《Bitter Arrangement: An Arranged Marriage Dark Mafia Romance (The Brotherhood)》
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 1
Riley McGrath, 22.
Alexan Sarkissian, 30.
Baltimore, Marnd.
Seven weeks until the wedding.
They say robbery is the best way to get to know a man.
Well, okay, I doubt anyone in the history of the world ever said that, but it¡¯s probably true.
At least, it felt true when I came up with itst night.
Right about now, as I use a Slim Jim to jam open the lock on this back window in the middle of the day?
Not so much.
Still,e on, there¡¯s some logic here. People are their truest selves at home, right? And a person¡¯s stuff can tell apelling story about who they are. My thinking is I¡¯ll never get to know my arranged husband before we¡¯re forced into this stupid marriage without taking some drastic steps.
So I¡¯m going to rob him.
My cousin Liam made it pretty clear that I¡¯m supposed to stay far away from Alexan Sarkissian until I walk down the aisle and sell myself to him. And as the head of the McGrath n, one of the most influential and powerful Irish crime families on the Eastern Seaboard, what Liam says is immutablew.
But unfortunately for basically everyone that knows me, I¡¯ve never been the kind of girl who follows orders.
So instead of meeting Alexan at some nice gastropub for overpriced burgers and mediocre hoppy beer, I¡¯m going to break into his house.
Seems like a super reasonable and solid n.
No possible way this could go wrong!
¡°Open up, you piece of crap stinking bastard.¡± The window lock suddenly clicks, and the frame cracks as my tool pries too hard. I curse and slip it back out before sliding the top sash upward.
I get a waft of cool interior air tobat the muggy summer afternoon.
¡°Okay, hard part done,¡± I mumble to myself as I hoist myself over the ledge and tumble down into a spacious, modern kitchen. I brace myself on the counter and deftly flip onto my feet,nding with a little flourish as I bow to invisible judges. ¡°Thank you, thank you, oh, no need for the perfect tens.¡±
It¡¯s a nice house in a decent Baltimore neighborhood. The interior¡¯s clearly been redone in thest few years. The hardwood gleams, and the counters are all pristine, almost like they¡¯re never used. I spot only the most basic evidence that a human actually lives here: healthy food in the refrigerator and a neatly stacked pile of history books on the coffee table.
Otherwise, it¡¯s pristine. Almost sanitized. It¡¯s like a tomb for an Instagram influencer or something.
I head down the hallway, heart pattering. It¡¯s a little past noon, and I¡¯m sure nobody¡¯s home, but there¡¯s always the chance I¡¯m wrong. Most amateurs think slinking around in darkness is the way to go, but breaking into a house at night is stupid since people are more likely to be around.
Most regr humans are working in the afternoon. More and more jobs are remote, whichplicates things, but my bet is this guy doesn¡¯t sit around his house.
I suspect there aren¡¯t many stay-at-home members of the Armenian Brotherhood.
Upstairs is just like the first floor. Clean almost to the point of obsession. There¡¯s an extra bedroom, tidy and untouched, an office with a hugeputer setup and a couch against one wall looking like it¡¯s never actually touched by human hands, and a spacious master. A huge four-poster bed dominates the gray area rug. The furniture is wooden and gleaming, polished to a shine. Watches are lined up on the bureau, and there¡¯s a desk in the corner with another hugeputer. Fans whir quietly from the tower next to the monitors.
¡°What a neat freak,¡± I whisper to myself as I peer into his closet. I like the way it smells: cedar, nutmeg, masculine. I grab a white dress shirt at random, feeling that old familiar thrill of doing something very, very wrong. It¡¯s Armani and expensive. I stand in front of a full-length mirror on the back of the closet door and hold the shirt up against my body.
It¡¯s huge. It would fit me like a dress. And for whatever bizarre reason, I want it.
Maybe it¡¯s the way the shirt smells. I breathe it in, holding it close. Soapy in a good way. Citrusy and fresh. His smell, whoever he is. I smile, tilting my head, wondering what the man that wears this shirt looks like.
There¡¯s not much about Alexan Sarkissian online, which is remarkable considering the way the world works these days. He¡¯s got no socials, no news stories, no mentions of his name anywhere. The man¡¯s a ghost, and I¡¯d start to think that this whole situation was an borate prank if it weren¡¯t for the fact that I¡¯m marrying him in a month.
Something clicks over near theputer. A strange, fuzzy sound blurts out from the speakers. I frown in confusion, heart rate spiking, when I hear the voice.
¡°Go ahead, Riley, try it on.¡±
I freeze. Sweat breaks out down my spine. The voice is low and masculine, almost a purr, and it¡¯sing from theputer in the corner. Panic hits me a secondter and I look around wildly, trying toe up with a n. Do I run? Pretend like I¡¯m not here?
But he knows it¡¯s me.
¡°Uh, okay, I know this looks bad,¡± I say, trying to think up an excuse. How can I make this home invasion seem cheeky and fun instead of viting and weird? ¡°I probably shouldn¡¯t be here?¡ª¡±
¡°No, you shouldn¡¯t have broken into my house, you¡¯re right.¡± That voice sends a pulse of excitement down my spine. I don¡¯t know why, but it resonates with me. A low, almost erotic hum.
¡°Would you ept an apology and pretend like this never happened?¡±
I smile and bat my eyelids at nothing. I have no clue where to look, but he¡¯s definitely watching me. A cold shiver runs down my spine.
I¡¯m in so much freaking trouble.
There¡¯s a short pause, almost like he¡¯s thinking.
Then: ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so.¡±
I grind my teeth in frustration. This is bad, very bad. If Liam or anyone in my family finds out that I came here today, I¡¯m going to be screwed. Forget seeing the sunlight until my wedding day. They¡¯ll lock me in a dungeon and throw away the key.
Not to mention my father¡¯s deeply disappointed re. I can almost see it now. Stupid little Riley, screwing up yet again. I swear, my father¡¯s favorite pastime is praising my older brother while telling me how I¡¯m such a disappointment.
¡°I¡¯m talking to Alexan, right? And you know who I am?¡± I try desperately to think up something I can say to make this all better. But my brain¡¯s working like Jell-O and my hands are trembling with fear. ¡°I know this was a mistake, okay? It was impulsive and dumb, but I was just curious about you, and I couldn¡¯t help myself.¡±
¡°So you decided on breaking and entering?¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware it seems extreme. I stole your address from my dad, and I just wanted to meet you before the wedding.¡± I grin sheepishly, looking around for the camera, but I don¡¯t spot one. Clearly, he¡¯s got surveince in this ce, and I must¡¯ve triggered some silent rm. Normally, I¡¯m on top of that sort of thing, but this guy must have some kind of custom setup. I didn¡¯t even notice any motion sensors on the way up here.
Another long pause. The silence is driving me absolutely crazy.
¡°Tell you what, my little thief. I¡¯ll let you walk out of here, and I won¡¯t ever mention this again, if you do something for me.¡±
A strange, nervous flutter fills my stomach. I feel like a mouse trapped by a cat staring at a tiny sliver of sunlight behind the big hungry mouth. ¡°Do what for you?¡± I ask, not really wanting to know.
¡°Try on the shirt, little thief.¡±
I stare at theputer monitor, at the ck and empty screen, then look down at the dress shirt still dangling from my hand.
My cheeks turn bright red. ¡°You¡¯re fucking kidding me,¡± I blurt out, unable to help myself. ¡°Are you being serious right now?¡±
¡°Deadly serious. You broke into my house, and now this is your punishment. Take off your clothes and put on my shirt.¡±
This guy¡¯s insane. Like certifiably crazy. I¡¯dugh, but it¡¯s not funny. ¡°I¡¯m not taking my clothes off for your cameras. For all I know, you¡¯re recording this.¡±
¡°Of course I¡¯m recording. Now take off your clothes and try on my shirt. I¡¯m waiting.¡±
Shit, shit, shit. He¡¯s not messing around. My heart¡¯s going crazy, and my hands are shaking. But this isn¡¯t that bad, right? I mean, the shirt¡¯s big enough to be a dress. I can get changed in the closet,e back out here, do a little twirl, and it¡¯s all over. We forget this ever happened.
My family never finds out I went against Liam¡¯s orders.
¡°Okay, fine. This is so freaking weird, but I¡¯ll do it.¡± I hesitate, waiting for a response, but there¡¯s nothing. ¡°I¡¯m just going in here?¡ª¡±
¡°There are cameras in the closet too.¡±
I groan, shaking my head. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡±
¡°I¡¯m losing patience. If you don¡¯t hurry, I¡¯m going toe home and help you.¡±
The edge in his voice makes my eyes go wide. It¡¯s a sharp, erotic anger, and I find a thrill sparking between my legs.
This is crazy. It¡¯s absolutely insane. But what choice do I have?
Besides, I¡¯m going to marry this guy in a month.
Sooner orter, he¡¯s going to see me in my underwear, and I might as well break that ice now.
Nothing¡¯s making me do this. I can turn around and walk right out of here. I¡¯m willing to bet he¡¯s bluffing. He doesn¡¯t want toplicate our future arrangement any more than I do, and ratting me out to my family is definitely going to make things hard.
I still don¡¯t move. That thrill¡¯s still in my guts. And there¡¯s the real problem with me.
I¡¯m impulsive to the point of recklessness at the best of times, and I¡¯m not working at peak capacity right now.
¡°Screw it,¡± I mutter and rip off my top. I¡¯m wearing a simple ck tank, a sports bra, ck running tights, and a pair of ck panties. There¡¯s a slight sheen of sweat on my skin. I jogged over here as a cover for my long absence this afternoon.
¡°There you go. That¡¯s a good girl.¡±
Holy fuck. I shiver at that voice. I¡¯ve never been called a good girl like that before in my life. His voice drips with sin and promise.
I quickly pull the shirt on and start to button it, but he clucks his tongue with disapproval.
¡°Bottoms too, my thief. Wear it like a dress.¡±
¡°You¡¯re getting a little too demanding,¡± I say through my teeth.
¡°Should I call the police then? Or maybe I should skip all that and go straight to Liam?¡±
That fucker. He¡¯s got to be bluffing. But I like that he¡¯s being so damn assertive. My jaw works with frustration as I kick off my running shoes. I¡¯m burning with embarrassment and tingling from pure sexual excitement as I peel off the tights and toss them aside.
¡°Happy now?¡± I ask, ring everywhere at once, not sure where I¡¯m supposed to look.
The shirt hits me mid-thigh. It¡¯s baggy on top, and if I weren¡¯t wearing a bra, he¡¯d be getting a nice little show. I can smell him even stronger now, the scent sending little wafts of excitement into my core.
Something beeps in the ceiling. I blink and realize it¡¯s a single red LED. The camera descends from a recessed container that blends perfectly with the paint job and swivels to stare at me.
¡°Spin,¡± he says. ¡°Let me look at my future wife.¡±
¡°Fucking prick,¡± I mutter, but I do as he says. The shirt¡¯s big, but I feel totally exposed. I despise following orders, but given the situation, the fact that he¡¯s staring at me and sounds as though he likes it, I¡¯m shaking with pure arousal.
Breaking rules always gets my blood pumping, and this is messed up on so many levels.
¡°Are you happy now?¡± I ask, breathing fast.
¡°You look beautiful, Riley, wearing my shirt. If I were there, I wouldn¡¯t be able to keep my hands to myself. Fuck, you don¡¯t know how hard you¡¯re making me right now.¡±
Holy shit.
That velvet voice is like honey in my ears. I can almost feel his hot breath on my neck. It sounds like he¡¯s whispering right into my head, and I feel dizzy with excitement. The rush of this is driving me crazy. I¡¯m breaking so many rules and crossing a ton of lines, and I absolutely love it.
This is what I live for.
Passion. Excitement. Danger.
Everything a sweet little McGrath girl should never, ever want.
¡°You like this?¡± I ask, feeling a devilish thrill. Two paths fork in front of me. I can take the right path, apologize profusely again, hope he doesn¡¯t tell anyone, and get the hell out of here.
Or I can take the left path and find out where this little game is going.
Without thinking about it, because all my biggest mistakes are total failures of impulse control, I reach inside the shirt, peel the sports bra off my shoulders, twist out my arms, and yank it down. When I step out, I kick it aside, then reach up and slip off my panties too.
Which leaves me entirely naked beneath the big, white shirt.
Guess I took the wrong path.
My nipples are so hard. I¡¯m aware they¡¯re showing, and he can probably see through the fabric if he looks close enough. The right one is particrly sensitive ever since I got it pierced, and it sends little pings of pleasure into my core every time I move. I¡¯m dripping wet, damp against my thighs, and trembling with arousal. I don¡¯t even know why¡ªI¡¯m not even totally sure what this guy looks like. All I¡¯ve seen are a few grainy photos of a big, dark-haired man with a stoic look and a chiseled jaw.
¡°Now you¡¯re teasing me, Riley,¡± he whispers, the bass rumbling down my spine. ¡°You look fucking good in nothing but my shirt. Like I¡¯ve already imed you.¡±
¡°Is that what you want? To im me?¡± I ask, chewing my lip. I¡¯m shaking with anticipation. ¡°Tell me how you¡¯d do it.¡±
¡°Get on my bed.¡± His voice is puremand. I release a whimper, shocked by how turned on it gets me. Bossy assholes are basically everything I hate in the world, except for right now, it totally works.
The bed is big andfortable, and I crawl up the neatly madeforter, messing it up a bit as I lean back on the fluffy pillows.
¡°Like this?¡± I ask, pretending to be calm as I continue to spiral into pure lust.
¡°That¡¯s such a good girl. Do you like following orders?¡±
¡°Normally, I¡¯d tell you to go to hell.¡±
¡°But right now, you¡¯re doing so good.¡±
I lick my lips, breathing hard. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯d do if you were here right now.¡±
I¡¯m impulsive. I know that about myself. It¡¯s probably my biggest character trait. My whole life¡¯s been defined by all the really dumb, poorly thought-out decisions I¡¯ve made over the years.
And this is a prime example.
My masterpiece of stupidity.
Even knowing that, I still spread my knees and brush my right hand across my inner thigh.
God, this is bad. This is so, so bad.
Which is exactly why I love it so much.
¡°I think you need a firm hand. You¡¯re the kind of woman that likes to fight, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯d start by teasing your wet little pussy. I can see how soaked you are. Your beautiful pussy is glistening, little thief, as you stroke yourself for me.¡±
I do exactly that, fingers rolling up and down my slit. It feels so fucking wrong, and that¡¯s what makes it so perfect.
¡°More,¡± I moan softly.
¡°I¡¯d pull your hair as I kiss your mouth. I¡¯d dominate those pretty lips of yours. I¡¯d lick those freckles on your nose and grip your auburn curls until you moaned my name and begged me to finally touch your delicious little cunt. But I¡¯d go slow, baby, nice and slow until you¡¯re grinding up against me and begging for more.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t beg,¡± I say, stifling moans as I stroke my clit then sink two fingers inside. ¡°Oh, god, that¡¯s good.¡±
¡°You think you don¡¯t beg, my sweet thief, but you will. As soon as you taste my thick cock between your legs, you won¡¯t be able to stop thinking about getting more. I¡¯ll lick and suck your pussy until you¡¯re dripping on my sheets, getting all messy and wet, and only when you¡¯re panting and moaning for my dick will I finally sink between your beautiful thighs.¡±
¡°Fuck,¡± I moan, stroking myself faster. I use my free hand to unbutton part of the shirt to reveal my breasts. I squeeze one, stroking my pierced nipple. I¡¯m extremely sensitive there ever since I got the bar set in, and it makes me tingle all over.
¡°Do you like that, baby? Think of me sucking your tits nice and hard as I fuck you deep. I won¡¯t be gentle, since you¡¯ve been so fucking bad. Breaking into my apartment like this? Wearing my clothes? Touching yourself on my bed? You¡¯re a filthy fucking girl. A messy, needy, greedy little slut, aren¡¯t you? Look at that pussy, begging for my thick cock. I want you to say my name as youe, baby. Say my name, and that¡¯s how I¡¯ll im you.¡±
I stroke faster, climax building. His voice is incredible. There¡¯s something deeply sensual about the tone and the timbre, and it¡¯s driving me crazy. I like the nasty way he¡¯s talking. Nobody¡¯s ever called me a slut before and walked away without a bruise, buting from that voice?
God, I want him to call me every terrible name he can think of while fucking me from behind and grabbing my hair like I¡¯m a goddamn pony.
¡°More,¡± I gasp, so close I can barely stand it. ¡°More, please, more.¡±
¡°Listen to you begging already. You¡¯re going to melt on my big dick, baby. I¡¯m going to shove my fingers in your mouth and make you suck them while I stretch you wide on my cock, over and over again, until you¡¯re shaking and soaking the whole bed. That¡¯s right, baby, keep going, you filthy fucking girl, you bad fucking slut, touching your slick pussy for your husband. You¡¯re in my bed, in my shirt, and in a month, you¡¯re going to be riding my big cock. Nowe for me, baby, and say my fucking name.¡±
¡°Oh, SHIT,¡± I gasp, back arching as the orgasm builds and hits a peak, and I open my mouth to give him what I want, that name ringing on my lips, Alexan, Alexan?¡ª
Instead, I bite down on my lip to keep from screaming it out, as I have the best orgasm of my entire life.
He moans as I finish on my fingers, and oh my god, I¡¯m pretty sure he just came too.
I lie there in a strange man¡¯s bed wearing a strange man¡¯s shirt and feeling a sudden overwhelming sense of post-orgasm shame.
¡°Well, that was unexpected,¡± I say over the sound of his heavy breathing.
¡°You look incredible, baby,¡± he whispers as I climb out of the bed. ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you soon. Next time, you¡¯ll say my name.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s going to be a next time.¡± I head over to my discarded clothes and do my best to get them back on with the maximum amount of dignity possible. Which isn¡¯t much, all things considered. ¡°Look, that was fun and also pretty weird, but our marriage is just a formality. We¡¯re not actually, you know, going to be husband and wife.¡±
There¡¯s silence. I pause once I¡¯ve got my stuff back on, his shirt tucked under one arm. I should hang it back up or maybe toss it in a hamper¡ªbut no, I came in here, I got myself off, and I¡¯m keeping a prize.
I wait another few seconds for him to respond, but there¡¯s nothing.
The red LEDs are still glowing in the ceiling.
I give it a little wave and blow a kiss.
¡°See you in a month,¡± I tell him, ¡°and I¡¯m keeping the shirt.¡±
Then I get the hell out of there with my new prize bundled under one arm before I do more stupid crap, though I¡¯m pretty sure there¡¯s no way I can top what just happened.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 2
Six weeks until the wedding.
It takes me ten minutes to break into the senator¡¯s email, another five to crack his Instagram password, six more to find his alternate Snapchat username, and three to download all his direct messages.
Including the extremely graphic sexual exchanges between him and various escorts, e-girls, and OnlyFans models.
For some reason, Senator Michaelson sure loves describing his penis in agonizing, exaggerated detail.
I wonder how his wife is going to feel about her beloved husband describing his genitals as ¡°thicker than a redwood and longer than a football field¡± to a woman no older than his college-aged daughter.
Once all that rotten information is saved on my secure hard drive, I quickly cover my tracks and make sure there¡¯s no way anyone will trace the hack back to me.
I finish up by shooting a quick, encrypted message to the Mantis, letting them know that I¡¯m ready to send over all the information.
The car door opens. I close myptop lid and look in the rearview as my boss, Tigran Sarkissian, gets into the back. We¡¯re technically rted, though I think it¡¯s very distant, and we only got to know each other when I was hired to rece his former personal guard and driver. He¡¯s the second most powerful man in the Armenian Brotherhood, a massive, sprawling crime syndicate that controls all of our hometown of Baltimore.
He nods at me, lips pressed together in a tight smile.
¡°Working again?¡± he asks, nodding at theputer.
¡°Just doing some digging for the ck Mantis.¡±
He grunts, smile fading. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you do jobs for those vicious fucks.¡±
¡°They pay well, and I figured you¡¯d want me to maintain a healthy professional rtionship with them.¡±
¡°That¡¯s smart,¡± he says, nodding slightly, but he looks uneasy. ¡°Still, be careful. The Mantis are goddamn ruthless. I hear they yed a man alive for losing them a few thousand dorsst year.¡±
Which is genuinely no worse than what he¡¯s done, but I don¡¯t say that out loud.
¡°It was twelve thousand, and he already owed them thirty on top of that.¡± But Tigran does have a point. The Mantis are a secretive criminal organization based out of Taiwan with a focus on cybersecurity. If the scheme involves hacking, ckmail, illegal tech, or anything digital, they likely have their fingers in it.
And they don¡¯t tolerate failure.
Lucky for me, I never fuck up.
I put the car in gear and get the engine warmed up. We¡¯re parked outside of Arsen¡¯s house, the patron of the Brotherhood. It¡¯s an enormous, sprawling mansion on the very outskirts of town. They were in a meeting for thest hour while I knocked off that simple hack on my satellite wireless. As I pull out into traffic and head back toward the heart of the city, Tigran nces at me, and his smirk is back.
¡°We were talking about the McGraths today,¡± he says casually. ¡°It¡¯s been quiet on the war front ever since our agreement was put in ce.¡±
Our agreement meaning my arrangement with Riley.
A sh of her lying on my bed. Her legs spread, her fingers gliding up and down her pussy. Her gasps and moans, the top buttons of my shirt undone, her hand massaging her breast, fingers rolling over a pierced nipple.
Fuck, that girl¡¯s been trapped in my head ever since she broke into my housest week.
¡°That¡¯s good,¡± I grunt at him, focusing on the drive.
¡°How are you feeling about it?¡± he asks.
¡°I¡¯m feeling¡¡± I tail off, considering how to answer. Then decide on the truth. ¡°Uninterested.¡±
Tigran¡¯s eyebrows raise. ¡°You¡¯re uninterested? That¡¯s an odd answer, evening from you.¡±
¡°The marriage is irrelevant. We¡¯re only doing this to force a peace between our two organizations. It¡¯s not like I care about the girl or even know her.¡±
Except I know the color of her lips as an orgasm rips through her pale skin. I know the way she smells, like lcs and grass. I¡¯ve been unwilling to wash myforter for the past week, obsessed with that perfect scent.
It¡¯s maddening. Insane, really.
I spent that night watching and rewatching the footage from her visit, over and over again, stroking my cock and obsessing over every little detail of her body, from her perfect auburn curls to the way she walks on her toes.
I had to delete everything and smash the hard drive to keep myself from spending the rest of my life staring at her.
¡°I understand what you mean,¡± Tigran says, looking back out the window. He seems subdued and unhappy. ¡°That¡¯s how I thought of my arrangement with Dasha at first. But you might find yourself changing your mind.¡±
¡°That¡¯s unlikely.¡±
¡°Have you ever been in a serious rtionship before?¡±
I shake my head. ¡°No, and I still won¡¯t be.¡±
¡°You¡¯re getting married to her.¡±
¡°On paper, yes. I¡¯ll be faithful, and I¡¯ll treat her well, but she won¡¯t really be my wife.¡±
He makes a nomittal grunt and nces back at me. ¡°You¡¯re forgetting something though. The most important part of the agreement.¡±
I grind my jaw. I haven¡¯t forgotten that at all. Only I¡¯ve been trying very hard not to think about it because the second I do, all I want is to close my eyes and imagine Riley¡¯s moans.
¡°I know what I have to do,¡± I say quietly.
¡°Getting her pregnant won¡¯t be easy. From what I hear, the girl¡¯s got a mind of her own, and that¡¯s putting it lightly.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure you know the mechanics¡ª¡± He gives me a tight smile. ¡°But it¡¯s a bigmitment.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do my duty.¡±
¡°Alexan,¡± he says, getting frustrated now. ¡°You¡¯re not hearing me. Having a child changes things. Right now, you think it¡¯s easy, but trust me. Throw a baby in the mix, and shit getsplicated.¡±
I shake my head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ll do what¡¯s required of me.¡±
He gives me a long, searching look but eventually gives up. ¡°I trust you. She¡¯s got to get pregnant in the first year of your marriage. That¡¯s the same deal I went through, and now it¡¯s your turn. I¡¯d tell you good luck, but I think you¡¯ll need more than luck. If you want my advice, I think you need toe up with a reasonable offer to make. Tell her you¡¯ll buy her a house or something. Make her understand this can be a pleasant situation if you both work together and get along.¡±
I pull up outside Tigran¡¯s house and park at the curb. He doesn¡¯t leave immediately. His wife and child are waiting inside for him, and I know he adores them more than anything in the world. Brutal, vicious Tigran, tamed by a woman and a baby. I wouldn¡¯t believe it if I hadn¡¯t watched it happen.
He¡¯s still that man. There¡¯s a killer lurking behind that smile. But he¡¯s calmer now, more even-tempered, less prone to solving all his problems with his fists and a de, which is probably for the best.
But that¡¯s not going to happen with me.
¡°We appreciate what you¡¯re doing for the Brotherhood,¡± he says atst and pushes open the door. ¡°I hope you understand that.¡±
He climbs out and heads into the house.
I kill the engine and lean back in my seat. I close my eyes and breathe in through my nose to calm myself.
Riley McGrath means nothing to me.
She¡¯s just some girl I¡¯m going to marry. Former gymnast, straight-A student ording to her high school transcripts, prolific watcher of Friends and How I Met Your Mother, Instagram user, TikTok scroller, normal to the bone.
Except there¡¯s an edge to that girl.
I open myptop, log into my security system, and check all my cameras.
No thieves, no unexpected guests.
A little twinge of disappointment hits me. I keep hoping she¡¯ll show up again wearing nothing but that shirt.
Except it won¡¯t happen, and when we get married, I¡¯ll forget all about the girl on my screen.
I¡¯ll never be a good husband. I¡¯ll make a terrible fucking father. There isn¡¯t an ounce of love, sympathy, or passion in my heart.
All I care about is controlling my little corner of the world.
But when that spitfire gets thrown into the mix?
I suspect I¡¯m in for one hellish marriage.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 3
Five weeks until the wedding.
I m back thest of my Guinness and signal for the bartender to bring me another. The Rowdy Mule is crowded for a Thursday night, probably because some wannabe Irish band is ying crappy folk music.
Cassidy plops down beside me at the bar and leans over to give me a tight hug. ¡°When the heck did you get here?¡±
¡°About a half hour ago.¡± She¡¯ste, like always, but I don¡¯t hold it against her. Cass is my cousin and my best friend. She¡¯s cute as a bumblebee and has her head in the damn clouds, but I love her to death.
¡°You look super cute right now. Where did you get that shirt?¡±
I pluck at the big, oversized cor and shrug a little. ¡°Just found it in some thrift shop.¡±
Which isn¡¯t remotely true. Every time I adjust the fabric slightly, I get another whiff of its smell. I can¡¯t bring myself to wash it, even two weeks since I first stole it from my future husband¡¯s house.
Now I¡¯ve got it on with some tights, simr to how I wore it for him, but with a cute belt like a big old dress.
It works. Mostly. Enough, anyway.
¡°Yet again you manage to make the impossible possible.¡± Cass orders a gin and tonic when my second beer arrives. We talk about family gossip, mutual friends, and how college is going for her. I smile and nod along, doing my best to be happy for her, while inwardly I¡¯m burning with jealousy.
I wanted school. I applied and got epted to six different universities, but my father made it clear that I wasn¡¯t going anywhere. Even though I was getting recruited for gymnastics and I probably wasn¡¯t going to have to pay much, if anything, in tuition. Your ce is with your family, he¡¯d said to me when I showed him my letter from Notre Dame. Not a smile, not a hug, no proud high-five, nothing. Just his usual re and stern frown.
That was four years ago, and I¡¯ve never gotten over it.
Cass is lucky, though. She¡¯s a couple of years younger than me, and her parents are a little more permissive. She has to live in their house, but at least she gets to attend UBalt and get a degree.
While all I¡¯ve done since graduating high school is learn how to pick a lock and jam open a window.
Finally, after finishing her first drink, she leans in close and gives me a sly smile. ¡°So, I¡¯ve been dying to ask?¡ª¡±
¡°And now you¡¯re drunk enough to do it?¡±
She grins, bobbing her head up and down. ¡°How are you feeling about the uing wedding?¡±
Nerves jangle in my stomach like pennies rattling around my guts. I touch the shirt and smooth it down, trying not to think about the smell of his room, that cold ss eye watching me as I stroked myself into orgasm, that incredible low voice talking to me the whole time. Calling me a slut, making me beg.
He left a mark on me, and I still haven¡¯t even met him.
¡°I¡¯m resigned,¡± I say, ring down at my beer. I take a foamy sip and spin the ss in slow circles. ¡°It¡¯s important. I get it. But I¡¯m not excited.¡±
¡°I know,¡± she says softly, leaning against my shoulder. ¡°There haven¡¯t been any attacks since the deal went down, though. That¡¯s good, right? You¡¯re like a hero or something.¡±
I shrug slightly. She¡¯s right, nobody¡¯s gotten hurt, all thanks to my noble sacrifice.
Except I was never given the choice of whether I wanted to be a hero or not.
And deep in my heart of hearts, I wonder if I would¡¯ve had the courage to say yes.
¡°Want to hear something terrible? I know what¡¯ll happen if I don¡¯t go through with this, but I keep having a fantasy about running away.¡±
¡°Where would you go?¡± she asks.
¡°Somewhere warm. Probably in the Caribbean? Maybe down to Australia, as far as I can run.¡±
¡°Your dad woulde looking.¡±
¡°Yeah, probably, and I¡¯d be looking over my shoulder all my life, assuming he doesn¡¯t catch me right away. That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t done it.¡±
She hugs me tightly. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Riles. I know this sucks. I wish I could do something to help.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine. Actually, I have an idea.¡±
¡°What do you need? Seriously, anything.¡±
¡°Help me fake my own death.¡±
She frowns a bit and squints at me. ¡°I could borrow my dad¡¯s car and make it look like you drove it into the harbor?¡±
¡°That¡¯d be perfect. I always thought my death would be dramatic.¡±
¡°Should we light it on fire first?¡±
¡°Make it explode then drown it. A fitting end.¡±
¡°Just imagine how Brenden would feel.¡±
I re at her. ¡°Don¡¯t ruin the fantasy by bringing up my brother.¡±
¡°Just saying.¡± She grins back sweetly. ¡°He¡¯d be pretty broken up if his little sister got killed in a car-drowning explosion.¡±
¡°Not like he¡¯s here anyway. My big brother¡¯s off on another one of his heists.¡± I throw back my second beer and gesture for another, even though I probably shouldn¡¯t. Two Guinnesses and I¡¯m fine. But three sometimes ends with trouble.
Four and I¡¯ll find myself in jail.
¡°How¡¯s that going anyway?¡± Cass asks, waving for her own drink refill.
¡°Who knows? He doesn¡¯tmunicate dick with me when he¡¯s gone. That asshole shows up out of the blue, teaches me all the new tricks he learned out on his job, and then disappears again for weeks at a time.¡±
I love my older brother, and everything I know about stealing, pickpocketing, and general thieveryes from him, but he¡¯s not the most reliable sibling in the world.
¡°Want me to ask around?¡± she offers, eyebrows raised. ¡°I bet my brother knows something.¡±
¡°Nah, don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m getting married pretty soon. Not even the great Brenden McGrath would dare skip my wedding and risk my wrath.¡±
¡°Very good point,¡± she says with augh, and we clink our sses together.
I can tell she wants to ask me more about the wedding. But the truth is, I loathe talking about it. There¡¯s nothing I can do, no changes I can make, no words I can speak or actions I can take. All I have is waiting until the day I walk down the aisle to pledge myself to a man with a really good voice, an incredible smell, an obsessively neat house, and a high-tech security system.
Instead of going into all that, I quickly ask her about some guy she¡¯s been seeing and swerve the conversation away.
Cass goes on for a few minutes, really warming up to the subject, until she nces over my shoulder and instantly stops talking. Her expression falls, and she leans away from me like I¡¯ve suddenly started vomiting blood all over the ce.
¡°Riles, your dad,¡± she warns.
