He chuckled in my ear, squeezing harder to the point where I could no longer speak. I felt myself shattering the harder he pumped, sending me forward almost violently with each thrust. We were both shaking on the edge of that sweet precipice.
“Fuck…Si. Just like that.”
He could no longer speak, breaths heavy. When his fist tangled in my hair and he tugged my head back, I came undone, his name slipping from my lips as he followed me over the edge but pulled out at the last second. I glanced over my shoulder and watched as he pumped every last drop onto me. We made eye contact, and he grinned, chest still heaving.
“Good morning, love.”
With that, he slapped my ass with so much force, I crumpled forward, the delicious sting rendering me speechless.
Fifteen
LENI
The moment Melina’s stern glare found me, it remained locked, and her pace quickened as if I was about to bolt out of the establishment. I rolled my eyes and relaxed in my seat, waiting for the tirade I knew was coming. I hadn’t returned her calls for a week before the train incident, then lost the damn thing after. I wouldn’t have bothered reaching out to her even now, but I needed money and weapons, since my connections had been unreachable for the last few days. Cloying feelings of worry filled my heart at my father’s unusual radio silence. Not only his but that of his assistants and staff. While not the first time he’d gone off the grid, it was the first he hadn’t given me a heads-up. And indeed, the first time, his people were unreachable as well.
“Where have you been? And you look like hell.”
“Nice to see you too.”
She stuffed herself into the booth in front of me and clasped her hands, still staring like I’d pissed in her cheerios. I wasn’t one to tolerate disrespect and side-eyes, but being Cillian’s daughter, I had to bite my tongue and swallow the urge to stab her with my steak knife.
“Cut the bull, Leni. Not only have you been unreachable for two weeks, your mark is still very much alive. You have far exceeded your deadline.”
“How do you know he’s alive?”
Had she discovered where his hotel was located?
“Well, the fact you’ve failed to bring forth your evidence of death, then one can only assume it’s because you can’t. And you, of all people, are never late.” She leans forward with a hushed voice. “So, I ask you again: is Silas alive or dead?”
The question should have been an easy one. Hell, it should never have needed asking in the first place. If I said yes, she’d expect proof. But what reasons would I give for lying? And if I said no, she wouldn’t understand, nor would I. Why would I protect him? Cover for him?
She must have read the inner turmoil on my face as her brows pulled together, nose scrunching with confusion and exasperation.
“Leni?”
“Helena,” I corrected.
“Why is Silas still alive? He murdered my brother. You took the oath.” Her eyes suddenly widened as if she’d had the biggest epiphany of her life. “Are you…and him….” Melina Clark was the last person I would ever confide in. She was conniving, selfish, and wouldn’t withhold information about Silas and me. If our sleeping together got back to Hades, I’d be well and truly fucked.
“It’s not that. I was captured. Both of us.”
I observed her expression, looking for the slightest signs of disingenuous concern or an act of innocence. But her stupid face brokered nothing. Maybe she really was confused.
“You and Silas…together?”
“I didn’t exactly choose to be taken, and fucking violated, comingthisclose”—I motioned with my fingers—“to being killed or sold or whatever their motive was. I’m lucky I’m even here. And that’s exactly why I contacted you. Do you know anything about that?”
She huffed out a breath and shook her head. “No. Jesus, Leni. How the fuck did you escape? And where is Silas?”
“I don’t know,” I lied.
Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “How don’t you know? It’s your job to know.”
“Well, escaping in my birthday suit, no money, no phone, kind of put a damper on my plans.”
Melina raised her hands defensively. “Okay. Fine. I get it.” She began punching a message into her phone before her movements slowed, and she raised another suspicious gaze at me. “Where are you staying? How’d you acquire clothes?”
“Desperate times…You know the saying.”
