“I’m glad to hear you saywe, since it’s the only answer that will keep you and your partner alive.”
“Where’s Drew now? Is he with Althea? Are they all right?” His voice is full of worry, which shows his loyalty to Althea and her family is strong. I can hear rustling around in the background, and a female voice I assume is Chloe's. Liam tells her not to worry and to go back to sleep. Then there were heavy footsteps and a loud thud.
“I’ll answer everything when you get here. I will tell you, they’re both safe—for now. But that can all change in a matter of hours, so I need you to do exactly as you’re told.” I reach the basement and find Stavros posted up outside of Drew’s cell. Stavros tips his chin in greeting.
“He’s still passed out. Should be coming around soon.” He points to a metal bucket full of ice water down by his feet and smiles.
“Who’s passed out? Who are you talking to? Give me fucking something,” Liam growls, his impatience obviously getting the better of him.
“Drew is fine. He’s taking a nap. Althea is currently tied up, and I need you to grab a bag for each of them with clothing and shit for a few days of travel. Now, get that together and meet me at The Mansion. One of my men will meet you in the lobby and bring you to me when you arrive. And Liam …” I lower my voice, and leave no room for misinterpretation when I say, “do not contactanyoneabout this. Leave your phone powered off where it won’t be found. Don’t fuck this up. Althea’s life depends on your ability to follow orders and do what’s right.”
I hang up, not giving him a chance to argue or ask any more questions. I tip my chin at the bucket of water. “Ready?” Stavros nods, hoisting the bucket up, following me through the door. This particular room is more like a drunk tank than an actual cell. It’s usually used for our men, or sometimes Mauro, when they come in too inebriated to function or needing a place to lie low for the night.
There’s a twin-sized cot with a dirty mattress across the room with metal cuffs attached to each leg of the frame. Each cuff has a fifteen-inch chain typically only used for the severely intoxicated or unruly. Mainly, Mauro.
I give Stavros the signal, and he proceeds to launch the entire contents of the bucket onto Drew’s still-sleeping body. Drew sits up, spewing a string of curse words as he comes to. When his eyes lock on mine, his face turns serious.
“Where’s Althea?”
“I’m impressed.” I say, smirking. “I wasn’t sure if your loyalty would be to Althea’s safety or your own first. Most men facing death this closely would beg for their own life, and yet, you ask about hers. Maybe you’re not the foolish piece of shit I thought you were.”
His face contorts. “Thea has always been my primary concern.” Something about his tone and the way he says those words doesn’t sit right with me.
“Is she now? And is that because you’re paid to be her bodyguard?” I step forward, invading his personal space. To his credit, Drew doesn’t back down regardless of my reputation or the fact that I stand over him by at least six inches. “Or is there something morepersonalabout your relationship with Miss Drakos? Have you two crossed the line of protector and protected?”
Drew scoffs. “Althea doesn’t need a man to protect her, but you already know that, don’t you? You’ve been having herfollowed and digging into her background this whole time. She knew. We all did. But she allowed it.” He smiles. “She figured you were keeping tabs on her to make sure she wasn’t here to fuck with your family’s business. Which she’s not.”
“Well, then. If she doesn’t need you, and she’s fine with my men being her new detail, I don’t see much reason to keep you around.” I step back, reaching behind my back and unsheathing my knife. I thought about leaving it on the bed just out of reach for Althea, just to see if she would surprise me somehow. Then thought better of it. Just in case she actuallydid.
“Tell me, Drew. Why should I keep you alive? What purpose could you serve for me?” I ask, running the blade over my fingers, pushing it into the skin ever so slightly. Enough to feel but not enough to break the skin.
“Althea will hate you if you hurt me. But she’ll kill you if you kill me. She’s not just our boss. She’s a loyal friend. She cares about her people.”
“I know how to deal with a woman’s hate.” I know my smile is wicked. It matches all the filthy thoughts of what I could do to an angry, hate-filled little she-devil. My dick jumps at the possibilities.
“You could. But Althea isn’t the type to let shit go. She harbors guilt. It eats at her every day. Killing me and Liam would only add to her pain.” Drew leans his face forward and whispers, “I don’t think you of all people want to hurt Althea … inthatway. Sex fetishes and kinks aside.”
He’s right. I don’t. To give her pain with her pleasure, taking her to the point of ecstasy until we’re both spent and sated, absolutely. But I don’t wish to hurt her emotionally.
But if she’s a traitor, you’ll have no choice.
“It won’t matter what I want if she’s found to be working with our enemies.” I clench my fists, fighting back the red that was beginning to cloud my vision. The very thought of Altheabeing an enemy—of the things I would be forced to do to her—it’s all too overwhelming and something I’m not sure I could go through with.
You would have no choice.
Drew backs up a few steps. “She’s not your enemy. She’s here on her own personal mission.” Drew scratches the back of his neck with his hand.
“What mission?” He may think it’s personal, but that could be what she and Caspien have told everyone in order to execute their plans. Why else would she ditch her own bodyguard and proceed to kidnap mine?
How could she have known you’d plant a guard on her? She doesn’t know the true depth of your obsession with her.
More unanswered questions.
“That’s Althea’s business to tell. But it has nothing to do with your family specifically. She’s looking for someone. Someone important to her.” His words are like a punch to the gut.
“How important is this person to her?” I have to know. Not that it would matter. I’ve claimed Althea Drakos as mine, and no one is going to take her from me.
“Look,” Drew says, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s not a lover or anything, if that’s what you’re worried about. But he means a lot to her. She’s been on this mission to find him for a long time. She refuses to give up. So, if her digging put her in the crosshairs of your enemies, I’m almost certain it wasn’t intentional. Althea would never put her family in danger like that. She loves Caspien and Ophelia. They’re all she has. Althea would never risk a war between the two families. She’s notthatreckless.”
