“Okay, so we need to get in to see Victor with minimal fuss, which means I think Aleksei and I walk in as man and wife, and you both are our guards. The only thing is, you don’t look Russian.” I look at Santiago. It’s not his blond hair; it's his tan. Mostly, though, it’s his elite disposition that’s going to make him stand out.
“If they don’t talk and don’t react to anything Victor says, then a good suit and slick-backed hair will hide their other faults,” Aleksei adds.
Santiago dismisses Aleksei's diss and drills his focus on me. “I met him very briefly with my father a few years ago. He paid me no attention.”
My mind starts racing in a dozen different, toxic, ways. “You met him?”
Santiago grabs my hand. “Quinn, first and foremost, I am your Alpha. That privilege negates everything else. I couldn’t double-cross you, even for the last piece of chocolate, so please don’t look at me like that again.” There’s challenge in his stare, a hint of susceptibility too.
I go to explain how much baggage I carry, but Santiago presses his finger against my open mouth, silencing me. “You don’t ever need to defend your reactions or responses to something I do or say. Maybe”—he looks boyishly coy—“just wait until you’ve got all the information before you let your mind jump. Trust this.”
He points at the place on his chest where I pressed his hand on my body when I was trying to explain our new bond.
That’s the thing about past anguish; it rises and strikes whenever it wants, regardless of the time, space, or the vicinity of your scent-matched pack.
My scent is noticeably tinged with the smell of rue and apology. The tension lining his face disappears as he breathes it in before his own scent rushes out in comfort. “It wasn’t a sit-down friendly meeting, bebe. Victor was trying to move something through Cartel territory; he was detained by our men and reminded he is nothing in our world.”
“How?” I ask, intrigued, a little surprised at Victor’s audacity, although it’s very fitting to his character too.
“His bodyguards were dragged from his diplomatic vehicle, and he was reminded in no uncertain terms that he has no power in our eyes. The package—we assumed it was drugs—was destroyed in front of him.”
And then a new worry forms, one that has nothing to do with Victor and everything to do with Santiago. He also preempts where my anxiety starts jumping. He wraps my face in his hands and kisses the absolute bejesus out of me. His tongue licking over mine, his promises tingling against my lips.
“I love that you worry about me, bebe. I doubt he even remembers who witnessed him getting a taste of Cartel justice. You need to know I have worked hard at blending into the background. Staying off radars is a skill of mine. Some people are meant to be in the limelight, but I prefer to situate quietly. It gives me the chance to know my enemies better and plot their demise accordingly.”
“I just need us all to survive.” I reach for another one of his kisses, but the car starts to inch forward.
“We will be doing more than surviving. Aleksei, Kade, and I will do everything in our power to ensure you feel safe and very much adored. And our first step in our future is dealing with Victor. Once and for all.”
Aleksei keeps his foot on the accelerator, and Santiago has to walk to keep up. His voice gets louder as Aleksei revs the engine whenever Santiago speaks. My door is still open, Santiago in the space between the door and the car. He dips down, and I expect my door to close, but instead a ball of snow goes sailing through the car. It hits Aleksei in the face.
“I haven't finished speaking. Don’t be a prick.”
I belt out a laugh, stunned Santiago threw a snowball but also amused by Aleksei’s expression.
“Maya, don’t encourage him.” Aleksei talks without turning to look at me as the car rolls faster.
Santiago shuts my door with a big grin on his face, then he stops moving. I use the side mirror to watch as Kade pulls up next to him. And the two of them talk animatedly before they both start laughing.
“At first, I thought he was dumb in the head. He wants a war, huh? The winner gets the girl.Durakmust be as blind as me, because the prize is right here.” Aleksei’s hand dives up my skirt, his fingers rubbing over my panties. The headlights of the Audi illuminate his face, but he doesn’t pay anything else credence until my breathing gets ragged under his touch.
“Aleksei,” I whimper, pushing his hand away. Although, I’m not trying too hard to discourage him.
He keeps touching, his eyes on the rearview mirror. “He is right in what he said. We all have history we can’t change, but we can move past it together. I know from experience, it’s hard to trust. You got played before we came along, but now we are here, you don’t ever have to question our loyalty. Though I question his tactics, I can’t begrudge, he is right for you. As is Kade.”
I hold on to his wrist, trying not to moan or roll my hips. “And you?”
He grins at me before I’m nearly swept sideways by the rush of his designation. He does it to remind me how sensitive I am to him and how perfect he is. Arrogance and all. He’s not wrong, though. His eyebrow arches up in challenge, like he heard my inner thoughts before his focus shifts back to the rearview mirror.
I check behind to see what he’s looking at, and the movement of the gate clues me in. As soon as he takes his hand away, I cross my legs, riding the lingering buzz he left behind.
Of course, he doesn’t miss what I do or said. “I’m the most ideal Alpha for you. The strongest. The most devoted.”
He intentionally fogs the car with his scent right at the same time both Kade and Santiago use our bond. All around me are reminders I’m not alone and that we’re as real and as solid as can be.
Their reminders bring a small wave of need that parts my lips. It’s crazy how sensitive I am to them now.
“Are you needing something,maya? Want to give your husband anotherminyetas we drive? Or you can spread your legs wide, and I’ll finger you ’til you're dripping with pleasure?”