I swivel around and spot my old man marching through the crowd with an all-too-familiar ck duffel bag clutched in his white-knuckled hands.
¡°Well, hello there, father of mine,¡± I say cheerily.
He gives me a hard re and ms the bag down onto the bar next to me. Without a word, he unzips it and tears it open, showing off a whole bunch of lovely thieving tools: pry bar, lock picks, bump key, ss and bolt cutters, wire splicer, shlight, gloves, and other worthwhile sundries.
Cass looks horrified. I¡¯m mostly just annoyed.
¡°I told you to stop,¡± Dad says with a hard stare.
I¡¯m very aware of the people near us watching carefully. Lucky for me, though, most of them are in the McGrath organization in one way or another, so this probably isn¡¯t the first time they¡¯ve seen me get dressed down in public.
¡°I know you did, but?¡ª¡±
¡°No more excuses,¡± he growls, leaning in close. ¡°You¡¯re getting married to an important man in a few weeks. No more childish games. No more yacting like you¡¯re some street thief like your brother. You¡¯re my goddamn daughter. You went to private school. You won gymnasticspetitions. You¡¯re better than this.¡±
I open my mouth to snap out some sharp retort, but all my thoughts suddenly drain away under the pressure of his disapproval. His jaw works, and he looks truly disgusted in a way that makes my entire body itch. If this were anyone else, I¡¯d sit up tall, insult them to their face, make jokeyments, do anything to deflect and act like I don¡¯t give a shit what they think about me, except I can never keep it up with him. Not with my old man.
The only person in the world who seems determined to think I¡¯m about as useful as gutter slime.
¡°I¡¯ll get rid of it,¡± I say, shoulders slumping.
¡°No, Riley, I will get rid of it, because I don¡¯t trust you worth a damn to do it yourself. Stop fucking up. Get yourself together, girl. You¡¯re embarrassing me.¡± He zips the duffel shut and slings it over his shoulder before looking at Cass. ¡°And you should be at school.¡±
¡°Good to see you again, Mr. McGrath,¡± Cass says quietly, looking away.
Dad res at her. Then he turns that deeply disappointed frown on me again. ¡°You are under no circumstances to burgle, pickpocket, or generally steal ever again. Do I make myself clear?¡±
¡°Yes, Dad.¡±
¡°Good. Be home in an hour. Don¡¯t embarrass me further by getting into trouble.¡±
With that, he slings the bag over his shoulder and storms back out.
I lean onto my elbows and stare into my ss. Shame floods my body. My face is bright red, and I¡¯m absolutely mortified. I¡¯ve been yelled at by my father in public before, but that was something else.
Everyone knows about my marriage. They¡¯re aware of what it would mean for the whole family if I mess it up. The war with the Brotherhood will rage on, and more of our young men will end up dead in the streets.
Their blood will be on my hands.
¡°You okay?¡± Cass asks gently and rubs my back.
I lift my beer and tip it into my mouth. I drink it all down in several big gulps. Once the ss is empty, I ce it primly back down on a coaster and give her my biggest smile.
¡°Never better. Why do you ask?¡±
She grins back.
While inwardly I¡¯m mortified and crumbling, aware that I have only a few weeks of meager freedom left.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 4
Four weeks until the wedding.
I¡¯ve been good. Well, rtively speaking, at least.
After Dad made me feel like an absolute idiot at the Rowdy Mulest week, I locked it down tight. No casual shoplifting, no casing any potential jaunty burries, nothing remotely untoward.
And I¡¯m bored out of my mind.
All I¡¯ve done is go for long runs and force myself through grueling gymnastics routines. If I can¡¯t engage in my most favorite and cherished hobby, stealing worthless artifacts to add to my collection of random sundries, then I have to find something to burn off all this excess energy.
I¡¯m still in good shape at least. Even though I haven¡¯tpeted seriously since high school, I remember all my old routines, and I can still pull them off. Maybe I can¡¯t tumble quite so high, but I¡¯m flexible, and that counts for something.
¡°Riley! Are you almost done?¡± Dad knocks on my door, but he doesn¡¯te inside. It¡¯s seven in the evening, and he expected me downstairs a half hour ago.
¡°Coming,¡± I call out, adjusting the in white dress shirt I¡¯m wearing tucked into a pair of ck jeans. The shirt is too big¡ªand it still smells like him all these weekster¡ªbut I¡¯m just barely pulling it off. ¡°Just need a second.¡±
¡°Mr. Fong will be here any minute. I want you downstairs now.¡±
Dad stomps away, and I¡¯m left looking at myself in the mirror. My hair¡¯s in loose curls down past my shoulders, and there are bags under my eyes. No amount of makeup will make those go away. Turns out, stress is terrible for my skin.
I try to smile. It looks weird. I lift the cor of the shirt and breathe in deeply, letting thest remnants of his smell linger in the back of my head. Ever since I broke into his house, I¡¯ve gotten myself off in this shirt at least a dozen times, and I keep wearing it out in public like it¡¯s some kind of talisman.
But tonight, it doesn¡¯t ease the sting.
In one month, I¡¯m going to get married, and it feels like I¡¯m going to do it in front of a firing squad.
I do, and then bam, they¡¯ll blow off my head.
That might be preferable to being married, actually.
I hear the doorbell ring and Dad¡¯s voice echo up the hall. With a sigh, I head down the main steps to find an attractive man standing with my father.
That¡¯s a pleasant surprise. Mr. Fong is allegedly the head of an important Taiwanese cybersecurity firm that Dad¡¯s nning on hiring in the near future for the family. I expected someone old and nerdy.
¡°Mr. Fong, this is my daughter, Riley,¡± Dad says, gesturing toward me.
¡°Please, call me Jeremy.¡± He smiles at me and shakes my hand. I¡¯d guess he¡¯s no older than thirty with dark, slicked-back hair, good cheekbones, and a charming smile. His suit is modern, slim, and fits his muscr frame very well. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Riley. I hope you don¡¯t mind if your father and I talk boringputer business all night.¡±
¡°And I hope you don¡¯t mind if I offer my unsolicited opinions on everything.¡±
He beams and pats my hand. ¡°I¡¯d like nothing more.¡±
Dad gives me a warning frown before ushering everyone into the dining room. I head into the kitchen to fetch everyone drinks, since my role is half hostess and half server for this evening. It¡¯s annoying, but it beats hanging around in my room feeling miserable.
At least Jeremy¡¯s charming and funny. He¡¯s not really my type, but I can appreciate his confidence. He sits across from my father and discusses numbers and services with the ease of a man who typically gets what he wants. I chime in a few times, mostly out of boredom, and because Dad¡¯s not going to correct me in front of a stranger.
About halfway through the meal, though, my phone vibrates. I frown down at the screen. It¡¯s a text from an unknown, strange number.
I made a mistake a few weeks back.
That¡¯s all it says. I frown, not sure what the heck to make of that, until I realize I¡¯m being rude and excuse myself. Neither man really notices when I leave the room.
Who is this?
The number responds right away.
I deleted the footage of you in my bed. But don¡¯t worry, my thief, my pillow still smells like your shampoo.
My heart starts beating rapidly. I have to pour myself a ss of wine, and my hands are shaking as I drink it. My god, the implications of that text rattle through my brain. I knew he was recording¡ªit was a security system after all¡ªbut for whatever reason, it never urred to me that he might keep the footage.
I have to take a minute to decide how I¡¯m going to reply.
Riley: I¡¯m d you got rid of it. That¡¯d be weird if you had porn of me on yourputer.
Alexan: Is it porn if it was made for me?
Riley: More like made because of you. What would you do if you hadn¡¯t gotten rid of it?
Alexan: Watch it over and over. Stroke my cock and think about your little mewling moans. You sound so fucking cute when you¡¯re debasing yourself in my bed, little slut.
Holy fucking shit.
I stare at the text, mouth hanging open.
This isn¡¯t what I expected tonight. I figured I was in for a really boring meal filled mostly with talk about contracts and payments.
Not some random steamy sexting.
Riley: Is this a booty call right now?
Alexan: I was just thinking about you. And smelling you.
I¡¯d call him creepy, but that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯ve been doing too.
Riley: Want to know something? I¡¯m wearing your shirt right now.
Alexan: Show me. Right now.
My stomach does flips, and I¡¯m smiling to myself as I go into the bathroom. I take a quick selfie, hate it, delete it, take another, and another until finally one looks good enough to send.
Alexan: Looks like you really are mine already.
Riley: Don¡¯t tter yourself. I just look good in it.
Alexan: You really fucking do. Have you washed it yet? Or are you rolling around in my scent and fucking your pussy like you did that day?
Jesus fuck, this man. I mean, he¡¯s dead on, but I¡¯m not about to admit that.
Riley: I¡¯m at a business dinner with my father and one of his associates. So no finger fucking or rolling around.
Alexan: That didn¡¯t answer my question. Have you washed it yet?
Riley: We¡¯re not all freaks like you are.
Alexan: Since you¡¯re still dodging, I¡¯ll assume you haven¡¯t. How about this, my lovely thief? Come break into my house again tomorrow. I¡¯ll leave you something to wear.
I lick my lips, heart racing. God, that¡¯s so tempting. It¡¯s disastrous is what it is. I¡¯ve been obsessing about that afternoon since it happened, but what¡¯ll happen if I really let myself go back?
And it¡¯s not as good as it was?
I don¡¯t want to ruin that memory. Hell, I don¡¯t want to make our marriage awkward by letting my impulsive horny brain get the best of me.
But most of all, I still have my father¡¯s voice in my head.
Telling me not to make any more mistakes.
Riley: Sorry, big guy, but I can¡¯t. I gave up my thieving ways.
Alexan: I doubt that¡¯s true.
Riley: Cross my heart. Besides, I¡¯m busy dress shopping tomorrow.
Alexan: For our wedding? Just wear my shirt.
Riley: Doubt that¡¯ll go over well with the families.
Alexan: No, but at least they¡¯ll all know you¡¯re imed by me.
Riley: Isn¡¯t that the point of the wedding ring?
Alexan: Sometimes rings aren¡¯t enough.
I shake my head and start typing a response when I hear my name called from the other room. I hesitate, delete what I was about to say, and head back into the dining room to find Jeremy on his feet, his jacket on, and his briefcase tucked under an arm.
¡°Done already?¡± I ask, trying not to sound flushed and excited. Alexan¡¯s random messages pierced straight through my armor and are boiling right in my veins. I feel alive suddenly, more invigorated than I have since Dad tossed my tools down on the bar and embarrassed me in front of the family.
¡°All done,¡± Jeremy confirms with another charming smile. ¡°Your father is easy to work with.¡±
Fucking doubt that.
Dad¡¯s got his strained, friendly look on his face, like he¡¯s not sure where the bad smell¡¯sing from. ¡°Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Fong. Riley, did you want to say goodbye?¡±
¡°Yes, of course.¡± I don¡¯t know why I do it, but I move forward. Jeremy puts out a hand again while I go in for a much more informal hug, and we end up bumping together, my hand twisted into his jacket. ¡°Oh, god, I¡¯m sorry!¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine,¡± Jeremy says,ughing dismissively, and gives me a quick hug. ¡°You were very helpful tonight, Riley. Thank you for thepany.¡±
¡°My pleasure.¡± I beam at him happily?¡ª
And slip the watch into my back pocket.
My heart¡¯s racing like crazy. Sweat prickles my skin.
This is why I steal. It¡¯s the rush, the excitement, the danger that hangs in the brief moments before I know I¡¯m getting away with it. Any second now, he might realize I took something?¡ª
But Dad sweeps Jeremy away to the door, talking numbers, confirmations, contracts, and phone calls.
I clear the table, grinning like an idiot. Once the tes are stacked, I send onest text.
Riley: See you in a month, creep.
He doesn¡¯t answer, but that¡¯s okay. I¡¯m flying high and ted as I do the dishes. Dad stops in to thank me for my help, back to looking his normal sour self before he disappears into his office.
Only after I¡¯m done cleaning up and safely back in my room do I finally take out my prize.
It¡¯s a pocket watch. Burnished brass case,plicated engraving on the face. There¡¯s no make or model. I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s very, very old, based on the wear and tear.
What¡¯s a modern guy like Jeremy Fong doing with a piece like this?
Doesn¡¯t matter. I whistle to myself as I open my closet door, loosen the fake board against the wall, and kneel down to open an old, lead-lined safe hidden in the wall.
Inside are my most precious treasures.
A state senator¡¯s wallet. An ivory cat statue taken from a notorious gangster¡¯s living room. A signed photo of Lionel Messi swiped from some asshole consultant¡¯s private ser memorabilia collection. Along with a dozen other minor items, mostly all entirely worthless, except to me as mementos of all the dumb things I¡¯ve pulled off.
I add the pocket watch with a big smile.
If it weren¡¯t for Alexan¡¯s texts, I never would¡¯ve had the courage to go for it, and with my dad standing right there too.
That must¡¯ve been my best score to date. A quick and easy lift, and nobody¡¯s the wiser.
Later tonight, or maybe not even until tomorrow or the day after, Jeremy¡¯s going to realize his watch is missing.
And he¡¯ll never suspect sweet little Riley McGrath.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 5
Three weeks until the wedding.
¡°If I¡¯m not back out in twenty minutes, assume they cut my throat.¡± I frown at the nondescript building tucked in the back of an average office park. There¡¯s nobody else around except for a bunch of average sedans parked nearby.
Tigranughs softly, sitting up in the passenger seat of my BMW. He¡¯s got a pistol in hisp and a phone in his hand, casually leaning on his elbow.
¡°Mantis is ruthless, but they aren¡¯t stupid. If they wanted you dead, they¡¯d just shoot you in the back of the head and be done with it.¡±
He¡¯s right, but I¡¯m still more than a little wary.
Up to this point, all my contact with Mantis and their operatives has been through secure email. At least until this morning, when they sent me a job offer and a location.
I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d ept until I mentioned it to Tigran. He gently reminded me that I¡¯m the one trying to keep a healthy working rtionship with those vicious bastards.
Besides, the pay is very, very good. Double my normal rate for this sort of thing.
He didn¡¯t have toe as backup, but I appreciate the extra muscle.
¡°If there¡¯s trouble, I¡¯ll just start shooting.¡± I push open my door and step out. ¡°If you hear gunfire,e running.¡±
¡°Good luck.¡± He salutes me with his gun barrel, showing teeth.
Fatherhood slowed him down, but there¡¯s still a dark hunger in his eyes.
I walk over to the suite doors. It¡¯s for somepany called Arcis Secure Tech. I do a quick search on my phone and get a few hits for AST from my personal LLM model. Turns out, they¡¯re a legit cybersecurity firm, or at least on the outside.
Nothing Mantis does is legit past the surface. No time to do any serious digging, though.
It¡¯s a Saturday, and the office looks empty. There¡¯s a big man waiting at reception. He¡¯s leaning against the counter and reading a home decoration magazine with a bored frown. When I approach, he nces up and holds out a single hand.
¡°Gun,¡± he says.
I hesitate, not happy about this, but Tigran¡¯s words y through my head. If Mantis wanted me dead, they wouldn¡¯t have invited me to a meeting in some normie office park.
I hand over my weapon, and he waves me on. ¡°First conference room on the left.¡±
So much for shooting if things get dicey.
I find a younger man waiting at arge table. He¡¯s sitting at the end and ring down at his phone. He¡¯s got on a sleek suit and looks more like a salesman than a member of a notorious criminal organization. His frown doesn¡¯t change when I approach the table. I don¡¯t sit down.
¡°Are you Iron Head?¡± I ask, studying him. I expected someone big and tough based on the nickname he uses in messages. But this man is sleek and athletic and seems better suited to desk work.
¡°That¡¯s me,¡± he says, leaning back and crossing his arms. ¡°And you must be the infamous Permafrost?¡±
I pull out a chair and sit down. I like that he¡¯s using my hacker alias instead of my real name. For some reason, that puts me at ease. I¡¯m positive he knows exactly who I am, but it¡¯s a sign of respect that he¡¯s not saying it out loud.
¡°I understand that you have a missing object you need me to find.¡± I meet his hard gaze. ¡°Normally, I don¡¯t take this kind of meeting in person, but given your status¡ª¡± I don¡¯t finish that sentence. He knows exactly what I mean.
Mantis is an organization that demands respect.
Iron Head slides a simple USB key across the table. ¡°This contains everything you need. The device was stolen one week ago, and so far, we haven¡¯t been able to track it down. We know it¡¯s still in Baltimore based on our location data. We know it hasn¡¯t been activated. But beyond that, there¡¯s nothing.¡±
I frown at the key and raise it up. ¡°What exactly am I looking for?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a watch,¡± he says.
My eyebrows raise in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s not really my expertise. If you¡¯re missing some jewelry?¡ª¡±
¡°But it¡¯s much more than just a watch.¡± His expression is pained as he folds his hands together in front of him. ¡°I cannot tell you exact details or what is on the device. Suffice it to say that the object looks like an antique pocket watch, but it contains extremely sensitive data. It¡¯s rigged to ping location towers every hour on the hour; however, it¡¯s currently not transmitting. Thest few connections are detailed on that key. We are willing to pay you very, very handsomely to find the watch, return it to our organization, and hand over whoever stole it.¡±
I shift slightly in my seat. Hand over means Iron Head and Mantis are going to make a brutal example out of that poor bastard.
Not my problem, though.
Whoever did it must be fucking insane or very stupid if they stole from these people.
¡°If you can¡¯t find it, why do you think that I can?¡±
¡°My people are currently busy with more pressing matters. Besides, we¡¯ve been very impressed with your work for us to this point. We¡¯re curious to see what else you¡¯re capable of.¡±
It¡¯s not just a job then.
This is a test.
For what, I¡¯m not really sure. ck Mantis is an international organization, but they¡¯re shadowy. Everyone knows they¡¯re not to be fucked with, but beyond that? I can¡¯t even guess the schemes they¡¯re pulling.
Getting their business would be huge for the Brotherhood.
I¡¯ve done small jobs for them so far. Little hacks like with that pervy senator. Stuff they easily could¡¯ve done themselves.
But they paid me to do it instead, which says they¡¯re curious about our operation.
¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± I tell him and push back my chair. ¡°How long do I have?¡±
¡°As long as you need, but we will get impatient after a month.¡±
I nod and turn toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll check in one week from today.¡±
¡°Good luck, Permafrost. This is very important to my organization. Please don¡¯t mess it up.¡±
I leave Iron Head and head back through the building, pausing only to collect my gun from the goon up front. Once I¡¯m outside, my head starts spinning as the implications start to press down on me.
¡°You¡¯re still alive,¡± Tigran says, sounding amused. ¡°I honestly wasn¡¯t expecting much.¡±
I sink down into the driver¡¯s seat and stare straight ahead. I¡¯m trying to wrap my head around the problem at hand and everything that mighte after if I pull this off, but I¡¯m having trouble finding the right words.
Tigran leans closer, looking worried. ¡°You good, Alexan? What¡¯s wrong?¡±
¡°I think Mantis wants to work with us.¡± I show him the USB key and briefly exin the job. ¡°This could be our chance, Tigran.¡±
His expression is grim. I can only imagine the calculus he¡¯s doing right now.
It¡¯s the same math I¡¯ve got rattling in my brain.
Allying with Mantis would mean growth and connections overseas. It would mean a way into the notoriously difficult but lucrative Asian marketce. It would mean more contracts, better importers, and cheaper goods.
¡°What do you think happens if you can¡¯t make this happen?¡± he asks me very carefully.
That¡¯s the other side of the equation.
Growth and opportunitye with risk. Mantis doesn¡¯t get involved with just anyone, and they expect perfection from their partners.
¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors. There was that crew out in Sacramento. They were raking it in until one of their guys got pinched, and when he flipped, Mantis left him dead and gutted in the prison yard. Then they hunted and murdered the rest of his people, even though they were innocent. Total scorched earth.¡±
¡°You think they¡¯ll do that to you if you fuck this up?¡±
¡°Probably,¡± I admit with a shrug. ¡°But it won¡¯t blow back on you. Mantis is vicious, but they can¡¯t destroy the entire Brotherhood. Not with our allies at our backs.¡±
¡°After you marry that Irish girl, we¡¯ll be even stronger.¡± Tigran looks out the window, thoughtful now. ¡°Maybe we don¡¯t even need Mantis.¡±
¡°The McGraths are strong here in Baltimore, but that¡¯s still small time. Mantis can turn us from one of the most powerful yers on the East Coast into the biggest organization in the entire United States.¡±
¡°Is that what you want?¡±
I shrug slightly, looking back down at the little USB key. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admit. ¡°But either way, I have to find this watch, right? Then if this test is what I think it is?¡ª¡±
¡°It¡¯ll be for me and Arsen to decide.¡± He gives me a hard look now. ¡°You know that, right? No matter what we say, that¡¯s thew.¡±
¡°I understand.¡±
I put the car into gear and pull out.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 6
Two weeks until the wedding.
I wake up wrapped in his shirt. I don¡¯t wear it out anymore, and it has basically lost its smell at this point, but I still like to sleep in it.
Sometimes it brings dreams. Filthy, fucked-up dreams where I¡¯m doing things I never imagined in a million years.
Good dreams. Really good ones.
I stretch and grab my phone. There¡¯s a message waiting for me. It¡¯s from a new number. For some reason, he never uses the same one twice.
Alexan: Do you have your dress yet?
I consider ignoring him just to be a tease, but I can¡¯t help myself. Whenever he reaches out, I get a little flutter in my stomach.
And I still haven¡¯t met him in person.
Riley: I was thinking of just wearing your shirt. And nothing else.
Alexan: That wouldn¡¯t be church appropriate.
Riley: You¡¯d like it though. All those hungry eyes looking at me.
Alexan: Nobody stares at what¡¯s mine like that.
Riley: Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re one of those macho possessive guys?
Alexan: Only when ites to you.
I¡¯m smiling like an idiot, and I don¡¯t even know why. Brainless caveman stuff is usually a turnoff, but I like the idea of being someone¡¯s special drug. Like he can¡¯t leave me alone.
I¡¯m about to type again when I smell bacon, and I suddenly leap out of bed.
Only one person in this family would ever cook this early in the morning.
I quickly get changed, do my bathroom routine, and run downstairs. The messages from Alexan aren¡¯t forgotten, exactly, but I can get back to thoseter.
My brother¡¯s standing at the stove. He¡¯s got eggs going and a pot of coffee already brewed.
¡°When did you get back?¡± I say, more than a little excited to see him but trying not to let it show.
¡°Good morning to you too,¡± Brenden says, saluting me with the spat. ¡°Just a few hours ago, actually.¡±
¡°You look like it.¡±
Heughs and jabs at me, but I swat him away. It¡¯s true though; he looks exhausted. There are bags under his eyes, and his beard is getting unruly. His hair¡¯s cut shorter than normal, buzzed to stubble, and his clothes are rumpled and dirty.
¡°I¡¯m lying low,¡± he says as he tes my favorite breakfast in the world. ¡°Don¡¯t go telling people I¡¯m here.¡±
¡°Does that mean you¡¯re noting to my wedding then?¡±
He snorts and shakes his head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss that for the world. Riley McGrath getting married to a random stranger? I have to see that.¡±
¡°Great, thanks. Here I was thinking my big brother would step in and put a stop to it.¡±
¡°We both know I¡¯m not nearly that important.¡± He gives me an awkward sideways hug. ¡°Go on, sit down. I¡¯ll be there in a sec.¡±
I curl up at the kitchen table and pick at my food. I wish I hadn¡¯t mentioned the wedding. Even though I like hearing from my future husband, I don¡¯t enjoy thinking about marrying him and everything thates after.
Sharing a house. Starting a life. Bing an entirely new person.
Trapped with a man I barely know.
Brenden sits across from me with a te of toast and ck coffee. He never was much of a breakfast guy. All that food¡¯s for me and Dad.
¡°Alright, tell me about it,¡± he says, taking a big swallow of coffee. ¡°You holding up okay?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I say, and when he keeps staring at me with a deep frown, I stab some eggs and shove them in my mouth. ¡°I¡¯m actually fine, okay?¡±
¡°You seem fine.¡± He nces over his shoulder. ¡°Feels weird being back here. I know I was only gone a couple of months, but that job¡ª¡± He trails off, shaking his head.
¡°It went okay?¡±
¡°All ording to n, except the n was shit and so were everyone I was working with. Still, I¡¯m alive, the family¡¯s richer, and everything ends well, I guess.¡± But there¡¯s something haunted in his eyes.
¡°You want to tell me about it?¡±
He shakes his head. ¡°Another time. After I¡¯ve processed.¡± But then he smiles slightly, crooked and boyish. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you. I got to use this new crazy device. It unlocks almost any car using this burst of radio frequencies.¡±
¡°Seriously? And it works?¡±
¡°Sure, on most models anyway. That thing was fun.¡±
I try to tamp down my jealousy. Brenden gets to go work long,plicated heist jobs all across the country and y with fun toys while I¡¯m stuck at home marrying a stranger.
On a whim, I tell him about my meeting with Jeremy Fong. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen it. Slipped the watch without him feeling a thing right in front of Dad. Nobody had any clue.¡±
Brenden¡¯s frown deepens. ¡°Jeremy Fong? Young Asian guy with dark hair?¡±
¡°Yeah, he seemed nice enough. Very salesy, you know? But Dad seemed to like him.¡±
Brenden leans toward me. I don¡¯t like the hard look he gives, like he¡¯s trying to lecture a little kid. ¡°Whatever you took, destroy it.¡±
¡°What are you talking about?¡± I ask,ughing awkwardly.
¡°Fong¡¯s not who he seems. I don¡¯t know what Dad¡¯s doing working with that guy, but stay far away from those people, okay? Whatever you took, destroy it, get rid of it, and pretend like that never happened. Do you hear me?¡±
I hesitate, tilting my head to the side. Brenden¡¯s usually a bright and chipper guy, but it¡¯s almost like I don¡¯t know the person sitting across from me. He¡¯s serious and dark, worn down to a shadow.
¡°Yeah, okay, sure.¡± I drink some coffee, trying to mask my difort. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go for a run. Interested?¡±
He snorts, the frown fading away. ¡°Nah, I¡¯ve had enough running tost a lifetime thisst week. You go on ahead without me.¡±
We finish eating together and talk about family gossip. When we¡¯re done, he heads into his old room to get some sleep, and I put on my running gear.
I¡¯m thinking about my safe of treasures when I hit the pavement.
All these years, I¡¯ve been messing around with thieving. Brenden teaches me what he can, and I¡¯ve gotten pretty good at it even though I don¡¯t really get to practice. I¡¯m quick and physically gifted thanks to gymnastics, and I¡¯m clever enough to pick up on new techniques whenever hees back with something to show me. If the family ever gave me a chance, I could be really good.
But they never will.
That¡¯s not how women help the organization. Girls my age end up going to college, learning something useful like business or marketing, and they work for one of the various McGrath-rted legitimate fronts.
Or they get married and start pumping out new Irish babies.
I could¡¯ve lived with the first option. Sitting in advertising sses only to end up designing logos for garbage collectionpanies that aren¡¯t even real doesn¡¯t sound like the dream career, but it¡¯s better than what I am now.
A human sacrifice.
And after all that, Brenden wants me to get rid of my watch. The more I run, the more I¡¯m sure that¡¯s not going to happen. Screw him and screw whoever Jeremy Fong is. I stole that watch, fair and square, right in front of my freaking father, and got away with it. That was one of my best lifts ever.
There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to toss it.
As I head into a park, down a long path, and toward a pedestrian bridge, I slow down to catch my breath. Nearby, I catch someone moving behind some bushes. I stare in that direction, and I swear whoever was over there had a pair of binocrs.
But no, I¡¯m being paranoid. It¡¯s probably just some birdwatcher getting horny over Blue Jays or whatever.
I¡¯ve given up enough to the McGrath family. I¡¯m ending the war with the Brotherhood. They¡¯re getting my body, my soul, and my freaking future. The least my family can do is let me keep my dumb little treasure collection as a reminder that I¡¯m not just a pawn for alliances and a breeding womb.
I was a pretty good thief for a little while.
I start running again, positive that I¡¯m making the right choice.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 7
One week until the wedding.
I stare at myputer screen. Data scrolls through my LLM model, and the AI starts looking for patterns. It¡¯s taking a while, so I switch away to a map of the surrounding neighborhood studded by little red dots.
ording to the dossier Fong gave me, the watch was on Iron Head¡¯s person starting at six that morning until midnight that evening when he realized it was missing. He backtracked, but he¡¯d been to at least half a dozen meetings during that time. Thest few pings were all only partial hits and could¡¯ve been at any of his locations between four and ten that evening. Then the watch went silent and hasn¡¯t made contact since.
The LLM finishes its analysis, but there¡¯s nothing. It just scraped every new auction listing online in thest two days for any watches that match the image Iron Head provided of the object I¡¯m looking for, but there are only a bunch of partial matches. Whoever took the thing isn¡¯t trying to sell it, at least nowhere public.
It¡¯s more than a little frustrating. I¡¯ve been at this for a week and hit dead end after dead end, and there¡¯s only one little distraction keeping me sane through it all.
Riley jogs across the street, and I put my car into gear.
I noticed her pretty early on. It turns out that Iron Head has some kind of potential deal going on with the McGraths. He was over at Riley¡¯s ce having dinner with her father the night the watch disappeared, and her house is somewhere in the center of my search location.
Which means I get to study her habits.
Like how every morning around nine she goes for a jog down the block, toward the harbor, and into a little park. She makes three loops around the path there before heading back home for a total of six miles at a pace of around eight minutes per mile. Then she spends a few minutes stretching out front in the sun, her beautiful auburn hair shining, sweat sheening her pale skin.
My future wife is fucking flexible.
Today, she¡¯s right on track for her usual average. I find a spot near the park and get out of my car. I take a leisurely walk down into the grass, angling for a group of trees overlooking a pedestrian bridge. She passes this way on all of herps before she heads back home, and it¡¯s the perfect spot to stay hidden.
I¡¯m thinking about the watch as I settle in to wait for a glimpse of my future wife.
I can understand now why Iron Head passed it off to me. Maybe he could¡¯ve used his own team for this incredibly frustrating wild goose chase, but that would be a waste of resources. Instead, better to outsource it to some fucking idiot willing to burn hours hunting for something that¡¯s probably long gone by now.
Whoever took the watch probably deactivated the transmitter. I¡¯m willing to bet good money it¡¯s somewhere in Asia or Europe being cracked by a team of talented hackers.
But I still have to try. Mantis isn¡¯t going to ept failure. I¡¯m barely keeping myself calm as Rileyes into view, her hair streaming behind her, running along at a steady pace. Long, athletic legs, great thighs, fantastic ass. She¡¯s wearing a very loose crop top today, one that barely covers her sports bra, and I feel a strange burning possessiveness in my chest. Does she really need to show off that much of her body?
Heads turn when she runs past, but all that skin is mine.
Or it will be mine soon.
I still don¡¯t want to marry her. This was never my idea. But when Arsen came to me personally and made it clear that I was his first choice for this match, I couldn¡¯t turn him down. When the patron makes a request, a good soldier jumps to obey. And I¡¯ve been nothing but loyal all these days.
They¡¯ve rewarded me. Tigran especially has pulled me up through the ranks and given me more and more responsibilities and bigger and bigger paychecks.
But I can¡¯t help feeling a little frustrated by the situation.
I stare down at the path, waiting for her to show. At this point, I¡¯m so used to her pace that I can anticipate when she¡¯ll show up. Excitement fills my stomach and makes my mouth water. I still obsess over the memory of her spreading her legs in my bed and moaning my name while wearing my shirt.
¡°Hey, creep, why are you always?¡ª¡±
I turn around, my mouth falling open in surprise.
Riley¡¯s standing a few feet away, looking just as shocked as I am.
Recognition blooms in her face. She¡¯s glistening with sweat and looking fucking glorious. My future wife is petite but athletic with a fantastic figure, full lips, thick hair, and a sloping little nose. Irish through and through.
¡°Hello, Riley,¡± I say, trying not to break out into a massive smile.
