“Tomorrow?” Scarlet stared at James.
“Yes. Riggs setup the meeting with the lawyers for tomorrow.” He leaned forward over his desk with a worried expression on his face. “Brent will be there.”
“What?” Hunter jumped up, knocking over a little side table. “No way in hell. There’s no fucking way she’s going near that son of a bitch.”
“It’s natural for him to be there. He has power of attorney. He has to be there.”
“Has to be there my fucking ass. No. No fucking way.”
Scarlet rubbed her temples, feeling a migraine developing. “Hunter, calm down. I can handle it.”
His eyes darted toward her. “Yeah? Well, I can’t.”
As they stood there staring at each other, it felt like his gaze bled into hers. The determination, the desperation carved into his expression made her heart thrum against her ribs. It was almost like he…cared.
“This is how it is, Ace. There’s no working around him being there.”
Hunter looked at James. “There has to be another way.”
James shrugged. “Unfortunately, there isn’t. Believe me, I’m not thrilled about him being there either.”
“Are you going?” Hunter asked him.
James shook his head. “I can’t. I can’t risk him seeing me. He’s already established some very good connections, and—”
“He can’t see your face,” Hunter sneered. “I get it.”
“She’ll be safe, Hunter. Riggs will go with her.”
“What?” Hunter peered at Riggs and then at James. “Him?” He pointed at Riggs, and James nodded.
“Riggs will take care of her. I trust him.”
“Well, I don’t. If he goes, I go.”
Colton moved closer. “I’ll take care of her.”
“Baxter, I do not trust soldier boy here. Let me go with.”
Colton held up his hand. “I’m right here, you know that, right?”
“Shut up.” Hunter didn’t even glance in his direction.
Scarlet huffed. “Ace, calm down. I got this.”
“I’m going with. I don’t care if the fucking president of the United States orders me not to. I’m going.”
“Fine.” James tossed his arms in the air. “Fine. You can go with.”
“Sir.” Colton walked up to the desk. “I can handle this. Your daughter will be safe with me. There is no need for him to go too.” Colton glared at Hunter. “I don’t need to babysit his ass as well.”
“Ha-ha. Why don’t you just go fuck yourself, soldier boy?” Hunter sneered.
Colton straightened. “Or maybe I should finish what I started the other day.”
Hunter stepped forward and came within inches of Colton’s face. “Go ahead. Give me a reason to rip your fucking head off.”
“Okay.” Scarlet moved herself between the two men, facing Hunter. “Let’s just calm down. I think enough punches have been thrown the last twenty-four hours.”
Hunter and Colton kept glaring at each other like they were already telepathically beating the shit out of each other’s faces. They were both about the same height, although Hunter definitely had the weight advantage with muscle—and probably balls too.
Colton placed his hand on Scarlet’s shoulder and urged her to turn toward him. Even though he was no threat, the touch felt wrong somehow. Like her skin rejected it.
As she turned around he said, “I will keep you safe, Scarlet. I failed you once. I won’t fail you again.”
There was something in his eyes as he stared her. Something pure, a kind of softness Scarlet wasn’t used to. Even with Hunter, his hauntingly green eyes always somehow mirrored the pain he carried around on the inside. But with Colton, his dark brown eyes didn’t seem as stormy or as raging as Hunter’s.
It was just strange since she heard Colton’s story about looking for his sister. There had to be some deep cuts, a kind of torment that fueled his need to find his sister by delving into this world with James. But you would never be able to guess it by looking into his eyes. He looked like the regular guy next door. The good guy. The type of guy Scarlet had once—years ago—imagined falling in love with. The safe kind of guy.
“Riggs, I swear to God if you don’t remove your hand right now, you will lose it,” Hunter threatened from behind her.
Naturally, being a typical male, Colton didn’t remove his hand immediately. He had to grin at Hunter like he was wondering how far he would be able to push him. And knowing Ace, this was the worst possible time to test his patience.
Scarlet shrugged Colton’s hand off her shoulder and stepped away, plopping down on the couch. “I just want this over with.”
“And it will be,” James said. “You’ve been running for years from this bastard. Tomorrow, it will all be over.”
Hunter tore his glare away from Colton. “By the fucking way. Should we not be getting his ass arrested tomorrow? Or even better—kill his ass?”
James shook his head. “God knows I want nothing more than to skin that bastard alive, but, unfortunately, we need him.”
