Page 24 of Blood & Heartache

Snatching up the vibrator, I turned it on and placed the silicone-shaped rose over my clit. I kept it on the lowest setting since I needed just that bit of extra effort to get me that last bit. This handy little guy not only vibrated but had strong enough suction on high, it would suck your soul right out of your body. With how close I’d been, it took all of two seconds for my climax to slam into me. My hips thrust, and I cried out while I clutched the rose to my body as it drew the orgasm out, and just when it was about over, I hit the button. Now on a higher setting, it reached into my body and demanded another orgasm, which it gave happily. This one was stronger than the last, making me scream as my body convulsed, causing me to lose my grip on the rose as I curled on my side.

“Holy fuck,” Braxton whispered, his voice strained.

I let out a laugh because he took the words right out of my mouth. “Now that’s one hell of a way to start the day.”

After sending Braxton to his room to get ready for today , I’m sure he jacked off in the shower. He was a good boy and didn’t touch himself at all. The damp spot on his boxers told me it was a close call on coming, whether he wanted to or not. I smiled at that picture of him sitting there, hands clenched at his side while his cock bucked, trying to get his attention. I was beginning to think I might rather enjoy this relationship-building between Braxton and me.

Tilting my head back, I rinsed the soap out of my hair, silently thanking whoever it was that knew shower stools existed and put one in here. Having to admit I’d need someone to help me shower wasn’t a reality I wanted to accept. I’d swallow my pride and allow people to help in other ways, even if I did bitch about it along the way. Every time I got frustrated, I needed to remind myself that I still had my leg and my life, both of which could have been taken from me in the blink of an eye. I’d been lucky, and if this were the price I would pay for being alive, I’d fucking deal.

Taking my time, I shaved everything I needed to as I let my conditioner soak into my hair. It was such a simple task but being able to start the day fresh, shaved, and moisturized gave me a sense of control. When I was done in the shower, I dried my hair, put on makeup, and a kickass gray pantsuit with a metallic sheen. I stared mournfully at my heels which were out of the question for at least a good month or so. Glenda, the godsend she was, bought me ten pair of flats since I only had two pairs. She knew me so well and picked out ones that were like the little sister to my favorite heels.

Feeling ready to take on the day I knew would head downhill after the epic way it started, I rolled my way out. When I exited my suite, I was surprised to find Boykov waiting for me. “Everything okay, Ralph?”

“Good morning, Lady Astin. Everything is fine,” he assured me. “It’s customary for the head of the family to be escorted by their security.” When I gave him a look, he smirked. “Normally, we don’t do so in the house, but under the circumstances, Master Ryker has felt this would be wise.”

“He did, did he?” I muttered.

“I have to say that I agree with him,” Boykov added. “It was those closest to your father who betrayed him, and now that we know someone in the house is actively working to cause trouble, I urge you to let me do my job.”

“Do I really have a choice in the matter?” I questioned.

“Not really,” Boykov admitted with a small smile. “You would have had me as your shadow whether you liked it or not. Shall we head down for breakfast?”

“Why do I feel like no one in this house believes I’m the boss around here?” I grumbled as I rolled down the hall to the elevator. “Shouldn’t I be the one to make these calls and have people listen when I tell them to do something? God, heaven forbid a woman gets shot, it makes all the men turn into overbearing idiots.” I paused to look up at Boykov as he hit the button for the main floor. “Not you, but you get what I’m saying, right?”

He chuckled as he leaned against the back wall. “I doubt anyone forgets you’re in charge, Lady Astin. That’s the reason they’ve become so paranoid. It’s like when you expected to have more time to learn your place as underboss before stepping into the role of boss. Similarly, they’re adjusting to now being responsible for the boss’s life and everything else that goes with it. Not to mention we have a snake lurking in the shadows waiting for the right time to strike. That makes everyone a bit jumpy.”