¡°You.¡± She steps back. ¡°It¡¯s you. But I don¡¯t¡ªWhy are you¡ªWhat are you doinghere?!¡±
¡°I wanted to check up on my little thief.¡± I can¡¯t suppress the brutal smirk anymore. God, I¡¯ve wanted this meeting for weeks now, but I¡¯ve been holding back.
I¡¯m too obsessed with some random girl for my own good.
I know myself and my tendencies, and sometimes I get way too wrapped up in things. Jobs can drive me crazy. I don¡¯t sleep or eat for days when I have a particrly nasty problem. Hobbies can send me spiraling down rabbit holes too. I once lost an entire week to Wikipedia.
I¡¯ve never felt this way for a person before, and that¡¯s making me deeply ufortable.
But now there she is, in the flesh, standing ten feet away.
¡°You¡¯ve been following me,¡± she says, eyes going wide. ¡°I noticed you a few days ago. It¡¯s been you every time, hasn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Has anyone ever told you that you have great running form?¡±
Her mouth twitches like she¡¯s fighting a smile. ¡°I¡¯m a physical specimen. That¡¯s not the point.¡±
¡°It¡¯s my point. Ie here to watch you run. That¡¯s all.¡±
¡°And now I go back to my original question. Why are you always staring at me, creep?¡±
I grin fully, heart beating hard and steady. She doesn¡¯t back away when I move closer to her. ¡°I¡¯m staring because I can¡¯t stop thinking about my thief with her legs spread on my bed?¡ª¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you dare start that,¡± she says sharply, ring at me. ¡°We¡¯re not doing that right now.¡±
¡°Doing what? You asked and I¡¯m answering.¡±
¡°No, you¡¯re doing the filthy talk thing. You think I don¡¯t know your tricks?¡±
¡°No tricks, baby.¡±
Just obsession.
¡°Either way, you¡¯re not supposed to be here.¡± She nces around her, smile disappearing. ¡°Look, seriously, I¡¯m not trying to be a dick, but I can get in trouble if anyone finds out we¡¯re talking.¡±
¡°You were told to stay away from me?¡±
She nods once. ¡°My family thinks I¡¯ll bolt if we have any contact. They¡¯re just being paranoid, but you know how it is when the boss gives an order.¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± I say gently, head tilted, studying the curve of her throat and the steady rise and fall of her chest as she continues to catch her breath.
I want to lick the sweat from her upper lip.
Fuck, I¡¯m a broken freak.
¡°Have you really been here every morning?¡± she asks hesitantly. There¡¯s a yful smile on her lips.
I think she likes that I¡¯ve been watching her.
¡°For a little more than a week.¡±
¡°God, you¡¯re so weird.¡± Her smile gets bigger. ¡°The cameras in your room, the random texts, and now this.¡± She groans and wipes her face with her hands, forcing the smile away. ¡°Fuck, what am I marrying?¡±
¡°A man who knows what he wants.¡±
¡°And you think you want me?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what you are yet, little thief?¡ª¡±
¡°Stop calling me that.¡±
¡°¡ªbut I n on finding out.¡±
Her throat works as she swallows. She looks around again and backs away. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you what you¡¯re allowed to do, okay? All I know is I¡¯m not supposed to have contact. If you want to show up during my runs like a fucking creep, there¡¯s not much I can do to stop you. It¡¯s a public park.¡±
¡°Every morning at nine,¡± I say gently, staring into her pale green eyes. I love the way the sunlight sparkles off them.
I¡¯m going to go home and stroke my cock thinking about those pretty fucking eyes staring up at me as my dick disappears down her throat.
¡°It¡¯s a date.¡± She turns away. ¡°You creep.¡± Then she¡¯s off, hurrying away, and I lean against a tree with a smile on my face.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 8
Six hours until the wedding.
I really should¡¯ve gone dress shopping.
¡°Aw, you look¡ª¡± Cass starts saying, but her mouth clicks shut when I re at her.
¡°Don¡¯t you dare lie to me on my goddamn wedding day.¡±
Sheughs awkwardly. ¡°You sure about that?¡±
¡°Just be honest.¡±
¡°Okay, well, you look like you¡¯re wearing a dress your dad picked out of a Macy¡¯s catalogue.¡±
I sigh and smooth out the ugly pleated skirt. I¡¯m standing in my bedroom in front of my mirror, and I¡¯m hating every inch of what I¡¯ve got on.
¡°Which is pretty much dead on as a description,¡± I admit.
The sleeves are long and the neckline is high, and it looks like something a woman would have worn in the 1920s, except somehow even more conservative.
This is what I get for refusing to engage with the nning process.
¡°But on the bright side, you really are gorgeous,¡± Cass says,ing over to give me a hug. ¡°Seriously, Riles, your husband? He¡¯s going to flip out.¡±
My husband. Alexan Sarkissian.
Creepy stalker psychopath.
And obscenely gorgeous.
Those grainy photos didn¡¯t do him justice. Last week, when I saw him standing near the trees, peeping at me from a distance, it was like opening Pandora¡¯s box and liking all the nasty shit that came rushing out.
He¡¯s a gorgeous monster. I mean, what kind of weirdo stalks his future arranged wife while she¡¯s out for a run instead of just talking to her?
The same kind of bizarre nightmare that sends random dirty texts at odd hours of the day.
But at least he¡¯s handsome. Like, really, really handsome. Thick brown hair, curvy lips, a square jaw with a good amount of stubble. Tall, muscr, and that stare. An intense look like the eye of an unblinking security camera.
He¡¯s so hot I want to lick his teeth and suck his fingers.
How¡¯s that for losing my mind?
I lean against Cass for a minute, looking at us both in the mirror. She¡¯s my maid of honor, and at least her dress is decent. The cream color works with her tan skin, and her hair¡¯s falling in absolutely perfect little ringlets.
¡°You want to switch?¡± I ask lightly, trying to smile and sound like I¡¯m not breaking to pieces inside.
Cass doesn¡¯t smile back. She only hugs me tighter. ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay.¡±
If she knew as much about my future husband as I do, I¡¯m pretty sure she¡¯d be nning my escape right now.
Which begs the question: why aren¡¯t I running away?
I could probably pull it off. Dangle out the back window, drop to the street, and just start walking until my feet feel like they¡¯re going to fall off. Except if I do that, then I¡¯ll be cutting all ties with my family. No more brother, no more Cass, no more cousins and uncles. No ce in the world.
I¡¯d be cast adrift on an endless sea of shit.
And who¡¯s to say anywhere¡¯s better than being here right now?
¡°Think they¡¯d still make me go through with it if I started puking?¡± I ask her, looking at myself in the mirror. ¡°Because seriously, this dress is making me feel pretty ill.¡±
¡°Pretty sure they¡¯d still roll you out there and make you say the words, and your first kiss with your new husband will taste awful.¡± She makes a face. ¡°That¡¯s not how you want to set the tone.¡±
I groan, covering my face with my hands. ¡°Oh my god. Am I really going to have to kiss him?¡±
Because I want to. Just not in front of the entire family.
¡°I¡¯m not sure how you¡¯d avoid it.¡±
¡°I could dodge and weave.¡±
¡°Good idea, make him work for it.¡±
¡°He¡¯d probably just end up bashing his face into mine and giving me a ck eye.¡±
¡°Imagine how the photos will look with a bloody nose.¡±
I sigh dramatically. ¡°Might be worth it.¡±
She hugs me again. I really want to keep making jokes about this situation, but suddenly nothing feels all that funny.
The wedding is happening. It¡¯s really happening. And I¡¯m going to walk down the aisle with that stalker freak.
There¡¯s a knock at the door. Cass hesitates, but she peels herself away and goes to answer. I can tell by the way her spine stiffens who it is, even before my father speaks.
¡°Hello, Cassidy. May I have a moment with my daughter?¡±
¡°Of course, Mr. McGrath. You¡¯re looking very dapper.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡± He doesn¡¯t smile as she slips out of the room and shuts the door behind her.
My father gives me a hard look. He doesn¡¯t move to give me a hug, doesn¡¯t smile, doesn¡¯t show sympathy. He only tilts his head to the side and pinches his lips together as if he were studying an unruly child.
¡°You aren¡¯t going to tell me how beautiful I am on my wedding day, Daddy?¡± I give him my best smile and spin my dress.
¡°Cut the shit, Riley.¡± His tone is sharp. He¡¯s clearly not in the mood for my games. And frankly, I¡¯m not either, but fuck him for acting like this all the time. ¡°I want to make sure you¡¯re not going to cause trouble.¡±
¡°It¡¯s my wedding day,¡± I say, struggling to keep the malice from my tone. ¡°Why would the blushing bride cause trouble?¡±
He steps closer. His jaw flexes with frustration. All these years, my father never once hit me, not even at his most angry. He¡¯s said plenty of nasty things¡ªbut he never touched me.
Now, for the first time ever, I wonder if he¡¯s finally going to do it.
And a sick part of me wants him to.
Go ahead, you bastard. Show yourself who you really are.
¡°If you run, I will follow,¡± he says very softly, staring at me the whole time. ¡°There¡¯s no hole you can hide in. No country you can disappear to. No friend will help you. This wedding is happening, and afterward, you¡¯ll do your duty as a wife to that man. Do you understand me?¡±
I ball my hands into fists. I can see myself hitting him, screaming in his face, letting him see how much this is killing me.
But he won¡¯t give a shit.
Because I¡¯m nothing but a disappointment.
¡°Yes, Dad,¡± I say through my teeth, tasting the words like bile.
¡°No trouble this time, Riley. No outbursts, no stubbornness, no bullshit. Walk down the aisle and do right by the family for once.¡±
¡°I will.¡±
¡°Good.¡± He turns away. ¡°Don¡¯t embarrass me.¡±
Then he leaves, and I¡¯m left alone.
Anger res in my guts. I¡¯m not mad at him though. That¡¯s exactly what I expected from my prick of a father.
No, I¡¯m pissed at myself, yet again.
There¡¯s something about that man. I hate him so much, but no matter what he says to me, I still crave his approval. He turns me into a quivering, pathetic little child with nothing but a hard stare and a sharp word.
It¡¯s absolutely crushing, and it¡¯s not me.
Nobody else in the world would ever dare treat me that way because I¡¯d never let them.
Except for my father.
I fall to pieces every time, and I loathe myself for it.
On a whim, I storm into my closet, pop out the board, and open my hidden safe. Inside are all my treasures, tucked away and hidden.
I grab out the antique watch. It ticks at me, quiet and steady, and I shove it down the front of my dress and get it wedged down in my waistline, the bulge hidden by the skirt.
It¡¯s awkward and ufortable, but it instantly makes me feel better.
The watch reminds me that I¡¯m not a weakling. I¡¯m not the little loser girl I crumble into whenever my father treats me like crap.
I¡¯m a thief. And a pretty good one, too.
I pat the watch and take a deep breath. ¡°You can do this,¡± I whisper to myself as I shut the safe and put the board back into ce.
Another knock. Casses back into my room, looking sad. ¡°You ready?¡± she asks. ¡°The car¡¯s here.¡±
¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± I hold my head up high. No crying on my wedding day. ¡°Let¡¯s go get hitched.¡±
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 9
I¡¯ve seen her a dozen times since that first afternoon when she broke into my house. From a distance, from up close, through binocrs and on a screen. I¡¯ve studied my future wife with an obsessive eye for detail.
But I never saw her like this.
Perfect
She walks down the aisle escorted by her grim-looking brother. But everything around her disappears. Riley floats along in a long-sleevedcy dress, tight at the top with a pleated billowing skirt. It doesn¡¯t show an ounce of skin, and she still somehow makes it look obscene. Her auburn hair¡¯s half up in aplicated braid and there are flowers woven through it.
She looks like a Celtic warrior queen from legend.
Her brother deposits her across from me, and our eyes lock. She stares at me, lips parted slightly, and I think about what they must taste like.
I know how she sounds when shees.
But a fucking kiss?
I barely hear the priest as he drones on through the ceremony. I¡¯m too busy thinking about my wife¡¯s body pressed to mine, her skin flushed and sweaty as her back arches and she begs for more.
Is this what a man is supposed to have on his mind during his wedding?
We exchange rings. We repeat the vows. There¡¯s no time to talk, no time to discuss how we¡¯re going to do this, no practice, no point in any of it. Because it doesn¡¯t really matter.
This is happening. The dozen or more men sitting in the pews with guns under their jackets will make sure of it.
The old priest clears his throat. ¡°By the power vested in me by the Church and the State of Marnd, I now pronounce you husband and wife.¡± He gestures toward us. ¡°You may kiss the bride.¡±
There¡¯s a moment, just a brief moment, where I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll do it. Because I know myself, and I know how I¡¯m dangling over the edge with her, already deeply obsessed, and anything could toss me over into the abyss. I¡¯m afraid this kiss is going to do it. One taste and I¡¯ll never want to stop tasting her again.
But she moves forward, and when I put a hand on the small of her back and feel her warm body against mine, I¡¯m fucking lost.
¡°Hey, Alexan,¡± she whispers, smiling slightly.
¡°Thief,¡± I say, then press my lips to hers.
It¡¯s a brief brush at first, but soon the kiss turns into something more. Hungry, desperate, needy, everything all at once. Her taste is lcs and honey and pollen. It floods my mouth like bliss. I growl against her tongue, and it takes all my strength not to palm her hair and drag her head back to expose her long, pale throat.
Instead, I step away, heart hammering in my chest, and she stares at me with her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide like she can¡¯t believe what just happened.
But then the music ys again, and everyone ps, and we¡¯re swept along toward the reception. I want to stay by her side, but we get separated almost immediately as she¡¯s surrounded by her family and I¡¯m surrounded by mine. Her brother and her maid of honor shadow her the whole time like they¡¯re protecting her from the rest of the family. I find that very curious.
¡°You did it,¡± Tigran says, grinning like a hawk, his blonde Russian wife, Dasha, leaning against his side.
¡°She¡¯s beautiful,¡± Dasha says and gives me a quick hug. ¡°You¡¯ll be okay. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
¡°And that was one hell of a kiss.¡± Arsen appears, the patron of the Brotherhood. He shakes my hand firmly and pats my shoulder. ¡°Well done, Alexan. I know we can count on you to really seal the deal.¡±
¡°He means we need you to impregnate her as soon as possible.¡± Tigran bellows augh and shoves a drink in my hand. ¡°Not that you¡¯ll need this to figure out what to do with her.¡±
I mutter the proper thanks, not used to being the center of attention. I keep looking across the room at her. She¡¯s glowing and incredible as she hugs and kisses her aunts and uncles.
It¡¯s not until the dances that I finally get a moment alone with her.
She seems almost shy as Frank Sinatra ys. I don¡¯t know who picked this shit, and it doesn¡¯t matter. I put my hands on her and gently pull her closer. We sway together as I breathe in her smell.
¡°You look good,¡± I say quietly, aware of all the people staring at us, but not really caring.
¡°Thanks. I hate this dress.¡±
¡°You didn¡¯t pick it?¡±
¡°I had pretty much nothing to do with any of this.¡± Sheughs lightly. ¡°It¡¯s not terrible though, right?¡±
¡°Which part?¡± I ask, moving closer, unable to help myself. My hands move lower on her hips. ¡°The marriage? Or the reception?¡±
¡°Both,¡± she whispers.
I¡¯m about to tell her everything will be okay when I feel something at her hip. It¡¯s round and hard, about the size of my palm. ¡°What do you have here?¡± I ask.
She brightens slightly, pulling back to grin at me. ¡°Can you keep a secret?¡±
¡°You¡¯re my wife now. I¡¯ll die before I betray you.¡±
Her smile falters. ¡°That was a little intense.¡±
I shrug and pull her against me again. ¡°What¡¯s the secret?¡±
¡°I brought a little talisman. Call it something borrowed.¡± She wriggles against me as sheughs. ¡°I stole a watch.¡±
My heartrate slows. We keep dancing, but I feel the hairs on my spine stand up. ¡°Really? And you brought it to your wedding?¡±
¡°I wanted it as a reminder, you know? Even though I¡¯m doing this, that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯ll change who I am.¡±
¡°Who did you steal it from?¡±
¡°This guy named Jeremy Fong. Some uptight cybersecurity consultant that came over for dinner one night to talk business. I lifted it from him right in front of my dad. It was honestly perfect?¡ª¡±
She¡¯s still talking, but I can¡¯t hear anymore. My heart¡¯s hammering now and blood rushes to my head.
This can¡¯t be happening. There¡¯s no way this is happening right now.
I pull away but grab onto her hand. I pull her along, dragging her from the dance floor. ¡°We need to talk,¡± I snarl, hurrying away from the reception. I know it¡¯s making a scene, but fuck, fuck, fuck.
I have to be wrong.
¡°What are you doing?¡± she says, looking back over her shoulder with a frown.
Tigran startsing toward us, but I wave him off. I take her down a back hall and toward the bathrooms, and once we¡¯re alone, I spin around to face her.
¡°Show me,¡± Imand, holding out my palm.
She stares at me like I¡¯ve lost my mind.
And honestly, I¡¯m about to. I¡¯m vibrating from head to toe, ringing with horror.
¡°Are you joking right now?¡±
¡°Please. I need to see it.¡±
¡°You just dragged me from our wedding because I stole a watch? I knew you were crazy?¡ª¡±
¡°I don¡¯t give a shit that you stole something,¡± I say, and maybe it¡¯s the desperation in my voice because her face softens with surprise. ¡°Please, Riley. Let me see it.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know why this is such a big deal,¡± she says, awkwardly reaching down into her dress. She fishes around at her hip before pulling it back out, wriggling to get her arm back through the sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s just some crappy old thing. Do you know Fong or something?¡±
She dangles it by the chain.
I touch it gently. The watch spins, catching the light.
Burnished brass. Made to look old, although I know it was made only a few years ago. I weigh it on my palm. ¡°It¡¯s heavier than I thought it¡¯d be,¡± I say quietly, mostly to myself.
¡°You really know this thing?¡±
My stomach is an empty ck pit. A deep, existential bleakness fills me as the gravity of our situation bes horribly clear.
¡°I was hired to find this,¡± I tell her, letting it go. I touch her cheek, and she stares at me with confusion. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you for a couple of weeks now.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t an ordinary watch, and Jeremy Fong isn¡¯t just some average consultant.¡±
¡°Who is he then?¡±
I shake my head andce my fingers into her hair. She lets out a little, confused whimper as I pull her close, brushing my lips over hers, unable to help myself.
¡°He¡¯s the man who will kill us both if I don¡¯t figure out a way to stop him,¡± I whisper.
Then I bury my mouth in hers.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 10
His mouth feels like heaven. His lips are soft as they dominate mine, and his tongue slips into my mouth with a hungry growl. He tastes like whiskey and fire, and I push myself against him, heart racing, every inch of skin glowing with pure, stupid need.
I have no freaking idea what¡¯s going on, but I like kissing him.
We stay locked like that in the dim hallway. His hands roam my body, touching me, exploring my legs and ass. I gasp, wanting more, impulsive enough to let him drag me into a bathroom and fuck me right there on the sink. But as quickly as he started, he breaks the kiss off.
I gasp, staring as he raises the watch.
¡°How did you¡ª?¡± I start, looking down at my hands.
¡°You¡¯re not the only thief in the world.¡± He steps back, his expression dark.
¡°Did you kiss me as a distraction so you could steal that back?¡±
¡°This is for your own safety.¡±
¡°Fuck that.¡± I snatch at it, but he holds it up above my reach. Bastard, he¡¯s a great kisser and he¡¯s really tall, which is such a pain. ¡°Give that back.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you get it? You stole this from a ck Mantis member.¡±
I frown a little. ¡°That name sounds familiar.¡±
¡°It should.¡± He uses his fingernail to pop open the case and pushes down on a hiddentch. The whole watch opens, and instead of intricate gears, I¡¯m staring in at what looks like electronics. ¡°They¡¯re one of the most vicious criminal organizations in the world.¡± He fiddles with a part of the circuit board until something small and silver pops off.
¡°What are you doing?¡±
¡°Taking out the battery.¡±
¡°And why are you doing that?¡±
¡°So it can¡¯t keep transmitting your location.¡±
I feel my feet go numb. ¡°It¡¯s been doing that?¡±
¡°It¡¯s been trying, at least.¡± He puts the watch back together, minus the battery, and shoves it into his pocket. He¡¯s about to say something when a couple of guestse toward us, heading to use the bathroom.
Alexan steps close, one hand on my hip, his mouth down against my cheek. Almost like we¡¯re stealing a little private time.
The woman smiles at us, and I feel my cheeks turn bright red. It¡¯s not what you think,dy. But I actually don¡¯t know what it is myself.
¡°We¡¯ll talk about this moreter,¡± he says once she¡¯s gone. ¡°You have no idea how much trouble we¡¯re in.¡±
¡°What¡¯s this we thing? I thought you were supposed to find it. Now just¡ give it back?¡±
He sighs and shakes his head. His lips brush against my neck. ¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡±
¡°Then make me.¡±
He pulls back and his expression is bleak. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen him looking so hard before. I find it weirdly sexy, if I¡¯m being honest with myself, but it also makes me very, very worried.
¡°There you two are.¡± Casses walking over with another man in tow. I recognize him from earlier in the night. He¡¯s Tigran Sarkissian, second-inmand of the whole Brotherhood. ¡°We were looking for you.¡±
¡°Time to cut the cake,¡± Tigran says, looking between us. He¡¯s not smiling, like he knows something¡¯s going on. ¡°Everything okay?¡±
¡°I just needed some alone time with my new wife.¡± Alexan slips his hand into mine. ¡°We¡¯re all good.¡±
¡°You two ran off suddenly. Everyone¡¯s kind of worried.¡± Cass studies me, clearly trying to figure out if I¡¯m actually okay.
I smile at her, slip away from Alexan, and put my hand through her arm. ¡°We¡¯re all good. Just getting to know each other. Let¡¯s go take care of that cake.¡±
I tug her away and we put some distance between the two hulking Armenian gangsters.
¡°You sure you¡¯re good?¡± she asks, sounding concerned.
I honestly don¡¯t know how to answer that. Alexan has me pretty freaked out, but I still don¡¯t fully understand what¡¯s going on.
All I know is he looked grim back there, like we¡¯re both going to be murdered very slowly and very painfully.
¡°Don¡¯t worry. Honestly, everything¡¯s fine.¡±
I do my best to keep it together for the rest of the night. I catch Alexan lurking near me more and more often as the evening wears on. He actually dances once or twice, or at least he stands on the edge of the dance floor and moves in a way that could be construed as ¡°swaying¡± by normal people, while I get down with everyone else.
He stares at me constantly.
It¡¯s unnerving, but I¡¯m kind of used to it by now.
When the night winds down and guests start leaving, he¡¯s glued to my hip, like he¡¯s my bodyguard or something. And finally, when my dad says he¡¯s heading home, Alexan just tells him that we¡¯ll be staying at his ce this evening. Dad frowns at me but only nods his head. ¡°Don¡¯t get in trouble,¡± he says before stalking off.
Brenden gives me a tight hug. ¡°You¡¯ll be alright,¡± he says, shakes Alexan¡¯s hand, and follows Dad to the car.
Leaving me alone with my husband.
¡°I¡¯m guessing this isn¡¯t about consummating our marriage,¡± I say once we¡¯re waiting for the valet to pull his car around.
¡°It can be if that¡¯s what you want.¡± He doesn¡¯t sound particrly enthusiastic about the idea.
¡°Talk about sweeping a girl off her feet.¡±
¡°Should I get you rose petals for the bed? Put on some mood-setting music? Or would you prefer if I stole something valuable from a very murderous criminal organization?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t know it was there,¡± I say through my teeth, getting frustrated. ¡°I don¡¯t even understand why this is such a big deal.¡±
He looks like he wants to exin, but the car arrives. We drive in silence, and I¡¯m left with about a thousand questions and no way to answer them.
But something starts to bother me. It¡¯s the way Brenden reacted when I told him about the watch. It was subtle, but it was clear.
He was afraid of the name Jeremy Fong.
I take out my phone and send him a quick text.
Riley: Do you know anything about a group called the ck Mantis?
He responds right away. And it makes my spine tingle.
Brenden: Don¡¯t ask me about them ever again. Don¡¯t text me back. We¡¯ll talkter.
My mouth runs dry. He¡¯s never acted like that before. My older brother taught me how to steal a car. There¡¯s never been any secrets between us. Nothing¡¯s ever off-limits either. He teaches me what he knows and we trust each other implicitly.
But if he won¡¯t even text about these people?
Alexan parks out front of his house, and I start to think I¡¯m in deep shit.
Once we¡¯re inside, he leads me into the kitchen and sits me down at the counter. He pours two sses of wine, puts the watch down between us, and stares at me as he drinks his down.
I sip mine, itching to break the silence but too stubborn to talk first.
¡°If I return this to Iron Head?¡ª¡±
¡°Who now?¡±
¡°That¡¯s his code name,¡± Alexan says, giving me a stern look. ¡°If I return this to him, he¡¯ll want to know who stole it. If I refuse to say, he¡¯ll torture me until I talk. And believe me, wife of mine, no man in this world can hold out forever when the Mantis decides they want to know something.¡±
I pick up my wine with both hands and hunch over it. ¡°What if you don¡¯t turn it over?¡±
¡°Then the Mantis will take that as a failure, and they will punish me and my entire organization. Maybe they won¡¯t kill me, if I¡¯m lucky, but they¡¯ll make sure we suffer.¡±
¡°All for some stupid electronic watch?¡±
He grunts and looks down at it, shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on that hard drive, but it¡¯s extremely important.¡±
¡°So just, I don¡¯t know, destroy it. Or tell them you found it in theke. Or invent some other story.¡±
¡°They¡¯ll know I¡¯m lying.¡±
Iugh, feeling somewhat hysterical. ¡°That¡¯s really convenient.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡±
¡°Clearly not. Jeremy Fong was just some guy. He didn¡¯t even seem all that clever. And now you¡¯re telling me he¡¯s this fancy Iron Head whatever, and his criminal organization is ruthless and knows everything?¡±
¡°Pretty much.¡± Alexan refills his wine and paces. ¡°What were you thinking, stealing from that man anyway?¡±
¡°I was thinking my dad¡¯s a fucking asshole and I felt like doing it.¡±
¡°Which means you weren¡¯t thinking at all.¡±
¡°Hey, look, you¡¯re a fucking asshole too, congrattions.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t get pissed at me. You¡¯re the one that fucked us both.¡±
¡°Fucked us both?¡± I shove back and stand. My ss sloshes slightly and spills on the counter. ¡°Look, how about this? Give me the stupid watch back and I¡¯ll deal with it. My brother will know what to do.¡±
¡°Absolutely not.¡± He picks up a sponge from near the sink and wipes up the wine. God, he¡¯s such a neat freak; even in the middle of an argument he can¡¯t help himself. ¡°Your family isn¡¯t up for this. Mantis will tear them to shreds.¡±
¡°And you can handle it? Seems like you¡¯re doing great so far.¡±
¡°I¡¯m saving your life.¡±
¡°Are you sure about that? Or are you just saving your little token wife and keeping your alliance together?¡±
His look is cold and t. ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡±
¡°Asshole.¡± I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m so mad at him. He¡¯s not wrong¡ªI¡¯m the one who stole the watch and set all this in motion.
I¡¯m just sick of people treating me like an idiot.
¡°Give me time to fix this,¡± he says, staring at me with that bizarre, intense stare, like he¡¯s trying to see under my skin. Or just under my dress. ¡°For now, you¡¯re staying here.¡±
I pull back in surprise. ¡°Wait, you mean I¡¯m moving in?¡±
¡°That¡¯s what wives normally do.¡±
¡°Good thing this isn¡¯t a real marriage, right?¡±
¡°It¡¯s real,¡± he says, his voice dropping into a harsh whisper. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯d hand you over to the Mantis right now and let them cut your throat.¡±
¡°Then do it if that¡¯s what you want so badly. Go ahead, I fucking dare you.¡± I grip the ss tightly, shoulders hunched. Anger rushes into my core. I want to scream, but I know this isn¡¯t his fault. He¡¯s not the one who dragged us into this.
It was my fault. My stupid impulsiveness.
All because my dad treats me like a child.
And maybe he¡¯s right. That¡¯s the kicker.
¡°Don¡¯t you get it?¡± Alexan asks. ¡°I¡¯m trying to protect you.¡±
¡°Why even bother?¡±
¡°Because you¡¯re mine.¡± He puts his wine down andes around the ind. I back away, keeping space between us.
¡°We¡¯re married. But I¡¯m not yours. There¡¯s a difference.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t see it that way.¡±
¡°Great, I get it, you stalked me for a couple of weeks and we had that one afternoon?¡ª¡±
¡°When you got off in my bed.¡±
¡°When I made another stupid, impulsive mistake.¡± That¡¯s starting to sound like the story of my life, actually. ¡°But we¡¯re nothing. You owe me nothing. I don¡¯t want you doing this whole protector thing only to turn around and act like I should be worshipping you or something. Because that¡¯s not me.¡±
¡°Is that what you think? My love, if you¡¯re going to get on your knees for me, it¡¯s not in fucking worship.¡±
I stare at him, my mouth opening. What is wrong with this man? Even right now, when apparently we¡¯re dealing with life or death stakes, he¡¯s still talking dirty?
And I¡¯m cursed to freaking like it.
¡°I¡¯m going to bed,¡± I announce because this conversation isn¡¯t getting us anywhere. At the look on his face, I rify that it will definitely be alone.
He follows me to the steps and up into the hall. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more about this tomorrow.¡±
¡°Fine, whatever, just right now I need to sleep and think.¡± I pause at the door to his guest room. The bed¡¯s been made up with new sheets since thest time I was here. I wonder if he changes them often, or if this was for me.
I hesitate before going in. He¡¯s watching carefully like he wants to say something. I take a breath and hold it, and some of my frustration fades.
¡°I know I¡¯m not being fair,¡± I say without looking back at him. ¡°This has just been a long day and I¡¯m not at my best. Thank you for not turning me in.¡±
¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± he says from the shadows across the hall. ¡°You¡¯re my wife now, Riley. Like it or not, we¡¯re in this together.¡±
¡°You and me, a regr old team.¡±
¡°Something like that.¡±
I nce back at my husband. I¡¯m struck by how beautiful he is. Big and dark with an athletic body.
And that voice¡ªand that smell?¡ª
I force myself to shut the door before I do something stupid again.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 11
The hotel bar at the base of the Monaco has an ugly nautical theme, probably because it¡¯s ten feet from the inner harbor. The ce is crowded on a Friday night, and I pause on the threshold and scan the faces for anyone I recognize.
Nobody stands out. That¡¯s the problem with the Mantis. I only knew a few of their key members, and most of them would never bother stepping foot in Baltimore. Their low-tier thugs are totally unknown to me.
But that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t spot them, like the guy standing alone near the windows and looking too casual as he stares at his phone. The bulge under his jacket suggests he¡¯s not here for the sugary drinks. There are another couple of mooks elbowed up at the end of the bar, both of them studiously watching the Orioles get their asses kicked by the Phillies on TV, neither of them dressed like they belong.
Then there¡¯s Iron Head himself. He¡¯s got a booth to himself. A martini sits half-finished at his elbow as he types something into his phone. I want to hang around a little longer until I can make out the rest of his crew, since there¡¯s no way he¡¯s only got three men watching his back, but I don¡¯t have time.
Jeremy Fong, also known to me as Iron Head, smiles up at me as I slip into the seat across from him. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Permafrost.¡±
¡°You as well.¡± I lean back, arms crossed over my chest. There¡¯s a strange flutter in my gut as Iron Head finishes on his phone.
I don¡¯t get nervous for deals like this. I rely on skill and rational thinking, not emotions or guesswork, and that means I don¡¯t have anything to be worried about. When I take a job, it gets done, and that¡¯s why people keep hiring me. No surprises, no bullshit.
Except it isn¡¯t me I¡¯m thinking about right now.
If I were the only one involved in this mess, I could find a way to deal with it, but my wife¡¯s wrapped up at the center, and I still haven¡¯t thought of how I¡¯ll untangle her.
