Deception, p.31
Deception, page 31
Cop, he mouths.
I don’t have to hear it to understand it clear as day. If he’s warning me about a cop, then he doesn’t know there’s more than one. This one, specifically, is trying way too hard to get me to take her back to my place which means they at least suspect we might be involved. But, based on her earlier conversation, I think she expected me to say I was Ford Mann. I’ve thrown her off by stating my real name and not giving in to her flirty advances.
Since there’s no way they could have known I’d be attending this party, it means I’m just a bonus. A lucky break. Because the Mannford reputation precedes us everywhere we go.
Are they after Ty? Or is this a cattle call for suspects.
“So, what do you say?” she asks, stepping closer, but not too close. “Want to get out of here and go to your place?”
I can either give her the cold shoulder and she’ll know I’m onto her, or I can play along. Reaching up, I run a finger along her jawline, letting my lips curl into a sensual smile that has her face heating red again. I wonder if it’s driving this undercover cop to madness knowing her suspect is turning her on.
“Yeah, babe, let’s get out of here.” I drop my hand and trail my stare down to her lips that are painted the same crimson as her dress. “I need to make my rounds and then I can leave. Why don’t you go ahead and get a head start? I’ll have my driver take you to a hotel I’ve booked for the night. Wait there for me. Naked.”
She deflates some, as though this wasn’t the answer she was looking for. “Alone?”
“What? You were wanting my brothers to be there too?” I flash her a wolfish grin. “We’ve been known to share our things on occasion, so I can certainly arrange that.”
“Sounds like a blast.” Another forced smile. “I can get my own ride though. Just let me know the address.”
“The Four Seasons. I’m right behind you. When you get there, ask for the Mannford room at the front desk. They’ll have a keycard for you. Order us some champagne and I’ll see you soon, beautiful.”
She downs the rest of her drink, presses a kiss to my cheek, and then saunters off. The woman is pretty, but she’s nothing compared to Landry. Landry is more than a pretty package. She’s fucking everything.
Ty’s gaze meets mine again and he seems to visibly relax. Okay, so maybe he really does want to help Landry, and by default, us. I finish my drink and then head in the opposite direction as cop Stasia. I’m getting the hell out of here. I did my duty, threw off the cops, and need to get back to my girl. So focused on my escape, I barely take note of the man I bump into.
“Excuse me,” we both say at the same time.
And then our eyes meet.
I’m eye-level, staring into the coldest blue eyes on the planet. Cruel, ruthless, insidious. It’s been years since I’ve been face to face with Winston fucking Constantine. The first difference I notice is he’s getting old. While he still exudes strength and power, I outmatch him on size. My shoulders are broader and my biceps threaten to tear the seam along my tuxedo jacket. I have youth and muscles on my side. All he has is his money.
The urge to knock my fist through his blinding white veneers is overwhelming. Hot rage burns in my gut and my hands curl into tight fists. I could do it—get my satisfaction by leveling his ass. If I’m lucky, I might hit hard enough to make the old geezer croak.
Then what?
Get my ass sent to prison where Landry and my brothers most definitely won’t be?
There’s a reason I attend these events and not Scout.
“Constantine,” I say, my tone cool and revealing nothing about my anger level. “Fancy meeting you here.”
His nostrils flare, an infinitesimal sign of his own feelings toward me. “Edward Jefferson doesn’t usually let rats into his elite parties. Especially not Mannford rats.”
“And, as you’re well aware of, we have the ability to get in wherever we want. Even into a corrupt politician’s ass-kissing party.”
He takes a step closer. “My wife says she saw one of you twats last week. Are you stalking her again? We all know what happened last time you meddled in my fucking affairs.”
I don’t back down, squaring my shoulders and leaning into him. “We’re not kids anymore, man. Your threats mean shit. I’m sure Ash was just seeing things.”
“Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.”
