She had nerve, defiance that refused to take into account the power I wielded. That took the kind of courage few men had ever shown, or at least had lived another day after ignoring my commands.
And the taste of her had been…magnifico. Magnificent.
As I’d waited for her arrival at home, I’d reconsidered my original plans, finding them even more tempting than before. Up to this point, I’d wanted her surrender, but not for the same reasons as I yearned to achieve now. Standing in her house in the darkness had provided a new perspective, a reminder that I hadn’t experienced the taste of a woman in far too long.
The way she’d responded had been extraordinary, more than I could have asked for. However, the intense longing I felt couldn’t interfere with business. I stood in the shadows, enjoying doing nothing but watching her. There was no doubt the charade was over in that she’d recognized my voice patterns if nothing else. That would either make her easier to handle or more difficult. I didn’t care which.
I turned off the kitchen light, heading toward the bedroom where she’d retreated, remaining in the darkness as she contacted a police officer about the accident. What Edwardo had discovered had left most assuming Tristen Bradford had died in a horrific tragedy, but I was certain now that that wasn’t the case.
Was it possible he’d been killed by one of my enemies in their attempt to learn the secrets he’d spouted off to the feds? Yes, but it was becoming highly unlikely. Both the Irish and the Russian pigs enjoyed boasting about their accomplishments, especially if their work had helped take down an opposing leader. None of that had occurred. Even though Cruz had refused to seek revenge, neither party had attempted to overthrow our organization.
Tristen had been in a trusted position, privy to various secrets and methods of operation much like Edwardo had been. That made what he’d stolen priceless. Fuck. Just thinking about the son of a bitch increased my rage.
I’d vetted the man myself after Edwardo had provided his usual dossier on prospective employees. At least my father’s friend had a way of digging into someone’s past, learning more about the individual than any law enforcement agency could manage. However, I’d insisted on delving deeper, speaking to various associates who’d worked with him. Tristen had seemed like the perfect candidate, estranged from his family, spending more time honing his skills as a brutal dictator than enjoying the fruits of his labor.
Or so I’d assumed.
Sadly, Tristen had been the master of secret keeping, including his relationship with Sierra. Given he’d been required to continue his work with other more legitimate individuals and companies, I’d thought nothing of his constant trips. As long as he showed up on time when he was needed, he’d been allowed to live out his life the way he saw fit.
I’d allowed him to get far too close, and I’d considered him my personal conduit for over a year. He’d never steered me wrong and up until the day before I’d been arrested, I’d never suspected him of the kind of treachery he’d managed.
Until it had been too late.
Anger furrowed inside of me from just thinking about the damage he’d done to my organization. The tarnishing of my personal reputation continued to rile me to this day. Sierra would be required to soothe the monster clawing at the walls inside of me.
She turned out the light in the bedroom after her search of a box I’d ignored in my initial search of her house. She issued an exasperated sigh before moving toward the door.
That’s the moment I stepped inside her bedroom, the scent of her filling my system, my cock twitching as the longing turned into necessity.
“Hello, Sierra. It’s time we got to know each other even more intimately than before.”
I sensed her instant fear, but there was the same sense of yearning that had kept her in my arms, arching her back as her nipples had tightened. Her taste lingered in my mouth, the sweetness of her pussy awakening every predatory desire. I took another step, controlling my patience as well as my needs. The game was moving into another phase and this one would be far more enjoyable.
There was a quiet innocence about her, a baby soul refusing to believe in the concept of monsters lurking in the crevices. The women I’d tolerated over the years were vain creatures, only out for themselves, and usually that included a hefty bank account. They couldn’t care less what they had to do in order to show off bling to their girlfriends, parading around in a hundred-thousand-dollar car. This girl was different.
Was it possible she had no idea about Tristen? Was there a chance she was truly the real thing, a woman who couldn’t care less about money or clout? I didn’t know and at this point, it didn’t matter. She’d yet to figure out that by catching my eye, she’d already sold her soul to a very bad man, the devil in disguise.
I didn’t want to break her, but using her in every way, exacting my revenge on her luscious body, thereby satisfying the beast would be perfectly acceptable.
If I was a better man, one who had a conscience, perhaps I’d feel a small tremor of guilt for destroying her life. That just wasn’t the case. She was expendable, but only after providing what I needed.
And what I desired.
Let the real hunt begin.
“Who are you?” Her voice was soft, but I sensed her increasing apprehension even though I also gathered a whiff of her desire. I wasn’t surprised her first instinct wasn’t to scream in hopes that someone on her darkened block would come to her aid. She was intrigued more than terrified.
Chuckling, I walked closer, stopping just inside the slender stream of moonlight. “Don’t you recognize me, my sweet kitten? Tell me. Have you thought of me at night, wondering when I’d come for you? Have you fantasized about what I’d do, craving what you know only I can provide?”
“What do you want?” She attempted to add defiance to her question, as if she could take limited control, pushing me away.
She’d soon learn that once a lion was let out of his cage, there was no turning back.
“What do I want? The answer is not what I want, but what I’m going to take. But you already know that. Don’t you?”
As the moment began to unfold, a sweeping sense of darkness fell over me, refusing to be denied.
Sierra Wynters had awakened the devil.