¡°Sorry for that.¡± He puts his phone down and folds his hands together. Iron Head¡¯s dressed in a simple ck suit with a dark red tie the color of blood, like his throat was shed open. His smile is somewhat charming.
If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d think he was just some average business consultant.
¡°I don¡¯t have a whole lot to offer at the moment.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be honest and admit that I¡¯m surprised. When I hired you, I was told that I was hiring the best.¡±
¡°You were, and forgive the clich¨¦, but this is a needle in a haystack situation.¡±
¡°That¡¯s supposed to be what you do. You conjure lost needles.¡±
¡°And I will, but I need more time and more information.¡± Mostly because I need to know if Iron Head and Mantis have Riley on their suspect list. Otherwise, I¡¯ll be able to steer them in a different direction.
¡°You have everything we have.¡± He tilts his head to the side as if considering. Around us, men and women in business outfitsugh and talk over expensive drinks. The American workforce slowly unwinding. I wonder how many mistakes will be made tonight.
¡°Then I¡¯ll need time.¡± I proceed to tell him what I¡¯ve done so far, the patterns I¡¯ve searched, the dead ends I¡¯ve followed. He listens intently as Iy out several potential ces the watch could be, carefully mentioning Riley¡¯s father toward the middle while making it clear that he¡¯s not really on my radar.
Iron Head listens patiently. When I¡¯m done, his lips press together for a moment in thought. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what,¡± he says, spreading his hands. ¡°I am going to convince my superiors to give you another four weeks. Consider it a wedding present.¡± He smiles broadly, and a shiver runs down my spine.
¡°I appreciate that,¡± I say, suppressing the ugly feeling running down into my toes. He¡¯s only being polite. There¡¯s no way he knows my wife is deeply involved. ¡°The wedding was only justst night. I guess word spreads fast.¡±
¡°An alliance between the McGraths and the Brotherhood certainly has some people talking.¡± He takes a sip of his drink. It looks like that¡¯s the first time he¡¯s touched it. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be on your honeymoon right now?¡±
¡°No rest for the wicked.¡±
Heughs and tugs at his shirt sleeves. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware of that. The work never ends. You know, I met your new bride.¡± His eyes sparkle with amusement. ¡°She was quite charming.¡±
¡°We were an arranged match.¡±
¡°I heard. What an antiquated idea.¡±
¡°All toomon in our world.¡±
¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s because we¡¯re a bunch of antiques ourselves. We have to be twice as good and ten times as clever to survive as the world moves on without us.¡± He puts his phone into his jacket pocket. ¡°Give Riley my regards. You have one month, Permafrost. I hope you have much more to give me during our next meeting. We¡¯ll speak again in a week.¡± He slips from the booth and stands.
I¡¯m ready to be done with this mess. He seems to have epted my excuses, but they sit like dead bugs on my tongue. I hateing to a client without a solution or at least a clear path to getting the job done. This meeting was about as terrible as I get at what I do, and now Iron Head is going to walk away from here thinking maybe my reputation is overblown.
But I can¡¯t care about that.
I¡¯d torch my own name if it meant keeping my wife safe, and I don¡¯t even know why.
If only to preserve the alliance Tigran and Arsen worked so hard to create.
¡°One more thing,¡± Iron Head says before he leaves. His eyes move toward the bar where the two soldiers are waiting. They don¡¯t acknowledge him, but they¡¯re definitely paying attention now. ¡°I really hate to say this, but I believe I need to be explicit just to avoid any possible misunderstandings between us.¡± He moves to face me, still smiling that used car dealership grin, but this time there¡¯s an edge to it. ¡°If you fail, my employers will be extremely unhappy. I will personally make sure that you are held liable, and your entire organization will be torched from the ground up. Do you hear me?¡±
¡°I hear you,¡± I say, struggling to keep my jaw from flexing. I hate fucking threats, especially ones that don¡¯t need to be spoken out loud. ¡°We¡¯ll be square.¡±
¡°That¡¯s great. Congrattions again on your marriage.¡± He nods and walks off, leaving me alone.
I stew for a few minutes. That was a frustrating meeting. I have one month to solve a mystery that I¡¯ve already solved, and I still have no idea how I¡¯m going to wriggle out of this mess.
But I did learn something interesting.
Iron Head is as fucked as I am if I can¡¯te up with the watch.
It was hidden in that speech. Mantis doesn¡¯t ept failure¡ªand they¡¯ll me him for the loss of the watch to begin with. I get the feeling that his superiors aren¡¯t even involved in these negotiations. If they knew he lost it, Iron Head would be rotting somewhere in a parking garage, and I¡¯d be talking to someonepletely different.
That¡¯s good to know.
I wait for Iron Head¡¯s men to leave before I head out. I check my phone and find a text from Tigran telling me to meet him at Pomegranate House. That¡¯s a restaurant owned by the Brotherhood and popr with high-ranking members. It¡¯s a quick drive over, and I¡¯m thinking about my problem with Riley and the watch the whole way. No solutions magically present themselves, and I¡¯m deeply frustrated as I head inside.
Tigran¡¯s sitting at the bar toward the far end. This ce used to be managed by his brother Arsen before he became the patron. Now it¡¯s the informal meeting ce for anyone that wants to impress the Brotherhood. Half the clientele is rted to our family in some way, and the other half wants to do business with us.
¡°How¡¯d your meeting go?¡± he asks as I sit in the stool beside him. The bartender brings me that fancy Japanese whiskey I like so much without having to ask.
¡°I¡¯m still alive,¡± I say, taking a sip and savoring the burn. I¡¯m tempted to get sted tonight, if only so I don¡¯t have to think about how fucked I am right now.
¡°And how¡¯s your home life?¡± Tigran¡¯s trying not to smile, the sly bastard.
¡°She hasn¡¯t moved in yet. Not officially, at least.¡±
¡°Looking forward to it?¡±
I give him a t stare. ¡°Dying of excitement.¡±
Tigran¡¯s grin gets huge. I try not to feel resentful of him, but it¡¯s difficult. He¡¯s the reason I¡¯m in this mess, at least partially. I took the Mantis job, and Riley stole the watch, but Tigran¡¯s the one who convinced me to marry her in the first ce.
The Brotherhood is important to me. I didn¡¯t have much growing up, and the Brotherhood was my only real option to get ahead. I was a quiet kid, good withputers, and always getting into scraps with the bigger guys in the neighborhood. They toughened me up and taught me how to fight on the streets, and I learned how to crack intoputers while trying to ignore my mother crying in the kitchen because Dad got drunk and disappeared for a few days again. If it weren¡¯t for my early mentors in the organization, I don¡¯t know where I¡¯d be right now. Probably in prison.
Which is why I¡¯m happy to do my part for my family. I just still can¡¯t help but feel a little resentment toward the massive pile of shit that just got dumped on my head.
¡°I know marriage seems daunting right now, but you¡¯ll be okay. Riley seems like a decent girl.¡±
¡°She seems like trouble,¡± I grumble, drinking some more.
¡°Ah,e on. At least she¡¯s pretty.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t let Dasha hear you say that.¡±
¡°Please, we both know I¡¯m unhealthily obsessed with my wife, but I still have eyes. And I could tell you liked that pretty little Irish girl.¡±
That pretty little Irish girl broke into my house, got herself off on my bed, stole an important artifact from a violent gang, and is going to get me killed.
But yeah, she¡¯s sexy as hell, and I guess that means all that other stuff doesn¡¯t matter.
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter either way. We¡¯re married, and I n on doing my duty.¡±
¡°Which is to knock her up.¡±
I raise my ss. ¡°Here¡¯s to impregnating a woman I barely know.¡±
¡°Here, here.¡± He taps his ss to mine and sips, still smiling. ¡°On that note, I have a present for you.¡±
¡°Yeah? Did you get me new dishes? We put those on the registry.¡±
¡°Better than that.¡± He leans in closer. ¡°I¡¯m promoting you.¡±
I go very still. Tigran¡¯s eyes sparkle with amusement as he lets that sink in. I¡¯ve been climbing the ranks of the Brotherhood for years now, but I figured I hit the ceiling when I was made Tigran¡¯s driver and personal fixer. I¡¯m one of the most trusted and best-paid members of the whole organization, especially considering my technical skills.
¡°I figured the only way to rise was for one of the uncles to pass,¡± I admit, trying to keep the excitement from my voice.
¡°You know Arsen¡¯s been making some changes. I convinced him that we need to start changing with the times, and you¡¯re the man I want to lead the new crew we¡¯re building.¡±
¡°What kind of crew?¡± I ask.
¡°You¡¯re officially our Head of Cyber Intelligence. That¡¯s just some fancy way of saying you¡¯re going to run our hacking division. At the moment, you¡¯re the only actual hacker we have, but we¡¯re going to change that. We want you to grow our cybercrimes operation, Alexan. Find, train, and nurture young talent. Create a culture around making fucking money and being the best. You¡¯ll be equal to anyone else in the Brotherhood, save for the patron himself. Congrattions, my friend.¡±
Dread fills my stomach.
This should be the best moment of my life. It¡¯s what I¡¯ve always wanted. This is real power and responsibility. I have the rare opportunity to grow a new division within the organization and leave asting legacy. This new crew will be entirely mine, built around my ideas and processes, and we¡¯ll seed because of my hard work.
But all I can think of is how I¡¯m going to let Tigran and Arsen down.
Not because I can¡¯t handle this. No, if they had promoted me before Riley came into my life, I¡¯d be fucking ecstatic. I already have a dozen ideas for how I can put the team together and the sort of digital heists we¡¯ll pull off.
Only I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m going to be alive in a month to see it through.
Tigran sips his drink, smirking. His eyebrows raise as the silence stretches.
¡°You letting it sink in, cousin?¡± he asks. ¡°Because you haven¡¯t said anything yet.¡±
¡°Sorry, no, this is good,¡± I say finally, shaking away the bad feeling threatening to drown me. I push it aside and wrap myself in cold logic. I can handle this promotion easily¡ªand I can fix this shit with Mantis.
I just need to figure it out.
¡°I think it¡¯s good too,¡± Tigran says with augh. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of an understatement.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t let you down,¡± I tell him seriously. ¡°This is the honor of my life. We¡¯re going to build something incredible together.¡±
¡°I have no doubts about that.¡± Tigran shakes my hand and leans in to p my back. ¡°Congrattions, cousin,¡± he says quietly. ¡°You deserve this.¡±
Like fucking hell I do.
If he knew what was really going on with Riley and Mantis, he¡¯d shoot me in the head, cut Riley¡¯s throat, and wash his hands of the McGraths entirely, all to avoid Mantising down on the Brotherhood.
But I won¡¯t give him that chance. I hate holding information back, especially now that I¡¯ve taken this huge leap forward, but I have to think about my wife now.
That beautiful pain in my ass.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 12
¡°Do you really need all this stuff?¡± Brenden asks as he lugs a bag into Alexan¡¯s house.
¡°Uh, yeah, actually, since I¡¯m going to live here now.¡± I sigh and dump a suitcase down on the floor beside the couch.
¡°There¡¯s still more back at the house.¡± My brother wipes his forehead. He seems stressed and shifty, but he¡¯s trying to put on a brave face. I keep catching moments like this where he looks like he¡¯s imagining his own horrible death, and I don¡¯t understand why.
Something happened on hisst job. I asked him about it this morning, but he only brushed me aside. He¡¯ll talk about it sooner orter when he¡¯s ready, but clearly whatever went down is still bothering him. He looks thin and on edge, not the outgoing, smirking older brother who taught me how to hotwire cars.
¡°Most of my decorations are in a few boxes.¡± I look around my new house, frowning slightly. The ce is the definition of minimalist. There¡¯s almost no personality anywhere. Everything¡¯s cold gray and dark wood.
Brenden follows my gaze and gives me one of his old smirks. ¡°I can see why you might want them.¡±
¡°Do you mind making another trip?¡± I stretch my back, eager to get this over with as soon as possible. I¡¯m not happy about moving in with Alexan, but there¡¯s clearly no alternative.
I¡¯m his wife, like it or not, and this is what¡¯s expected.
¡°Nah, it¡¯s fine.¡± He moves toward the door and pauses on the stairs. ¡°You know, Dad should be helping.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure I want his help right now.¡±
¡°Come on, Riles. You know he didn¡¯t have much of a choice.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what he says, but there are other McGrath girls.¡±
He gives me a slight frown. ¡°And you¡¯d rather one of them took your ce?¡±
Bastard. I re at him, annoyed. But he¡¯s right. I wouldn¡¯t swap ces with anyone else in my family, only because I couldn¡¯t imagine dooming any of them to this nightmare.
There¡¯s a noise on the steps. I look over to find my husband watching me with his head tilted. His lips push together when he scans the bags and boxes Brenden and I stacked in the living room.
¡°I see you brought everything you own,¡± Alexan says.
¡°Sorry, I guess nobody told you that I¡¯d be moving in. You know, to live here permanently?¡± I give him a hard look. When Brenden said it, he only annoyed me a little. But Alexan manages to piss me off without really trying.
¡°I¡¯ll make another trip and let you get settled,¡± Brenden mutters to me. He nods at Alexan. ¡°You two probably have some talking to do.¡±
¡°Wait, it¡¯s fine, you can stay¡ª¡± But he shuts the door and leaves anyway.
I let out a sigh and face my husband.
¡°You can unpack upstairs,¡± Alexan says and turns away. ¡°Bring your things to our bedroom. I made space for you.¡± He starts to walk upstairs before his words actually break through my annoyed, foggy skull.
¡°Hold up. Our bedroom?¡± I follow him to the second floor. He disappears into the master, and I pause at the threshold. Beyond is the bed I¡¯m so familiar with, the cameras in the ceiling, that full-length mirror, all those dirty memories. I step inside, but only a few feet past the door. I can¡¯t bring myself to go further. ¡°I¡¯m staying in the guest room likest night.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about that,¡± he says, turning to face me. He sits on the edge of the bed and leans back on his hands. His shoulder and chest muscles flex, and I have to try very hard not to lick my lips. For as frustrating as he can be, Alexan is really physically gorgeous.
Even though he¡¯s cold as ice on the outside.
¡°Forgive me if that doesn¡¯t sound like a good thing,¡± I say, forcing myself to stay steady.
¡°I met with Iron Headst night. He¡¯s giving me another month to figure this watch thing out, but after that, he made it clear that the entire Brotherhood and I will suffer if I fail.¡±
¡°What does that have to do with me staying in your bedroom?¡±
He brushes a thumb down his lips before pointing at me. ¡°You are in danger.¡±
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. ¡°Yeah, no kidding. You made that clear already.¡±
¡°No, baby, you don¡¯t understand. Iron Head?¡ª¡±
¡°Stop calling him that,¡± I say, interrupting. ¡°His name¡¯s Jeremy.¡±
¡°Iron Head,¡± he repeats, looking annoyed, ¡°is personally interested in solving this problem as well, which means he¡¯s absolutely looking into it. If he figures out that you¡¯re the one who took it before I can figure a way out of this, he¡¯lle for you. I need to make sure you¡¯re safe.¡±
I try not tough at the absurdity of his logic. ¡°And in order to do that¡ you need me to sleep in your bed? Sounds real convenient.¡±
¡°Not necessarily in my bed, but in my room.¡±
¡°Great, huge difference, like I¡¯m going to be on the floor or something. We both know you just want a repeat of our first meeting.¡±
He licks his lips and shrugs. ¡°I can¡¯t deny that.¡±
¡°Then it¡¯s a hard no from me. I¡¯ll take my chances in the other room.¡± I turn to leave, but he says a single word before I can move.
¡°Artakarg.¡±
Suddenly, an iron wall ms down in front of me, blocking the exit. More shutters cover the windows. All of them are metal and reinforced. The lights dim to a dull red and cameras descend from the ceiling. Something flutters from a hidden alcove near the dressers and begins buzzing out.
¡°Is that a fucking murder drone?¡± I shriek as it begins to circle me. A gun barrel mounted on its belly is aimed at my chest.
¡°This is why you need to be in my room,¡± Alexan says, standing up and walking over. He casually reaches out and grabs the drone from midair, flipping it over and deactivating something at its base end. The rotors slow and stop as he ces it down on the floor. ¡°I haven¡¯t updated the guest security yet.¡±
¡°This is insane,¡± I say, staring around me. All the entrances are covered with pure steel, all of which I¡¯d bet are st- and bullet-proof. Cameras record every square inch of the ce, and that murder drone is enough to put more than a few holes in an intruder¡¯s face. ¡°Why the hell is your freaking bedroom like this?¡±
¡°Because I have a dangerous job and more than a few enemies.¡± He steps up close to me, looming like a monster. The red lights make his face seem bloody and terrifying. My heart races in my chest as nerves tingle down into my core. ¡°I need you close, little thief. If Mantises for us, I can¡¯t guarantee you¡¯d be safe anywhere but right here.¡±
As much as I hate him, he does make sense. I have to admit that this whole lockdown sequence is really impressive, even if it¡¯s also paranoid and crazy.
¡°You can always upgrade the guest room?¡± I suggest sheepishly.
¡°The walls in here are bulletproof. The ss is as well. Construction on that part of the house would take a year, minimum, and we have four weeks. It¡¯s not feasible.¡±
I take a deep breath through my nose. God, I hate this. I already feel like I¡¯m giving up a ton, marrying him and moving in, and I don¡¯t want to keep making sacrifices.
But this is my fault.
I can¡¯t keep pretending like it isn¡¯t. Yeah, I didn¡¯t know that stupid antique watch was the property of a super-violent crime syndicate, but I¡¯m still the impulsive moron that took it.
And now Alexan¡¯s stuck trying to protect me when he could just hand me over and wash his hands of all this.
¡°Alright, fine,¡± I say, holding up my hands in defeat. ¡°But I want the left side.¡±
¡°Avartsvats,¡± he says, and the lights go back to normal, the cameras ascend back into their sockets, and the shutters disappear. It¡¯s almost like nothing happened, except for the murder drone still lying deactivated at his heels like a happy puppy waiting for belly rubs. ¡°I sleep on the left.¡±
¡°You¡¯re unbelievable,¡± I say, hands curled into fists. Frustration wells in me. There¡¯s a handsome, mocking smile on his face. ¡°Now you¡¯re just being controlling and punishing me for that watch thing.¡±
¡°You think I¡¯m that petty?¡±
¡°I think I don¡¯t know you well enough to say.¡±
Heughs softly. His pretty tongue rolls against his teeth. ¡°I¡¯d say you know me very well by now, Riley.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be a prick. I know I fucked up, okay? Is that what you wanted? I admit that I made a mistake pickpocketing that dumb watch. Still doesn¡¯t give you a right to torture me.¡±
¡°This is far from torture.¡± He looks amused. It¡¯s like the only time that cold bastardes alive is when he¡¯s teasing me.
¡°I don¡¯t know, right now I think getting my fingernails ripped out one by one would be better than sleeping beside you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m wounded.¡± He puts a hand over his heart. ¡°You hurt me deeply.¡±
¡°Doubt that.¡±
¡°Tell you what. You can have the left side of the bed if you promise to wear my shirt to sleep in every night.¡±
I take a sharp breath. Does he know I¡¯ve already been doing that most nights? My cheeks turn red, and I try toe up with a sharp retort, but I only manage to stammer something about him being an asshole, which only makes me feel even more embarrassed because if he didn¡¯t know before, now he definitely does.
¡°I¡¯m going to put that murder drone between us,¡± I grumble, getting the heck out of that room. ¡°I¡¯m programming it to shoot if you touch me.¡±
¡°That¡¯d be a waste of a good drone,¡± he says,ughing as I hurry away.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 13
I don¡¯t want to leave the bathroom.
It¡¯s safe in here. I can pretend like Alexan isn¡¯t lying in bed right now, shirtless, looking like a tattooed sex god. I tried to tell him to put more clothes on, but he only grumbled about sleeping warm, which is somehow also hot as hell and left me all flustered.
So now I¡¯m hiding.
¡°Get it together,¡± I whisper at my reflection. I¡¯m in normal pajamas, cotton shorts and a basic white tee, though he did leave one of his dress shirts out to tease me earlier. I was tempted to smell it, which I know is totally deranged, but still.
I spent most of the day getting unpacked. That was kind of fun, actually. Brenden helped out a little bit, but when he left, Alexan lurked around, grumbling and ring at every little thing. I put out a few decorative nts, some of my nice pillows on the couch, and my favorite impressionistndscape painting of an old Marnd fishing boat. Each new item made my husband grimace and wince like I was stabbing him with rusty forks.
All things considered, a very sessful first day in my new home.
At least until night came. He disappeared into his office to work and mmed the door, which left me to wander around our room. I hung clothes in the closet, put stuff in the drawers he cleared out for me, and kept flinching whenever I thought I heard the murder drone floating around. And all the while, I kept thinking about the bed, the shirt, and his voice urging me to get myself off.
¡°Don¡¯t be a coward,¡± I say and force myself away from the mirror. I adjust my messy red bun and nod to myself. ¡°He¡¯s just some guy.¡±
I open the door and step out into the bedroom.
But he¡¯s not just some guy.
Alexan looks over. He¡¯s got sses perched on his nose and a book in his hands, some history thing about the Roman Empire. I stare at him, heart hammering in my chest, as I look at all his tattoos: vicious wolves, bloody roses, dozens of gang symbols, and more than a few tears down his biceps.
¡°I didn¡¯t know you could read,¡± I blurt out, which isn¡¯t what I meant to say at all. ¡°I mean, crap, I mean I didn¡¯t know you needed sses to read.¡±
His smirk suggests he knows how ufortable I am right now. ¡°They¡¯re just cheaters. I¡¯m getting old.¡±
¡°You look good in them.¡± I don¡¯t know why I say it, but it¡¯s true. The contrast between his hard, scary, muscr tattooed body and the intelligence dancing behind his eyes is intoxicating. I know this man is deadly, but he¡¯s obviously smart, too.
¡°You look good too.¡± He closes the book. ¡°You¡¯d look better in my shirt, though.¡±
¡°Get over it,¡± I mutter and throw myself into bed. I pull the sheets over my head. ¡°Lights out whenever you want.¡±
¡°Lights out,¡± he says, and the lights turn off.
¡°Now you¡¯re just showing off.¡±
¡°A little bit.¡± I can hear the smile in his voice. He adjusts himself, rocking the whole bed. My body rings, and my heart judders as he gets into position. I swear, I can feel heat rolling from him, even though we¡¯re on opposite sides with plenty of room between us.
¡°Right. Goodnight.¡± I close my eyes and try to think sleepy thoughts. Trees in a breeze. A babbling brook. Alexan bathing naked in ake. Shit, that¡¯s not helping.
¡°I thought we should talk a little bit,¡± he says, shifting closer to me.
¡°Easy there.¡± I roll onto my back and frown. My vision hasn¡¯t adjusted yet, and he¡¯s just a blur in the dark. ¡°Don¡¯t cross into my territory.¡±
¡°All this is mine, if you¡¯ll recall. And maybe you forgot, but you and I have business.¡±
My mouth goes dry. My core spasms with the thought of his dirty lips against my throat. I hate how badly I want to have sex with this guy, even though he¡¯s nothing but an ice-cold prick.
Only right now, under the covers, he¡¯s deadly hot.
¡°It¡¯s our first night together,¡± I whisper, cheeks pink. I¡¯m thankful he can¡¯t see me right now; otherwise, he¡¯d know I¡¯m mortified, and that my nipples are also rock hard with excitement.
There¡¯s a short silence. Then a low, throaty chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, baby, but I¡¯m happy to know where your head¡¯s at.¡±
¡°What else could you mean by business?¡± I say, annoyed and frustrated.
¡°The watch.¡±
I resist a groan. Right, of course, the watch. I¡¯ve been so busy trying to transition to this new life that I keep forgetting the life-or-death trouble I dragged us both into.
¡°Look, you know I didn¡¯t mean to cause all this, right?¡± I ask him.
¡°I know that,¡± he admits, which is actually kind of nice. ¡°But we still need to figure out how we¡¯re going to appease Mantis while also making sure they don¡¯t want to kill either of us.¡±
I chew on a lip, considering, but I¡¯m having trouble thinking. ¡°What do you suggest? Since I¡¯m guessing you have some ideas.¡±
He grunts slightly and shifts again. Getting closer to me?
¡°First, I want to find out what¡¯s on the hard drive. Once I can figure out why they want it back, I cane up with a n to deal with it.¡±
¡°Okay, great, that should be easy, right?¡±
¡°Wrong.¡± His voice is inches from my ear now. Definitely closer. ¡°The drive is encrypted. It¡¯s totally useless right now, at least until I can figure out how to decrypt it.¡±
¡°Good thing you¡¯re a hacker genius.¡±
¡°Good thing,¡± he agrees. ¡°In the meantime, I need you to keep a low profile. Don¡¯t go out if you don¡¯t have to.¡±
¡°You¡¯re locking me up now?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not, but I will if I have to.¡±
¡°Good luck with that.¡±
Heughs lightly. I feel his breath on my skin and smell mint and coriander. I close my eyes, trying not to shiver with excitement.
¡°You¡¯re good at getting into ces you don¡¯t belong,¡± he whispers, and I feel a finger stroke up my bare thigh.
¡°Hey, easy with that,¡± I say, trembling as I gently swat him back.
He doesn¡¯t seem fazed. ¡°You¡¯re right, I doubt I could keep you prisoner here even if I wanted. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking. For the next month, try not to take any risks.¡±
Okay, that¡¯s reasonable, even if it annoys me a little bit. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± I turn onto my side and look right into his face. Fuck, he¡¯s handsome. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just steal the decryption key from Jeremy Fong?¡±
He licks his teeth again, and my mouth absolutely waters at the thought of that tongue invading my lips again, just like on our wedding day.
¡°That¡¯s not an option. He might seem benign, but trust me, Iron Head is a serious yer.¡±
¡°I wish you¡¯d stop calling him that. It sounds like a bad gamer tag.¡±
He ignores me. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to break it tomorrow. In the meantime, no trouble.¡± He pauses, and I think that¡¯s the end of the conversation, but he doesn¡¯t roll over. Instead, he asks, ¡°Where¡¯d you learn how to pickpocket, by the way?¡±
My eyebrows raise. ¡°Are you trying to get to know me?¡±
¡°You¡¯re my wife now. I might as well.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t sound too enthusiastic.¡±
¡°I¡¯m serious, I really want to know about you.¡±
I hesitate, not sure if I really want to reveal much of myself to this man, but decide it can¡¯t hurt. ¡°My older brother. He works as part of the heist team for our family.¡±
¡°Heist team?¡± I can see his dark smile across from me. It¡¯s much, much too close.
¡°They n jobs and carry them out all over the country. Brenden taught me how to break locks, case a target, steal a car, basic pickpocketing, all that stuff.¡±
¡°Just like a totally normal older brother should.¡±
¡°You seriously want to judge me right now?¡±
¡°Not at all, baby, not at all. I¡¯m only teasing.¡± I grind my jaw, annoyed at how amused he sounds. ¡°It sounds like you really took to his lessons, though.¡±
¡°I was good at it. I guess I have a knack.¡±
¡°Why¡¯s that, do you think? Stealing runs in the family?¡±
¡°No, asshole.¡± I nudge him with my elbow lightly. ¡°I was a pretty good gymnast back in high school, right?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen how flexible you are,¡± he murmurs.
I¡¯m thankful that the lights are out because I start blushing like crazy. ¡°Anyway, I think that helped with the dexterity stuff. You know, picking locks and lifting wallets just takes a soft touch. I learned a lot of that in gymnastics, and I just had to apply it a little differently, that¡¯s all.¡±
¡°But why stealing? You could have taken up any hobby in the world. Why did your brother¡¯s heist work interest you?¡±
I don¡¯t answer at first. I think back to those early days when I first graduated high school but wasn¡¯t going to college. I was lost back then, drifting around and looking for something to do, and Brenden¡¯s the one who came along to give me purpose.
¡°It started small,¡± I say finally. ¡°Just basic lockpicking. I was pretty good at it, so I asked him to show me more. I don¡¯t know, but it just seemed fun.¡±
¡°It seemed fun,¡± he repeats like he¡¯s tasting the words. ¡°That¡¯s not all of it, though.¡±
¡°Do I really need another reason? Come on, you¡¯re theputer hacker. You basically do the same thing as me, only online.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a fair point,¡± he concedes, ¡°but my cybercrimes are for money. From what I can tell, stealing isn¡¯t your job.¡±
I chew my lip, considering how much to divulge. ¡°Living with my dad hasn¡¯t always been easy,¡± I say after another pause.
¡°How does your father connect back to stealing?¡±
¡°He¡¯s always made me feel like I¡¯m not good enough.¡± Why am I telling him all this right now? I feel naked and vulnerable, and I¡¯m terrified he¡¯s going to judge me. ¡°Brenden showed me I could take control of something for once in my life. It didn¡¯t matter what my father thought when I was out on a job, scaling a wall, shoving my way through a window, cracking a safe, whatever. Out there, I was the one in charge, and that feels good.¡±
He lets out a soft grunt like he understands. ¡°You want control.¡±
¡°Exactly. Control. I haven¡¯t had much of that in my life.¡± Iugh lightly, trying to act like this is no big deal and I¡¯m totally not baring my soul to a literal stranger. ¡°Honestly, picking locks wasn¡¯t that fun until Brenden let me actually break in somewhere. Then I was totally hooked. It¡¯s never been about the money for me, and I¡¯ll never sell anything in my collection. I steal to feel free.¡±
I close my eyes. It¡¯s strange vocalizing this. I¡¯ve always known why I steal deep down inside, but I¡¯ve never said the words out loud before.
I¡¯m an impulsive person, but above all, I yearn to have a sense of control over my life and my surroundings. Living under my father¡¯s roof hasn¡¯t always been the best for my self-esteem, but the second I started breaking into ces I didn¡¯t belong?¡ª
Well, suddenly, I was the one in charge, and nobody could stop me.
¡°Thank you for sharing that with me.¡± He puts a hand on my thigh. It¡¯s big and warm, and a shiver runs up my spine. ¡°I really meant it when I said I want to know you, Riley.¡±
¡°Yeah? I¡¯m not just some random Irish wife?¡±
¡°Well, you¡¯re that, but we¡¯re in this together now.¡± His fingers tighten their grip. ¡°For better or worse.¡±
I push his hand away. ¡°Mostly for worse.¡± I turn my back on him, suddenly too aware of what we¡¯re doing. He¡¯s getting closer and closer, he¡¯s touching me, we¡¯re lying in bed together in the middle of the night, and it¡¯s too much. I know where this goes. I know how it ends.
With me barefoot and pregnant.
Good luck robbing anything with a big old baby bump.
Maybe I shouldn¡¯t retreat, but I¡¯m also not ready to take that next step.
¡°Goodnight, Alexan,¡± I say, pulling the covers tighter around me.
¡°Goodnight, wife,¡± he says softly in that beautiful velvet voice of his. ¡°Wear the shirt tomorrow night.¡± Then he shifts over to his side of the bed, giving me much-needed space.
I close my eyes and smile into the darkness.
Maybe I will.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 14
Numbers scroll across my screens as I drink coffee. My feet are up on the desk, and soft ssical music is ying through my stereo system.
The watch is connected by a long cable to my main PC system. It¡¯s entirely air-gapped, which means it¡¯s not connected to anything at all, with no possible way of transmitting any data.
I run the watch through my diagnostic system, and so far, I¡¯ve found nothing interesting.
Except for a whole lot of encrypted data.
Which means it¡¯s useless, at least without the key.
I¡¯ve been in this business for a long time. I¡¯ve gone up against some very talented hackers in the past, and mostly I¡¯vee out on top. Generally, I¡¯m very good at what I do. My hacker name, Permafrost, has a very good reputation among the underbelly of the dark web.
But this is some extremely advanced shit.
I¡¯ve seen good cryptography before. Most of the publicly avable cryptographic protocols are very solid. They¡¯re crackable with someputing power and a little luck, but it would probably take me at least a few months, depending on which one they used and the length of the passcode.
Except this is something new.
