And because of the way our friendship works, the girls reappear in our chat right when I need them—leaving equally sappy messages about us being eternal besties before disappearing again. I needed the reminder; it’s like a kick in the butt.
Walking out of the gates at Unity dressed in Tristan’s emerald-green miniskirt, and a white wrap shirt, I adopt her confidence in each sway of my hips. It most certainly helps that I can pick up Hendrix’s appreciation as soon as I start walking towards the car—it sweeps through the carpark like a thunderstorm on a summer’s day.
Dominic watches me with an intensity that made my skin buzz, while Ryder’s smile from the backseat of the Range Rover could have turned me into a songwriter.
Before the gate has even shut behind me, Ryder’s climbing out of the back seat and within a handful of steps he’s in front of me. His honey-dipped scent makes my breathing get choppy and also acts like a boost of energy, chasing the remnants of my tension away.
“Sin, you look like a fucking dream.” His words are nearly lost under the rumbling purr spilling from his chest. “I missed you.”
I was going to say the same, but he kisses the absolute breath out of me, stopping mid-kiss when he rememberswe’re aiming for discretion. With a wry smirk, he grabs both my hands and starts walking backwards until we arrive at the Range Rover.
“Despite how I just acted, I’d never put you in danger. Sorry, Sin.” Ryder’s seriousness isn’t fleeting, and he doesn’t relax until he has me safely encased in the truck. Once he has me belted in, he picks up my hand and kisses the top of it. “You okay?”
I nod. And I am. The danger has always been Brody trying to hurt me or doing something reckless like snatch me off the street, but my Alphas are with me. Dale and Nigel are near by; a kiss isn’t what is going to screw up everything now. Especially considering where we’re headed.
“No bag?” Hendrix’s voice is pure Alpha when he speaks. Low and deep, his words vibrate over my skin, making his question impossible to ignore. Although it wasn’t a question that needed any response anyway. If anything, it was Hendrix starting his sinful teasing.
He told me not to pack a thing because we were spending the weekend in bed, and I was more than fine with that.
My pack is making me brazen, more confident. I’m here for it, and so were they. I eventually answer Hen with the dirtiest smirk I can manage and the groans of appreciation I get from him, and Ryder, let me know I nailed it.
Dominic reaches his hand through the space between the driver and passenger seat as his form of greeting, but I push it gently away, deciding we need to kiss instead. And once I have left him with the taste of me in his mouth, I turn to do the same with Hendrix.
My lips are buzzing as I sit back on Ryder’s lap.
“I was wondering why you weren’t wearing lipstick,” Hendrix hisses, putting the car in drive and dropping his foot on the accelerator.
“All okay?” My question is aimed at everyone.
“As expected, honestly. They seem to think this is a negotiation and keep providing re-written sections or new clauses to be added.” Dominic isn’t happy, his cool detachment obvious.
His frustration isn’t directed at me, and I know it. We’ve spent our evenings this week reviewing the endless stream of correspondence the lawyer for the Family keeps sending. It’s a tactic, and nothing less. A disgusting strategy done intentionally, setting me up for failure by racking up a legal bill that could feed a small country.
Their expectation of costs being awarded when the judge rules in their favour is another form of intimidation. It’s also a good indication they’ve already greased the palm of the judge because their case is weak at best.
“No other problems?” I press.
Hendrix laughs. It’s cold and malicious, matching Dominic’s mood perfectly. He turns and his eyes are full of secrets that spill from his beautiful lips a second later. “We may have thrown a spanner in the works last night.”
“In what way?”
He turns back to face the road, but it’s impossible not to see the way his lips curl up dangerously. “The judge who’s deciding may have had a change of heart.”
“Not may have,” Dominic snaps.
“Really?”
Ryder’s breath tickles my ear. “He pissed himself. Well, that’s what our sources told us. Either way, the founding family aren’t going to be happy with today’s outcome. Just saying.”
“What did you do?”
Dominic stays out of the conversation, perhaps to protect the vows he took when he became a lawyer. I can feel his relief—and amusement—trickling through our bond.
Hendrix tuts, getting animated in his cockiness. “Wenever would do something like that. Not us per se, that’s too risky. We do, however, have friends who paid the judge a quick visit last night as he was about to nod off to sleep. The message, I understand, was delivered loud and clear.”
I gasp. “You/they paid off a judge?”
“Once you sell your soul to the devil, Sin, it doesn’t matter what the devil looks like. When he comes to collect, you have no choice but to pay up. And we may have arranged some ugly fuckers to remind him of the fact.”
