When he slapped my ass hard enough to hurt, I threw back my head and gasped his name. He slapped me again, and again, and I’d have bruises soon, but it didn’t matter. I came in a fire-hot fury, a molted incredible explosion, and he kept going, drilling me down, and filled me up with his own massive orgasm.
He kissed my ear and held me. We sank to the floor, tangled, soaking, panting. I held him so tight I thought my chest might explode.
“I want something,” I whispered in his ear.
He met my eyes. “Anything.”
“I want a phone.”
“Then you’ll have one.” No hesitation.
There was nothing but trust now. I tasted it on his lips. Felt it between my legs. My warm pulse. My sultry body. He was mine and I was his, and it was all tangled up in this complicated world we lived in.
And none of it mattered. He’d give me anything. That’s all I cared about.
He kissed me again, helped me get dressed, and we left.
29
Penny
Present Day
Chicago
I balanced my phone on my palms like a holy relic. I was alone in the hotel room. Kaspar was out killing Maeve’s men and preparing to hunt her down.
A thousand thoughts swirled through my brain. I could do so much with this thing. My world was wide open. If I wanted to run, I could run.
I could escape back to my family.
I entered Darren’s number. I knew everyone’s cell by heart. We all did.
It rang and rang and I was afraid he’d ignore an unknown number, but finally he answered. “Darren Servant. Who is this?” He sounded annoyed.
“Hey, Darren. Is that how you greet your sister?”
His tone changed immediately. “Penny, holy shit! Is this really you? Are you safe? Where’s Kaspar? Where are you? Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you right now. Are you okay?”
“Slow down,” I said, smiling as I paced around the room. Kaspar’s guards were waiting outside in the hallway. I had some privacy.
This was my chance. All because Kaspar trusted me.
“Seriously, Pen. Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. He hasn’t hurt me at all. Honestly, if it weren’t for him, I’d probably be dead right now.”
“If it weren’t for him, you’d be safe and at home.”
“Okay, that’s true.” I hesitated. I wanted to tell him about Erin. I didn’t know if he realized what she was doing behind his back—
But something stopped me.
If I opened my mouth now, Darren would lose it. He’d rip Erin’s head from her shoulders. I had no doubts he’d kill her and be done with the whole thing.
Sister or not, she betrayed him and worked against the family.
It would break Darren’s heart. Killing her would be a mark on his soul that he’d never get over, but he’d do it.
If I told him now, it would ruin him.
I kept my mouth shut, even though I wanted him to hunt down Erin and stab her through the eye over and over again.
I loved my brother, and I didn’t want to see him suffer.
Besides, it didn’t matter anymore.
“Where are you? How are you calling me?”
“Kaspar gave me a phone. I’m safe. I’m in a hotel room right now. It’s actually pretty nice.”
“He gave you a phone? Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. All I had to do was ask.” And fuck him a few times. And start to fall in love.
“He’s insane. This is insane. Tell me the name of the hotel and I’ll come get you. I have fifty men waiting for my orders.”
I didn’t doubt that. I could imagine the manor right now littered with soldiers. It was probably a madhouse. I bet Erin hated it.
“Actually, I need something from you.”
“Pen? Just tell me where you are. We can worry about anything else later.”
I closed my eyes.
It would be so easy. The hotel stationary had the address. He could roll in here, guns blazing, and take me back home.
But I didn’t want to leave Kaspar.
He was right to put his trust in me now. We understood each other.
We knew the truth.
“I need you to lie low for a little while. Don’t interfere with Kaspar’s plans.”
He was quiet. I could picture his face: confused, angry, hurt, betrayed.
“Why?” he asked, his voice soft and pained.
“I need you to know that I’d never betray the family. You believe that, right?”
“Of course, but—”
“Then please, do this for me. Lie low. Don’t get involved.”
“My people say Kaspar’s close to Maeve. He and Redmond tore her spy network to pieces, killed her main men, and they’re narrowing in on her. They’ll have her in a day at most.”
I thought as much, though Kaspar hadn’t said so outright.
“Do you believe Maeve is on your side?”
He let out a grunt. “I don’t believe anyone’s on my side. Roman is close.”
“Then don’t be so quick to rush to her defense. She did things, Darren.”