“This has to be the prettiest place in the entire world,” I say, tilting my head to look back up to the estate. It looks even more massive with some distance between me and it—like some fortress where a king and queen live happily ever after. It’s surrounded on either side by what seems to be… jungle. Thick brush and lush green tropical trees shroud anything that might be lurking. The only other time I’ve seen it was when we took the long drive to get here, and it was hard to pay attention when I was covered in blood.
“I know Riley loves it here, so I’m glad you do too.” She touches me on the shoulder, and I startle and turn. “He picked you, and we don’t care about the reasons, but I need to know that it’s real. Riley needs happiness after what we’ve asked of him. He’s been in charge from such a young age. Some may call it a cruelty, but it was mandatory for him to be prepared. Men like Riley aren’t born, Drew. They’re made. The road isn’t easy. It’s bloody and heartbreaking. The love he gives you is all he has left.” Her face, though beautiful, wilts—a weary, ominous shadow haunts her eyes. “This is all his now. It’s done. You are a part of his empire. His consort. That means you have power.” The daydream about a queen and king living here bubbles to the surface, and butterflies invade my stomach. “It’s real? You love him?”
“I do,” I say honestly. “Love wasn’t something I’ve ever known, unfortunately. In any form. I wasn’t born into love, and no one has given me a break, let alone love. That is until… Riley.” I change the answer because she’s not asking me about Jesse, but I feel guilty. “This whole family,” I add. “Riley is my sun,” I say.
“The sun is dangerous,” his mom says, offering a small smile. “Everyone knows what happens when you get too close to the sun.” It turns into a frown.
“Well, it also gives life, and that’s what I focus on. I love Riley. It’s real. He is my real. It might take a while, but I will be the best partner for him. In life. In business. In all ways. Like you are to Mr. Astor. That’s what I want.”
“Always put the relationship first,” she deadpans. “Empires crumble when leadership isn’t solid.” Her neck works as she swallows. “That’s why this is ours.” She waves her hand behind us. Her black nails look brash against her creamy skin. “The president was having multiple affairs. His wife, a loyal woman, took matters into her own hands. He didn’t just break her heart with the affairs, he broke her soul. When that breaks in a woman, there’s nothing but destruction in its wake. She told us where to find him and handed him to the Astors on a platter. She gave her shares in all their companies to us, so we own their empire of businesses legally.”Holy shit.“The president had her name on everything in case he ever got rolled up or imprisoned. She handed it to us and walked away untouchable. After, she knew what to hand over to get him arrested. Maria demolished his very existence in every way.”
“Oh my gosh,” I mutter, unable to hide the shock. I can’t tell if this is supposed to act as a warning. “That is insane and sad.” After a pause, I realize Maria’s revenge benefits us. “But good for us. I will give Riley whatever he wants, you don’t have to worry about that. That’s also the thing about the sun. I’d never betray mine.”
“You must give him what heneeds,even if it’s not what he asks for. It could save his life. It might save everything.”
My breathing comes quicker. “How do I know what he needs?”
“Love will always show you what he needs, Drew. If it’s real, it will. It’s why I needed to hear you say it.” She lifts my wrist and examines the bracelet.
“It’s real,” I say again.
“Riley told me something about you.” Her lips press into a firm line. “That you were the only thing in his life that he felt like he could hold. That you were sincere. That you were never treated right. That when you speak to him, it’s only ever kind. He’s not afraid of you. Not afraid that you’ll turn your back on him.” She’s still holding my wrist. “This is the largest consort bracelet I’ve ever seen. He wants everyone to see it. To know that he loves you.” Her brow wrinkles. “Drew, Jesse was behind the airport incident.”
My heart skips a beat. I put a hand on my head because I feel faint, and I’m walloped with a sense of betrayal. “Oh god,” I say, exhaling long and hard.
“I thought you might react like that. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It’s the first lesson of many in friends and enemies.”
“Does Riley know?” My voice squeaks.
She inhales and meets my gaze straight on. “He was learning of it during this meeting.”
“I need to get back. I have to talk to Riley.” I grab her hands. “He’ll kill him.”
I’ll never forget the way her face changes in this moment. From stoic to… pain, and then to the realization.
“Won’t he?”
“That side of business isn’t any of our business. He loves you.” That’s her answer. The only reply I’ll get. She leads me away from the house to the ocean. The water is cold against my feet. I let her change the subject to a dinner she wants to host for family members. You can’t have parties when you have to keep insulated for safety. I imagine this is the equivalent of a rehearsal dinner. She’s asking me about my favorites, and I answer blindly, not thinking of food at all. Why would Jesse do this? Why does he want me out of the picture?
When I hear a loud male voice, I’m so inside my own head I can’t remember how long it’s been since I saw Reggie, and I panic. My gaze lights on the edge of the beach, where sand meets jungle, and a man is racing toward us. He’s dressed in black, and there’s nothing identifiable to understand if I know him or not. Good or bad? Our evil or theirs? Mrs. Astor screams and that confirms my fears. He gets closer, and there’s blood dripping out of his eyes, except it’s not blood, it’s red tattooed on. The bottom of his face is covered in a black scarf. He isn’t looking at Mrs. Astor, his gaze is locked on me, and it’s angry.
I tear my eyes away and see guards racing toward us. The intruder grabs me around the waist and pain tears through my neck. My body is limp over his shoulder as he runs back to where he came from. I’ve been drugged. Again. My last thought is that this is how I came into the Astor world, and I guess it’s how I’m going out.
Chapter Seventeen
Jesse
Everything is fucked. My master plan went how I anticipated, but the small plans in between got all messed up. I shaved my head, dyed the stubble blonde, and I’m sitting in a scammer café in the center of a city in Mexico. No one knows who I am, but they stay away from me because I look like trouble. It was never supposed to get this bad, nor was I supposed to take it this far. My burner phone rings from a blocked ID.
Fuck. “Hello,” I say, standing up from my shitty table and throwing cash down. The second the door chimes signaling I’m outside, Riley speaks.
“How did you get this number?” I should know better, but I thought I covered all my bases. There isn’t any valid way to track me, unless there’s a rat, which is almost always a given when the circumstances the family is in is taken into consideration. During times of turmoil, everyone wants a piece of the pie. The cartel was overturned, and we took over. That doesn’t mean other gangs and factions of the cartel don’t want what we have.
“Get back here. They took her.” His voice is strained. “I’ve known where you’ve been all along, and I’m sure you have a good reason as to why you did what you did at the airport, but if you want my leniency, get your ass back here, now.”
“Who took who?” There’s no way he can mean who I think he does. Drew has too much security. She’s too protected. It’s why my attempt failed. She is a prized possession. I look at my watch and see the date. Fuck. It is Drew, and it happened exactly when they said it would.
“Now,” he barks and hangs up. It doesn’t take long to get back to the Astor mansion, but I’m aware this could be a trap. The end of my life could be steps away, but I have something that can loosen the noose around my neck. Riley is waiting on the tall front stairs, flanked by suits. I haven’t seen him since he was naked, and he called me on my revenge plan. Though I hadn’t thought it all through, I knew I had to get out of there because I’m an Astor, we don’t ask questions first. If I were Riley, I would have killed me on the spot based on fucking hearsay alone. I’ve been messing around on the streets, biding time, keeping my ears open for plans that affect my family, hoping to trade information for my life.