I liked Micha. He was nice, in all the ways he could be nice, I guess, considering who he worked for, but I don’t know, he was a comfort, safety, when there was none. He was loyal to Kingston, he would never have my back if I needed it, but it was good to know at least he didn’t terrify me like the others did. I wouldn’t start to question the why about it, I’ll just take the comfort.
“Firstly, Eleanor,” he raises a brow and looks at me sternly, “You’re going to need to learn to not trust everyone you meet. Secondly, just because someone says they can take you to the place you need to be does not mean they will, and thirdly, have some common sense, Isobel could have been anyone, and quite frankly, she’s unpredictable on the best of days, and batshit on the worst. You’re lucky you stepped out of that elevator in one piece.”
“Well, she wasn’t horrible or anything,” I shiver, “she ignored me mostly.”
He sighs loudly, “Come on, I’ll take you to King.”
I follow him through the large penthouse, eyes drawn to every luxurious item spread through the house, from the marble to the crystal, the paintings on the walls, and the fur rugs lining the floor.
It was warm, despite all the hard floors and large windows, and I couldn’t get my head round a man like Kingston, with all his brutality and wickedness, living in a place like this. Remembering the conversation this morning, the flush on my cheek gets brighter. What an idiot I was, telling him he couldn’t move in with me. Of course, that was not what he was saying, why would he when he had a place like this!?
I shake off the thoughts as Micha stops outside a door, raps his knuckle once, and doesn’t wait for a response before he opens the door to a den like room. I spot Kingston immediately, like a beacon of light in the darkness. He sits on a leather chair next to a fire, a table before him with a tray holding a decanter of an amber liquid I assume is whiskey, and several crystal tumblers. He’s relaxed, dressed in dark jeans and a white tee, the flames from the fire dancing across his inked skin. His piercings glint in the golden light, his hair slightly disheveled. Across from him is the man I remember as Ace. Dressed in a similar way except his jeans are ripped the entire way down, and he isn’t nearly as relaxed, he leans forward with his elbows on his knees, chin resting in his linked hands.
The woman I now know as Isobel leans on the wall, a glass of champagne in her hand. She smiles at me, a complete contrast to the stoic and brutal woman she was in the elevator.
“Eleanor?” Kingston stands immediately, “you’re early.”
I look at Isobel, she clearly didn’t tell them I had arrived. My eyes narrow, but I look away, back to King. Ace stares at me with his head cocked, and a subtle grin on his face.
Were they all just ridiculously attractive? Is that a thing to be when you’re in this type of business?
I shake that off, I wouldn’t fall for their harsh beauty no matter how nice they all were to look at.
“Tobias let me out early.”
A few grumbles around me, but no one says anything outright.
“Did something happen?”
I shake my head, “no, he was busy and didn’t need me.”
He nods slowly, “How did you get up here?” he looks at Micha and I turn just in time to see him shake his head.
“Uh, Isobel let me up.”
His head whips to the woman so quickly I’m surprised he doesn’t give himself whiplash, “You didn’t tell me.” He growls.
Isobel sighs heavily and rolls her eyes, “Oh simmer down, King, I didn’t do anything.”
As if to check, King runs his eyes down my body and then turns back to the woman, “I can see why you like her,” Isobel continues, “pretty, but she lacks some smarts if she is so willing to follow a stranger into an elevator.”
Micha grunts his agreement, and that flush is now covering my neck and chest.
“Either way,” Isobel shrugs, “she didn’t run or back down, I guess that’s a start.”
My teeth grit, “I’m sorry, who are you exactly?” I snap, heart pounding.
The woman laughs and opens her mouth, but Kingston gets there first, “This is Isobel, my sister, and a huge pain in my arse.”
Sister.
I see the resemblance now, the eyes, the shape of the face. Where King was wicked though, she appeared a hell of a lot more savage.
A hidden and barely leashed violence.
“I’m sure we’ll be great friends,” Isobel chimes, walking towards me. She stops and stares, eyes doing a run over my body before she looks back up to my face, I swear that’s actual warmth in her eyes and a soft smile, “But I must be off now, I have things to do. See you later.”
“She fucking terrifies me,” Ace blows out a breath as the door clicks closed.