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“Fuck you,” she says, her determination doused in breathless desire.

“Open your fucking mouth.”

A rhythmic beep interrupts us, and I glance over my shoulder at the door. Before it slides open, I release Silence and step back, sitting on the bed and ignoring the sting in my stomach and my throbbing cock.

“Done,” Yale says as he steps inside. He pauses, taking in Silence’s flushed cheeks and disheveled hair. Her legs are clamped together, and I smirk. “Everything okay?”

“Yep.” She gets up and darts past him. “I’m going for a swim.”

I lace my fingers behind my head and rest against the bed, grinning at the ceiling.

“What did you do?”

“Opened Pandora’s fucking box, little brother.”

Chapter 16

Silence

What the fuck was that?

One second, I’m bored out of my mind and considering starting another jigsaw, the next I’m dry-humping my brother-in-law’s thigh?

Get a grip, Silence.

How did that unravel so quickly? I was ready to throw down and then I’m seconds from opening my mouth and letting him do whatever he wants to me. And the way he spoke to me … Zayden has called me a brat before but never ventured as far into the dirty talk that Xavier did. Even thinking about it now, I’m tingling. I liked being weak for him—and I loved him pointing it out.

I’m at the indoor pool, a tiled, echoey room on the far side of the west wing, and I shiver as I toss my robe onto one of the many leaf-covered sun loungers. I’m unsure how plant life has made its way inside, but acorns and twigs bite into the soles of my feet as I approach the water.

Then immediately recoil.

“Oh, hell no,” I mumble, eyeing the green-lined pool bottom. “This place is a living nightmare.”

Snatching up my robe again, I pull it on and pad over to the line of windows that make up the walls of the pool area. There’s only darkness beyond, so my reflection stares back at me.

Silence Silver.

Silence Smith.

Silence Crowe.

The thought of my maiden name has me twisting my fingers together.

Even the years between who I was and who I am don’t feel enough. The only time I’ve even acknowledged my previous name is when I went to nursing school, and that was only because I had no choice.

I could have told Zayden more about my past. He wouldn’t judge me, and he’d still love me, but it’s been so long that even saying the words out loud is just too damn much.

“You okay?”

I glance over my shoulder at Yale. He’s in his henley and jeans still, glasses balanced on his nose, smiling warmly. My chest eases just at the sight of him.

“Decided I didn’t want to become a swamp queen,” I say, nodding at the pool. He approaches and stands by my side, and we both look at the darkness beyond the glass. “It’s so quiet here.”

“It didn’t used to be,” he says. “Word is there were some wild parties inside these walls.”

“Wow. Russian mobsters know how to get down?”

“Apparently.” He smiles, and I face him to run my fingers across his beard. “I need to trim it.”