“For what?”
“Like I said, he has already established some deep connections. Connections that we haven’t been able to get. We need him.”
And then Hunter let out a loud, mocking laugh. “You’re joking, right? Please tell me you’re fucking joking.”
James kept a straight face. “Unfortunately, I’m not.”
“The son of a bitch raped your daughter, and you’re telling me you’re going to do nothing?”
Scarlet felt like her gut had been instantly filled with concrete. Flashes of the scenes that took place in the barn years ago infested her mind, tearing at her insides. She hated when that happened. It was like she had to use all her energy just to be able to push those memories aside.
James squared his shoulders. “Like I said, we need him.”
“How the hell are you planning on using his connections anyway? It’s not like he’s going to offer them up to you on a silver…” Hunter paused, and Scarlet watched as he glanced from James to Colton, and then back to James. It was like she could literally see the wheels turn inside his head.
“That’s why soldier boy is taking her tomorrow, isn’t it?” Hunter glanced at Colton again. “You’re using this opportunity to establish your own damn connection…with him.”
“I will not discuss this any further,” James said sternly. “You and Riggs are taking her to the lawyers tomorrow to get those documents signed, and then you’re bringing her straight back here. We’ll think about future plans once all this is done.”
Scarlet would be lying if she said that hearing all of this didn’t make her nervous. This was not part of the plan, and if Hunter hadn’t been the observant fucker that he was, James probably never would have shared this tidbit of information with them.
Hunter went to stand in front of James’s desk and leaned forward. “If anything—and I mean anything—goes wrong tomorrow, I am holding you responsible.” He inched forward some more. “And if she so much as breaks a fucking nail, I will break your goddamn spine.”
Scarlet had had enough. Enough of all the threats and hearing how everyone was going to kill everyone.
She stood up from the couch. “I need air.”
“Where are you going?” Hunter rushed toward her.
“I’m can’t stay cramped up in this place a second longer.”
Colton snorted. “Cramped up? Scarlet, this is a twenty-eight-bedroom estate.”
Hunter glared his way. “I couldn’t get her to stay one day at a luxury mansion in Winnetka without following her ass to a damn bar. Consider yourself lucky she’s stayed put here for the last two days.”
Scarlet glowered at him. “You’re so fucking funny—not.”
He smirked, and, unfortunately, she noticed how fucking sexy that smirk of his was. Even with all the cuts and bruises on his face—which made him seem even more badass than he already was—that smirk would be her fucking undoing. Clenching her thighs was like an automatic response whenever that devilish grin appeared on his face.
Fuck.
“Fuck air, I need a drink.” She stomped out of the office and straight to the little man-cave-bar Colton showed her the day before.
Jack had better be there.
The need to consume her weight in alcohol was so strong, Scarlet flung open the door with such force it slammed against the wall.
A glass filled with whiskey was ready for her in five point two seconds flat.
This twenty-eight-bedroom mansion was starting to feel like a damn prison. Not to mention the so-called rehabilitation center next door, which Scarlet hadn’t seen yet…and probably never would. According to James, there were girls there, but the only girl she’d seen since they arrived was Lily—the girl who always brought fresh towels.
“Are you planning on keeping that bottle to yourself?”
She looked up and saw Hunter leaning against the door, the epitome of confidence. Just the sight of him had her insides coiled tight.
“Until someone tries to take it from me.”
“Will you punch that person in the face too?”
“Probably.”
He cocked a brow.
“Okay, definitely.”
He smiled and shook his head as he made his way over to the bar. Every step he took was like he owned the fucking floor he walked on. The way he carried himself, the swagger and the confidence as he walked that big, strong, ripped body of his toward her, had Scarlet swallowing hard. It wouldn’t have been that bad if she hadn’t experienced firsthand just how powerful that body of his was—especially pushed firmly against hers, rocking her body to ecstasy. Scarlet had to clench her thighs for the second time in one day to get some relief from the ache that started between her legs.
“Care to share a little Jack?”
“Yeah.” She shook her head slightly in order to focus. When she pulled out a glass and started filling it, her hand was shaking. Naturally, since Hunter was the most observant damn man she had ever met…he noticed.
“What’s the matter, Scar?”
“Nothing.”
“You look a little flushed.”
“I’m not…” Scarlet glanced up at the roof and huffed. “I’m not flushed.”
“You sure? Your cheeks are all pink, and that vein in the side of your neck seems like it’s going apeshit.”