It¡¯s bizarre, and it¡¯s powerful.
¡°Good morning, husband.¡± Riley steps into my office. She beams at me, looking a little too perky for seven in the morning. Sunlight streams through the window and catches in her auburn hair, and I¡¯m struck by how truly beautiful she is. My wife¡¯s in a simple pair of tights and a long t-shirt with not a speck of makeup on her face, and she looks like heaven. Plump lips, upturned nose, high cheekbones. Those cute Irish freckles. And a body that makes me shiver with pure want.
I nearly lost controlst night. Lying in bed with her and keeping my hands to myself was one of the hardest things I¡¯ve ever done. I had to distract myself, and the only topic I can think about these days is her.
Which only made me want to touch her even more.
It¡¯s probably a good thing she turned her back on me. I have to remember that this girl got me tangled up with the ck Mantis. There¡¯s a serious chance that we both end up dead at the end of this, and I¡¯ve got only pretty little Riley to me.
¡°Can I help you with something?¡±
¡°No, I don¡¯t think so.¡± She sprawls on the couch a few feet away. I nce at her legs and thighs, jaw flexing. I¡¯m tempted to bury my face between her legs. Focus, Alexan. ¡°Just seeing what you¡¯re up to.¡±
I gesture at my screen. ¡°Right now, I¡¯m reminding myself how we¡¯re in deep shit.¡±
¡°That bad, huh?¡±
¡°That bad,¡± I agree. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to crack this before Mantis decides toe kill us both.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t do that thing?¡± She waves a hand in the air before making a muscle. ¡°You know, brute force?¡±
I snort a littleugh. ¡°How do you know what that is?¡±
¡°I watch TV.¡±
¡°Okay, well, no, I can¡¯t brute force this. My system¡¯s got a lot ofpute power, but it¡¯d still take¡ª¡± I do the quick math in my head. ¡°Something like ten thousand years to crack it.¡±
She whistles and shakes her head. ¡°That¡¯s not good.¡±
¡°No kidding.¡± I sip my coffee, considering. ¡°We¡¯ll need to try something else.¡±
¡°We can always, you know¡ª¡± She stretches out on my couch with a sigh and looks at me upside down. ¡°Steal it.¡±
¡°Not this again.¡±
¡°Better than waiting ten thousand years. You¡¯re going to be an ugly mummy by the time that happens.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll both be mummies with bullet wounds in their foreheads.¡± I study my wife, considering. ¡°I¡¯lle up with something else.¡±
¡°Oh,e on.¡± She stretches, and her top pulls up, showing a naked band of flesh around the top of her tights. I stare at that skin and think about pushing her shirt up more, up over her breasts, taking my mouth to her pierced nipple?¡ª
Focus, damn it.
¡°Are you here to help, or are you going to make the same suggestion over and over again?¡± I¡¯m being a little needlessly surly, but it¡¯s better than walking over there and fucking her senseless, which is what I really want to do right now.
¡°I¡¯m going to keep on suggesting it until you realize it¡¯s our only option.¡± She props her face on one hand. Her top stays pulled up, and now I¡¯m sure she¡¯s messing with me because she knows I keep looking. Her eyebrows raise, and she¡¯s got a sly smile. ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡±
¡°Because you¡¯re bothering me.¡±
¡°Oh, no, I¡¯m distracting the poor genius hacker?¡± She pouts and bats her eyshes. ¡°Are you going to punish me?¡±
A thrill runs into my stomach, and I¡¯m already half hard thinking about smacking her perky, pale ass until it¡¯s pink with my handprints.
¡°You want me to leave my mark on you, Riley?¡± I lean forward, staring at her with a vicious hunger. ¡°Or do you think this is just some game?¡±
¡°I think it¡¯s a game,¡± she says, smiling softer now and stretching again. ¡°And I think you¡¯re also full of shit. You¡¯re going to sit at thatputer all day, cursing and getting all mad, and in the end, you¡¯re going to realize I was right all along. Why not save us both some time and get right to doing what I want?¡±
I cross my arms over my chest. ¡°Is that something you get often? What you want?¡±
¡°Rarely,¡± she says, ncing at my arm muscles.
So, the little kitten likes what she sees as well?
I smirk slightly and let her eyes move along my torso. They linger on my lips for a moment. And I swear, now she¡¯s blushing. I wish I could read her mind and hear all the dirty thoughts she¡¯s got rattling in that filthy brain of hers.
¡°You aren¡¯t getting anywhere near Mantis again. Thest time you were in the same room with one of their operatives, you got us into this mess.¡±
¡°I was ignorant. Mea culpa. But I know better now.¡± She sits up and spreads her hands. ¡°Use me, Alexan.¡±
My eyebrows raise. ¡°Use you?¡±
Her cheeks turn pink. ¡°You know what I mean. Use my skills.¡±
¡°I was thinking I¡¯d use you for something else.¡± I lick my lips, thinking about her mouth wrapped around the head of my cock, sucking and moaning and whimpering for me to fuck her.
¡°I¡¯m going to admit that I feel a little guilty about this, okay?¡± She says it quickly, like she¡¯s rushing to cover something else. ¡°I didn¡¯t know who I was stealing from, but that¡¯s not really a good excuse. I¡¯m impulsive sometimes, alright? I screwed up and now you¡¯re involved, and I just want to do something to help. That¡¯s all.¡±
I consider that while drinking my coffee. She sits back on the couch, arms crossed over her chest, looking frustrated.
¡°That¡¯s admirable,¡± I finally admit. ¡°You want to make this right. I totally get that.¡±
¡°I want to be useful,¡± she says. ¡°I can be useful. You just have to trust me first.¡±
¡°I believe you, I really do, even though I¡¯m kind of surprised, but it¡¯s not about your skills.¡±
¡°Great, thanks, that¡¯s almost apliment. What¡¯s it about then?¡±
¡°Keeping you safe. Making sure the alliance we built doesn¡¯t fall apart.¡± I lean forward before she can talk over me. ¡°My boss murdered your leader¡¯s brother. Do you have any idea how hard it is toe back from something like that? The fact that we¡¯re sitting here in this room together is a testament to hard work and pure luck. The second we screw this up is the second a lot of people will start trying to kill each other again, and I don¡¯t want that. I assume you don¡¯t either.¡±
She looks toward the window, frowning. ¡°I don¡¯t want that,¡± she says gently. ¡°I knew some of the men that died. They were boys, really.¡±
¡°Then I have to keep you safe. I need to preserve this rtionship. Which means you go nowhere near Mantis.¡±
¡°I still think it¡¯s the only option.¡±
¡°And I still think I¡¯lle up with something else.¡±
She pushes to her feet, looking frustrated. ¡°It¡¯s not just about protecting me though, is it?¡±
I tilt my head. ¡°What else would it be?¡±
¡°It¡¯s about protecting your investment. It¡¯s about¡ protecting this.¡± She puts a hand over her belly. ¡°Don¡¯t act like I don¡¯t know what we¡¯re supposed to do.¡±
¡°Marriage is one thing, but there¡¯s nothing like a baby to bring two organizations together.¡±
She turns her back on me. I can¡¯t tell how she feels about that, but I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s not good.
This is a woman who craves control over her life. She¡¯s impulsive and passionate, and yet she wishes she had more agency over the direction of her future. It must be hard knowing she has no say in whether she gets pregnant or not.
That¡¯s the ultimate hell for her.
She doesn¡¯t even get to say what happens to her own body.
If I feel guilty, I shove it back down. That¡¯s just weakness talking. Pity¡¯s not going to fix our situation.
We¡¯ll be lucky if we even get to the point of knocking her up before Mantis ends us both.
¡°Let me know when you change your mind,¡± she says and heads to the door.
¡°You can help,¡± I say without thinking. It spills out of my mouth, and I don¡¯t even know where it came from. Now I feel like her, saying whateveres through my head. But normally, I have better self-control than that.
¡°Really?¡± She perks up slightly. ¡°You¡¯re going to let me steal the key?¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to keep you involved in my ns.¡±
She frowns, clearly not happy about that. ¡°Sounds like a load of crap to me.¡±
¡°Best you¡¯re going to get.¡±
She turns back to the door. ¡°Keep me updated.¡± Her hips sway slightly as she leaves my office.
God, I¡¯m weak for that woman, and I don¡¯t even know why.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 15
I turn the dial on my safe and listen to the satisfying click as it opens. The door swings out, and I look in at all my little treasures.
The bedroom behind me is empty. The closet all around me is basically raided to the studs. A few random things are still hanging around on the top shelf, but I¡¯ll bring all that over to Alexan¡¯s house in the next few days.
I guess I should call it our house.
I¡¯m still getting used to the idea of living there. I¡¯ve added a few little touches here and there to try to make it my own, but it still feels weirdly barren and cold.
Alexan doesn¡¯t help. When he¡¯s not angrily staring at hisputer screen, he¡¯s stomping around,ining about my mess, which is, like, a single used ss left on a counter or a pair of pants left on the floor.
The guy¡¯s a neat freak, par excellence.
But the worst part is the night. He reads nearly naked, his ripped body like a beacon for every single impulsive, horny, intrusive thought I have, and it takes a lot of willpower not to cross any lines. Meanwhile, he loves staring at my tits, especially my pierced nipple.
I keep picturing his mouth sucking on it hard. He could probably make mee just tonguing my piercing.
Except that¡¯s not even the bad part.
No, the terrible thing is he keeps asking me questions about myself.
It¡¯s infuriating. I keep thinking he¡¯ll finally let me sleep in peace until I hear his voice in the darkness. It¡¯s always about me: my taste in movies, TV, music, that sort of thing. He asks about friends from high school, about what I would¡¯ve majored in if I had gone to college, all that stuff, and never once does he talk about himself.
It¡¯s always about me.
And I hate him for it.
Because nobody¡¯s ever shown any interest in me like that before. Not night after night for nearly a week now. We end up talking for hours sometimes, and I don¡¯t even realize how much time has passed until I look at the clock. When he¡¯s not being an overbearing asshole, time seems to slip away like water through my hands when we¡¯re lying in bed together.
It¡¯s beyond frustrating.
Life is easier when he¡¯s nothing but an ice-cold bastard. But the way he seems deeply interested in everything I say makes me think there¡¯s more going on underneath the surface than I realized.
¡°I know a guy with a stash just like yours.¡±
I jump and nearly hit my head on the wall. Brenden¡¯s behind me, grinning slightly as he cranes his neck to look in my safe.
¡°Could you not?¡± I m the door shut. ¡°Where¡¯d youe from, anyway?¡±
¡°You¡¯re not hard to sneak up on. Where do you think you learned it, anyway?¡±
He¡¯s got a point. I¡¯m more than a little distracted these days.
¡°Who¡¯s the guy?¡± I ask,ing out of the closet.
He sits on the edge of my bed¡ªmy former bed, I mean¡ªand grimaces slightly. He¡¯s been favoring one side ever since he got home. When I ask about where the bruises came from and why his knee seems all messed up, he refuses to talk about it. He¡¯s skinnier than he¡¯s ever been, and there are bags under his eyes.
¡°His name¡¯s Roger Dney. I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s not real, but it¡¯s what he went by. The guy had this weird little collection of fetishes?¡ª¡±
¡°Fetishes?¡± My eyebrows raise.
¡°Not like that.¡± Brenden shakes his head at me. ¡°Fetishes, as in objects believed to have supernatural powers.¡±
¡°I had no clue that had another definition.¡±
¡°It¡¯s an old magic thing. But anyway, he treated his little collection like they were holy relics or something.¡±
¡°What did he take?¡±
¡°Wedding rings. Seriously, wedding rings, from men and women. Anyone he could get his hands on, he¡¯d take their ring and add it to his collection. He told me one night when he was wasted as hell that the rings gave him some of their previous owner¡¯s strength. Batshit crazy but a great burr.¡±
¡°You think my collection¡¯s crazy too?¡±
He shakes his head. ¡°I think it¡¯s a liability, but it¡¯s important to you. I¡¯m just curious why you haven¡¯t moved it into your new house yet.¡±
I was wondering the same thing. I nce back into the closet and try to imagine all those objects under Alexan¡¯s roof, but it feels wrong.
Those are mine, but that ce is partially his.
I don¡¯t want to share my treasures with anyone, not even my husband.
¡°I¡¯ll do it eventually,¡± I say vaguely as I put the loose board back into ce. ¡°When I¡¯m ready, I guess.¡±
¡°Think you ever will be?¡± Brenden¡¯s voice is serious as he studies me. ¡°Seriously, Riles, you good?¡±
¡°Depends on how you define good, but yeah, I¡¯m okay.¡±
¡°He¡¯s treating you well?¡±
I¡¯m about to answer when the door pushes open. My father¡¯s standing there in the hallway, frowning in at us like we¡¯re sitting here nning a coup.
¡°Riley¡¯s marriage isn¡¯t your concern,¡± Dad says to Brenden. ¡°You should stay out of it.¡±
Brenden res at our father. ¡°I¡¯m just making sure he¡¯s treating her well. You really don¡¯t care if you sold her off to some asshole?¡±
¡°Alexan Sarkissian will respect the agreement we put in ce.¡± Dad doesn¡¯t seem fazed by Brenden¡¯s anger. He never does. My brother could scream in our father¡¯s face, and our old man would only stare death in return. ¡°Beyond that, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±
¡°That¡¯s typical.¡± Brenden gets to his feet with a slight grimace. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll shoulder the burden.¡±
¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s fine. You go on and sell your daughter?¡ª¡±
¡°I said, that¡¯s enough.¡±
Brenden looks disgusted as he hobbles past me. He pauses and puts a hand on my shoulder, and I want to say something. I want to thank him for standing up to our father, tell him that I¡¯m okay, that Alexan¡¯s actually not bad at all, that if anything goes wrong, it¡¯s all my fault, only I can¡¯t make myself talk.
Not with our father standing there and watching.
Brenden walks off. If he¡¯s surprised that I keep my mouth shut, he doesn¡¯t show it.
He¡¯s used to my cowardice by now.
¡°Careful how you talk, Riley,¡± Dad says, ring in at me. ¡°You know how important your alliance is to the family.¡±
Fuck you, judgmental asshole. I¡¯m doing the best I can.
¡°Yes, Dad. I know.¡±
¡°I hope you¡¯re not doing anything to endanger the peace.¡±
I drag in a breath through my nose to stay calm. My shoulders slump with the effort. ¡°I know my role.¡±
¡°Good.¡± Dad turns away. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t forget it. And stoping over here. Your ce is back home.¡±
Which sure as hell isn¡¯t here anymore.
Once he¡¯s gone, I copse onto the bed. My heart¡¯s racing, and sweat breaks out on my skin. There¡¯s not a single person in the world that can make me feel so small and weak like my father can.
All he has to do is give me that disappointed look, and suddenly I¡¯m a little girl again, desperate to please her daddy but unable to ever do it.
Absolutely pathetic.
I get out of there not long after. I head out front, thinking I¡¯ll order an Uber back to Alexan¡¯s, but there¡¯s a ck BMW already waiting.
And my husband is behind the wheel.
I hesitate, staring at him. He looks right back at me and motions with his head for me to get in.
I figure running away would only make things worse, so I climb into the passenger seat.
¡°I didn¡¯t know you were running a car service,¡± I say as sweetly as I can.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t be out here. You know how dangerous it is.¡±
¡°I just have some things I still need at home.¡±
He nces at my empty hands, and I realize I left all my stuff back in my room. Oh, well, toote now. I¡¯m not going back inside.
He puts the car in gear. ¡°Next time, tell me where you¡¯re going.¡±
¡°Are you tracking me now?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m making sure you¡¯re safe, remember?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were going to be overprotective and controlling.¡± I sit back in the seat, frustrated and angry, though not really at him.
Mostly at myself. But I feel like taking it out on my husband.
¡°Let¡¯s call it possessive.¡± He stares out the front window as he drives. ¡°Your ce is in my house now.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s call it delusional instead.¡±
¡°Are we going to fight about every little thing?¡±
¡°Probably.¡±
¡°Wonderful. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll want to fight when you¡¯re dead, too.¡±
¡°You and I can bicker in heaven. Well, I¡¯ll be there; I don¡¯t know about you.¡±
He smirks and nces at me. ¡°You think I¡¯m such an evil man?¡±
¡°If the shoe fits. Or maybe I mean if the gun holster fits.¡± I eye the bulge under his jacket.
Heughs softly, shaking his head. ¡°The world needs men like me, princess.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what every asshole says.¡± I lean in close and put a hand on his thigh. He stiffens, lips pressing into a tight line. ¡°Except most of them are too stupid to realize when they stop being the hero and turn into the viin.¡±
He says nothing. I leave my hand right there on his thigh, dangerously close to his big hard dick, mostly just to tease him, but also because I like it.
He¡¯s attractive as hell. I can¡¯t pretend otherwise. But for all my talk about viins and evil men, I find myself absolutely fascinated by my husband.
Maybe he¡¯s a bad guy. But maybe I like bad guys.
¡°Either move your hand further up or sit back and put your damn seat belt on,¡± he snarls, fingers gripping the wheel, and I realize maybe I¡¯m being a tad impulsive yet again.
¡°Yes, sir,¡± I say, clicking myself in.
¡°Good girl.¡± He nces in my direction. ¡°Looks like I called your bluff.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be a child. There was no bluff.¡±
¡°Then climb in myp right now. I¡¯ll park the car and we can work on getting you pregnant.¡±
I sputter,ughing at the audacity. ¡°Isn¡¯t it dangerous out here?¡±
¡°You¡¯re safe with me.¡±
¡°Yeah, right, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be safe with your dick between my legs.¡± I shiver at the thought.
He licks his lips. ¡°That¡¯s the safest ce in the world for you: sweating and writhing in myp.¡±
I roll my eyes and look out the window while inwardly my core¡¯s throbbing with every massive beat of my heart.
This man¡¯s got a dirty mouth and way too much confidence, and the worst part is, I think I like it.
Which is bad. The second this overprotective asshole realizes his whole dominant dickhead routine kind of works on me, he¡¯s going to be absolutely insufferable.
Better keep these feelings to myself.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 16
I get down on my knees in the closet and shift the massive safe into position. I keep thinking about Riley touching my leg yesterday, the little cocky smirk on her lips, the way itpletely faded away when I called her bluff, and how she pretended like I didn¡¯t exist for the rest of the night.
The woman¡¯s going to kill me.
And not just because she got me involved with the Mantis.
I sit back on my haunches when I¡¯m done and admire my handiwork. It¡¯s not quite done¡ªI need to bolt it to the floor¡ªbut for now, it¡¯s fine. I stand and stretch, cracking my back, and saunter off to find my wife.
Riley¡¯s in the kitchen cleaning her dishes from thest few nights. It takes all my willpower not to wash them myself, since she lets the stuff pile up in the sink until there¡¯s basically no room left and she¡¯s got no other choice. I wash my own and it wouldn¡¯t be a huge deal, but to hell with that.
I already pick up after the girl. Random half-filled sses, trash from deliveries, asionally actual food caught between the couch cushions, her makeup left sprawled all over the bathroom sink. If I¡¯m a little bit too obsessed with neatness, she¡¯s a little too fascinated with her own dirty sprawl.
¡°Nothing I love more than a beautiful woman cleaning up after herself,¡± I purr as I breeze into the kitchen.
She shoots me a dirty look. ¡°Don¡¯t be sexist.¡±
¡°How¡¯s that sexist?¡±
¡°You just want women to cook and clean. You know, barefoot and pregnant and in the kitchen where they belong.¡±
I raise my eyebrows. ¡°Is that what I said?¡±
¡°It¡¯s what you implied.¡±
I lean in closer and put a hand on the small of her back. When she tries to jerk away, I pin her against the counter with my body. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking wrong,¡± I say softly, ring at her, annoyed that she thinks I¡¯m just some idiot caveman that wants to shackle her up like some domestic sex ve.
¡°Sorry, but no part of me believes you.¡± She leans in close, pushing her hips into mine. ¡°For example, you¡¯re doing it right now.¡±
My jaw tightens and I force myself to step back. ¡°I have something for you,¡± I say, already feeling like my surprise has been ruined.
¡°Yeah? What¡¯s that? A mop and an apron?¡±
¡°You¡¯d look fucking good in nothing but an apron,¡± I say sharply. ¡°But this isn¡¯t for me. Come on, it¡¯s upstairs.¡±
I march off without waiting. If she follows, great. If not, I¡¯ll take a shower and be done with this frustrating woman.
The curiosity must¡¯ve been too much because her footsteps shadow me. I lead her to the closet and gesture inside.
She hesitates, her eyes straying down to the safe sitting beneath her clothes. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
¡°It¡¯s for your collection.¡± I gesture at it. ¡°I haven¡¯t set abination. You can keep all your little secrets inside there.¡±
She nces at me, frowning like she doesn¡¯t believe this is real, before drifting over. She kneels down in front of the safe and starts poking and prodding at the mechanisms. ¡°This is a really good one,¡± she says with genuine surprise.
¡°Better be. Spent a fortune on it.¡±
¡°Seriously, Alexan, it¡¯s top of the line.¡± She looks over like she¡¯s never seen me before. ¡°Why¡¯d you do this?¡±
¡°Because you said you still had stuff at home,¡± I say, ncing away. I don¡¯t like the expression on her face, like she¡¯s shocked by a simple, kind gesture. ¡°I figured this would help with the transition.¡±
¡°That¡¯s extremely thoughtful.¡± She closes the safe door, inputs a code, and the mechanism locks. ¡°But aren¡¯t you against my thieving addiction?¡±
¡°Only when it gets you in trouble. I¡¯m not aplete monster.¡± I step into the closet and kneel down beside her. ¡°If you want to keep your things in there, it¡¯s all yours. I don¡¯t need the code and I won¡¯t ask for it. But I will help you bolt the thing to the floor so nobody can steal it.¡±
She smiles slightly. ¡°Nobody would want to take my collection. It¡¯s all worthless.¡±
¡°Not to you, it isn¡¯t. I¡¯ll treat it like it¡¯s priceless so long as you care.¡±
She turns to me. Her smile fades, and I¡¯m aware of how close she is. Her thick auburn hair¡¯s only an inch from my face, and I can smell shampoo and mint and honey. I¡¯m tempted to touch her, but I don¡¯t want to feed that bullshit narrative about how I¡¯m some controlling piece of shit. There¡¯s a difference between wanting to own her and wanting to keep her safe.
Although both would be nice.
She moves closer. Our knees touch, and she sits forward until her body presses against mine. There¡¯s not a lot of room with all her clothes hanging down around us, and she bumps against a dress, making the hangers screech on the rod. I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s doing, but I stay still as she touches my face and stares into my eyes with a curious, confused frown.
¡°I¡¯m going to do something now,¡± she whispers and the sound of her breathing is swallowed by the fabric all around us. The room¡¯s dim, the light blocked by more dresses. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to talk.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t handle that.¡±
She touches my lips. ¡°Shut up.¡± Then she takes a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m going to regret this.¡±
She presses her mouth to mine.
For a moment, I don¡¯t move. Our faces are mashed together. Then she turns to the side and I reach up, running my fingers through her thick hair. Her eyes are pinched shut and her lips part ever so slightly.
That¡¯s all I need. I kiss her back, hungrily, starving for her, desperate for her taste as my tongue slides against hers. She whimpers and I pull her against me, tumbling backward awkwardly. Shends on top with a gasp,ughing lightly, eyes shining as I drag her face back to mine, kissing her harder.
God, what a fucking kiss. We¡¯re scrunched up under shirts and pants, there¡¯s a fucking boot mashed in the small of my back, and her safe¡¯s only a few inches away, but I wouldn¡¯t change a goddamn thing.
Because she¡¯s here and she¡¯s mine.
Riley lets out a soft moan as my other hand explores her back. She¡¯s wearing a thin cotton tee and little shorts, and I squeeze her ass tight, my heart racing. She grinds into me, making the hangers scrape against the rod again, and not even an ugly screeching sound can ruin this.
I devour her lips. I taste her tongue. I drink her down and growl into her mouth. My cock¡¯s raging hard and I can¡¯t stop myself as I roll her over, pinning her down onto the floor.
Her legs wrap around my back as my hard dick presses against her core. She¡¯s got those lovely fuck-me eyes.
¡°Here I was, thinking you weren¡¯t just some sex-crazed cave man.¡±
¡°I contain multitudes.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t that Walt Whitman?¡±
¡°Who?¡± I kiss her, biting her lips, and roughly shove her shirt up over her tits. She gasps in surprise as I kiss her neck, peppering her skin with more wet kisses until I reach her bare breasts.
No fucking bra.
I lick one nipple, keeping her hands pinned above her head. She grinds into me, whimpering and making these perfect fucking gasping moaning sounds. Her right breast is pierced, a simple little silver bar with round nubs on either end. I lick it, tasting metal and skin, and she reacts with a low, throaty groan.
My eyebrows raise, and I lick it again.
She grinds into me, mewling like a kitten. Her mouth hangs open, and she clearly likes that. I suck it harder, and she reacts by arching her back.
¡°Sensitive,¡± she whimpers.
¡°I can see that.¡± I smirk and tease her, my tongue rolling a slow circle. She¡¯s panting as I do it.
¡°Piercing made it¡ feel a thousand times more¡¡± She groans, eyes rolling back when I suck it. ¡°Fuck, that¡¯s so nice.¡±
I kiss her lips as I roughly pull her shorts down to her knees. I go back to kissing her tits as my fingers start to roam her pussy. She¡¯s breathing fast, cursing and grinding into me, her pale skin creamy and fucking perfect. Her pubic hair is auburn too, curly and scratching under my palm, as my fingers slowly sink into her soaking wet pussy. Her pink lips are pretty under my hand, and her pink nipple tastes perfect as I suck it hard and fill her with my fingers.
¡°Oh my god,¡± she gasps, grinding against me. ¡°This is so much better than doing the dishes.¡±
I smirk to myself and drive my fingers in deep. She groans,ughing at how good it feels, and I tongue her nipple again.
¡°You know what I really want to do today?¡± I murmur, stroking in and out with my fingers.
¡°What¡¯s that? I¡¯ll give you anything if you keep going.¡±
¡°Perfect, because what I want is for you toe all over my fingers so I can suck them clean and get a good taste of you.¡±
Her eyes widen. ¡°Oh, wow,¡± she says.
¡°Or maybe I¡¯ll make you suck them clean? Or maybe I¡¯ll make you suck my fingers clean while I fuck you from behind?¡±
¡°Alexan,¡± she moans, eyes rolling back. ¡°Nipple. Right fucking now.¡±
I grin and keep stroking her pussy, fingers sliding in and out at the same perfect tempo, and lock my mouth around her pierced breast.
All I have to do is suck once, and she¡¯s all mine.
Her orgasm takes over her full body. It¡¯s glorious the way her pale, freckled skin turns pink as shees. I keep licking her nipple and stroking her pussy as she explodes, and I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen something so beautiful before in my life.
¡°Okay, okay, okay, shit,¡± she says, squirming back, grinning like a maniac. ¡°Now it¡¯s really, really sensitive.¡±
I pull my fingers out of her and lean back. She lies there breathing hard, tits puddled to either side.
I take her in. Her perfect lips open, her chest rising and falling rapidly, the blush in her cheeks, her knees pushed together, her lovely little mound, and her curly pubic hair. All of her, beautiful.
¡°That¡¯s my good girl,¡± I say and lick my fingers. Her taste is salty and sharp, and it¡¯s exactly what I wanted. ¡°You taste good too.¡±
¡°Oh my god,¡± she says, grinning. ¡°That was good. I mean, not what I expected today, but¡ª¡± She wriggles a little as she pulls down her shirt. ¡°Really good.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t cover yourself,¡± I say, staring hard at her. Still cleaning off my fingers. ¡°I want to think about thister.¡±
She blinks at me, smirking a little, and then quickly pulls her shorts up. ¡°You got enough of a show already,¡± she says, pushing up to her feet.
My dick¡¯s so hard it¡¯s pulsing. ¡°I don¡¯t think I got nearly enough,¡± I say softly.
She pats my cheek. ¡°Thank you for the orgasm.¡± Then she¡¯s out of there, scampering away like I¡¯m going to grab her and drag her down again.
¡°Fuck,¡± I say, sighing as I copse back against the wall.
That fucking girl kills me.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 17
The bar is dim and crowded. Most of the people here are Brotherhood-rted, though there are some civilians over in the booths. I¡¯m at a corner table, my back against the wall, and three men sit across from me.
¡°First, thanks to all three of you for showing up,¡± I say, raising my ss of whiskey. I have to speak loudly over the ring techno music. This ce is popr with a certain kind of young criminal. Photographs of graffiti cover the walls, and most of the tables are decorated with spray paint. Not normally my scene, but Tigran suggested it as a first meeting ce.
¡°Did we have a choice?¡± Daron asks, grinning at me. He¡¯s a year older, has short hair, is good looking in a muscr sort of way, and is always in ck denim and ck shirts.
¡°You always have a choice, although some choices are wrong.¡±
He barks a littleugh. ¡°Fair point. Honestly, when I heard you got the big promotion, I didn¡¯t expect you to call.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re a smart man.¡± I grin at my old friend. We¡¯ve known each other since we were young and came up in the underground hacking world together. He was the first person I reached out to when it was time to build my team.
¡°We¡¯re just happy to be here,¡± William says. He¡¯s a few years younger, athletic looking, has longer curly hair, and very handsome blue eyes. I don¡¯t know him nearly as well, but he¡¯s got a sterling reputation for social engineering. That¡¯s the art of talking his way into basically any system by fooling people into giving him their passwords. ¡°Got to admit, there aren¡¯t many technically minded men in the Brotherhood.¡±
¡°More and more these days,¡± Eric says, thest member of my team. He¡¯s the youngest of the group, but I¡¯ve seen his work, and it¡¯s impressive.
¡°That¡¯s actually why we¡¯re forming this team,¡± I say, looking at my three hand-picked crewmates. It¡¯s too soon to say whether this will be a sess, but if it¡¯s going to work, these men are my best shot. ¡°The Brotherhood¡¯s too old-fashioned. Groups like Zeitsevs have much better cyber-based operations, and the patron believes that if we¡¯re going topete in theing years, we need to expand online.¡±
¡°What exactly are we going to be doing?¡± William asks, head tilted. He¡¯s got a charming smile, but he uses it to hide what he¡¯s really thinking. ¡°Stealing money from old people?¡±
¡°That might be part of it,¡± I concede. ¡°I¡¯ve considered a call center at some point in the future. But right now, our job is to research opportunities.¡±
¡°You want us to go out and find heists,¡± Daron says, raising a ss. ¡°I can do that.¡±
¡°Heists, hacks, soft targets, anything technical.¡± I look at each of them in turn. ¡°For right now, I want you all to make a list of your current jobs. Anything you¡¯re working on, report it. Tell me who hired you and why. From there, we¡¯ll startpiling some lucrative ideas. We¡¯re a team now, the four of us. I know you¡¯re all used to working alone, but those days are gone. We¡¯re better together.¡±
¡°Very inspiring,¡± Daron says.
¡°I think it¡¯s a great idea.¡± Eric seems eager as he leans forward. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been thinking about this hack?¡ª¡±
He goes on to describe, in excruciating detail, a bank with weak protections he¡¯s been casing for thest few weeks. That seems to break the ice, and William chimes in with some ideas of his own. Even Daron engages, which is better than I expected.
These are masters of their domains. They don¡¯t like to share. But if I can make theme together as a team, I think we¡¯ll be unstoppable.
After an hour, the meeting breaks up. I motion for Daron to stay behind as the other two head off, talking about their past exploits. Or mostly William talks while Eric grunts and pretends to be impressed.
¡°What do you think?¡± I ask him once we¡¯re alone.
Daron shrugs and finishes his drink. ¡°It¡¯s a cute idea, bute on. It¡¯s going to take a lot before we trust each other.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why we have to start working on this now.¡± I lean toward him, lowering my voice. ¡°Arsen put me in charge of this little crew. He chose me for a reason.¡±
¡°Yeah? And why¡¯s that?¡± There¡¯s an edge to Daron¡¯s smile now.
