“I knew once I saw him, but…”
“There is no fucking buts. Youeverdo something like this again, you won’t like what happens, Luce.”
I stormed back into the room where Priest, Cameron, and the rest of our motley crew stood. I did my best to shake off the pissy mood I was now in. I knew the only thing that would do that was a few rounds in the ring, and I didn’t see that happening in the foreseeable future.
5
MARCIE
The Holt family was blessed. The women were all beautiful, poised, and well-dressed. Even the ones who dressed down were still runway-ready.
But it was the men… dear God, the men were out of this world gorgeous. They ranged from their twenties to their fifties, if I had to guess, and every single one of them was picture perfect, like they could be on the cover of a magazine or ten.
Then, an enormous, breathtaking man walked into the room with Katie’s dad and several others. He had to be seven feet tall and chiseled from stone. His reddish, golden-brown skin glowed in the light coming through the French doors.
Add in the muscles, chocolate-colored eyes, and the bad butt vibe he had going for him and I was breathless, close to panting like a salivating dog.
When our eyes met, I froze, trying to hide the effect he had on me. When he winked, his mouth turning up in a small smile, my nipples pebbled, and I bit a hole in my lip to keep from moaning.
He turned away and I sucked in a deep breath. The man was dangerous. There should be a law against how sexy he was. He looked close to my age, but he had a dominating alpha male air about him that made me want to call him Daddy and drop to my knees.
Thank God for Katie Carter.
6
DECLAN
Walking in the garage door, a ruckus of activity drifted through the house toward me. I followed the sound of voices to the living room that overlooked the backyard.
Instead of trying to wedge myself into the room, I stayed in the back hallway. The house wasn’t fucking tiny, but with as many people filling it and all the guys being big as fuck, the walls were caving in.
I leaned against the wall and let my head fall back while we waited for Jackie’s girlfriend to make an appearance. Her off-stage persona was so much different than what I’d found online. Last night, sitting in Jackson’s arms, she was this beautiful, young woman in a scary situation—shy, quiet, a bit socially awkward. Online, she was anything but, and that was who called out as she came down the stairs.
“Alright, let’s get to work. I’m tired of running from this jerk,” she called, and I bit back a chuckle.
She continued into the living room, and Jackie let the news of her nominations out of the bag. How her fucking father didn’t already know was beyond me. While everyone praised her, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I checked it and headed out of the house to take the call.
“Hey, Cato.”
“Where’s the big boss? I tried calling him first.”
“He’s busy with the entourage in the house. There’s so damn many people here I don’t know how we’re going to make this work. And the girl’s dad brought in his own people.”
“Oh yeah? How’s that going?”
“No clue yet. We’ve only met one of them. We’ve been waiting on them to arrive. So far, we’re just getting the lay of the land. The girl’s dad is a police chief…”
“Fucking useless wastes of space,” Cato growled under his breath.
Unlike some of the others, I knew Cato’s background. Years embedded in a secret high society organization of human traffickers had colored his perspective. I got it; the organization had dirt on everyone, and they bought off those they didn’t have in their pockets or threatened them.
“Not all law enforcement officers are like the ones you dealt with in your previous life.”
“Power corrupts, dude.”
“You have power. So do I.”