The violence gleaming in his eyes brings me great joy. Watching a composed, indestructible man lose it so easily gives me a sense of power. Like maybe, just maybe, we’re on a more level playing field.
“See you around, Constantine.”
He grabs my bicep, preventing me from leaving. “Behave.”
Jerking my arm from his grip, I sneer at him. “Behave?” I growl. “We’re not teenagers you can fuck with anymore. Me and my brothers don’t abide by the same rules as you or our cousins. We do whatever the hell we want.”
Winston presses his lips together in a firm line. I can tell by the flare of his nostrils he wants to say more, but is calculating the risks. He knows I’m right. If he keeps antagonizing me, I’m going to fucking retaliate. We’re not a part of whatever agreement they had and it’s best he knows, because I won’t be intimidated.
He turns on his heel without another word.
I don’t breathe any easier. I still want to chase after him and bash his fucking skull in. But, knowing I’ve rattled him will have to do.
Chapter Fourteen
Landry
I’m going crazy.
My mind is a mess of thoughts, all of which lead back to the triplets. They’ve gotten themselves under my skin. Burrowed so deep, I don’t have any hope of digging them out.
I don’t want to.
No, what I want is complicated.
Or is it?
Maybe it’s much simpler than I think. If I’m honest with myself, the murkiness fades and one thing becomes clear.
I want them.
All three of them.
Sparrow made me admit it, but was it just some kinky moment for him to get off to? Does he really want to get naked with me and his brothers?
I can’t even begin to imagine what that sort of encounter would entail, much less how to even initiate it. I may think I’m in control, but I’m spinning around helplessly, desperate for a guide.
Does this sort of sexual connection between four people, three of which are related, even come with a guide? It feels unknown and completely foreign. Like floating in space, drifting further and further from the safety of earth, being sucked into the void of their black hole.
I want to be with them.
Tonight.
I’m going to make it happen. I’m not going to second-guess myself or feel guilty at what kind of person it makes me. For once in my life, I just want to feel good and happy. These three men keep circling around me, caught up in my orbit.
It would be easy, right? As easy as it is lying on the sofa right now with two of them in comfortable silence. Sully lets me use his lap for a pillow for my head and I have my feet in Sparrow’s lap. Scout left a bit ago to watch a movie in Sully’s room with Della to get her to go to sleep, but one shout for him, and he’d be here in a second.
Just tell them—no, demand it.
“Any news?” I ask Sparrow who’s scowling at his phone at the end of the couch.
Not the question I wanted to ask.
Why can’t I be brave for once?
Sparrow glances at me and shakes his head. “Still searching. They’re staying tightlipped about any leads they have.” He squeezes my foot and then starts massaging it. “But don’t worry. Scout had several of his contacts make anonymous tips to the cops today in New Jersey stating they’d seen a woman and child walking down the street there. The police will be too busy following those leads to even look our direction. We’ll make sure we stay two steps ahead of them at all times.”
“I can’t hide here forever,” I blurt out.
Sparrow scoffs. “Says who?”
“It’s just not sustainable. Eventually, Della will need to go to school. We’ll want to leave the apartment at some point.” I sigh and go to bring my foot out of his lap, but Sparrow tightens his grip around my ankle, stopping me.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he growls. “Ever.”
These guys really are possessive pricks sometimes. Angling my head to look up at Sully, I expect some sympathy toward me. Instead, he’s watching me with a stubborn expression that matches his brother’s as he runs his fingers through my hair.
“Fine, but at least entertain me,” I murmur, grasping for the nerve to say what I want.
You said you were in control, so take control.
The air crackles with tension. It’s evident they’re thinking the same thing, which is almost positively what I’m thinking, because it grows quiet and both their attention is solely on me now.
“I want to do it,” I whisper.
“It?” Sully teases, a grin on his stupidly handsome face.
“You. All three of you. Together.”
Sully’s playfulness fades and a ravenous glint flashes in his dark eyes. “Because you’re ours.”