¡°I¡¯m the best. We both know it¡¯s true. And I chose you first because you¡¯re just as good, and because I trust you.¡± I lean toward him. ¡°I need you to step up. Can you handle it?¡±
His smile fades. This is the Daron I know. Hees off aloof and uncaring, like he believes everything is bullshit, but that¡¯s just an act. He¡¯s deeply driven and would do anything for his family, no matter the cost.
¡°You know I can,¡± he says with a sharp nod.
¡°Then I have a job for you.¡±
Heughs lightly, breaking some of the tension. ¡°Already? I thought you¡¯d ease us into this.¡±
¡°I need you to put together a dossier on a man named Jeremy Fong. He works for a cybersecuritypany in the area.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know that name,¡± he says, looking curious.
¡°He keeps a low profile. Get me everything you can on him, from his family history to theyout of his office.¡±
Daron¡¯s eyebrows raise. ¡°This for something specific?¡±
¡°This is for something personal.¡± I hold his gaze. ¡°I can trust you, right?¡±
He pushes back from the table. ¡°Since it¡¯s so important, I¡¯d better get started,¡± he says, that smirk back on his face like he¡¯d rather go take a nap than keep talking to me. ¡°I¡¯ll be in touch.¡±
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 18
I gently ce a mug in the front left corner of my new safe. It¡¯s got a little kid¡¯s handprint on the front, and I stole it from the bedroom of a man who owns thergest used car dealershipwork in the Baltimore region. He¡¯s a prick, and I should¡¯ve stabbed him too, just on principle.
But theft¡¯s my thing, not murder. For now, anyway.
¡°There you go,¡± I say to myself, surveying my little objects. My nipple tingles as my head strays to what Alexan and I did in this closet yesterday. I keep having shbacks to his mouth sucking my breasts, his fingers driving into me, and that orgasm ripping through my body like a tsunami. I¡¯ve nevere so hard in my entire life, and I¡¯m still reeling from it.
I swear, my mouth waters whenever he¡¯s in the room, thinking about what he can do to my body.
But I¡¯ve been a smart girl since then. I¡¯ve kept my distance. Even in bedst night, I curled up in a ball on my side and pretended like he wasn¡¯t lying next to me, shirtless and absolutely glorious. Sleep came eventually, and I dreamed about him kissing me.
Stupid horny brain.
I head back out of the closet. I spent the morning ferrying these things from my dad¡¯s house while Alexan¡¯s been locked in his office. I¡¯m dreading the prospect of another boring afternoon staring at the TV with nothing to do when he finally emerges, wearing a nice suit, and grunts something about heading into work.
¡°Got an important meeting, honey?¡± I ask him sweetly.
I like the way he looks at me. His eyes nce down at my little shorts and linger on my chest. He can see my pierced nipple through my thin crop top.
I¡¯ll admit it¡¯spletely on purpose.
He licks his lips and nods. ¡°Something like that.¡±
¡°Is this about your promotion?¡±
¡°I¡¯m getting to know my team.¡± He can¡¯t tear his eyes off me. I¡¯m trying not to smile, but I can¡¯t help myself. I¡¯ve got this man wrapped around my finger.
¡°That¡¯s wonderful. Have a fantastic day, darling.¡± I walk over to him, and suddenly I¡¯m struck with an idea. I feel it build in my core and bubble up through my body likeva. I should resist¡ªthis is the sort of impulsive stupidity that always gets me in trouble¡ªbut I can¡¯t help myself.
I slip a hand into his jacket and stand on my toes to kiss his cheek.
He grunts at me in surprise, frowning slightly. Excitement boils in my belly as I pat his ribs and step back.
¡°What was that for?¡± he asks.
¡°Just showing affection for my husband.¡± I smile as sweetly as I can, hands sped together.
He hesitates, staring at me, and I wonder if he felt it. But then he turns away, shaking his head, and heads outside. I follow like I¡¯m an obedient, happy little wife and stand in the doorway as he heads down the stoop and walks over to where his BMW is parked beside the curb.
Excitement fills me like soda fizz. This is the feeling I live for. This is why I break into houses and take meaningless treasures.
He reaches into his jacket, frowns in confusion, pats himself down, and then slowly turns to look at me.
I hold up my middle finger, letting the car keys I lifted from him dangle by the ring.
¡°Missing something?¡± I ask.
His jaw works. ¡°Very funny. Hand them over.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± I close my fist and step into the house. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to add this to my treasure trove.¡±
I turn and start toward the steps, heart hammering. I¡¯m being impulsive again, but I can¡¯t help it. I pause and look back, not sure what he¡¯ll do?¡ª
When hees barreling through the door after me, looking like a monster.
God, he¡¯s so fucking hot. His dark eyes re at me with a mix of joy and rage. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen him looking so excited before. And it kind of scares me.
I run like hell. He chases me up the steps, nipping at my heels. I manage to evade him, though he nearly catches my foot. I stumble, m into the wall, and careen into the bedroom.
He¡¯s right behind me. I angle toward the closet, but he¡¯s moving to cut me off. Instead, I bolt to the left, leap up and over the bed, and I¡¯m nearly on the other side when he finally ms into me.
I gasp in shock as he drills me down to the bed, his arms wrapped around my waist.
¡°Give them to me now, little thief,¡± he snarls as I struggle.
¡°Screw you. These are my keys now.¡±
¡°I have business.¡±
¡°And I stole them, fair and square.¡±
¡°There¡¯s nothing fucking fair about you, Riley.¡± He gets on top of me, the weight of him holding me down. I grind and struggle, trying to get away, but he¡¯s way too big.
He pins my wrists above my head, and I keep the keys clutched in my hand.
¡°Mad you got beat by me?¡± I ask, chin tilted up and a vicious grin on my face. My heart¡¯s beating like a drum and excitement¡¯s driving every inch of me crazy.
I don¡¯t know where this is going, and I have no clue why I even started it, but I definitely don¡¯t want it to stop.
¡°Beat? Fucking please. You¡¯re walking around today like you want me to grab you by the hair and fuck you until you¡¯re a mindless little puddle under my hands.¡±
¡°And yet you were so distracted staring at my tits and thinking about my pierced nipple that you didn¡¯t feel it when I stole from you.¡± I snap at his lips, grinning, feeling glorious and victorious. ¡°You think you¡¯re so big and strong, but all I had to do was wear skimpy shorts and a crop top, and suddenly you¡¯re begging for it.¡±
He stares at me, jaw working?¡ª
And then he grins huge.
This should be my moment. He should be thinking about how I kicked his ass with nothing more than my looks and my head. Instead, he¡¯s smiling like he¡¯s the one with the prize.
¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± I ask, frustrated now. This isn¡¯t how I wanted this to go. He should be pissy and annoyed.
¡°You think you won something?¡± he asks. ¡°Baby, this is what I fucking wanted all along. You can steal whatever you want, so long as you end up underneath me.¡±
I gasp as he buries my mouth with his. I¡¯mpletely taken and at his mercy, and I realize my mistake.
This wasn¡¯t about winning or losing. He wasn¡¯t chasing me because he¡¯s got some meeting.
The keys aren¡¯t the prize.
The prize is me.
I gasp into his kiss, and for one brief panicked second, I think about calling this off. I made an impulsive, stupid mistake.
But way toote. I¡¯m kissing him back, and now he¡¯s right. Screw the chase, screw the steal, screw the tease.
This is what I need.
The kiss turns deep and desperate. All the built-up tension between us seems toe rushing out. Yesterday should¡¯ve defused some of it, but that orgasm only made it ten times worse. He grabs my hair, releasing my wrists, but I keep my hands above my head as he devours me and shoves my top up, hand teasing my breasts. His mouth moves down my neck and kisses my pierced nipple, and pleasure bursts through my sensitive skin.
¡°Oh, shit,¡± I moan, arching into him.
¡°That¡¯s right, baby, now you know how badly you fucked up,¡± he says, licking my tits, one hand squeezing them together as the other rips down my shorts. He pulls them all the way off this time. ¡°I chased you. I caught you. And now I¡¯m going to have you.¡±
Holy shit.
I grind into him, breathing hard. He rears back and rips off his jacket. I sit up, kissing him, and start unbuttoning his shirt. My fingers fumble and are awkward, but I manage to get it halfway done before he finally just rips it off. I stare at his bare chest, at the vicious and scary tattoos on his skin, as he lightly grips my hair with his fist.
¡°You should know something about me,¡± he whispers, crushing my mouth with his for a blistering moment. My hands press against his muscr chest, and I feel his heart hammering as hard as mine. ¡°When I get something in my head, I can¡¯t let it go. I¡¯m obsessive, little thief, and right now I¡¯m obsessing over you.¡±
Oh, God. He crushes me with another kiss, and I feel myself getting lost in it. Then he shoves me roughly back onto the bed and drops down between my legs, kissing my thighs, taking his time as he gets closer and closer to my aching core.
I run my fingers through his hair with one hand and grip my pierced breast with the other. His mouth finds my pussy, tongue spreading me wide, licking up and down before he buries it with his mouth. I moan as pleasure sparks in my core, arching my back, squeezing my breast, and rubbing my pierced nipple. It¡¯s so much stimtion I feel like I might burst, but I just want more.
His fingers slide inside me, giving me what I need as his mouth and tonguep and suck my clit.
Oh my God, he¡¯s so good at that.
I¡¯m grinding into his face, stupid with pleasure, not caring if I¡¯m making the filthiest noises of my life. He seems to like it, though; he sucks and slurps my pussy before moving back up again and kisses me hard.
¡°Taste yourself on my lips,¡± he whispers, grabbing my hair. ¡°Lick me, you bad fucking girl.¡±
I lick his teeth and tongue. I gasp as he pulls back and starts to take off his pants. I help him, clutching at his belt, wrenching it off, ripping down his zipper.
He moves back and stands at the end of the bed. I sit up, breathing hard and staring. His keys are still in my hand.
His cock is long, veined, and the thickest dick I¡¯ve ever seen in my life.
My mouth starts to water as he strokes himself, looking at me with pure want in his eyes.
¡°I need to warn you,¡± he says,ing toward me. I crawl back, heart racing. ¡°If you ever run from me like that again, I won¡¯t be so nice the next time I catch you.¡±
¡°This is nice?¡± I try to escape, rolling to the side, but he catches me easily. Just how I want him to.
He shoves me down onto my belly, one hand in my hair.
I feel the tip of him press against my aching, soaked pussy.
¡°This is downright fucking kind, you dirty girl.¡± His body leans over, pinning me to the bed. ¡°Now tell me you want me to fuck you.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t,¡± I whimper while thinking please please please.
¡°Say it, my filthy little slut. Tell me you want me to fuck you.¡±
¡°Alexan.¡± I moan as he presses himself inside, but only the tip. ¡°God, please, I want it. I want more.¡± I push back, greedy and desperate. ¡°Fuck me, Alexan, please.¡±
He growls and moves his hips, pushing forward, each agonizing and blissful inch of him spreading me and filling me to the brim.
Holy freaking God.
I grip the sheets, keys forgotten.
His cock is like heaven. Once he¡¯s fully inside, spreading and stretching me to my limits, he pushes me harder against the mattress until I¡¯m totally at his mercy.
¡°This pussy is mine, Riley,¡± he whispers, his breath hot on my neck. ¡°Your smooth little ass is mine. Your tits are mine, your lips are mine, your goddamn tongue is mine. When you¡¯re in this bed and my cock¡¯s deep between your legs, I own every fucking inch of you. Tell me you understand.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± I moan, grinding against him, desperate for him to keep moving. ¡°Now stop teasing and fuck me.¡±
He grips my hair as he drags himself back. Fuck, that¡¯s so good. He plunges forward, harder this time. I gasp, yelping softly as his hips impact my ass. His cock fills me again, again, that slow and steady rhythm, rough and full and beautiful.
My eyes roll back. I¡¯m moaning and drooling as his fingers plunge into my mouth. I suck them like a mindless freak as he keeps fucking me deeper and harder, grunting his pleasure. The bed rocks, quaking under us, and I want him to break the mattress. No, I want him to break me.
¡°More,¡± I moan, voice muffled from his fingers. ¡°More, Alexan, more.¡±
¡°You bad fucking girl,¡± he says, thick with lust. ¡°You want more dick? You want to choke on my fingers while I fill you up?¡±
¡°Please,¡± I gasp, sucking them, tongue rolling around as he starts to fuck me faster.
Pleasure builds and builds, growing deep in my core. I feel controlled, dominated, more taken than I¡¯ve ever been in my life, and it¡¯s perfect. He bites my shoulder, and I let out a scream of pleasure as the pain hits me in the skull like lightning, and it finally throws me over the edge.
Ie so hard I see ck spots in my vision. I spit out his fingers, moaning his name. He keeps going, fucking me faster, vicious and furious, ruining me, building me back up, and I feel him finish inside me, wet and warm and delicious.
Iy gasping on the bed. Sweat trickles down my back. I twitch slightly, rolling onto my side. One hand strokes my pierced nipple and little aftershocks of orgasm bliss roll down my skin.
He leans back, watching me with adoration in his eyes, hand stroking his soaked and softening dick.
¡°Good girl,¡± he murmurs, licking his lips. ¡°Look at you. Such a beautiful fucking girl. All fucked and happy.¡±
I grin at him and finally sprawl on my back with a sigh. I stretch, curling my toes. ¡°I think I cked out for a second there.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because you like it when I own you.¡± He leans over and kisses me. I pull him closer, suctioning my lips to his. I feel a little self-conscious, but the hunger in his kiss tells me everything I need to know.
He loved that as much as I did.
Maybe even more, based on the way he¡¯s looking at me now.
I reach down and snatch the keys off the bed. I grin a little and waggle my eyebrows. ¡°Up for another chase?¡±
Heughs and peels my hand open, taking them with ease.
¡°Not this time, baby,¡± he says, kissing me again. But he stays in bed, arms wrapped around my body. ¡°You¡¯re still mine, and I n on keeping you for a while longer.¡±
¡°I thought it was only when you¡¯re inside me?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a technicality.¡± He palms my ass and grips it. ¡°I¡¯ve left my mark on you now. If anyone wasn¡¯t sure, they¡¯ll know you¡¯re my woman.¡±
I reach up and touch where he bit me. There are teeth marks.
A sane woman would be creeped out.
But I feel an impulsive, excited shiver down my spine, and I only lean into him harder.
¡°Bites fade,¡± I tease.
¡°Then I¡¯ll have to make it fresh every day.¡±
¡°I¡¯d like to see you try.¡±
¡°I bet you would.¡±
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 19
Rain pours down the alleys of Broadway East. Anyone who normally would sit on their stoops and watch the dealers pass dime bags is hiding inside. I¡¯m in all ck, raincoat to boots, and stomp through the puddles toward a lone bar with a bright yellow neon sign: HERE IT IS.
I don¡¯te here often. This isn¡¯t Brotherhood territory. Local gangs control most of East Baltimore, especially Broadway, but Daron likes this crumbling dive. He thinks the name is funny.
But tonight, he¡¯s not in a good mood. The locals are hunched over their tables drinking shitty beer and ignoring everyone around them. Half the old heads have cigarettes burning. Daron¡¯s sitting in a booth with torn pleather seats and peelingminate on the table. Above him, old advertisements from Europe with topless women are pasted to nicotine-stained wallpaper.
¡°What the fuck did you get me into?¡± he asks the second I sit across from him.
I nce around us. There¡¯s nobody close enough to overhear, and even if there were, there¡¯s a reason wee to HERE IT IS.
Nobody talks in this fucking ce.
Secretse in, and they never go back out.
Aside from Brotherhood venues, it¡¯s about as safe as it gets.
¡°I take it you finished your job.¡± I lean back and study him.
Daron throws a man envelope down in front of me. It¡¯s fatter than I would¡¯ve expected. ¡°Yeah, I fucking finished.¡± He looks around again, fidgeting in his seat, before leaning closer. ¡°The fucking ck Mantis, Alexan? Are you kidding me?¡±
I flip open the folder. The first page is a basic dossier on Jeremy Fong, or at least as much personal information as Daron could find. There¡¯s an estimate on height and weight, a guess on age, some background history, but not much else.
The rest of the folder is all about hispany and his office.
¡°This is good work,¡± I admit, honestly impressed. I knew Daron was good, but I didn¡¯t expect this much so fast.
¡°I know that.¡± He looks frustrated as he picks up a ss of cheap whiskey and sips it. He makes a disgusted face like he¡¯d rather suck down toilet water. ¡°Now I get why you gave this job to me instead of the other two, bute on, Alexan. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning on doing something to¡ª¡± He gestures at the folder.
Fucker¡¯s too paranoid to even say their name.
I consider how much to tell him. If I were in his position, I¡¯d also be pissed. He didn¡¯t know Fong was part of Mantis when I first made the assignment. Otherwise, he probably wouldn¡¯t have epted it. But by the time he figured it out, it must¡¯ve been toote to turn back. I¡¯d bet he had more than half of this folder finished when he realized good old Jeremy is actually Iron Head, the notorious hacker.
¡°Not directly,¡± I finally say. ¡°I should¡¯ve warned you, but we both know you¡¯re not stupid.¡±
¡°No shit. Which is why I¡¯m not going to ept some half-assed exnation. What¡¯s this about?¡±
I blow out a long breath and lean back in the booth. ¡°They hired me for a job. There¡¯s an object they want found, but I¡¯vee to realize that I can¡¯t find it for them.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t?¡± he asks, frowning slightly. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound right.¡±
¡°Maybe more like won¡¯t. The repercussions if I do¡ª¡± I stop myself, trying to dance around the subject. ¡°People I care about will get hurt.¡±
¡°I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s why you¡¯re being so vague.¡±
¡°I¡¯m protecting someone.¡±
He grunts and takes another sip. ¡°God, this is fucking terrible.¡± He rubs his face with one hand. ¡°Just tell me something. Are you going to get yourself killed?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a distinct possibility.¡±
¡°And here I was, almost excited for this fucking crew we¡¯re putting together.¡±
¡°Yeah, well, wee to my hell.¡±
Daron nces toward the door. I can see him making calctions. Only I hope he¡¯s not considering telling Tigran or Arsen about my side hustle.
¡°What else do you need?¡± he finally asks.
That¡¯s not what I expected. For a second, I¡¯m too surprised to answer. Daron¡¯s not the kind of guy to stick his neck out for someone, not even for an old friend. I figured I could trust him to do some research, but that would be it.
¡°This isn¡¯t your problem. You don¡¯t need to get involved.¡±
¡°You said you¡¯re protecting someone. Well, the fucker Alexan I know would never do that unless they were important to him.¡± He stares at me, face showing nothing. ¡°And I did hear you got married recently.¡±
Motherfucker.
I don¡¯t react. It takes a lot of effort to keep my face calm. Daron¡¯s smart, but he¡¯s guessing. Nobody would really think Riley might be involved with Mantis.
¡°I barely know my wife,¡± I say, which is true, if misleading.
¡°Maybe it¡¯s not her,¡± he concedes, and a part of my stomach unclenches. ¡°But whoever it is, they must really matter to you. I¡¯m willing to help.¡± He smiles slightly, crooked and sharp. ¡°To a point at least.¡±
¡°I appreciate that,¡± I say, pulling the folder toward me. I tap the cover with my palm. ¡°But this is more than enough.¡±
¡°Just be careful. You know how they are. Fucking Mantis. I¡¯d never get involved with those psychopaths, not in a million years.¡± He shoves himself from the booth and tosses a twenty down on the table.
¡°And here you are, offering to do it anyway.¡±
¡°Guess we¡¯re getting soft in our old fucking age.¡± He scowls at me and shakes his head. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯re getting me into next time so I can take better precautions. I thought Fong was just some fancy cyber salesman.¡±
¡°If I get through this, there won¡¯t be a next time.¡±
Heughs as he walks away. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll see about that.¡±
I let him go. HERE IT IS gets quiet after that. Old men drowning themselves. Young ones finding a ce to keep their heads down. The bartender¡¯s a hard, tattooed olddy. She smiles at me when I get up and leave another twenty on the bar just to make sure she forgets I was ever here.
Outside, the rain¡¯s letting up. I head back to my car and flip through the dossier under the light of a sputtering streetmp. Fong¡¯spany is doing pretty well for itself, though I doubt its actual main purpose is real B2B cyber security. They have offices in a secure location out in the suburbs. Twenty-foot fencing, barbed wire, guards on duty, and enough tech to protect Fort Knox.
If Fong¡¯s got the key, he¡¯ll keep it in there. No doubt in my mind.
I pull out and start driving. I¡¯m distracted thinking about how I¡¯m going to get out of this mess, and I almost don¡¯t spot the truck tailing me.
But it gets a little too close, and I spot them. I can¡¯t see who¡¯s driving, not with the headlights and the puddles all over. They try to keep two cars back, and I consider trying to lose them. My heart rate picks up, and I think about what Daron said on his way out.
He should¡¯ve been more careful.
No, I can¡¯t be sure it was him. Mantis would be on his tail, not on mine. I¡¯m betting this is them just making sure I¡¯m doing my job. They have no clue I was in there talking about them. Fong¡¯s being paranoid, and for good reason.
This watch is important, and he¡¯s as dead as I am if I don¡¯te through.
I ultimately decide not to get into a car chase. Instead, I drift back home, going slow and steady. My tail sticks back there, being careful, but not too careful. I¡¯m on edge by the time I park out front and hurry in through the front door.
I activate my security system.
¡°You¡¯re home.¡±
Riley¡¯s standing in the hallway. She¡¯s got a ss of wine in one hand. Her hair¡¯s up and messy, and she¡¯s in a pair of wide-legged sweats with a tank top.
¡°You need toe with me.¡± I walk over and take her by the arm.
¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± She struggles slightly as I drag her upstairs. ¡°Seriously, Alexan, stop it.¡±
I don¡¯t let go. I pull her into our room and m the door behind me before making sure the blinds are drawn and the curtains are closed. It takes a lot of willpower not to activate my panic mode.
¡°What the fuck is up with you?¡± she says, ring at me. ¡°You can¡¯t juste home and start pushing me around.¡±
I peek out one of the blinds. The truck that followed me is parked down the block. Its lights are off, but I recognize the bumper.
¡°Don¡¯t go near the windows,¡± I say, snapping the blinds closed again.
¡°Excuse me? Have you lost your mind?¡±
¡°Stay in here for the rest of the night. Hell, stay in here for the next month.¡±
¡°Alexan.¡± Her jaw¡¯s tight as she res at me. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s happening.¡±
I have to take a calming breath. I¡¯m overreacting, but I don¡¯t like that Mantis is following me. They haven¡¯t done anything threatening yet, though it¡¯s only a matter of time before they get more aggressive. The longer it takes for me to show results, the pushier Fong¡¯s going to get.
Until he runs out of patience and kills us both.
¡°I was followed.¡± I turn to face her. ¡°Right now, I¡¯d guess there are at least a handful of killers lurking outside and keeping an eye on us.¡±
Her face pales slightly. ¡°Are you joking?¡±
¡°Not at all. I don¡¯t think Mantis is going to start shooting, but that won¡¯tst forever. I need you to stay away from the windows.¡±
She chews her lip, looks over my shoulder for a second, then down to my hand. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± she asks.
I hold up the folder. ¡°This is nothing.¡±
¡°Is that why they¡¯re following you now?¡±
¡°No.¡± I tuck it under my arm. ¡°Just be careful.¡± I brush past her and into the hall.
¡°Next time, trymunicating before you start dragging me around,¡± she calls out.
I don¡¯t bother responding. I put the folder down in my office and log into myputer system just to make sure everything¡¯s okay. As far as I can tell, nobody has tried to prate mywork.
I lean back and stare at the Mantis watch.
What the fuck am I going to do with that thing? And what in the hell am I going to do with my wife?
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 20
I wait until his breathing gets nice and steady before I slip out of bed.
I¡¯m pretty quiet when I want to be. He barely even stirs, but I still stand like a statue near the door for almost ten minutes before I slip out into the hall. I wait again, listening carefully, making sure he¡¯spletely out.
All¡¯s quiet in the Sarkissian household.
I march grimly over to his office door. Once again, I¡¯m being dumb and careless, but I can¡¯t help myself.
That folder was important, and I want to read it.
Once I get something in my head, I can¡¯t get it back out again, at least until I indulge whatever overwhelming impulse has grabbed hold of me.
Right now, it¡¯s whatever he¡¯s trying to hide.
The lock on his office door is a Scge Primus. That poses a challenge. The thing is, standard locks on normal houses are basically worthless to anyone who knows how to use a tension bar. I can open the average suburban house in like ten seconds if I really want to.
But the Scge Primus is on another level. It has a dual-locking mechanism with traditional pins plus a sidebar with finger pins, meaning I need to be very careful. Once I slip my tension bar in the top, I use my favorite pick to slowly move in and out, wiggling up and down, getting a feel for the pins as they click into ce. It¡¯s painstaking and very delicate work, and after a minute, I getpletely absorbed.
This is why I love thieving. It¡¯s not the stealing¡ªalthough that part is fun too¡ªbut the challenge. I feel alive pulling off a difficult job like this, and it reminds me that I¡¯m not some pathetic, helpless loser. I¡¯m smart and clever, and I can pull this off.
After raking the lock for nearly ten minutes, I feel the tumblers snap into ce. I turn with the tension bar, and the lock opens with a satisfying click.
¡°Fuck yeah,¡± I whisper, sweating slightly and grinning like a maniac. Alexan¡¯s office door swings open. My heart¡¯s pounding with excitement, and everything sharpens into focus. The darkness is thinner, and I move with more confidence as I slip forward toward his desk.
The folder was left out right beside his keyboard. I sink down into hisfortable office chair and flip it open. I turn on my phone¡¯s shlight and scan the front page, excitement slowly turning to dread.
It¡¯s Jeremy Fong. Approximate age thirty-nine. Born to Taiwanese parents. Raised in London. Undergrad at Oxford, MBA at Wharton. A long list of known associates, many with names like Starscream, Lionnessa, Screwn, Reggis. Hacker pseudonyms, if I had to guess. Otherwise, there¡¯s not much personal info on my good friend.
But it¡¯s the pages after that are more interesting. Whoeverpiled this dossier was really thorough. Fong¡¯s cyberpany owns an office park out in the suburbs, and they went all out on security. I obsess over the details, memorizing floor ns, whispering the names of rm systems, mostly because this is what my brother trained me for.
This is everything apetent heistman would need to pull off a job.
There¡¯s a noise in the hallway. My feet go cold as I turn off my phone¡¯s shlight. I sit in the darkness, not moving, not breathing. But I hear the sound again.
Definitely footsteps.
¡°Shit,¡± I whisper, putting the folder back. I look around desperately for a ce to hide and end up scurrying over to the closet. Lucky me, it¡¯s decently big and mostly empty.
The office door creaks open.
I risk peeking through the slit in the folding doors. It¡¯s definitely Alexan. He shuffles over to where I was just sitting and frowns down at his desk. My chest is hammering, and my guts are filled with fluttering nerves, but he only stares and stares until he turns like he¡¯s going to head back to bed.
Relief floods me.
Until he hesitates, looks back, and touches the chair.
¡°Still warm,¡± he murmurs.
Shit. Shit! How the hell did he think of that?
Fearnces into me. I don¡¯t know what Alexan will do if he catches me. He¡¯s never been violent with me, but there¡¯s a dark streak in him, and he did make it clear that he didn¡¯t want me in here. Obviously, that meant less than nothing, but still. He might be pretty pissed.
He looks around the room, a smile on his lips.
¡°I know you¡¯re in here,¡± he says. He doesn¡¯t move, clearly waiting for me toe out.
Screw that.
¡°There¡¯s no reason to keep hiding, little thief. You can¡¯t help yourself, can you? That locked door is like your drug. I should¡¯ve known better.¡± He listens carefully, head cocked to the side.
I take tiny, silent breaths, just like my brother taught me.
¡°Alright, if that¡¯s how you want to y it.¡± He grabs the dossier and tucks it under his arm. ¡°I¡¯ll put this somewhere you won¡¯t find it. Next time, respect my privacy.¡±
Then he¡¯s gone. He moves out of my line of sight. I can¡¯t see him through the slit, even when I move. I wait a few beats and start thinking that maybe I got away with it. I can sneak downstairs, pretend like I went for a walk or something?¡ª
The door rips open.
I yelp, throwing myself backward, and my head bashes against the wall.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 21
¡°You¡¯re sure you¡¯re okay?¡± He frowns at me as he hands over the ice pack.
¡°I¡¯m fine. Honestly, just embarrassed.¡± I press the ice to the back of my head. There¡¯s a little bump forming. I feel like a total moron for reacting that way, but I hit my head hard enough to make me almost pass out. He had to catch me to keep me from falling over, and he carried me right down to the kitchen.
He studies me, lips pressed together. The folder is on the counter between us. I try thinking up some excuses, but I¡¯m still a little muddled from banging my skull.
¡°Then we should talk about boundaries.¡±
I smile sheepishly. ¡°I have no clue what you¡¯re talking about.¡±
¡°That lock you picked.¡± His eyebrows raised slightly. ¡°That was a good lock.¡±
I snort and shake my head. ¡°Maybe ten years ago. The Primus is way out of fashion now. It¡¯s got some good defenses against key copying, but it¡¯s way too pickable.¡±
¡°How long did it take you?¡±
¡°Five minutes? Ten at most.¡±
He grunts and crosses his arms. ¡°That¡¯s slightly impressive.¡±
¡°Slightly? I¡¯d like to see you do it in an hour, asshole.¡± I re at him, eyes darting down to his muscr biceps before focusing on his face again.
Keep it together, Riley, it¡¯s just a hot man, nothing special.
¡°The lock isn¡¯t really the point. You weren¡¯t supposed to go in there.¡±
I shrug and sit up straight. ¡°You should be happy I did, because I¡¯m positive I can break into that ce.¡±
His expression darkens. ¡°Abso-fucking-lutely not.¡±
¡°I figured you¡¯d say that, but I can do it. The hard part will be disabling the security system, but that¡¯s where my genius hacker husbandes in.¡±
¡°Not happening. Not even remotely happening.¡±
¡°What are our other options? You can¡¯t crack the encryption, which means you need the key. There¡¯s no way you¡¯re getting inside alone, and you can¡¯t trust someone else to take the job for you. Who¡¯s going to rob the Mantis? Only someone desperate and a little stupid.¡± I spread my hands wide. ¡°I¡¯m your best option. And you¡¯re lucky that I¡¯m good, too.¡±
His jaw works. I beam at him and drop the ice pack onto the counter. My head¡¯s still throbbing, but not too bad.
¡°I hear what you¡¯re saying,¡± he concedes, ¡°but this isn¡¯t some normal job. If you get caught, Fong will have his soldiers y you alive. I mean that literally. They¡¯ll peel off your skin and pour salt over your raw flesh to make sure you don¡¯t get sepsis. It¡¯ll be agony.¡±
I let my arms drop. ¡°That sounds unpleasant.¡±
¡°It would be the most excruciating way to die imaginable.¡±
¡°Alright, you scared me a little bit, but you still don¡¯t have any other options.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll find someone.¡± He looks away, and I can tell he¡¯s lying. ¡°It¡¯ll cost, but it¡¯s doable.¡±
¡°You¡¯re crazy. I¡¯m right here. My brother trained me for this, and with everything in that folder, I can pull it off.¡±
He levels a hard stare. ¡°I said no, Riley. If your head¡¯s feeling better, go back to bed and don¡¯t talk about that folder again.¡±
Anger bubbles in my chest. I hate being dismissed. There¡¯s nothing worse than being treated like I¡¯m useless.
My father¡¯s been talking to me like I¡¯m a brainless moron since I was a little kid.
I don¡¯t need it from my husband, too.
¡°We both know I¡¯m right,¡± I say firmly, not going anywhere. I nt my hands on the counter and lean forward. ¡°Nobody in the world is stupid enough to break into a secure Mantis office. You need me.¡±
¡°You¡¯re my wife.¡± His face falters slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to risk you.¡±
He obviously doesn¡¯t like this. I can tell he¡¯s beginning to dig in, and if I want to get him to stop being so fucking stubborn, I need to find a way to crack through his knee-jerk defensiveness.
