Volatile Love: Gilded Sovereign, page 15
“I’m just happy that my father has given me the keys. I didn’t realize he’d been keeping them all this time. It means a lot to me, and I wanted to celebrate.”
“By fucking me in the garden?” I quip, playfully, turning in his arms, lacing my hands around the back of his neck.
Etienne’s smile is everything. The happiness that sparkles in his dark eyes makes my heart soar. It’s not only me that’s put that emotion there; it’s his family. Well, his father. I’m not sure his mother will ever truly leave us to be together in peace, but now that I know Isaac supports us, I feel less anxious about being here.
“Hey,” Etienne says, breaking through my thoughts. “We’re here, as a family. You’re a part of us now, and soon, you’ll have your ink as well. I do want you at the table with me, little wolf,” he tells me. The honesty in his tone is calming to the racing heart that’s beating against my ribs.
“I feel more at home here than I ever did anywhere else, but having your father’s approval, it makes it more freeing. I know you told me that you’re choosing me, and nobody else’s opinion matters, but since I didn’t really know my father, either of them, having Isaac consider me a part of your life means a lot.”
Etienne must understand. And when he nods, I can’t help but smile. “I know, and I’m sorry I didn’t understand it before. I always focused on my friends, the two men inside, not on my family because it was so fucked up.”
“You think your family is fucked up, have you heard about mine?” I tease, and it’s the first time I can truly laugh about this. Because in my heart, I still hurt, wondering how Thane could’ve done what he did. Paying someone to be my father because he just didn’t want to be a father.
“That’s why I learned a long time ago that blood means nothing to me; it’s the people who will be there when you least expect them to be who matter. Tarian and Ares have always been that for me. My support system.”
“Then I’m thankful I’m here,” I tell him, leaning up on my tiptoes to press my lips to his. The softness of his mouth molds to mine as the flavor of coffee still lingers on his tongue when he licks into me, and I revel in it. The warmth of his body against mine envelops me.
“Can you two get a room?” Ares chuckles from behind us.
My cheeks heat in embarrassment at being caught once more. I know Ares doesn’t give a shit, but I do.
“Fuck you,” Etienne bites out in response, but he laughs it off when his best friend grins at us. “What the fuck do you want?”
“We have Fergus at the church,” he tells us both. “Get changed, things are going to get messy.” Ares pins me with a look. “You don’t have to come with us if you don’t want to.”
“I want to talk to him.”
“We’ll be doing some questioning before that, so if you’d like to stay with Dahlia, we’ll get you girls once we’re done.” Something tells me that the questioning is going to be violent and bloody, and I’d rather not be there to witness it.
“I’ll spend some time with Dahlia,” I tell him.
Ares nods, tugging Etienne along with him. “No more kissy face, we have shit to do. Meet me in the office, we have a couple of things to go over before we leave,” he tells the man who’s stolen my heart, my mind, and my body. Once they disappear down the hall, I turn to look out at the garden. It’s lush and beautiful, with the greenest grass. It’s so peaceful here, but I know there’s a storm coming. Fergus isn’t going to give up information easily, I’m sure of it, but then again, I don’t know how persuasive the guys are going to be.
A shudder travels through me when I think about it. Blood and torture, those are things I’m definitely not familiar with, not at all. Fighting for what I want and need, that I can do.
I head into the house, reminding myself that my best friend is here, and we haven’t had time to talk to each other. It feels like we haven’t seen each other in years, when it’s only been a few months.
“It’s good to have you back.” Tarian smiles at me as I pass him on his way out of the house.
“Thank you.” My voice is small and shy; tears sting my eyes. I’ve always wanted a brother—Ares and Tarian are just that and so much more. My heart is full; it feels as if I’ve been through hell and made it out on the other side.
I find Dahlia in the kitchen. She’s standing at the countertop, scrolling through her phone when I walk in. She leaves the device on the surface and leaps into my arms, knocking us both backward, and I’m mumbling in her long dark hair how much I missed her.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” she tells me, in a soft whisper, as she holds onto me. “I was so alone. I missed you so much.” She sounds so happy, so at ease that we’re here together once more.
“I’ve felt uneasy since I came back, but the past two days have been less stressful, even with the shit that’s been going on. I mean, I just explained to Etienne, it’s something I’ve always wanted, needed even—a family.”
Her eyes turn glassy as she regards me. She knows who I am inside. I’ve hidden away behind the parties and makeup, but deep down, I was just like her—a shy girl who was thrown in at the deep end.
“Let’s go get some wine and catch up.” Dahlia tugs me away from the countertop, and when I glance over my shoulder, I know that the boys are gone, but it’s something I’ve always done—looked behind me in case someone was coming for me.
“Wow, this place is amazing,” I tell her, not remembering seeing most of the kitchen since I was last here. It’s been refurbished, and it looks incredible.
“Ares let me go wild taking out some of the old furniture and cupboards.” I watch my best friend pop the cork on a bottle of sparkling wine, and I notice how bubbly she is. Dahlia is glowing, she looks happy, and it makes me smile.
“You and Ares are doing well then?” I question, remembering when I last saw my best friend and her boyfriend, they were at odds with each other.