Theirs.
It sounds so good. So simple. So easy and fun and perfect.
I want this. I want them.
“Fuck yeah she is,” Sparrow growls. “Say it. Beg for what you want.”
I try to kick him, feigning annoyance. “I’m not going to beg. I demand—”
My bold words are cut off by the sound of harsh knocking on the door. I freeze, terror chilling me to my bones, chasing away all desire. Sparrow flies off the couch just as Scout comes storming down the hallway from Sully’s bedroom and into the living room, a gun in his grip. I sit up and practically climb into Sully’s lap.
Don’t let him take me.
I can’t open my mouth to say the words. He hugs me tight, his arms an iron grip around me. If his hold on me is anything to go on, I’d say he’s not letting me go without a fight.
Sparrow walks over to the door and peeks through the peephole. “Fuck.”
“Who is it?” Scout demands.
Sparrow moves out of the way and lets Scout take his place. The tension in Scout’s body relaxes. He shoves the gun into his pocket before unlocking the door.
Is it Ty?
My heart does a happy leap at the prospect of seeing my friend. But, when the door flings open, it’s not Ty standing there.
This man is terrifying.
Dark hair, dark eyes, imposing stature. I’d liken him to a beast. Somehow more feral and dangerous than the triplets. Despite his seemingly calm nature, he still scares the hell out of me. I shiver in Sully’s arms.
The slight movement captures his attention. Like an animal tracking his prey, the man’s dark eyes slice over to me. I wither under the terrible expression on his face—a mixture of surprise, anger, and annoyance.
I don’t know this guy.
He’s not one of Dad’s men, yet he’s looking at me like he knows me. Like I’m a bother to him.
“Leo,” Scout says with an edge to the false cheer in his voice. “What a surprise, cuz. I didn’t even think you knew where we lived, much less cared enough to pop in for a visit.”
This is bad. It has to be. Scout says no one knows where we’re at but this is the second person to show up.
“Don’t act like we haven’t done business together before.” Leo frowns at Scout. “Of course I care.” His tone is dry. Almost sarcastic.
“No, you don’t. You dropped us as soon as you were done with us. We haven’t heard from you in months.”
“I moved on to other things. So did the three of you.”
“Yeah. Look at us now.” Scout grins, darkness in his expression betraying his effort to be jovial.
“Seriously,” Sparrow interjects. “How the hell did you find us?”
Leo eyes him up and down as if Sparrow’s not equally massive. “I have people everywhere in the city, and my father wasn’t very invested in keeping this place a secret. I don’t give a fuck what he does with his money. I do give a fuck if there are reports that my three renegade cousins kidnapped a woman and a child.
“She’s ours,” Scout barks out at the same time Sully says, “We didn’t kidnap her.”
With those words, Leo’s penetrating stare is back on me. He scrutinizes every detail about me from my messy hair and no makeup toSully’s hoodie, which I’m wearing over my leggings. There’s no way he can miss the way I cling to Sully.
“You’re the Croft girl,” Leo says, his tone gentler. “Alexander’s daughter.”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“And you’re here on your own free will?”
Talk about a complicated answer.
“Yes,” I say, darting my eyes over to Scout. “They saved me.”
At this, Leo’s brows shoot up. “These three?”
“We’re noble creatures,” Scout offers.
“For fuck’s sake.” Leo rolls his eyes. “You’re shameless criminals. The entire city knows it.”
“But, Leo,” Scout says in a dry tone, “we’ve been such good little boys lately.”
Leo ignores him and runs his fingers through his dark hair. Now that I know he’s not going to drag me back to my father, I allow the tension in my muscles to release some.
“The kid is here, too, right?” Leo asks. “I need to know what I’m dealing with.”
“No one asked you to deal with it,” Sparrow tells him, eyes narrowing. “You’re the one who showed up here. We were doing just fine on our own.”
