weak, wrong. I wanted their blood on the floor and their hearts in my hands.

But...Eleanor.

She’s worth more than my idiotic pride.

She moaned, wrenching their attention back to her.

Goddammit, woman.

Raising my voice over her debauchery, I growled, “You can have the lot. Every goddamn penny. Just leave.”

“Sully...please...” Jinx’s lips kissed along my shoulder, her teeth sinking into the sensitive flesh of my trapezius muscle.

My heart thundered; my own lust re-ignited. “Take the deal, gentlemen. It’s the best you’re going to get.”

They eyed each other.

Stress poured through my veins, feeding fury and fatigue in equal measure. I’d never been so on edge—never so hung up on a business negotiation. Never wanted anything this much. Never needed a girl this much.

Finally, the tall one nodded on behalf of the pack and holstered his gun. “If what you say is true, you have a deal.” He pointed a finger at me. “But if I find out you’re lying, I’m gonna fuck that goddess of yours until she’s in pieces, and then, I’ll personally save your cock and balls as souvenirs when your brother cuts them clean off your bullshitting corpse.”

My lips thinned. My nostrils flared. I’d never permitted such disrespect, such fucking insubordination. A few months ago, if anyone had ever dared speak to me that way their tongue would’ve been shoved up their ass. Literally.

Turned out being in love had made me goddamn weak.

Swallowing back my rage, I snapped, “Go to my safe and then you’ll owe me a fucking apology.”

“We’ll see.” The guy snorted. “You two stay here. Watch them. I’ll go see if he’s telling the truth.”

“Fine.” The copper-haired one nodded. He crossed his arms, his gun dangling mockingly in his hand. “We’ll just have a nice chat while we wait.”

Eleanor almost slipped from my grip, her legs finally giving out. I clutched her close, my belly tense and leg pounding with pain.

Shit, I need them all to go.

She’d reached her limit. Her heat scoured my spine. Her lewdness and longing made my own spring fierce and greedy. I couldn’t get her off this island, but I could help her escape it through an orgasm or two.

Would she cope waiting a bit longer? Would her heart remain intact?

Pika flew in through the open sliders, his glinting green feathers snapping with temper. He squawked, stealing the attention of the two men while the third rolled his eyes and headed to the door they’d broken down.

Eleanor quaked behind me, her gaze tracking Pika as he flew wildly around the room. She hissed between her teeth. I didn’t know if it was in grief for Skittles or the unravelling of her self-control.

Her weight became heavier as she tried to slither to the floor.

Pika cawed and fluttered to the rafters, glaring at me with disapproving black eyes, almost as if he knew what I’d bribed and why.

If I had spare energy, I’d give him the finger—for his judgment and the fact that he hadn’t stayed away like I’d hoped.

Eleanor groaned, jerking in my hold and falling backward. I spun to catch her, ignoring the two men and their guns watching our every move.

My heart fisted as her face scrunched up in agony. Her hands balled and wedged into her chest as if the elixir had formed a nucleus directly behind her ribs. Her skin gleamed with seawater and sweat, her hair tangled and ropy over her arms and shoulders.

She looked as if I’d caught her in a fishing net and dragged her from the deep. Dragged her into a world where she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t function, couldn’t survive.

Fuck, I’m so sorry, Jinx.

Letting her fold to the floor, I glowered over my shoulder at the two remaining mercenaries, my eyesight flickered and faltered. “Do you give me your word that you won’t interfere while you wait for your bribe?”