My mind was buzzing from the information overload. He believed my dad wanted to kill him, he and his uncle came into town to bring us down, he had been watching me all my life, and now I was his mate. It was a lot to take in, a lot to sort out, but being mates... that was something else entirely.
“But shouldn’t I feel it?” My hand drifted to my chest, right over my heart as I looked up at the ceiling. Isn’t that what the people I have known before told me? That when you become mates, you can feel the bond like a golden thread that connects your hearts... or some crap like that?
He shushed me as his hands roamed my body. “When it’s mixed species, it’s known to be different for each couple, but Iknowthat you are my mate, and if you fight me on it, then I’ll just have to prove to you, every day, how much my mate you are.” His lips curved against my shoulder. “But don’t worry, mate, I am up to the task.”
He continued kissing, licking, and biting me, making my blood run hot, but my mind kept circling around with all the problems we would have. I pushed all that mate talk way into the back of my mind but focused on the real problem I had now. While I felt deeply for Lex, not wanting to hurt or fight with him, I also knew I would never be able to leave the Syndicate.
My dad would see it as a betrayal, and I couldn’t do that to him. Even if I was that heartless, I didn’t want to. Cosmo, Rick, the heirs, even the other bosses... they were the closest thing to family I had in this world. People sworn to have my back, and I’ve sworn to have theirs. This was a vow I didn’t take lightly, one I’ve always planned to take to my grave... but Lex was a part of that vow, too. He belonged with us. I needed to figure out how to get him to see it. To talk to my dad and the other bosses. I needed him to come home.
1An idea sparked in my mind. One that was crazy, probably over the line, and most would run in the other direction if it happened to them... but this was Lex. My over twenty-year stalker. The one who was so far down the rabbit hole for me that it might not deter even him. I needed to take that chance.
I wrapped my legs around him while running my hands over his horned nubs as he kissed down my chest. His moan was low and throaty, telling me he enjoyed my touch very much. “Oh, my rose, I will treat you so good. You can have anything, everything. Tell me, and I will acquire anything you want. You want the world, I will make it happen. You want someone gone, consider them nonexistent. I will be the most loyal being, always at your side for the end of time and beyond.”
As he was making his declaration, I let one hand drift up toward the pillow to grab the syringe as my back arched, and I let out a low moaning from his touch. I needed to keep his attention right where it was, and I pushed my mounds into his face, giving them a sensual sort of attention. His lips laid soft kisses on one nipple as he cupped and tweaked the other. I grew wet all over again and groaned out loud, mad at myself for timing this as I was getting worked up.
I waited until he moved his lips to the other nipple so his neck was on perfect display. I took my time to strike, then swiftly jammed the syringe into his neck as he bit my nipple. He jerked, an instinctual move to get away, but I tightened my legs, keeping him trapped until I pushed all the contents in.
I loosened my legs when he stopped fighting and pulled his head up, then his eyes searched mine in question. I leaned down and whispered in his ear, “Come find me, my sweet stalker. I’ll be waiting for you.” I licked the shell of his ear before giving it a little nibble, letting him know this wasn’t a rejection. This was a call to chase me.
His limbs gave up as he slumped against me, and his breath came out choppy, but I heard it loud and clear. “Be... ready... my mate.” His eyes closed, and I rolled him to the side. I put my head onto his chest to ensure his heart was beating steady.
I had faith in Lex. I knew he would come after me, and I would be ready. It was just making sure the rest of them would be ready when he finally showed up. That would make a few waves since he kidnapped me, but I was determined.
I would keep my promise. I would get his ass back home, and we would hash everything out. Have it all on the table with everyone and then decide how to move forward.If he still didn’t want to be a part of the Syndicate, then I guess I could... I looked back down at him, moving his hair to the side and realizing I would be slightly devastated without him.
Nope. That wasn’t an option. I would need to convince him some other way. That was the plan, even if I had to will it into existence.No one told Rayla Desmond no.