“Oh my God.” She let out an exasperated sigh. “What the hell are you doing, Ace?”
He shrugged and picked up his drink. “Nothing. Just observing.”
“Why? Why are you observing?”
Green eyes narrowed at her. “Because I want to.”
“Well, go observe someone else. I’m not in the mood for games.” She grabbed her drink, rounded the bar, and made a beeline for the door. That was before a strong hand grabbed her arm and swung her around, making her drop her glass to the floor.
A breath escaped her with a huff as he pushed her against the wall—hard—pinning her hands above her head.
“Hunter, what the hell are you doing?”
“Why is this so fucking difficult?” He fixed his green-eyed gaze on hers.
“What are you talking about?”
“You. This. Everything. Everything is just so goddamn difficult.”
“It doesn’t have to be. Just turn your back and walk away. It’s as simple as that.”
“You think I haven’t tried?” He pushed his body harder against hers. “You think I haven’t thought about just walking away without ever looking back? I can’t, Scar. I just can’t walk away from you.” He slammed his fist into the wall behind her. “Why in the name of fuck can’t I walk away from you?
She leaned her face closer to his, feeling his warm breath move across her wet lips. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
His eyes softened, his gaze dropping down to her lips. “I don’t know, Scar.” Then he lightly brushed his nose down the side of her face like he was smelling her, taking her in. “I don’t know, but it’s fucking killing me.”
“What’s killing you?” she whispered.
“The fact that I can’t stop thinking about you—wanting you.” His cheek gently stroked against hers, his lips barely touching her ear. “I want you, Scar. I want you, and all your pleasure, to be mine and mine alone.” Harder he pushed himself against her, his thumbs leisurely stroking her wrists. “I want to own you. I want to know that you’re mine, that you belong to no one but me. I know I should walk away, but I just can’t.” He softly placed his lips against the skin of her neck. “I just,” another kiss against her neck, “fucking,” and another, “can’t.”
Holy shit.
Fire. That was all she felt. Raging fire that burned her insides to nothing but ash. Every inch of her body ached, her mind spinning, fogged with a cloud of desire. Why did she want him so badly? Why did her body need him so much?
Warm lips moved along her jaw, his tongue flicking against her skin. “All I want to do is touch you…kiss you…fuck you. I want to bury myself between your legs. Push my cock so deep inside you, and to make you forget everything but me.”
The urge to clench her thighs was unbearable as she started to ache all over just thinking of the kind of pleasure this man was capable of giving her. And almost as if he could read her mind, he pushed his strong, hard thigh between her legs, and she gasped as the ache shot straight through her gut all the way up her spine.
“You want it too, don’t you, Scar?” He took both her wrists into one hand, slowly stroking his other hand down her arm, igniting her skin with every inch he touched. “I can feel it every time you’re around me, your desire to be filled by me…your need to be controlled by me. It’s fucking lethal, the way we burn for each other.”
“Ace…” she breathed, but she was unable to continue her sentence when she felt his hand softly brush over her breast. His gaze followed his hand, like he was trying to commit every touch, every inch of her to memory.
“I keep on telling myself that whatever the hell it is we had, it’s over. But whenever I’m near you, I can’t stop myself from thinking about how good it feels to be inside you.” His touch moved from her breast, over her stomach. “And I want to make you mine over and fucking over again, until your goddamn mind, your soul…your body is filled with nothing but me.” His gaze still followed his hand as he reached down.
On the inside, Scarlet was screaming for him to move his hand down further, to touch her where she needed it most, where the ache was starting to consume her. The need to be filled by him was so strong she could hardly take a breath.
When his hand moved around her thigh, jerking her leg up, placing it around his waist, Scarlet moaned.
“You feel that, Scar?” He flexed against her and she couldn’t stop herself from moaning again. He studied her, like he loved seeing the look of tortured desire plastered all over her face. “You feel that ache? The burn for me to consume you? That’s the way I feel every minute of every fucking day ever since I had my first taste of you—of your body.”
Usually, Scarlet would have a pretty mouth full of snide comments and remarks, but not today.
Not at that minute.
She loved hearing his voice. She loved all the dirty things he was telling her. Scarlet loved to hear that he had been experiencing the same kind of torture she had.
He leaned closer, his lips mere inches from hers. “Tell me, Scar, why aren’t you fighting me? You love fighting me. So why aren’t you fighting me now?”