¡°You¡¯re not risking anything. I¡¯m risking it because I¡¯m the one that got us into this mess. At least let me help fix things.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t.¡±
¡°Then just stake it out with me,¡± I say, speaking quickly so he can¡¯t interrupt. ¡°We won¡¯t go inside. We¡¯ll keep our distance and check the ce out in person, okay? If we cane up with a safe n to get in and out, then maybe we¡¯ll do it. But if you¡¯re right and it¡¯s too dangerous, I¡¯ll let it go. Does that sound reasonable?¡±
His face tightens. Clearly, it sounds terrible. But he nces away, takes a breath, and nods once sharply.
¡°Only because you did good work picking my lock,¡± he says, sounding grudging. ¡°And when you realize it¡¯s too much, you¡¯re going to drop this n. Promise me right now.¡±
¡°If I can¡¯t do it.¡±
¡°And you¡¯ll be reasonable about your abilities.¡±
I get to my feet, smiling sweetly. ¡°Nobody¡¯s more reasonable than I am, darling.¡±
¡°I really doubt that.¡±
I walk around the counter and kiss his cheek. He res at me, but I can tell he¡¯s already softening. I pat his big, muscr chest.
¡°Come on, quit being so angry. We¡¯re in this together, right? Bonnie and Clyde to the end.¡±
¡°They died in a police ambush.¡±
¡°Well, Bonnie and Clyde without the bullet holes.¡± I head back toward the stairs. ¡°We should get some sleep since we have such a fun day ahead of us.¡±
¡°I already regret agreeing to this.¡±
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 22
The home base for AST looks like any suburban office park at night. The building is squat and beige with an ugly brown roof. A few sedans line the spots out front, though the ce is mostly empty after hours. Streetlights nearby flicker, and at least one ispletely out.
¡°Those papers weren¡¯t kidding about the fence,¡± Riley murmurs, staring through a pair of binocrs. I¡¯m too busy watching her to notice anything else. The curve of her jaw. Her determined stare.
She¡¯s beautiful.
¡°See? Too dangerous,¡± I tell her. ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡±
She puts a hand on my leg and pats gently. ¡°Easy, boy.¡±
I sit back, annoyed that I¡¯m going through this show. There¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m going to let her break in there, but I can tell she¡¯ll never drop it without at least a little good faith sign that I believe she could.
And honestly, from what I¡¯ve seen, she really might be able to pull it off.
Taking down the security system wouldn¡¯t be difficult. I¡¯ve been teasing at the edges of the ASTwork since Mantis hired me, and I found at least a dozen ways inside. Iron Head is good, but I¡¯ve always been better. There¡¯s no doubt in my mind that if she can pull off the physical bits, I can make sure the digital side is taken care of.
Without cameras, it would be a matter of avoiding the guards. Daron gave us a rough idea of their rotation schedule, and with a little more surveince, we could get that nailed down. She¡¯d cut a gap in the fence or scrape over the top, pick a lock, creep to Fong¡¯s office, find the key?¡ª
But no, fucking no. This isn¡¯t happening.
I can¡¯t even indulge the possibility.
¡°Look, over there.¡± She hands me the binocrs and points toward the western corner. ¡°The fence is growing up against those trees. See that? I bet I could climb that branch, put a nket over the barbed wire, and get over pretty easily that way.¡±
I grunt softly. She¡¯s actually right about that. There¡¯s more than one decent-sized branch protruding close to the fence¡¯s top.
¡°You¡¯d be exposed, and who knows if that branch can hold your weight.¡±
¡°It definitely can.¡± She grabs the binocrs back. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t even be that hard.¡±
¡°Riley¡ª¡±
¡°I read the file. It says the guards change over at 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. every day. We¡¯d sneak through in the middle of the night, say sometime around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., when they¡¯re at their most tired.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just not possible.¡±
¡°The doors all have pretty standard locks. I can see them from here. I can pick something like that in ten seconds pretty easily. Once I¡¯m inside?¡ª¡±
¡°You¡¯re not going inside.¡±
¡°¡ªI¡¯d just have to get to the office, which isn¡¯t far from the eastern side entrance. Then I¡¯d just have to find the key. I think that¡¯s the hardest part.¡±
I frown slightly to myself. ¡°It¡¯d be on hisputer. All you¡¯d have to do is find aptop or a desktop that isn¡¯t connected to the inte and plug in a little USB drive. I¡¯d write a program¡ª¡± But I stop myself when I realize she¡¯s grinning at me.
¡°You totally think we can do this,¡± she says, teasing.
¡°Absolutely not.¡± I re at her, annoyed with myself. I shouldn¡¯t even be pretending to take this seriously.
But I can¡¯t help myself. The longer we sit here staking the ce out, the more my brain starts doing the calctions.
It¡¯s what I¡¯ve always done. n, n, and n, over and over again. That¡¯s what makes me so good at my job. Where most hackers go in with vague ideas, Ie up with contingencies and multiple different fallbacks in case anything goes wrong. And everything always does.
¡°It won¡¯t even be that hard.¡± She sounds excited now, which wasn¡¯t what I expected. ¡°The guards might be a problem, but I¡¯m fast. If they get anywhere near me, I¡¯lle running.¡±
¡°Running where? You¡¯ll be trapped.¡±
¡°I¡¯m flexible. I¡¯ll find a little gap to squeeze through.¡± She brushes me off and talks fast. ¡°You can monitor everything the whole time from a nearby van. I¡¯ll wear a microphone, and you can talk me through theyout. If anything goes wrong, we¡¯ll bail.¡±
¡°Riley.¡± I say it firmly this time. She¡¯s getting on a roll, and if I don¡¯t stop her, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll end up rushing the ce right now. ¡°We¡¯re not doing this.¡±
Her expression falters. ¡°Come on. You can¡¯t seriously still think it¡¯s a bad idea?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a Mantis facility.¡± I pause for a moment to let that sink in. If she gets it, she doesn¡¯t show anything but mild annoyance. ¡°Even if we can pull it off, breaking in there is basically begging for death. One mistake, one clue that we were involved, and they¡¯lle down on us both like hellfire missiles.¡±
She shakes her head and tosses the binocrs onto the dash. ¡°That¡¯s a suburban cybersecuritypany. I get it, they have ties with ck Mantis, but this isn¡¯t some secure ck site out in the Gobi Desert. These people are obviouslycent, but we aren¡¯t. You¡¯re good at your job, and I am too. We can pull this off.¡±
¡°Even if you¡¯re right, we still can¡¯t. I won¡¯t take that risk.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll do it without you.¡±
I wait for her tough, but she¡¯s not kidding. ¡°Be serious.¡±
¡°You think you can keep me locked up all day long?¡±
¡°The thought is very tempting.¡±
¡°I can get out of handcuffs.¡± She leans in and smiles a little. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m very flexible. You can lock the doors and tie me up, but I¡¯ll get away. There¡¯s no cage in the world that can hold me.¡±
The scary thing is Ipletely believe her.
And I¡¯m distracted by the thought of her tied to my bed, squirming and grunting as she tries to get free.
¡°Why do you have a death wish?¡± I ask and snatch up the binocrs. It¡¯s 8 p.m., just in time for a guard change. She doesn¡¯t answer as a car pulls up to the gate and a man enters a code on the pad. I try to make it out, but I can¡¯t see from this angle. It pulls inside, parks, and a nondescript white gentleman with buzzed hair and the build of former military strides toward the building. A few minutester, a simr-looking guardes out, gets in another car, and leaves.
The process repeats three more times over the next ten minutes.
¡°I can do this,¡± Riley says, sounding surer of herself than ever. I have a sad, sinking feeling in my gut.
¡°Not without me, you can¡¯t.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take my chances. I¡¯m the one that got us into this mess.¡±
¡°Exactly, by acting impulsively. Are you really going to make it worse by doing the same thing?¡±
She struggles with that for a moment but ends up shaking her head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Either we get this key or we¡¯re screwed anyway. I¡¯m doing this, and I¡¯ll probably pull it off if you help, but I¡¯m trying either way.¡±
I lean back in my seat. Fuck, I admire her. I wish I didn¡¯t. It would be easier just to drug her, put her on a ne, and fly her off to some random ind where she can¡¯t get herself into trouble. But she¡¯s my wife now, and I genuinely like that she¡¯s got so much spirit and strength.
¡°I¡¯m going to regret this,¡± I say, feeling deeply, deeply unhappy.
¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± she says, beaming like a maniac, and throws herself across the car. I grunt in surprise as she straddles me, reaches down, and yanks on the seat adjustment knob. It slowly slides back, giving her more room.
¡°What are you doing?¡± I ask, my hands already gripping her ass.
¡°Being impulsive.¡± She leans down and kisses me.
God damn it.
I kiss her back. I can¡¯t help myself. My hands squeeze tighter, and I¡¯m already hard as she grinds into me. Her little whimpers and moans fuck me up beyond belief, and I really should stop this before I do something stupid.
Toote for that, I guess.
¡°Are you trying to bribe me with sex right now?¡± I murmur, kissing her neck.
¡°No!¡± Her pale, freckled cheeks turn pink. ¡°I didn¡¯t really think about what I was doing, honestly. I just¡ wanted to get in yourp. Being impulsive usually means there¡¯s no endgame.¡±
¡°I know where this ends.¡± I bite her throat softly, nibbling up to her lips. She gasps when I kiss her, my tongue invading past her teeth.
¡°Where?¡± she asks, breathing hard as I reach one hand up the front of her light sweater. I roll my thumb around her erect, pierced nipple, making her purr.
¡°It ends with me buried between your legs. It ends with you gasping for air, flushed, smiling, cum filling you, orgasm making your head sing. It ends with you whimpering and whining and pleading for more. It ends with you licking my dick clean and telling me how much you love being my little slut. But most of all, it ends with you far away from this ce.¡±
¡°You were so close,¡± she says, grinning as she kisses me.
¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯llst more than ten seconds over that fence without my help, and we both know it.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take my chances.¡±
¡°You think with this.¡± I move my hand from her breast and press it over her heart. It¡¯s racing. ¡°But you need to think with this.¡± I reach with my other hand to grip her hair. I tug it lightly, and she gasps.
¡°Real fucking smart,¡± she says, grinding into me. ¡°But I think you¡¯re too much this¡ª¡± She pulls my hair sharply. I grunt, grinning at the pain. ¡°And not enough with this.¡± She grinds down harder against my hard cock.
¡°If I thought with my dick all the time, I¡¯d probably be dead or in jail by now.¡±
¡°Good thing I¡¯m here to help.¡± She buries her mouth on mine. I roughly pull her sweater up, teasing her pierced nipple before shoving her back. I lick the piercing, rolling my tongue around it as she moans and struggles to get her jeans off. She tugs them off awkwardly with my help, breathing hard the whole time. As she lifts herself, I shimmy out of my pants, kicking them down by the gas pedal.
She¡¯s so fucking warm and soft. Only her thin cotton panties and my boxer briefs separate us now. I¡¯m pulsing with need. I want to fill her so fucking badly it kills me. I kiss her again, biting her lip, and pull her hair. She¡¯s so damn sexy when she moans and moves her hips.
¡°This doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re getting what you want.¡± I shove her panties aside and tease her pussy. She¡¯s so wet it sticks to my fingertips. I slide them inside, and she arches her back, her mouth hanging open in that heavenly fuck-me stare.
¡°You sure about that? What I want changes from second to second.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± I roll my fingers around before sliding them out. I grab her hair and shove my soaked thumb into her mouth. ¡°Unless you want to be my slut right now.¡±
¡°Mmmm,¡± she says, eyes wide as she licks her own pussy from my thumb.
¡°Say you want it.¡±
She shakes her head. ¡°Mmm-mmm.¡±
¡°Say it, baby.¡±
¡°Mmmm!¡±
I pull my thumb out. She whimpers like she wants it back. ¡°Say it.¡±
¡°I want to be your slut,¡± she whispers.
I lift her ass up, slip my cock from my boxer briefs, and bring her back down on my tip. Her body shivers as it easily glides inside her, and slowly, I fill her to the brim.
¡°Oh my god,¡± she whispers in my ear.
I kiss her, holding onto her hair, before she starts to move.
¡°That¡¯s right, baby, grind on my dick.¡± I spank her ass lightly and squeeze it before sucking on her pierced nipple. She¡¯s moaning loudly now, mindless with how much she wants this. ¡°Look at you in myp, my cock buried in your pussy, and you don¡¯t even care that we might get caught.¡±
¡°I care,¡± she says, her breath fogging the windows. ¡°I just can¡¯t stop.¡±
¡°I know you can¡¯t, baby. That¡¯s because you¡¯re my filthy fucking slut. You live to take my big fucking cock. You need to ride me over and over, take all my cum, get nice and messy, and only then will you be a good girl again. God, you¡¯re so fucking beautiful, baby.¡±
¡°More,¡± she moans, grinding down on me faster. The car¡¯s shaking with the intensity of our fucking, and if anyone happens toe by, they¡¯ll know what we¡¯re doing.
¡°You dirty girl. Look at you, lusting after my cock. You want your husband¡¯s dick buried inside of you, baby? You want to be a needy slut? A messy girl? You¡¯re dripping down my shaft; you¡¯re so fucking wet.¡±
¡°Oh, god, yes.¡± She moves faster, grinding harder. ¡°I¡¯m so fucking close.¡±
¡°You want toe for me, baby?¡± I grab her hair and pull. She screams a moan. ¡°Say fucking please.¡±
¡°Please!¡± Her mouth hangs open. I brush my fingers along her clit, getting them wet, and shove them between her lips.
¡°Suck while youe.¡±
That does it. The orgasm rips her into pieces as she shatters in myp. Her moans are muffled by my fingers as she greedily keeps sucking like a good girl. It¡¯s the most glorious thing I¡¯ve seen in my life. Her breasts shake, her pierced nipple stiff, and I finally can¡¯t help myself. Ie momentster, filling her with my warmth.
Wee to a reluctant stop. She remains in myp, breathing hard. I hold her against me, smelling her, kissing her softly, whispering how she¡¯s such a good girl, how she did such a good job, how she¡¯s beautiful. I praise her over and over again because she deserves it.
Riley¡¯s impulsive and stubborn, but my god.
She¡¯s also incredible.
¡°When do we start nning?¡± she murmurs against my neck.
I groan and close my eyes. I¡¯m a weak man.
But she¡¯s also right.
This is the only way.
And if I¡¯m involved, at least I can make sure she has the best chance possible at pulling it off.
¡°Tomorrow morning.¡±
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 23
I¡¯m nervous and jittery as I start to climb. The branches are strong and clustered together, and I¡¯m able to swing up without too much trouble. I have a thick, heavy-duty Ker nket strapped to my back. It¡¯s itchy but doesn¡¯t restrict movement. Once I get to the right height, I tuck myself back against the trunk and wait.
It would be mortifying if this heist failed because I fell out of a freaking tree.
¡°You all good?¡± Alexan¡¯s voice purrs in my ear. I¡¯m wearing a tiny headpiece attached to a high-tech receiver attached to my belt. I¡¯m in all ck with cktex gloves,fortable ck running shoes, and a little hip pouch filled with any thieving tool I could think of.
¡°I¡¯m in position,¡± I say back. No need to hit a button. We¡¯re in constantmunication.
¡°It¡¯s ten to three right now. From what I can see, it looks quiet out there.¡±
I take a pair of tiny binocrs from my belt and look out across the parking lot. ¡°Looks the same to me.¡± Nothing moves. Nobody on the roof, nobody in the cars. Dead silent. ¡°How¡¯s it going on your end?¡±
¡°No problems here. I slipped into thework a few minutes ago, and I¡¯ll have the entire system under control shortly.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good. Because I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m screwed if you don¡¯t. There are a lot of cameras.¡±
I don¡¯t like the smugness in his voice. ¡°I told you, you can¡¯t do this without me.¡±
¡°Prick,¡± I mutter, but he¡¯s absolutely right.
¡°Just hold tight for my signal.¡±
We fall into silence. I hear him typing on the other end. His breathing is steady and strangely calming. I¡¯m nervous as hell and on edge, but he doesn¡¯t seem bothered at all. It¡¯s like he does this sort of thing all the time.
In retrospect, I probably shouldn¡¯t have pushed so hard.
I mean, he¡¯s right. This n is crazy. But I¡¯m absolutely confident I can pull it off, even if I¡¯m starting to have some second thoughts.
This is what happens all the time. I make an impulsive decision, stubbornly refuse to change, and regret it afterward.
I could back out. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be relieved if I did. In fact, he already tried to talk me out of this a dozen times.
But I¡¯mmitted. We¡¯re in this mess because of me. I¡¯m going to clean up after myself, even if I do it in my own crazy way.
And besides, there¡¯s no way I can turn back now, not when I feel so freaking alive.
For the first time since I got married, I have control over my situation. We have a n, and it¡¯s up to me to make it happen. Nobody else can pull this off except for me. I feel brighter, the air is sweeter, and my body is stronger than it¡¯s ever been.
¡°You want to hear something?¡± I whisper while ncing at my watch. Two minutes.
¡°Tell me, baby.¡±
¡°I had this sick obsession with screwing up back when I did gymnastics.¡±
A short pause. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound good.¡±
I stifle a nervousugh. ¡°No, I mean, the moment right after. I never tried to screw up, but you know, stuff happens.¡±
¡°What were you so obsessed about?¡±
¡°That feeling the second after you know you fucked up bad. Sometimes you¡¯re flying in the air, mid-twist, and you¡¯re absolutely positive you¡¯re about tond hard and it¡¯s going to hurt. Then yound hard, and it hurts like hell, and you have a choice. Give up, since your routine is boned anyway, or get up and finish. Every girl reacted differently in that situation, and it was so fascinating.¡±
¡°How did you react?¡±
¡°I got the fuck back up and did my thing. Here¡¯s my secret: I fall on my face all the time, but I just keep on going.¡±
He grunts and stops typing. ¡°We¡¯re in. You ready?¡±
I pull the Ker nket off my back. ¡°Watch this.¡± Then I shuffle out along the branch, moving like I¡¯m on a bnce beam, and toss it forward.
The nketnds right on top of the barbed wire. It bends and flexes, and the branches wobble. I have to reach up and grab another branch to keep from falling over, and still one foot slips. I curse, just catching myself, and straighten up.
¡°You good?¡± he asks.
¡°All good,¡± I say and take two quick steps forward.
The branch bends precipitously. If I nned on staying, it would absolutely dump me out. But instead, I leap forward, twisting in mid-air so I can grab onto the other side of the nket.
It goes perfectly. Exactly what I wanted. Except I didn¡¯t really n for when I mmed into the fence, and it hurts like hell. My face bashes up against the top of the metal, and I curse as pain res in my mouth. I taste blood from where I bit my tongue, and my fingers barely hold onto the chain. I stay there, clinging to the side for a beat, catching my breath.
¡°Graceful,¡± Alexan says.
¡°Asshole.¡± I slowly climb down to the other side and brush myself off. ¡°I¡¯d love to see you do that.¡±
¡°There¡¯s a reason I¡¯m on this side of the job.¡± His tone gets more serious. ¡°You have ten minutes. I¡¯m in their security system right now. All the cameras are set to show a loop of thest hour, but don¡¯t take any risks.¡±
¡°Where are the guards?¡±
¡°One¡¯s patrolling the halls, and the other two are in the main monitoring room.¡±
¡°Better get moving then.¡±
I slip on a ck surgical mask before hurrying across the parking lot toward the eastern side door. My lock picks are already in my hands as I reach it. A security camera blinks at me, a red light smiling.
¡°Wave hello,¡± Alexan whispers.
I smile and wiggle my fingers. ¡°Hello, husband.¡± The camera moves as if nodding. ¡°Show-off.¡±
I get the door open with ease and slip into a stairwell. Fong¡¯s office is on the second floor. I head up, going as quietly as I can, and pause on the threshold before moving into a hallway.
The ce really does look like any other suburban white-cor office space. There are cubes up ahead in a big open cluster and several conference rooms on the right and the left. I spot a break room and the bathrooms past there.
¡°Go straight to the cubes. Stay low and reach the hall on the other side. Take that to the end. His office is in the corner.¡±
I follow Alexan¡¯s instructions. As I hurry, moving quietly, I can¡¯t help but smile to myself. ¡°Remember the first time we met?¡±
¡°Remind me.¡±
¡°When I broke into your house. This feels a lot like that.¡±
¡°I guess it does. Want to detour into an office and get yourself off on a desk for me?¡±
¡°Probably not a good idea.¡±
¡°But tempting?¡±
¡°Keep it in your pants.¡± I peek at a few of the desks. Children¡¯s photos, calendars with scribbled notes, a little bamboo nt, and other signs of life are scattered all over. It¡¯s hard to imagine actual people clocking in here.
I reach the hall on the other side and pause, listening, but it¡¯s quiet.
¡°Guard is on the first floor,¡± Alexan says. ¡°You¡¯re clear. Get going.¡±
I hurry forward. Most of the doors are locked, though some were left open. I spot standard officeyouts: desks, cabs, and some windows. I reach the end and pause outside of a door with its own reception desk.
The lock is too easy. It¡¯s almost like they wanted me to get in. I slip in and close the door behind me before I stride over to the desk, my heart racing with triumph.
¡°I¡¯m inside,¡± I say and start browsing the shelves.
Jeremy Fong is an orderly man. He¡¯s got books on management, books on business, and more than a few on programming. There are also stranger texts: several histories on Rome and a few on the Mongol Empire. There are some personal photos showing the guy I met at dinner with a cute little wife and a couple of young kids.
¡°Focus. You¡¯re looking for aputer.¡±
¡°He¡¯s got aptop on his desk.¡±
¡°It won¡¯t be that one.¡±
¡°How do you know?¡±
¡°Just trust me. Check the drawers.¡±
I¡¯m about to tell him off, but I decide to listen for once. I open them up, and sure enough, I find a very smallptop buried under a couple of empty folders.
¡°I really hate it when you¡¯re right,¡± I murmur, flipping open the lid. My fingers shake as I slip the thumb drive from my pouch. ¡°What now?¡±
¡°Stick in the drive and turn on the power. I¡¯ll do the rest.¡±
I sit back in my chair and watch the screen flicker as Alexan does his job. Amand promptly appears, and text scrolls across. I hear him typing furiously at the other end. More promptse and go as he does something. I get up and go to the door, listening for the guards, nerves jangling. Alexan murmurs something, sounding frustrated.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I ask.
¡°He¡¯s got better defenses than I expected.¡±
¡°How much longer do you need?¡±
¡°Can¡¯t say. Two minutes maybe.¡±
I check my watch. ¡°I have five total left. That¡¯s just enough time to get back out.¡±
¡°I can do this. Just hold on.¡± He¡¯s grunting as he types even faster. I go back, and the screen¡¯s changing wildly. ¡°Almost there.¡±
Something shes out in the hall. I sit very still, staring through the office window. It shes again, and I realize with cold dread that it¡¯s a light bobbing along the hall.
Like someone¡¯s carrying it toward me.
¡°Alexan,¡± I hiss, grabbing theptop and dropping down behind the desk. ¡°Someone¡¯sing.¡±
There¡¯s a pause. Then he curses. ¡°I was focusing on breaking into theptop.¡±
¡°How close?¡±
¡°Right down the hall. Don¡¯t fucking move.¡±
I go very still. Sweat beads my back. I¡¯m tempted to peek, but I stay where I am. His typing resumes, but slower this time.
A beam of light brushes the wall opposite me like someone¡¯s looking in through the window.
¡°Alexan,¡± I whisper, moaning in fear. This is too close. Way too close. ¡°He¡¯s right there.¡±
¡°Almost in. Hold on.¡±
The beam doesn¡¯t move. The guard¡¯s not going anywhere. What the hell are you doing? Go away! But he¡¯s still at the window, and I¡¯m freaking out.
¡°Alexan,¡± I hiss, trembling with nerves. I¡¯ve almost been caught before, but never with the stakes so high. ¡°Do something.¡±
The knob to the office clicks like someone just opened the lock.
¡°Got it,¡± Alexan says, sounding victorious. ¡°Fuck yes. Contents downloading.¡±
¡°He¡¯sing in,¡± I hiss under my breath as the door creaks open. I move deeper beneath the desk. I hear the guard¡¯s footsteps as hees into the room. I tilt the front of theptop lid forward to keep the flickering screen from showing on the floor and try to think quiet thoughts. Rock. Mushroom. Scream. No, no scream. The void between stars. The empty moon. Running and panicking.
Oh god, he¡¯s going to catch me, and then what?
Then I¡¯m fucked.
The guard stops near the desk. He¡¯s a foot away from me at most. I¡¯m hidden underneath, but if hees to the other side, he¡¯ll see me. I¡¯m lucky Fong likes big, obnoxious executive desks; otherwise, I¡¯d already be in cuffs.
¡°Ten seconds,¡± Alexan whispers in my ear. ¡°Just hold on. Six seconds. Five, four?¡ª¡±
The guard sighs. ¡°Fucking Fong. Stupid prick.¡± Then he turns away and heads to the door.
I nearly moan with relief. The feeling is visceral.
¡°Got it,¡± Alexan says. ¡°Get the fuck out of there.¡±
I yank the USB drive from theptop and shut the lid. I shove it back into the drawer, make sure it¡¯s right where it should be, and sneak back to the door. All¡¯s quiet on the other side. I grab the knob?¡ª
¡°Wait!¡± Alexan says. ¡°He¡¯sing?¡ª¡±
But toote. I open the door ande face to face with a middle-aged man.
He¡¯s tall and broad. His hair¡¯s buzzed, and he¡¯s got on a vaguely cop-like uniform. For a beat, he seems as surprised as I am.
¡°RUN,¡± Alexan yells in my ear.
That saves me. I react before the guard does and throw myself forward. He curses and lunges, nearly grabbing me by the hair, but he just barely misses my braids as I jolt down the hall back toward the cube farm.
¡°STOP,¡± the guard yells. He hits the wall, grunts, and pounds after me.
My heart¡¯s screaming in fear. I¡¯ve never run so fast in my life. My muscles feel like they¡¯re filled with acid.
¡°Got an intruder on the second floor heading for the east stairwell. Mack, get your fucking ass up and run!¡± His voice is way too close.
Alexan¡¯s shouting in my ear. ¡°GO, GO, GO. Don¡¯t you dare slow down!¡± The car engine turns over and roars to life. ¡°Come on, baby, you can do this!¡±
I fly across the cube farm. The guard¡¯sing behind, and he¡¯s gaining. The asshole¡¯s bigger and faster than I am, and he¡¯s going to close the gap any second.
I reach the stairwell and throw myself through the door.
And nearly fall down the steps.
I manage to grab the railing. I teeter and leap, flinging myself wildly, arms careening for bnce. I let out a yelp as Ind hard on the opposite steps, shoulder and face mming into the wall. The guard is right behind me, but he¡¯s stucking down the steps like a normal human, while I just bypassed half of them with one suicidal leap.
I run again, right on the edge of losing control. My fingers work at the pouch at my waist, and I find a round canister. I hit the bottom of the stairwell and turn toward the outside exit just as the first-floornding door opens.
Another guard barrels through. He¡¯s heavier than the first one and roars at me to halt. I whirl around and st him with the canister, spraying mace right into his face.
He screams in shock and starts coughing. His arms windmill wildly, and he nearly hits me right in the face. My mask helps dull some of the effects, but tears stream down my cheeks as I shove the exit door open and sprint into the night.
The guards are right on my ass. I sprint faster than I¡¯ve ever gone before, arms pumping, legs feeling like pure fire, pushing at my absolute limit. My chest burns with exertion. Every inch of my body strains. Adrenaline rips through my system, and I¡¯m at my max effort, dragging in deep breaths, fear ringing through my skin.
If they catch me, if they get me, if they grab onto my ankles and drag me back screaming and crying?¡ª
The fence looms ahead. I risk a look back. The original guard is gaining again, looking determined.
A cold horror washes over me when I look ahead again.
I¡¯m not going to make it.
Oh fuck. Oh my god.
It¡¯s not going to happen.
I¡¯ll reach the fence first, but there¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯ll climb up and get over the Ker nket before that big asshole drags me back down.
I¡¯m trapped.
I¡¯m totally fucked.
Mantis is going to know we tried to break in, and that¡¯ll put all the pieces together. I¡¯ll be dead by morning, and so will Alexan.
I killed us. My stupid, stubborn, impulsive idiocy got us killed.
I roar, throat raw, tears streaming down my face, wing at the air, but it¡¯s done. We¡¯re finished. I¡¯m fucked.
¡°Stop!¡± the guard yells.
Then a sound like splintering metal. It¡¯s a massive crash. I don¡¯t have time to look over, but I flinch anyway and keep flinging myself forward. Faster, faster, toward the fence, toward an impossible freedom on the other side?¡ª
A car engine roars right as I m into the chain link. I grip and look back over my shoulder.
Alexan¡¯s car rams straight into the guard chasing after me. The man¡¯s body ragdolls over the hood and smashes into the windshield with a sickening crack. Blood stters as he rolls over the roof and bounces down the back, crunching onto the pavement. His limbsnd at impossible angles, and he¡¯s not moving.
I stare in stunned disbelief.
Alexan¡¯s car spins to a sudden stop. Smoke drifts up from the wheels as he kicks open the door and gets out. ¡°Riley!¡± he yells andes toward me.
I open my mouth to say something¡ªanything¡ªI don¡¯t know what¡ªbut words fail.
Because the other guard, the one with the mace-covered face, is aiming a gun at me from across the parking lot.
He squeezes off three shots. They sound like fireworks. Alexan reacts on instinct and throws himself on top of me, tackling me down to the ground. I feel something wet and warm cover my chest.
¡°I got you,¡± he snarls before pulling away. He¡¯s up on his knees, his own gun in his hand, and he squeezes off a shot.
It hits the second guard in the skull. His head snaps backward, blood spraying out behind him.
Everything¡¯s numb. Sickness spreads into my limbs. I want to throw up, but I can¡¯t even bring myself to do that. Something red¡¯s covering the front of me, and when I touch it, my fingerse away sticky.
It¡¯s fresh blood.
¡°Alexan,¡± I say, heart hammering. I touch myself, looking for a bullet wound, but there¡¯s no pain.
¡°You¡¯re okay.¡± He gets to his feet slowly, hand pressed against his shoulder. Blood wells up from between his fingers.
Oh fuck. I¡¯m not shot.
But he is.
¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡± I get to my feet, the dead guards forgotten.
¡°I¡¯m okay, baby.¡± He shoves the gun away and takes my arm. ¡°Come on, I got you. Get in the car.¡±
¡°But you¡¯re shot. We need a doctor.¡±
¡°No time for that. I know a guy; we just need to get home. Get in, baby.¡±
I want to argue, but what¡¯s the point? One guard¡¯s lying in the middle of the parking lot, his body twisted and broken. The other¡¯s near the back door, his skull blown to pieces.
Blood¡¯s covering the pavement.
What a fucking mess.
¡°I got you,¡± Alexan says again, even though he¡¯s the one that¡¯s shot. He helps me get into the car. ¡°Hold on. We¡¯re going to be okay.¡±
I don¡¯t know what makes me believe him. Maybe it¡¯s hispletely calm demeanor or the fact that he saved me. Whatever it is, right now, I¡¯d do anything he told me to.
Once he¡¯s behind the wheel, he hits the gas, and we speed away.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 24
Alexan barely reacts as the young doctor stitches him up. There¡¯s blood all over the tile on the bathroom floor, but nobody seems all that concerned.
¡°Baby,¡± Alexan says, frowning at me. ¡°Your pacing¡¯s making me nervous.¡±
I stop walking back and forth. ¡°Oh, sorry my walking is getting to you. I guess the fact that this guy pulled a bullet from your shoulder¡ª¡± I wave a hand at the doctor. ¡°That doesn¡¯t faze you at all.¡±
¡°You¡¯d be surprised at how often this happens,¡± the doctor says, yanking on the thread and tying it off with neat, quick motions.
