I’ve been played before, like I’ve clearly been played now. The realisation doesn’t make the agony hurt less, but I find solace in knowing I’ve survived this exact situation before. Darius’s hoodie falls on the floor, Kai’s sweats follow, then Ramses t-shirt—I am naked and completely empty.
I felt with them. I fucking felt.
I believed everything they said. I fell for every touch and kiss.
I hate them for it.
But not as much as I hate myself.
I only take what I can carry in a plastic bag, including the bottle of drugged water. The rest of my belongings remind me of them.
I should leave without a note like they did, but I have more tact than that.
Grabbing a knife from the butcher’s block, I pin the evidence of their duplicity to the door. Making it the first thing they see if they decide to return back here.
Every part of me hurts.
What they did hurts a million times more than what Ayden did. Perhaps it’s because I’m older, I figured I’d see it happening before it happened, but I was swept up in their presence, and lost in their promises.
And it’s not lost on me that they probably have more in common with Ayden than they do me. The four of them could be sitting down right this second somewhere far from here, talking about what an incredible job they all did fucking over their scented mate. For all I know, Ayden might have given them coaching before they made contact on how easily I fall for any scrap of attention.
I walk through backstreets, and playgrounds, over school fields and shopping centre carparks until I can’t walk anymore. Only when my feet are covered in bleeding blisters, do I borrow a kid’s phone and book an Uber. And yeah, my suspicion extends to including them tracking my phone now, hence me using some kids.
* * *
The first call to my mobile comes after five hours. Five fucking hours.
But by then I’ve switched off my locator. The moment my phone rings, I drown the handset in the bucket of ice currently cooling my French champagne.
I waste a good forty-five minutes showering in the bathroom of our private Gulfstream as I start to disassociate from the shitshow of my life. The shower takes forever because I kept getting taunted by the faintest tease of orange, sweetened spicy chai latte, and maple. But after an entire bottle of scent block, I get past reminders of them.
Dressed in an elegant navy suit, and killer red bitch heels, I make my way back to my leather seat. And then, I spend the rest of the flight sipping on ice cold champagne, setting up a replacement phone I asked the pilot pick up for me, and making calls to powerful underworld businessmen and watching the sunset on one of the worst days of my life.
By the time the car drops me to the door of Verdune Estate, I’ve got a plan solidified. All I need to do is put it in action, which is child’s play. I could do it in the middle of a heat, it’s that simple.
Before I get there, there’s a few rather large steps that need taking. And coming home is the first one. It’s actually really nice arriving home unannounced, it’s like I can see the place and the staff in a truer light since they’re focused on their job, and not me. Soon enough, that will change. Supposedly my security team is already enroute, as are the Executive team although I definitely called them. With a few hours to kill before that shitshow arrives, I take the first group of people waiting in the foyer to the boardroom on the ground floor.
“Have a seat,” I offer, pointing where I want the team of six to sit before I patch a video call through to Kozertine Siderno.
“Has the crew I sent arrived?” he barks, barely a moment after his intimidating presence fills the video screen and the room.
“They have,” I answer, leaning on the edge of the table. “Thank you again for helping me out.”
“Of course,” he snaps abruptly. His mood isn’t because he’s pissed off, nor is it because I’ve asked for his discretion, keeping Raney in the dark of our current working agreement, it’s simply the way he is. He doesn’t waste time on niceties or anything really, and I appreciate him for that.
With Koz watching over my shoulder, I turn and face the six men and women Alphas that I have consigned. “Mr. Siderno has graciously offered your services. I know you understand that being recommended by Mr. Siderno comes with certain performance expectations, but if you can’t handle the heat I’m about to drop you in, I think you’d already be nothing but a photo for your family to mourn over. I expect your complete and utter loyalty. And without question every person you meet from this point onwards will be looking to see where your loyalties lie. Money and favours will be offered like candy on Halloween. Every person you meet will twist who I am and use my sex or designation or legacy against me. You name it, they will use it as an in, an in for information or a way to render you out. But I assure you I am not stupid, my body does not influence my thought process, and I will hunt you down if you double cross me.”
“There is no need to go over the ground rules, amica, I’ve covered everything with them,” Koz adds as soon as I finish speaking.
Without turning, I add, “Ahh but there is a reason, because otherwise they think they answer to you.”
“No, I assure you, they do not think they report to me. You are the only person they will answer to.” He insists, his frustration clear as day.
“Answer to is different to report to,” I counter.
And he reluctantly agrees. “Indeed it is.”
Facing my new security team, I continue. “The Verdune security team will arrive within the hour. They are not to set foot in this house. I will be with you to greet them but after that, I literally do not care if they hold a gun to my head to gain access inside, you will not allow it. I also need at least three of you with me whenever I leave the manor.”
