I'm not his prisoner.
I'm his willing captive.
And there's a difference.
Even if I can't quite remember what it is anymore.
Chapter 22 - Nathan
The billiard room at the Elysian Club smells like leather and old money. I lean against the table, cue stick in hand, waiting for Bjorn to finish his scan of the room. Even in my own club, he's cautious. It's why I trust him.
The serpent emblem is carved subtly into the door frame—a reminder that this room has hosted countless Order business over the decades.
I line up a shot, the crack of balls meeting the only sound for a moment. "Detective Harding visited Eve in her office."
"The trail is cold. The equipment malfunction that caused his initial accident remains unexplained. His death appears entirely natural—a man whose body simply gave up after months of struggling." Bjorn's expression doesn't change. "Detective Harding has nothing. No evidence. No witnesses. No reason to look further."
"And the Council?" I ask, sinking the eight ball. The Order doesn't typically sanction removals without approval, but I'd called in enough favors. "Any concerns?"
"Senator Abraham signed off personally. Blackwood abstained, as expected—he never likes to get his hands dirty—but the majority approved the action." Bjorn's tone is matter-of-fact. "The Royston matter is officially closed in the Order's records. No one will ask questions."
I set down my cue. "Good. And his associates?"
"Scattered. Without their leader, they're nothing. Fred Greyhound's network has also completely collapsed. No one wants to touch anything connected to that mess." He pauses."You've eliminated every threat to her, sir. She's completely secure now."
Completely secure. Completely mine.
"Thank you, Bjorn. That will be all."
He nods and leaves as silently as he entered. I pour myself two fingers of whiskey and move to the window overlooking the city.
Bryce Royston was a loose end. A threat. A man who thought he could touch what belongs to me.
Now he's nothing but ash and a fading news story, his removal sanctioned by the most powerful people in the city. The Order protects its own. And Eve is mine, which means she's theirs to protect now, too.
Whether she knows it yet or not.
I feel no guilt. No remorse. Just a cold, clean satisfaction that another piece of chaos has been removed from Eve's world. She'll never have to fear his harassment again. Never have to see his face or hear his voice.
I made sure of that.
And the Order made sure it would never come back to me.
***
I find her in the library when I return, curled up on the sofa with a book. She looks up as I enter, and the soft smile that crosses her face makes something in my chest tighten.
"Get dressed," I say, moving to stand behind her. My hands settle on her shoulders, and she leans back into my touch. "Something elegant. We're going out."
Her eyes widen slightly. "Out? Where?"
"It's a surprise." I press a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. "Trust me?"
The pause is barely noticeable now. "Yes."
An hour later, she emerges from the bedroom in a deep emerald dress that makes her hair look like living flame. The silk clings to her curves, and I have to resist the urge to strip it off her and take her back to bed.
Later. Tonight is about something else.