“Because I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t fight you because you’re right. I ache for you, and it’s just too fucking strong.”
“Jesus.” Hunter let go of her wrists and jerked her other leg up, forcing her to wrap both legs firmly around him.
She had finally confessed her weakness…him. Hunter had become her weakness and she no longer had the strength to fight him. Even though her mind kept reminding her about all the things keeping them apart, her body—her heart—had overruled every rational thought.
The air around them was toxic with desire. It was like every breath they took only fueled the need, the want…the lust. Scarlet’s entire body was humming, ready to be claimed, willing to be taken.
Hunter moved against her, letting her feel how hard he was, and Scarlet wanted to scream. She wanted to claw at him. She wanted to ravish him. No, she wanted to be ravished by him.
Leaning his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes. “I want to possess you, Scarlet. I want to be the demon that haunts you, the devil that never lets you go. The only problem is…my possession will be your fucking undoing.”
She weaved her fingers through his hair and tightened her legs around his waist. “Then undo me, Ace. Undo me, because you’ve possessed me since the first time you moved inside me.”
Hunter let out a guttural moan and slammed his lips against hers, his tongue fucking her mouth like there was no tomorrow. Their bodies melted against each other, the heat between them building and building, threatening to erupt, turning them both in to nothing but dust.
He pulled his lips from hers, dragging his tongue down her neck as she lifted her head, giving him more of her.
“Then why the fuck are we even fighting this, Scar?”
“I don’t know, Ace. I really don’t know.”
Unable to go a second longer without his taste, she forced his head up, pushing her lips against his. Just like that day in the elevator, it felt like that damn time bomb was right there between them again—ticking—and if they didn’t kiss each other fast enough or hard enough, it would explode.
Hunter pushed harder, securing her between his body and the wall. When Scarlet grabbed his jacket, jerking it off his shoulders, wanting it off, there was a sound of something clattering on the floor next to them.
Scarlet looked down, and so did Hunter.
Her spine chilled instantly when she saw what it was.
Hunter grabbed her face in his palm and forced her to look at him. “Scarlet, no. Don’t let her ruin it.”
As she stared into his eyes, all hope had once again been stolen from her as reality slammed against her chest. No matter how hard they tried—how hard she tried—things would never work out for them. They would never just be a normal couple who fell in love. Normal just did not exist for people like them.
“You want to know why we keep on fighting it, Ace?”
She pushed against his chest, and he stepped back, allowing her to put her feet back on the ground.
Hunter watched as she crouched down and picked up the chain from the floor—the chain which had become both their regret and their torment.
Scarlet held it out to him. “This is why we keep on fighting it.”
“Scar, please don’t—”
But she was out the door before she could hear him finish his sentence. Even though her body was screaming at her to stay, to let them finish what they started, her heart was telling her to run. To run as far away from that man as possible. During the past few weeks, the threat on her life had shifted. It was no longer Brent who was her biggest threat.
It was him. Hunter. The only difference? It wasn’t her life that was on the line this time…it was her heart. And no matter how much she tried to deny it, how hard she tried to fight, her heart was on the line from the very first moment he walked into her life and turned everything upside down.
On her way down the hall, rushing toward the front door, it felt like all the air had been sucked away and she couldn’t take a breath. There was a gnawing ache carving its way through her heart and out of her chest, like it wanted to rip her soul to shreds. It was a kind of pain she had never felt before.
When she reached the front door, she shoved it open and rushed out onto the patio. After taking a few deep breaths, allowing the oxygen to fill her lungs and calm the storm raging inside her, she gazed around.
It was late afternoon, the sun starting to settle down in the horizon. It was beautiful, how the light painted the treetops, birds flocking back to their nests in the huge oak trees. It would be easy to forget about the city life buzzing just behind those trees, where people rushed through their lives day in and day out.
Scarlet sat down on the top of the stairs and kept her eyes on the picture in front of her. It would be so easy for her to feel sorry for herself. To sit there and wonder why her? Why did her life have to be such a damn mess? Why couldn’t she have been one of those girls who met the man of her dreams at the age of seventeen, married him at twenty, had their first born son at the age of twenty-three, and spent every Sunday barbequing on the back patio of their cottage in the country overlooking the lake?
She pulled her palms down her face. “Wishful thinking, Scarlet.”
“What’s wishful thinking?”
She glanced up and saw Colton towering over her from behind.