Dahlia stops, looks up at me and grins, “We still have our moments, but I love him. He chose me over his father. He’s given me a chance to bury my father, and I feel like I’m finally living my life.”
“It looks good on you. Love, I mean.”
She sets the glasses on the table, and I lift mine. The bubbly liquid is golden, and when I take a sip, the cold hits my jaw, making me wince. “That’s dry,” I giggle, taking a longer swallow, slowly getting used to the flavor.
“It is, but it’s so good.” Dahlia winks, lifting the bottle, topping off our flutes, before she holds hers in the air. “To us, to love, and to the future.”
I clink to that because I’m tired of living in the past. The man I thought was my father is gone for good, and I can finally move on.
“So, are you going to tell me more about you and Etienne having wild sex?” My best friend waggles her brows.
“Oh my god, you’re terrible.”
“Hey, I’m the best friend, I need to know these things.” She pouts, shrugging her shoulders, as if she’s right and she needs all the dirty details, which only makes me laugh out loud.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes for dramatic effect, but Dahlia doesn’t relent. That’s one thing about my best friend, she’s adamant. “By the way, we kept our pact, best friends,” I offer with a wink, before I dive into the details of Etienne and my first time together. It wasn’t the magical, candle-lit night I thought it would be. Instead, it was raw and passionate. Filled with everything I didn’t realize I needed.
“I can’t believe you and Etienne.” She sighs, sipping her champagne.
Just then, the boys join us, and I notice Ares is carrying a folder and the car keys. Etienne’s arms wrap around me. “We’re heading out now. I’ll be back soon.” He holds me tight as he asks, “When is Tar getting here?”
“In an hour or so, but he’s going to be taking some time out after we interrogate Fergus. We can head to the church now.” Ares’s voice is tight with emotion, and I wonder if it has something to do with Thane. “I think he just needs to get his head straight. Learning your uncle is a ruthless criminal isn’t easy.”
“I guess you would’ve been able to help him if he were to stay. I mean, learning about your Dad would be about the same as what he’s feeling right now,” I tell Ares, who may understand Tarian’s situation better than most.
“I think we all could. Our parents, who are meant to be role models, are the ones who fucked us up.” I nod, agreeing with Ares. “Perhaps the time away will give him clarity.”
We sit in silence for a while before the guys rise and leave Dahlia and me. I know everyone is worried. He’s one of the four, and he has to be here. He’s our family, and that means he is a part of us.
29
Etienne
“This place is a fucking sty, man,” I tell Ares, when we pull up to the church. It’s only hit three in the afternoon, and I wasn’t expecting them to get here so soon, but since Fergus is bound inside the church, we have to get the information we need from him as soon as possible.
“It’s a fucking shithole. We need to get it cleaned up,” Ares tells me, as Tarian and I follow him toward the building. It’s been a while since I was here. Months even.
When we enter the building, we find Fergus bound to one of the chairs. Legs apart, ankles tied, arms behind his back. The asshole has the balls to look smug as we walk in, and I near him.
“The little boys are trying to be all grown up,” he mutters. It takes a lot for me to control my anger. This man will not get mercy from me because, by hurting my girl, he fucked up big time. Nobody hurts my girl.
Rearing my fist back, I shove it forward with speed so fierce, he can’t move out of the way soon enough. The feeling of bone hitting flesh is palpable, and the crunch of his nose beneath my knuckles sends exhilaration shooting through every inch of my body.
“Talk to any of us like that again, and it won’t just be your fucking nose that’s bleeding out.” I grin at him, and I realize I’ve completely lost all my restraint. I’m normally less violent, but when hate mingles with anger, I can’t help myself.
“Just because you’re fucking the girl doesn’t make you a man, Durand,” Fergus chuckles. This time it’s Ares who steps forward. Tarian’s hands grip my shoulders, holding me back, because I could easily kill this fucker right here and now. And I wouldn’t feel any guilt.
“Listen to me and listen really fucking good. I want names, and if you can’t give me that, I want everything else that’s stuck in your head—times, addresses, whatever you’re hiding, because you’re not leaving here until you tell us,” Ares speaks, leaning in to come eye-to-eye with the man in the chair.
But Fergus challenges, “What makes you think I’ll tell you anything?”
“Because you like money, and I have a lot of it,” Ares counters, knowing what to say to persuade him. Silence hangs heavily in the air, and I wonder just how long it’s going to take for Fergus Harrison to crack.
We wait. The silence is deafening.
“I’m not telling anybody anything until I have it in writing that I’ll be safe,” Fergus finally responds, causing Ares to laugh out loud. The sound bouncing off the walls of the empty, derelict church.
“You think you’re here to bargain?” I question. Staring at him, I can’t help but laugh. “This isn’t a debate. We’re not here for you to make a deal with us. What did Thane give you? What did he promise you?”
My muscles are tense, ready to punch him again and again, until there’s nothing left but a pile of blood and guts. My mind is awash with ways to make him talk, but something tells me that he’ll hold out for as long as he can. He’s strong; he’s been working for Abner for so long that I’m sure a bit of torture won’t bother him at all.
And I’ll gladly do it.
