Shite. Some men grow calmer with age. Uncle Lachlan had wiled away the years when he should have been maturing from a wild youth to a respectable husband and father of adult children of his own, by collecting a truly awe inspiring array of explosives.
Decades of marriage to my cool-headed Aunt Aria, the CEO of King Industries has only slightly lessened his unhinged love of destruction. I wouldn’t put it past him to have a nuke or two in his arsenal.
“Dad, I’ll call Dmitri Morozov,” Mason says. He’s watching the data streaming across Xenia’s monitors, expressionless. “This is one of his divisions.”
“Aye, thanks, lad,” Uncle Lachlan grips Mason’s shoulder before heading off into another corner, calling his head of security on the King Estate.
“Do ye want me in on the call?” I ask Mason.
“Not right now,” he says. “But we will likely have to discuss reparations for their loss. This isn’t good. The Morozovs are our closest Bratva allies.” He leaves the room to make the call, and I turn back to Xenia and Georges.
“How did this happen?” I ask coldly. “Your manifest and records encryption has always been unbreakable.”
“We’re brilliant, and our shitisunbreakable,” Xenia says, fingers flying across her keyboard. “But if someone has the encryption code and leaks it…”
“What are ye saying?” Da asks sharply.
Georges takes off his glasses, cleaning the lens nervously. “Someone decoded the cargo manifest and the ship’s route. We know that it was boarded before it docked in Halifax Harbor. They took the most valuable weaponry, but what’s worse…” His face turns a sickly shade of green.
“Whoever managed to get the guns off the ship added in some extra cargo before notifying the CSIS,” Xenia says.
Da’s expression is cold and focused. “What extra cargo?”
Xenia grabs a Celsius energy drink from the pile on her desk and swigs down half of it. “Human cargo. Women, and girls. There were fifty in the shipping container.” She lets out a short, furious huff. “The shipping container that no crew member seems to remember being loaded onto deck.”
Feck. Me.
***
CSIS - Canadian Security Intelligence Service, similar to the FBI or CIA in the U.S.
Chapter Sixteen
Sophie…
I’m lying on Michael’s enormous bed, still heaving for air, the cool air in the bedroom chilly on my wet center, and he’s gone.
I roll to my side, bringing my knees up. He took the call, kneeling between my spread legs.
Oh, my god.
I watched his face turn to stone before he’d gently helped me up, tugging the bodice of my expensive dress back into place. As he stood up, I realized he’d stayed fully dressed during one of the most earth-shaking moments of my life. He’d just… straightened his shirt cuffs. His freaking bow tie was still perfectly tied, his jacket pristine.
Married life is weird as hell,Jordan whispers.
I wonder if Dad would have arranged a marriage for you? Something for an alliance?
I saw a lot of Mafia princesses,he says.I’d rather be dead.
Really? You’re going right to the death jokes? I don’t care if it’s been ten years. Too soon, brother.
Struggling off the bed, I hitch up my gown a bit more, smoothing the silk against my sensitive nipples.
I feel… I should feel relaxed. That was the first orgasm I’ve had that wasn’t self-administered. It was so intense, not justcoming, but watching Michael’s beautiful face, intent on giving me pleasure. I could feel his erection, hard, and hot against my leg. He wanted me. We weresoclose to consummating this marriage. I want to believe that it would change things. That it would make this real.
The silence makes me realize something. Michael had sent Ian and Kyle home. For the first time, I’m alone in the house.
I’m almost giddy with this potential freedom, no Ian following me around, no polite but strained encounters with Davina. Looking down at my ridiculously fancy dress, I chuckle. First thing, take this heavy gown off. Lingering in the doorway, I look back. Michael left me here after tidying me up, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he wanted me to stay. A pity, I love his bedroom, with the gorgeous fireplace and the bed, as big as an ocean liner but so comfortable.