“To have a cottage in the country with a lake of Jack Daniel’s running through my backyard.”
“Hmm.” He sat down next to her. “Husband?”
“Husband?”
“Well, if you’re wishing for a cottage in the country by a lake of Jack Daniels, it would be real boring without a husband.”
“Oh, there will be a husband. He’ll just be safely tucked away in a closet, only allowed to come out on barbeque Sundays.”
Colton snickered. “Poor man.”
“Hey, he should be thankful he’s allowed out at all.”
Colton laughed and nudged her with his shoulder. “You’re a real tough one, aren’t you?”
“Is it that obvious?” She smiled.
“If your personality doesn’t give it away, those boots sure do.” He looked down at her knee-high leather boots.
“They’re my shitkickers.” She winked at him.
“No shit.”
Colton leaned back on his elbows and stared out in front of them. It was quiet, except for the chirping birds flying around on their way to their nests.
Scarlet glanced at him. “Tell me about her.”
“Why?”
“I want to know.”
Colton sat back up and placed his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together. “She’s six years younger than me. Dark brown hair, brown eyes.”
“Like you?”
He smiled. “Yeah, I guess.”
A few seconds passed before he continued. “Our parents got divorced when she was two, and we didn’t see our dad very often after that. Mom worked two jobs, so naturally I had to take care of her most of the time.”
Scarlet leaned forward, wrapping her arms around her knees. “Where’s your mom now?”
He looked down to the ground, and Scarlet saw him clench his hands. “My mom committed suicide two months after my sister was kidnapped.”
Awesome, Scarlet. Way to put your insensitive foot in it.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “Hope was twelve when she got kidnapped. My mom was working and I was inside the house studying while Hope was outside chatting with some friends. I didn’t think I needed to worry about her. She was right outside our house. Safe, according to me.” He roughed his hand through his hair. “I heard screeching tires, then girls screaming. When I ran to the window, I saw two men grab my sister and a friend, pulling them into a black van.”
“Shit, Colton.”
“By the time I rushed outside, the van was gone.”
“I’m sorry.”
He pulled his hand down his face. “Yeah, so am I.”
“So this is why you chose to join James and his team?”
Colton nodded. “The day I found my mom’s lifeless body hanging in the garage of our house, I decided I would spend the rest of my life looking for Hope. Whether she’s dead, or still alive, I will never stop until I know what happened to her.”
Scarlet looked at him. “Do you have any leads?”
“Some.” Colton looked behind them at the front door, then back at her. “Your dad will probably kill me for telling you this.”
“All the more reason you should tell me.” She smirked.
An amused grin crossed his face. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”
“The best kind.”
He snickered. “Okay. There’s this guy, he calls himself Rex.”
“Rex?”
“It means king in Latin.”
Scarlet frowned. “Okay. So who is he?”
“Exactly what his name says. He’s the king.”
“Of what?”
“Everything. He’s the biggest sex trader currently wreaking havoc in the underground. The big fish. He rules the entire fucking setup, and nothing happens without him knowing about it.”
Scarlet cocked a brow. “Well, he sounds nice.”
“Ha. Yeah. Very.”
“So do you think he took her?”
He shrugged. “I can’t be sure. But if he didn’t take her, he sure as hell will know who did.”
Colton got up and walked down the steps before turning to her. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to get close to Rex yet. It’s been years and we can’t infiltrate the son of a bitch’s circle.” He kicked at the dirt on the ground.
Scarlet stood up. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s been twelve years, Scarlet. I don’t know if she’s still alive, or dead. And if she is still alive,” he turned his back toward her, “what kind of hell has she been through?”
God, Scarlet’s chest felt too small for her aching heart. And here she thought she was having a bad few years. No more asking why her?
She walked down the steps and stopped next to him, taking his hand in hers.
“Whatever you do, Colton, don’t stop. Don’t stop looking for her until you find her. Or until you find out what happened to her. You do whatever you need to do to get to her, you hear me?”
He looked at her and squeezed her hand. “I’ll do whatever it takes.” A few moments passed with them staring at each other before Scarlet let go of his hand. She took a deep breath, wanting to get rid of all the heavy.
“Okay, so. You guys got any sexy machinery with two wheels around here?”
Colton frowned. “Are you talking about motorbikes?”
“Oh good. You do talk my language.”
He snickered. “We sure do. Come on, I’ll show you.”