“Kieraisthe mission.” The messenger replied coolly. “She is far too important to set loose where the others might find her. And so long as your location is uncompromised, the manor is the safest place for her to be.”
I gritted my teeth as the messenger polished off the last of their coffee. “Youwillprotect her. And you’ll do so with discretion.”
“And if I don’t?” I lobbed half-heartedly, raring to get under their skin.
“Then you’ll finally get that meeting you so desperately want with my employers.”
With that threat delivered, the messenger plopped a wad of cash down on the table and walked out the door, not sparing me a backward glance.
The door had hardly shut behind them when my coffee mug went flying after them, shattering in a spray of ceramic and sludge against the front door. It was all I could do to control the rage coursing through my veins.
I wanted to storm after them, to rip off their stupid fucking hood and pummel until they tasted copper. But as fond as I was of pushing my luck, I knew that would be a death sentence. Like it or not, The Oracle’s word was final.
I would have to protect, to resist every urge I had to destroy us both.
49
KIERA
My heart hadn’t stopped poundingduring the drive home. I’d hoped that the fresh air and the roar of the engine would clear my mind. That none of what I’d seen was really that bad.
But I hated every second that I had to have my hands wrapped around Leo’s body. Because the truth was, I was rattling between craving her comfort and needing to get as far away from these bikers as I could.
My desperation to be comforted by these monsters made my skin crawl. They were cheering on a man’s murder like it was a game of fucking football. Hell, Leo had been down in that pit.
Who the fuck are they?
As we pulled up to the massive wrought iron gate, I realized just how over my head I’d gotten.
Even going back inside the manor was a risk. They could lock me inside, hold me captive and stop me from leaving. And then what?
Leo and Spencer weren’t who I thought I was falling in love with.
Shit.
No. It’s not love. Hypnotized more like.
Swallowing hard, I tried to quiet the voice in the back of my mind that knew the truth. That they’d completely charmed me, lulled me into a sense of security I hadn’t felt since the day they found my father’s body.
I’m in over my head.
As soon as the bikes stopped in front of the mansion, I threw my legs over the side and tossed off my helmet, leaving Spencer and Leo in my wake as I stormed inside.
The streets might be safer than this.
I racked my mind for ways to get out of here. I had a small stash of money, enough for a bus ticket and a cheap motel. Maybe I could make it out to Seattle. Somewhere the greenery would distract me from all of this nonsense.
Somewhere Gabriel and Maura couldn’t find me.
Somewhere Dom’s hatred couldn’t reach.
Valemont was cursed. Everything that came from here was poison.
And I wasn’t about to be its next victim.
Running up the stairs, I zipped up to my bedroom and grabbed the small duffel bag from my closet.
As I ripped open my drawers, grabbing fistfuls of underwear, socks, and tshirts, I kept an ear out for the inevitable pounding of Leo and Spencer’s feet on the stairs. They wouldn’t let me stew like this. They’d have to come check on me.