“Like I said, I want protection,” Fergus tells us, spitting the blood that’s dripping from his nose into his mouth. I revel in the fact that I did that. I want to do worse. Ares is normally the violent one; he loves fighting, but this time, I’m finding my need for vengeance bubbling over, and I want more.
“You want a contract?” Ares sneers. “I’ll give you one, and once you sign it, I want every piece of information from you. I don’t care who gets hurt, because if I have to, I’ll fucking lock you up in the darkness and leave you to rot. And my friends here,” Ares gestures behind him toward Tarian and I. “We won’t stop until you and all your friends who worked for my father are seen to. You seem to forget that I am Abner’s son, and everything he’s ever taught me will come to fruition. I’m not afraid of anything, and I will make you pay.”
“All I want is to be safe when I walk out of here.”
“If you don’t tell us what we want to know, you won’t be walking out of here. You know what the church is to the Sovereign,” I tell him, and he nods slowly. “Then you’ll know that beneath this thick concrete floor are cells that will keep you safe, but there are things down there that will eat you alive.”
A smile graces my lips. It feels as if my blood is on fire, burning up just to see this asshole shit himself. I don’t want to play games anymore.
“I’ll go back and get the contract drawn up, and when I return, you’ll sign it, tell us everything, and then we’ll think about letting you go.”
Turning, I make my way out of the church, hoping being away from him will calm me the fuck down, because I’m ready to rip into him. A breeze picks up just as I make it to the gardens, which look like they’ve seen better days.
“Etienne,” Ares calls to me, causing me to glance over my shoulder. “I can do it if you want to stay?”
“No, I need to get away from that asshole. I also need to talk to Rukaiya. She wanted to come here and see him, and I wonder if it’s better for her to talk to him before I lay into him.”
A chuckle springs free from Ares, and he nods. “I get that. Do you think she should come here? Once he’s given us the information we need, I’m not sure I feel comfortable letting him go. I don’t trust him.”
“I don’t either,” I tell him. “But a contract is just that, an agreement.” He nods, and I wave a goodbye at him, before slipping into the driver’s seat of my car. Thankfully, I chose to follow him here. It’s not been that long that I’ve been away from her, but I miss my little wolf. I feel like I’m missing a part of myself when I’m not with her. And normally, that would scare the shit out of me, but I’m happy. For the first time in my life, I feel like this is the right thing.
* * *
As I make my way through the quiet streets toward the Lancaster mansion, I’m not sure what I’m going to tell Rukaiya. My feelings for her have changed, they’ve become… more. And I don’t know how to explain it without saying the three words I’ve always steered far away from.
Love is volatile. It’s meant to be that way. Passion resides in violence, it’s the only way for something to grow, to burn hot and unyielding. That’s how I feel about her and I know that will never change.
I knew since the moment I met her that she wouldn’t be a pushover. She’s a challenge, and it makes me want more of her sass. It’s one of the main reasons I crave being near her.
It’s strange being home with her in Tynewood; having her beside me last night was new and refreshing, something I didn’t expect, but ultimately, I loved every moment of it. After everything we’ve been through, I want to protect her more than anything.
I hear her footfalls before I see her. Rukaiya steps toward the entrance hall as I walk into the house, and I can’t help my eyes almost bulging out when I take note of what she’s wearing—nothing but a tiny pair of shorts, and an extremely tight tank top that hugs her slim frame like a glove. My jeans become far too tight in the crotch when I drink in her curves. She smiles over at me; there’s excitement painted on her face.
“I’m glad you’re back, I was starting to worry about you. Also, dinner is ready,” she tells me in her gentle way as she reaches me and presses her lips to mine in greeting. It’s the best damn greeting I’ve ever received.
Since we’ve been back here, I’ve seen a very different side of Rukaiya. She’s more relaxed, her eyes no longer hold the fear that was so palpable in her gazes. But it’s not only her that’s changed. I have too. My focus is on us, on building a future that I never thought I would ever have. What I found with her has made me believe happiness if possible.
Even though Thane is still out there, I know we’ll get through anything if he ever tries to come back and take her from me. But I have faith that Tarian will find him, and he’ll make sure Thanatos Calvert never sees the light of day again.
30
Rukaiya
“There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he says quietly, making me nervous. Etienne doesn’t look angry, but something tells me that my wanting to meet with Fergus is going to be a challenge. It’s the only thing I can think of right now that would have him so tense.
The muscles in his shoulders and arms are tight with worry. Under my fingertips, I feel them pulse and tighten. Those dark eyes turn stormy, as if the impending conversation is going to be bad.
“Fergus is trying to broker a deal with us,” he starts, lacing his fingers through mine. He tugs me along, and we disappear down the hallway toward the office. Once inside, he shuts the door behind us, and I’m planted against the heavy wooden surface. “He wants freedom in return for the names of the men he’s been working with, all those who helped Abner elicit all the shit he’d been dealing with.”
“Okay?” It’s a question, because I’m not sure where he’s going with this. I don’t want him to tell me I can’t see the man. He raised me as his daughter; I should be able to say something to him, ask him why he did it. All the revelations that have come to light in the recent weeks are becoming too much for me.