1.Gangsta by Kehlani
Chapter 13
Igrabbedmypantsoff the floor and shimmied into them as fast as I could. Who knew when he would wake up, but I needed a head start. I lifted his shirt that I had on, my heart tugged, and a queasiness filled me, so I let the shirt drop back into place. I was taking the damn shirt. I liked it, it was comfy and the right amount of worn in... plus a hint of his sweet musk came off it, and I wasn’t ready to just let that go.Was I getting soft?Damn it!
I shoved my feet into my boots, tied them up, and ran down the stairs. As soon as my hand went to the doorknob, I was thrown back a few feet, landing on my ass hard. I saw the golden shimmer around the door and walls around it and knew he had a barrier up. Goddamn smart little stalker. He just thought of everything, didn’t he.
My first instinct was to go around and try to find a hole in the barrier, something that most people didn’t think of for houses like a fireplace, or a basement window, but then something glittered on my hand. I looked down and saw the bracelet Falcon gave me and smiled. That beautiful genius gave me the key to get out of this place... I hope.
I got up, dusted myself off, and went to the door carefully. I placed the fanged charm right up against the door like Falcon showed me to do if it was a trap, and a neon-blue square popped out. There were only two names on the door, Lex Devil and Rayla Desmond, but mine was grayed out. That sneaky fucker. I bet he would’ve given me full access if I told him I would run away with him.
I didn’t think about that now, knowing it was better that I was on the list. Falcon showed me how to add my name to the list, but it took more work than just flipping the switch on a name already on the roster. I put my finger over my name, and a second box popped out and asked if the name was to be switched back to all access. I pressed yes and waited for my name to turn normal. Once it did, I took a breath and wrapped my hand around the doorknob again. This time, it didn’t fling me away, and I went a step further by twisting it.
When nothing else happened, I threw the door open, and fresh sweltering air rushed into the house, and I almost thanked God for the awful heat. I snagged a set of familiar-looking BMW keys off the keyboard next to the door and went on my way.
Racing down the wood stairs, I saw a car and a bike parked in the front. I ogled the ’69 Mustang Mach 1 with the all-black paint and a matte-black stripe down the middle sitting in the driveway. It was sexy as fuck, but I preferred bikes. Then I switched my gaze to the matte-black replica of my BMW S1000RR and smiled. I knew he was a stalker, and I should be creeped out by him copying everything that I liked, but I didn’t. I found it charming and adorable.What was wrong with me?
I turned to the left, heading for the bike and started it up. Before I turned onto the road, I looked back at the house, seeing it with fresh eyes.
Even though it looked a little older, more of a southern-style home—two story, wide wooden porch with columns on a large plot of underdeveloped land—it seemed odd in the desert, but I liked its weirdness. I didn’t know if he purchased it or if he killed the person who owned it and took it over, but he had a good eye for houses.
I turned away and sped off. I enjoyed my little kidnap vacation, but I needed to go home and tell them all what was coming down the pike because Lex’s uncle was keeping him out of the loop for a reason, and that left me uneasy.
It was around 9:00 a.m. when I rolled his bike up to the Desmond compound. I waved at a few of the day guards who looked like they were seeing a ghost, and I knew this would be a bigger issue than I wanted.
I drove up to my front door, exhausted and in desperate need of some sleep. As the sun was beating down on me on my way home, I knew I would need to take a long rest to heal my body and probably drink a pint of blood before I went to bed, but I needed to talk to my dad first.
The front door creaked open, and the house was strangely quiet. Not much foot traffic, but that was normal for this time of day. Most of us were sleeping.
I trudged up the stairs, making my way to the room I knew my dad would be in—his office. He was one of those insane people who lived off little-to-no sleep as he kept working diligently. Once I reached his door, I knocked on it, and his chair scraped against the wood floor before his steps got closer, and he yanked open the door.
