“I’m alright,” I yawned. “Too tired to learn all the rules.”
“...Fine,” Leo relented. “But we’re going to teach you at some point. Can’t hang out with Violence and not know poker.”
“Whatever you say, Doctor.” I smirked. Still, as they started the round, Spencer let me peek at her hand, trying to quietly whisper the rules to me despite Dom’s annoyance.
I didn’t retain any of it, though. I was too absorbed by my own exhaustion, which was only heightened by the soft lights and the slight rocking of the train. Spencer’s arm around my shoulders was warm, and the murmur of my protector’s voices was better than any lullaby.
By the time the first round was coming to a close, my eyes were already fluttering shut. But not before I watched Dom set down a winning hand, raking in a small mountain of poker chips from the center of the table.
“I win,” she teased Leo with a cheeky smirk.
And as I drifted off to sleep, all I could think was:she always does.
74
KIERA
I’d gottenspoiled by the gentle sun peeking into my room in Dom’s mansion.
The blaring horn of the bullet train pulling into Delphi’s station was enough to wake a tranquilized black bear.
Startling up, my eyes shot open. Across the cabin, Spencer was grabbing a backpack from under the luxurious couch.
I wasn’t sure how our bags had gotten here — or how I’d gotten into her bed, for that matter — but as soon as Spencer caught my gaze, she smiled. “Morning, Bunny. We sent them ahead, change of clothes for after our meeting.”
Standing from the bed, I straightened out my red dress. It had definitely seen better days, wrinkles from my night at the Station, with Dom in the bar, and sleeping covered every inch of the chiffon.
The train came to a slow stop as Dom stood vigil by the cabin door. She didn’t bother looking at me. Her brand new dress shirt had erased everything that happened between us the night before.
Besides the soreness between my legs, the scratches on her strong chest would be my only evidence.
“This is us.” Leo nodded, her own sleek backpack on her broad shoulders. Holding out her hand for me, I let her guide me off the train.
Stepping onto a new platform, pristine white subway tiles with green accents decorated the station. It looked like the old New York City city hall stop, the one my dad had taken me on a tour of when I was six.
Leo looped my arm in hers as she guided me toward the set of stairs at the end of the platform. Dom led the way, brooding as she took the steps two at a time.
Is she still thinking about how I felt?
It was all I wanted to know as I watched her muscular back strain against her tight suit jacket. I hated admiring her — I should’ve been appalled at the way she’d taken me.
But that would mean that I hadn’t loved every second of it.
The bracelet around my wrist burned into my skin.
She’d claimed me that night in the shop. But this had felt different. Not done for duty but for lust and passion.
Breaking my trance, Spencer draped an arm over my shoulder. “So, excited?”
“I would be more excited if I knew where the fuck we were.” We’d been on the train for eight hours. We could be near the equator or somehow at the North Pole for all I knew.
I hope I’m warm enough…
I hadn’t packed a jacket, Dom’s gold Camaro was blasting heat as we drove to the Station the night before and a jacket would’ve ruined the outfit.
As we made our way out of the underground tunnels, a wave of dry heat smacked me in the face. It wasn’t anywhere near as cold as it was back home. The winter had set into Valemont like a brutal lion. But this felt like a sunny vacation, a gentle air conditioner cutting through the warmth.
When we reached the top of the stairs, my jaw dropped. Pristine tile floors and glass walls lined the lobby of what looked like a luxury hotel. Well-dressed guests zipped across the open layout as Dom guided us toward the receptionist.