“Just fine?” Leo’s stare sharpens. “You have two missing people in your apartment. One of them is a child. Both of them are members of Alexander Croft’s family. You three are members of mine. This won’t just blow over.” He curses under his breath. “Lucian needs to know about this, too.”
Scout’s features darken. “You don’t have to say shit to anyone.”
“How can I make this clear to you?” Leo snaps. “This situation has the potential to be a fucking catastrophe. The news will get out. Before it does, I need a plan in place to protect my siblings from any of Alexander Croft’s bullshit.”
“These guys haven’t done anything wrong,” I say when I find my voice. “They’re giving us a safe place to say. But you already know this, right? You have people watching, which means there’s probably footage of me and my sister walking into this building on our own free will.”
Question is, now that he’s received this information, why hasn’t he gone public with it? Because the triplets are family? I bite down on my bottom lip, keeping the tears at bay.
“So you’re buddies with our fucking doorman?” Sparrow huffs out. “And now that authorities are sniffing around, you’re trying to do damage control?”
“You didn’t invite just any woman and child into your apartment. Anyone else on the planet wouldn’t have been my problem” Leo says, scrubbing a palm over his face. “But you invited the daughters of Alexander Croft. You work for my father. You’re in my fucking family tree. That makes it my problem.”
“My dad is abusive,” I rush out, needing for this man to understand. That we’re not spoiled runaways. We’re running for our lives. “Because he’s rich, he gets away with it. It’s safe here. With them.”
Leo frowns, studying me with new eyes. The shift from angry to understanding happens within a second. I’m relieved that my words, somehow, seem to get through to him.
“And these guys are better?” Leo asks. When Sparrow starts to speak up, he cuts him off with a wave of his hand, boring his gaze into me. “If they’re hurting you, we can walk out of here right now. Together.”
“It’s safe,” I assure him, lifting my chin. “The safest I’ve ever felt.”
Though he seems surprised by this answer and mildly put off by the smug grin Sparrow shoots at him, he continues on. “How old is your sister?”
“Six.”
“He hurt her too?”
I nod, fighting tears. “If I didn’t do a good enough job to protect her, he would.”
“I understand.” Leo’s voice is soft. I believe him when he says it. “That should never have happened to you.” He breaks our stare to look at each of the triplets. “Lucian has to know we’re involved in a high-profile police investigation. The ripple effect is endless on something like this. We need to stay ahead of it.”
“Thank you,” I say to him.
He purses his lips. “How did you get involved with these guys anyway?”
That’s a long and complicated answer.
Scout doesn’t let me reply, interjecting. “Sparrow was taking some college courses and met her.”
He’s leaving out a lot of the story, but I don’t offer more.
“Right.” Leo shakes his head. “Whatever. What matters now is keeping these two safe. The fact that the apartment’s not in your name will buy you a little time. Lie low. Do not go out in public until I have a solution.
“Lie low?” Sparrow grunts. “Maybe we should pack up and leave this city tonight.”
I’m not hating that idea. At all.
Leo scratches at his jaw, his brows furling as he thinks. “Give me until the morning to find a secure place.”
“Until the morning,” Sparrow agrees. “And then we’re gone with or without your help.”
My big dream of getting the hell out of this city is being realized. And better yet, the triplets are going to go with us. Hope curls tendrils around my heart and latches on.
Leo glares. “Don’t take a risk with their lives to prove you’re a prick. Can you just accept that I’m trying to keep you out of prison and sit tight?”
“Accepted.” Scout gives him a mock salute. “Is that all? We have a date for an orgy and you’re wasting precious seconds.”
Sully groans and Sparrow shakes his head. Meanwhile, my face burns hot with embarrassment. Scout grins in that evil way of his that makes me crazy.
Leo ignores Scout’s comment. “We’ll talk soon.”
As soon as he’s out the door and it’s locked, I shoot Scout a nasty glare. “Seriously?”
“What?” Scout asks, smirking. “I was telling the truth.”