When Boykov grabbed the handles of the wheelchair, I let him push me out of the elevator. Get a wheel stuck in the door crack once, and they never let you live it down. When we were free of the danger zone, he released control back to me. Boykov was one I didn’t have to worry about babying me. He understood my need for independence and respected it—to a point. Such as he’d never allow me to do something that would knowingly put myself in harm’s way. I felt it was a reasonable balance we’d naturally developed. At least one relationship in the place was easy, but maybe that’s because I didn’t want to sleep with him. Yeah, I wasn’t going to look too closely at that revelation just yet.

Entering the dining room, a smile broke out on my face as I spotted my two uncles talking to Liu. I hadn’t known when they would get back, but I was so damn glad to see them. Mathis spotted me first and broke off what he was saying to head right for me. Locking the wheels, I shoved up out of the chair just in time to get snatched up in a tight hug only he could give. Having those years of training with these two was the best part of the whole ordeal. Things didn’t get out of hand until they left since they’d stop them from pushing me as hard as they did. I’d never tell them that, though. Athos would blame himself, and Mathis would be hell-bent on revenge and no one to take it out on.

“Ah, squirt, I’m so sorry we couldn’t be there for you… damn fucking rules,” Mathis said as he relaxed his hold but kept his hand on my shoulders to keep me steady. “I heard what you did, sending that gold-digging bitch on her way. Should have happened sooner, but that contract was ironclad. We even looked into it a few years ago, trying to get Colmazio out of that arrangement.”

“Yeah, well, that move might already be biting me in the ass,” I shared. When he gave me a questioning look, I just shook my head. “I’ll explain later if you don’t already know. Since you’re here, mind helping me walk over to my chair?”

Mathis took the hint and wrapped his arm around my waist to hold me steady as I hobbled over to my chair. When I paused at the seat I’d been sitting in, Mathis gently cleared his throat and urged me forward. Liu was already at the head of the table, pulling out the chair my father sat in for so many years. Now it would appear that it is my chair.

“Liu, I believe you used to sit in my old seat… no reason you can’t go back to doing that,” I pointed out as he slid my chair in for me.

“Only if that’s what you’d like me to do. As I told you before, I’ve never wished for more than to be of service to the boss,” Liu reminded me.

“Yes, we’ve hashed all that out, and I believe you for the most part, but I think it will make it more awkward to have the seat empty as we eat. Keep the spot filled until we figure out what to do about that role in general,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t argue with me. The day was going well so far, and I didn’t want it to go to hell at breakfast.

Liu nodded and took his seat at my right just as the rest of my lieutenants arrived. Half of them looked like dead men walking and the other as if they’d drunk from the fountain of youth. I decided not to comment as they flopped down into chairs, none of which were in the order they normally did. That had my inquisitive brain trying to figure out what was different. They’d been so systematic about things when I first got here, and lately nothing has been held to the same routine as father established. Glancing at my watch, I realized it was almost eight fifteen, and breakfast had always been promptly at seven. Not that I was opposed to changing things up, but this just showed me how much had been enforced by my father. He’d accept no deviation from his system, not even from me.

“Did any of you sleep?” Braxton asked as coffee was being poured into everyone’s cups.

“Does sleeping with your eyes open count?” Jace muttered. “Pretty sure I managed to do that once or twice going through all the systems. Whoever helped to pull off that surprise was really fucking good. I’ll hand it to them.”

Clearing my throat loudly once we had the room again, I drew all their attention. “I believe we’re going to save that conversation for after you’ve all gotten a nap, and we can regroup in the conference room. We have a lot to go over and catch Mathis and Athos up on as well. I say we fill our bellies, those who have not slept do so, and leave those who have to deal with things.”

Luca lifted his coffee cup to me in thanks. “Good plan, Boss.”

A wave of sadness slammed into me hearing him call me that. They’d done it before in a more joking manner, but here at this table, he’d meant it for real. That was who I was now—the boss. A plate was presented before me, dished up and ready to go, reminding me that I had a food taster.

“Liu,” I said in a low voice. He looked up at me from his meal with a questioning gaze. “How well do we trust the person who advises on food selection?” I asked, pointing my fork at the plate in question.

Understanding crossed his expression, and he took a sip of coffee before answering, “Now that Glenda is back in the house, she’s the one who’s leading the staff on your preferences and sampling to ensure they’re making it right.”