¡°He¡¯s right. This isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve been shot.¡±
¡°It was a good one though.¡± The doctor puts in another stitch. ¡°Really had to dig in there for the bullet.¡±
I sit down heavily on the side of the bed, staring at the ghoulish tableau. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a little sick,¡± I murmur.
¡°Please don¡¯t puke on theforter,¡± Alexan warns.
I curl up in a ball on my side and pull a sheet over me as the doctor finishes up. The two men make jokes about all the terrible wounds Alexan has gotten over the years. When they¡¯re done, the doctor shakes his hand. ¡°Thanks for keeping me in business,¡± he says. ¡°Make sure you tell all your friends to keep getting shot.¡± He wags a finger. ¡°But not in the head! I can¡¯t fix those.¡±
The doctor leaves, and I¡¯m alone with my husband. He sits heavily down beside me and puts a hand on my leg.
¡°You¡¯re okay,¡± he says softly, rubbing me in circles.
¡°Are you sure?¡± My voice is muffled from the pillow. ¡°I don¡¯t feel okay.¡±
¡°Baby, look at me.¡±
I hesitate, not sure I can bring myself toe out of my little cave.
¡°I messed up,¡± I whisper, guilt hammering down my chest. ¡°I got caught. I told you I could do it, and I nearly got you killed instead.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not what happened at all.¡±
¡°How can you say that? You got shot trying to protect me. You had to kill two men.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not your fault. None of that was your fault.¡±
I slip the sheet back and look out. He¡¯s frowning at me, concern in his expression. His hand is still on my leg, gently stroking me.
¡°How is it not my fault?¡±
¡°Because I¡¯m the one that fucked up.¡±
I frown and shake my head. ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡±
¡°No, baby, I¡¯m the one that should be apologizing.¡± He shifts deeper into the bed and sits with his back against the headboard. He pulls me against him, hugging me tightly. ¡°Listen, when I was breaking into thatptop, I took my eye off the cameras. I didn¡¯t notice when that guard went to check the second floor. If I had warned you in time, you would¡¯ve been prepared.¡±
¡°I left too soon. I should¡¯ve been more careful.¡±
¡°Baby, tracking the guards was my job. What happened back there was my fault.¡±
I don¡¯t really believe him. I mean, he¡¯s right; he should¡¯ve been watching them more closely, but I don¡¯t me him at all for what happened.
If I were better at sneaking and stealing, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered.
But I¡¯m not as good as I think I am, and seeing that fact y out really bothers me.
I should¡¯ve been able to handle it, but I couldn¡¯t.
¡°Thank you,¡± I whisper.
¡°For what? For the truth?¡±
¡°No, foring back for me.¡±
He holds me tighter. ¡°Baby, I¡¯ll never abandon you. Not while you¡¯re my wife. Not while I¡¯m breathing.¡±
I stiffen, surprised at the deep emotion in his voice. Alexan¡¯s usually so cold and reserved, but every once in a while, I get a glimpse of real passion. Right now, I can practically feel it burning me.
¡°Can I admit something?¡± I ask quietly.
¡°Anything you want.¡±
¡°I was really impressed by your driving.¡± I nce up at his face, smothering a smile.
He sighs, shaking his head. ¡°That¡¯s some dark humor.¡±
¡°Yeah, I know. You like it, right?¡±
¡°I love it.¡± He bends down and kisses me lightly. ¡°I promise, Riley, I¡¯m never going to put you in a position like that again.¡±
¡°Never say never.¡± I push myself up and sit straighter. ¡°I mean, it was kind of fun.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not the word I¡¯d use for it.¡±
¡°You weren¡¯t in there. When I was sneaking through the office and picking those locks¡ª¡± I take a deep breath as the adrenaline hits me again. ¡°God, I was alive.¡±
¡°d you enjoyed yourself.¡±
¡°Right up until I got caught.¡±
¡°That whole operation was a nightmare from my point of view.¡±
¡°Come on. Don¡¯t you like that stuff?¡± I nudge him with my elbow gently, careful not to get near his wound. ¡°There¡¯s a reason you do this, right?¡±
He hesitates, staring across the room. His face tugs down into a frown, and he nces at me like he¡¯s considering something.
¡°This is all I know,¡± he says finally, stroking a piece of hair from my face. ¡°I joined the Brotherhood at a young age. Before this, I was drifting. I had no purpose, no real friends, no real future. The Brotherhood changed that.¡±
¡°Look at you now. Married to a beautiful Irishss.¡±
¡°With a new bullet scar too.¡±
I grimace and look away. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± He pulls me back and kisses me gently. ¡°Really, I mean it. You did nothing wrong. You were great in there.¡±
¡°You really think so?¡±
¡°Honestly, I genuinely do. With a real team, you could pull off any heist you wanted. I mean that.¡±
I perk up, grinning widely again. ¡°Fantastic. Can¡¯t wait to tell my brother. Maybe we¡¯ll n something together.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t get excited.¡± He pushes himself out of bed and shuffles over to his desk. Theputer hums to life. ¡°There¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m letting you out of my sight anytime soon.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s be real. We both know you don¡¯t have control over me.¡±
¡°Not yet, I don¡¯t.¡± He looks at me over his shoulder, and his gaze is pure, possessive lust. ¡°But give me time.¡±
I don¡¯t know why that makes me blush.
He sits down at theputer and starts typing. I go into the other room to grab the watch for him, and he gets everything plugged in when I return. From my perspective, it looks like he¡¯s just typing a bunch of random stuff into amand prompt while information scrolls past at blinding speed. Somehow, he seems to absorb it all.
¡°Ready?¡± he asks once the system finally seems to settle.
¡°You¡¯re unlocking it now?¡±
He nods once, finger poised over the enter key. ¡°This is what we nearly got killed for.¡± Then he hesitates and motions me closer. ¡°You do the honors.¡±
I lean over him, my cheek brushing across his, and reach out for the keyboard. ¡°I¡¯m weirdly nervous.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be. This is good.¡± He sounds eager. ¡°Go ahead, do it.¡±
I press the button.
Nothing happens. Well, nothing that I can see. More information appears. I catch snippets of text: wallet, personal key, ount number, a bunch of other stuff that doesn¡¯t make much sense.
But Alexan seems to understand. He looks totally rapt as he taps away, typing inmands at a blistering pace.
¡°Well?¡± I ask, heart stuttering. ¡°What¡¯d we find?¡±
¡°It¡¯s so much worse than I thought,¡± he says grimly.
My stomach falls. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
¡°There are more keys.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±
¡°They¡¯re keys to crypto wallets.¡±
¡°Like Bitcoin?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± He pulls open a website and starts entering numbers. I stare as he locates several different ounts.
¡°Why is that so bad?¡±
¡°Because right now we have control of approximately six hundred and thirty-three million dors in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Sna, and a half dozen other tokens.¡±
I stare at him andugh nervously. ¡°Six hundred million? Are you insane?¡±
¡°Six hundred and thirty-three million,¡± he corrects, not smiling at all. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure this is Mantis¡¯s entire crypto holding. It might even be the majority of the organization¡¯spensation structure.¡±
I step away from hisputer, trying to make sense of all this. I shake my head, feeling like there¡¯s wool in my brain. ¡°Are you telling me we have control of all of Mantis¡¯s money?¡±
¡°A big chunk of it at least, yes.¡±
¡°Holy fucking shit.¡±
He looks back at me and nods slowly. ¡°Yeah. I agree.¡±
I sink down to the floor and sit there like a child, dumbly looking at my hands. Six hundred and thirty-three million dors. All of ck Mantis¡¯s cash, or at least most of it.
No wonder Fong wants it back.
Cold, bitter horror rushes into me as I realize how much trouble we¡¯re in.
Because Fong is going to do anything to find this watch.
Kill anyone, torture anyone, steal anything, stop at nothing.
And it¡¯s sitting right there in our bedroom.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 25
My shoulder aches from the damn gunshot wound as I drive slowly toward the Pomegranate House. I have a meeting with my new crew to discuss a few jobs we¡¯re nning, but my head¡¯s somewhere else entirely.
Mantis¡¯s money.
I doubt this is the only copy of the watch. I¡¯m sure there are backups and fail-safes. But right now, I can use the passcodes stored on the encrypted hard drive to ess those crypto wallets.
I could drain away over half a billion dors instantly if I wanted.
That would bring down the full force of the Mantis organization. Every single one of them would be after me, instead of just Iron Head. Sooner orter though, that¡¯ll happen anyway, when Iron Head¡¯s superiors realize how badly he fucked up.
No wonder he wants it back so badly. I figured it was something serious, but this is even worse than I could¡¯ve imagined.
I slow at a stop sign and rub my bandaged arm. Riley wanted me to take the pain pills, but that stuff always dulls my head, and I need to be sharp right now. I can survive pain, but I can¡¯t live if I make a mistake all messed up on oxycontin.
I keep seeing Riley running across that parking lot. The fear on her face. Her determination. Her body, glorious and strong. There was no way she was going to make it over that fence in time, but she was so damn impressive. The way she maced that fucker. How fast she went.
It was all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have tried to do two things at once. That situation is exactly why most heists are split into multiple team members. If I weren¡¯t trying so desperately hard to keep this watch thing a secret, I could¡¯ve brought in some help to cover my ass while I was hacking Iron Head¡¯sptop. I needed all my concentration, and that nearly got Riley killed.
I¡¯d take a thousand more bullets for her. I knew it the second she came running out of that side door. I saw the fear on her face, and instinct took over.
I¡¯ve never been protective or possessive, but it was like I became a different person.
I had to save her or die trying.
We got lucky. The two guards that saw her are both dead, so they won¡¯t be talking. The security system was under my control, so none of the cameras were recording. There¡¯s a vanishingly small chance that Mantis will be able to identify either of us.
But Iron Head knows someone broke into his office now.
If the heist had gone down the way I had nned, nobody would¡¯ve ever realized we were in there. I¡¯m good at covering my tracks.
Hard to hide all that blood.
I¡¯m distracted as I head over to the Brotherhood restaurant, enough that I nearly don¡¯t notice the van following me again.
But they make a little mistake. Instead of staying a few cars back, they drift right up behind me at a light when I¡¯m about to turn right. When they have a chance to go around, they don¡¯t take it. Instead, they wait for me to move, and then they follow.
tant as hell.
I don¡¯t know why I do it.
Normally, I¡¯d ignore the tail like I have been recently. Except there¡¯s something about it now.
An implicit threat.
And the threat isn¡¯t only aimed at me¡ªit¡¯ll extend to my wife too, even if they don¡¯t know she¡¯s involved in all this for sure.
I lead the van away from Brotherhood territory. I take the long way toward a neighborhood the McGraths control. It¡¯s a heavily Irish area with lots of people out in the middle of the morning.
I make a quick turn down an alley, roll forward, and quickly kill the engine.
The van follows and only realizes that it¡¯s a narrow dead end when it¡¯s toote.
I get out of my car. My gun is held loosely in my hand. I stare at the tinted front window and wait for them to make a move. Maybe they reverse and drive off, or maybe they get out and we talk. I don¡¯t know what I want to happen, but I feel a sudden surge of anger.
¡°You want to know what I¡¯m up to?¡± I call out, taking a step forward. I keep my gun down and aimed at the ground. ¡°Thene and find out.¡±
Still nothing. Just the van rumbling.
Then abruptly the engine cuts off and a man gets out of the front driver¡¯s side.
He¡¯s older. Balding head, tan skin. I¡¯d guess Taiwanese, probably a direct Mantis member. He¡¯s in jeans and a faded denim shirt with a gun tucked right into his belt, but he doesn¡¯t reach for it. Instead, he chews something and spits on the ground.
¡°Good job catching me here,¡± he says, looking very unhappy.
¡°Why are you following me?¡±
¡°Boss¡¯s orders, that¡¯s all.¡±
¡°What do you want?¡±
He shrugs and gestures with his chin. ¡°You tell me. You¡¯re the one that cornered me.¡±
I take a breath. Anger swells in my chest. I keep seeing those guards trying to catch Riley. Trying to hurt her.
I know this man had nothing to do with what happened back at the office, but I can¡¯t help myself.
They¡¯re all fucking Mantis.
I take a step closer. ¡°Stop tailing me. Tell your boss he can either trust me or he can find the fucking item himself.¡±
The guy shrugs and spits again. ¡°Won¡¯t make much of a difference. I¡¯ll still have to follow you.¡±
¡°Then we¡¯ll have this conversation again, and I won¡¯t be as nice next time.¡±
Another shrug. Another spit. ¡°Fuck you.¡±
I raise my gun and shoot him in the knee.
He gasps. The gun¡¯s bark is like a crack in the sky. But I doubt anyone around here will so much as blink. As he falls, he starts reaching for his weapon. I dart forward and grab his wrist before he can draw. I twist, making him groan in agony, as he falls to the ground.
His leg¡¯s bleeding. ¡°You fucker,¡± he moans.
I quickly release his gun¡¯s magazine, remove the bullet from the chamber, and toss them all into a dumpster. He tries crawling back to his van, but I walk over and stand on his shattered knee.
He turns white with agony.
¡°Tell Iron Head to stop following me.¡± I lean down toward him. ¡°Remind him that he hired me for a job. That doesn¡¯t mean he gets to fucking tail me whenever he wants.¡±
¡°You ruined my knee,¡± the man gasps.
¡°You¡¯re lucky I didn¡¯t do worse.¡±
I step back. He moans in pain. I walk past him and climb into his van. It smells like stale beer. The back¡¯s covered in ayer of trash. Fast food, coffee cups, standard stake-out fare. There are binocrs and a nice camera on the passenger seat.
The fucker¡¯s been watching me very closely.
I delete the camera¡¯s memory card then pull the van away. I double park it in the street before returning to the alley. My friend is sitting with his back against the wall, breathing hard. His phone is in his hands and he¡¯s typing out a message.
¡°You¡¯re dead for this,¡± he says, sucking air between his teeth.
¡°I doubt you¡¯re that important.¡±
I get in my car and drive off.
That was impulsive. At worst, it was suicidal. Iron Head is going to be annoyed I shot his soldier like that, but he understands the game. He knows the sort of man he¡¯s working with.
But still, under other circumstances, I never would¡¯ve tried something like that.
Normally, I like to keep a good rtionship with a client.
I¡¯m past caring.
Riley must be rubbing off on me because I¡¯m making choices with my heart instead of my head, and that might be very dangerous right now.
Still, I think that stunt will buy me some more time. Iron Head will be cautious about following me and approaching next time. Which means I¡¯ll be able to move freely for a little while.
I just have to figure out how I can use this to my advantage.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 26
After Alexan leaves for his meeting, I head out to visit my brother. I¡¯m pretty sure my dad will be out running errands or something, which means it¡¯s safe to go home for an hour. On the way, I shoot Cass a text and invite her back to Alexan¡¯s house. She answers immediately: a thousand times yes, see youter.
I stop off for some coffee before heading into the house. ¡°Hello?¡± I call out. The ce is quiet. ¡°Anyone home?¡± I head into the kitchen, dump everything on the table, and start going through the mail. There are a few unpaid bills Dad needs to take care of and dirty dishes in the sink. I¡¯m tempted to start cleaning up and organizing, but I force myself to stop.
I don¡¯t live here anymore. I don¡¯t owe my father a second of my time.
There¡¯s some bumping around from upstairs. I whistle to myself as I start making some eggs and toast. As I¡¯m finishing up, Brenden appears in the kitchen behind me.
¡°Hey, little sister,¡± he says, shuffling over to the table. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you today.¡±
¡°Just thought I¡¯d drop in and¡ª¡± I turn and stare at him.
My mouth drops open.
Brenden looks like shit. His right eye is swollen and puffy, and his mouth looks like someone kicked him in the teeth. He¡¯s favoring his right side and curled over his left ever so slightly.
He tries to smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look like you got beat up.¡±
¡°Brenden¡¡± I let that trail off. He grimaces and looks away.
Instead of starting the interrogation, I te the toast, pile some eggs on top, and slide it in front of him.
He seems surprised but thankful. I get him ketchup and make sure he gets his coffee before I set myself up. We eat together in silence, forks scraping tes. I keep looking up at his bruised face, my heart skipping beats, a nervous fear jolting into my core.
Something is deeply, deeply wrong.
I knew it the second he came back. He¡¯s been hiding something from me. But now the proof is written in bruises all over his face.
¡°It¡¯s not as bad as you think,¡± he says once he¡¯s finished. He sits back in his chair and drinks the coffee with a slight wince.
¡°Have you looked in a mirror?¡±
¡°I know.¡± He frowns, prodding at his mouth. ¡°My poor, beautiful face.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t go as far as beautiful, but you¡¯re right.¡±
He grins, coughs, groans, and sighs.
¡°I probably should¡¯ve said something sooner,¡± he admits.
¡°Said something about what exactly?¡±
He levels an easy stare at me. ¡°The heist I went on didn¡¯t exactly go well.¡±
I let that sink in.
Brenden¡¯s a kind of frencer. He does jobs for the McGrath family but also takes on other work organized by other crews looking for temporary help. His job out in Vegas was one of those.
Slowly, he gives me the story. He talks about a guy he met named Marcus who had a solid n put together. There was a small casino on the edge of town with somex security practices, and Marcus knew how to exploit it. Brenden and a few other guys were brought in to help pull it off.
¡°Things went to n at first,¡± my brother says as steam rises from his coffee cup. He cradles it in both hands. ¡°We hit the money drop and used the manager¡¯s key card to slip into the back. That¡¯s where they kept the real cash. I filled my bag the way I was supposed to while the other guys did the same. Once we were loaded up, we were supposed to get out of there. But instead, and I swear I don¡¯t know how, a fire got started. It caught the leftover cash we couldn¡¯t fit in our bags, and the whole back room went up in seconds. It was madness. The smoke rms went off, sprinklers turned on, the whole ce went on lockdown. The other guys panicked, but I had enough sense to go for the door. The key card still worked, and I slipped out, but I guess I didn¡¯t leave it open long enough because by the time I looked back, nobody had followed me out. I swear, Riley, I never would¡¯ve left them behind, but I was choking on smoke, and I thought they were following.¡±
He stops his story. I know where this is going. He told me a thousand times: never, ever, ever let partners get caught. If there¡¯s absolutely no other choice and everyone¡¯s running, that¡¯s one thing. At that point, it¡¯s every man for himself.
But you don¡¯t fuck over your crew. A thief that lets his crew get thrown in jail won¡¯t stay a thief for long. Nobody wants to work with a guy like that.
And most thieves have friends, and most friends like revenge.
¡°They think you set the fire,¡± I say softly.
He nods, looking miserable. ¡°It¡¯s the fucking Los Sombras cartel. They¡¯re the ones bankrolling the operation. If I had known from the start, I never would¡¯ve touched the job, but Marcus swore he was running it alone. Motherfucker screwed me. The other guys got pinched, and they didn¡¯t roll on me, but they did tell their friends on the outside what happened. And they made it very clear that I¡¯m the reason they¡¯re all in prison.¡±
¡°Oh, shit, Brenden,¡± I say with real sympathy.
¡°I know.¡± He musters a smile and gestures at his face. ¡°Now you know why this isn¡¯t a big deal.¡±
I nod slowly.
What he means is a little beating is nothingpared to what they¡¯re going to do to him.
¡°Why haven¡¯t they, you know¡ª¡± I gesture at him.
¡°Killed me yet? They think I have the money still, and they want that before they put me in the ground.¡±
¡°Do you?¡±
He shakes his head. ¡°If I did, I¡¯d be gone. You think I¡¯de back here? I thought maybe Liam might protect me, but you know how it goes. If you take outside work and that work blows up in your face, it¡¯s all on you.¡±
¡°Shit.¡± I stand up and stomp around the kitchen, pacing again. I can¡¯t help myself. I can¡¯t stay still when I¡¯m all emotional like this. ¡°Shit, shit, shit. That fucker Liam.¡±
¡°Come on, Riley, don¡¯t be like that. We both know he¡¯s not going to war with the cartel over me even if that wasn¡¯t the policy.¡± He smiles weakly. ¡°I¡¯ll figure out how to handle this.¡±
We both know that¡¯s bullshit.
If Los Sombras wants him dead, then he¡¯s dead. I can¡¯t say I know a ton about them, but that¡¯s because nobody does. They¡¯re mysterious, like the shadows in their name, the sombras. If they say Brenden has to die, then he¡¯s going to die.
Only they¡¯ll torture him first. Beating after beating after beating, until it esctes. They won¡¯t stop until he gives them the money, whether he has it or not.
And then he¡¯s still dead.
¡°I can¡¯t believe this is happening.¡± I sit down heavily across from him again. I want to throw myself around the room. I want to break dishes.
I¡¯m tempted to tell him about Mantis, but I don¡¯t need him stressing about me.
Funny though, how we¡¯re both fucked in different ways.
All thanks to our thieving.
¡°I told you, I¡¯ll figure it out. Los Sombras isn¡¯t as bad as everyone pretends. It¡¯s just a reputation thing.¡± He smiles, trying to act brave.
I don¡¯t believe it for a second.
¡°You need to tell someone. We need to help you. Maybe Alexan and the Brotherhood?¡ª¡±
¡°Won¡¯t stick their neck out for some random Irish guy, brother-inw or not.¡± He stands with a grunt and carries the tes to the sink. ¡°Come on, Riles. Let¡¯s hang out for a little while and act like shit¡¯s normal, okay?¡±
¡°Brenden¡ª¡±
¡°Seriously, I don¡¯t want to talk about it anymore. Come for a walk with me. Moving around will help with my injuries.¡±
I want to rage at him. I want to tell him to run away. But Los Sombras will follow, and they¡¯ll leave a trail of death in their wake.
I feel small and powerless. My world is crumbling all around me. Brenden, Alexan, Mantis, Los Sombras. It¡¯s all conspiring to take away the things I care about most.
¡°Yeah, alright, let¡¯s go for a walk.¡± I force myself to my feet again. This time, I do my best to smile for him. ¡°Bet you can¡¯t even make it around the block.¡±
He stretches his back. ¡°I¡¯m not as bad as I look.¡±
¡°Bet you¡¯re worse.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go then, smartass.¡±
I follow him to the door. We head out into the sunshine together. I let him set our pace as we amble around slowly, talking about light and easy things, while everything heavy remains weighing down my back, threatening to crush me.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 27
Cass looks around the house. ¡°I love this freakish ce,¡± she says, pping her hands together.
¡°Freakish?¡± I pour her a ss of wine. I¡¯m about to get myself one, but I hesitate and decide to skip it. Cass doesn¡¯tment on my sobriety when I grab some seltzer water instead. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±
¡°There¡¯s like no stuff anywhere. And we both know you¡¯re a stuff girl.¡±
She¡¯s got a point. ¡°I brought pillows.¡± I gesture at a pile of throws at the end of the couch stacked in a very neat pile.
¡°And they¡¯re doing a lot of work.¡± Cass arches an eyebrow. ¡°The ce is also very¡ you know.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. Say it.¡±
¡°Clean.¡± She grins and waves her hands at my re. ¡°No, no, not clean, I mean organized!¡±
¡°Are you saying my old house wasn¡¯t?¡±
¡°I¡¯m saying your old room was like a junkyard. No offense.¡±
¡°Oh, yeah! None taken!¡± I stomp over to the pillow pile and toss a couple on the floor. ¡°How¡¯s that? Better now?¡±
She arches her eyebrows. ¡°How¡¯s the husband going to feel when he finds those?¡±
¡°He¡¯ll probably lint roller them and make sure they¡¯re back in their proper ce. Got a problem?¡±
¡°Not at all. He sounds dreamy.¡± She pretends to swoon as she falls down onto the couch. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, this ce isn¡¯t your normal style.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a process, okay?¡±
¡°If there¡¯s anyone up to the challenge, it¡¯s you.¡± I sit down beside her, and she leans on my shoulder. ¡°Seriously, Riley, how are things with him?¡±
I think about the wound, the blood, the desperate escape, the heist attempt, the raunchy and amazing sex. ¡°It¡¯s not bad,¡± I say.
¡°Not bad?¡± Her eyebrows arch. ¡°I feel like that only scratches the surface.¡±
¡°We¡¯re learning how to live together.¡±
¡°Wow, I¡¯m getting such a vivid picture of your domestic life.¡±
¡°He¡¯s a neat freak, okay? I mean, look at this ce; obviously, this isn¡¯t my doing.¡± I wave my arms and gesture all around.
¡°Other than that?¡±
¡°He falls asleep in like ten seconds when he wants to. He reads every night before bed.¡±
¡°He reads? Seriously?¡±
¡°History stuff mostly. A few sci-fi thriller novels. He listens to podcasts too, like dozens of them. I think he¡¯s the smartest guy I¡¯ve ever met.¡±
¡°I¡¯m having a hard time connecting podcasts and history books to your scary-looking mobster husband.¡±
¡°I know, right? But it¡¯s true.¡±
¡°And what about, you know¡ª¡± She waggles her eyebrows up and down. ¡°The intimate stuff.¡±
¡°We¡¯re working on it.¡± My cheeks turn red, and I drink the seltzer to hide my embarrassment.
¡°Sounds like you¡¯re working on a lot.¡± Her voice softens as she snuggles in closer. ¡°I just want to make sure you¡¯re okay.¡±
¡°I¡¯m good. No, really, I¡¯m honestly good. Alexan¡¯s nice to me. He¡¯s cold and distant, but he¡¯s also protective and caring. I was worried he¡¯d end up being a controlling prick, and it¡¯s really not like that.¡±
¡°I¡¯m honestly so relieved to hear you say that. I was partly worried I¡¯d show up here and find you, like, a battered shell of your former self.¡±
¡°Nope, still the same old me. Thriving and conniving.¡±
¡°And badly rhyming.¡± She sits up and stretches her legs. ¡°Alright, so we¡¯ve established you¡¯re still a wretched goofball. Can you show me the rest of the ce?¡±
I give her a tour of the rest of the ce. We joke around and poke fun at each other the whole time, and I realize how much I missed her. It¡¯s like I came to live with Alexan, and my old life went on pause. I didn¡¯t reach out to friends, and I barely heard from them, except for Cass. But now that the shock of my marriage is wearing off and the reality of my life is setting in, I¡¯m starting to take stock of where to go from here.
And maybe it¡¯s not so bad, this whole situation.
Minus the murderous organized crime syndicate hell-bent on cutting our throats, obviously.
We end up on the back porch. I want to tell Cass everything about what¡¯s going down, but I really can¡¯t get her involved. She¡¯ll want to go to Liam, and Alexan already made it clear that he doesn¡¯t want anyone else to know, much less the head of the McGrath family. Instead, I give her an update on Brenden, which she doesn¡¯t seem too surprised about.
¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors,¡± she admits. ¡°Just some of the cousins talking, you know? They said whatever Brenden did went really bad, but I don¡¯t think anyone knows how much trouble he¡¯s in.¡±
¡°He thinks he can handle it himself, but I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°What are you going to do?¡±
¡°Honestly? Right now, I¡¯m going to keep calm and avoid making it worse. But I can¡¯t sit around and wait for his situation to resolve itself.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t think so. That wouldn¡¯t be the Riley I know.¡±
¡°Can you do me a favor? Can you ask around about it?¡±
¡°Sure, I promise I¡¯ll see what I can find out.¡±
We change the subject, but I keep thinking back to the way my brother sat at the kitchen table, hunched over his wounds. Normally, he¡¯s got a big smile on his face, and the world¡¯s like a yground, but now he seems withdrawn and terrified.
It kills me, seeing him like that.
We¡¯re finishing up when Alexanes home. He doesn¡¯t notice us out back at first, and I have to wave him down to get his attention.
¡°Cass, this is my husband, Alexan. And Alexan, this is my best friend.¡±
¡°Great to officially meet you,¡± Cass says, smiling huge at him.
He frowns at her and stares for a long, awkward moment. I don¡¯t get why he¡¯s being so cold, but he finally quickly shakes her hand.
¡°You too,¡± he grunts.
¡°Uh,¡± I say, looking between them. ¡°Cass and I were just hanging out. You want to join?¡±
¡°No,¡± he says, turning away.
¡°Are you sure? She¡¯s a total delight.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± He steps inside.
I nce at her. She frowns back at me in confusion as he walks away.
¡°Must be busy,¡± I say,pletely ufortable.
¡°Totally. No worries. I have to get going anyway.¡±
We hug and promise to hang out again soon, but the vibe ispletely ruined, all thanks to my husband¡¯s icy introduction. I walk her to the door and see her out before storming back inside, rage ripping through me like a storm.
That fucking asshole.
I ask so little of him. This is the first time I had someone from my life prior to him over to visit, and he acts like he couldn¡¯t care less. It infuriates me beyond belief, and I stomp into his office like I¡¯m going to crack his head.
¡°We need to talk,¡± I snap at him.
He barely looks back. ¡°No, we don¡¯t.¡±
¡°The way you treated Cass downstairs was rude. You realize that, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡±
¡°You were so standoffish and weird, like you clearly didn¡¯t want her here.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care if you have friends over. This is your house too.¡±
¡°Then why the hell did you act like a total dick down there?¡±
He finally turns to me. His jaw is tense, and I can see the stress all over him. ¡°I¡¯m distracted.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not a good excuse. I get it, things areplicated right now?¡ª¡±
¡°No, baby, you don¡¯t get it.¡± He rubs his forehead with the heel of his hand.
I step back. That¡¯s the first time he¡¯s ever been short with me. I don¡¯t even know what to say. ¡°What happened today?¡± I ask, my tone softening a touch. I feel myself spiraling, and I need to pull out of it. ¡°Why are you like this right now?¡±
He closes his eyes and leans his head back. ¡°Mantis has been following me for a while now.¡±
That gets my attention. I lean against the wall, arms crossed, heart beating rapidly. ¡°Okay, so what? That¡¯s not a huge deal, right?¡±
¡°Normally, it wouldn¡¯t be, except there¡¯s this fucking thing.¡± He gestures at the watch, jaw flexing. ¡°And I shot one of their soldiers earlier.¡±
My mouth falls open. ¡°You did what?¡±
¡°I sent them a message. They can¡¯t get too fucking close and expect me to do my job. But now I¡¯m thinking it might¡¯ve been a little¡¡± He levels me with a hard look. ¡°Impulsive.¡±
¡°You did something impulsive? Mr. Cold nning and Rationality did something emotional and impulsive?¡± I shake my head in wonder. I¡¯dugh, but this isn¡¯t even remotely funny. ¡°I¡¯m finding it hard to believe.¡±
¡°I had my reasons, except now I¡¯m thinking maybe they were wed. I think I shot that guy because I¡¯m pissed off. I¡¯m angry that those fuckers chased after my wife and nearly hurt her.¡±
¡°Jesus, Alexan,¡± I whisper. ¡°Mantis wasn¡¯t even there.¡±
¡°Those guards were Mantis. Maybe indirectly, but still. And I know, I get it, my anger was a little misguided.¡±
¡°So you shot someone. You shoot people all the time, right?¡±
¡°Not all the time.¡± He opens his eyes and looks at me. ¡°But yes, with some frequency.¡±
¡°Then you¡¯ll get over it. That still doesn¡¯t make your behavior downstairs okay.¡±
He leans forward, elbows on his knees. I expect him to argue. If this were my father or any of the other men in my life, they¡¯d have a thousand reasons why I¡¯m being unreasonable and they¡¯re totally justified in being a total prick.
But he doesn¡¯t do that.
Instead, he nods slowly.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he says.
I pause. I¡¯m not used to hearing that during a fight. ¡°I¡¯m right¡ about what?¡±
¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been rude to your friend. I¡¯m stressed and processing a potentially very bad decision, and I wasn¡¯t avable to be a decent husband. For that, I¡¯m sorry. And tell Cass I apologize as well.¡±
I just stand there, anger slowly draining away. ¡°I think this is the first fight I¡¯ve ever actually won,¡± I admit, not sure what to do with myself.
¡°Don¡¯t think of it as winning. Think of it as engaging in a mutually respectful rtionship.¡±
¡°Who are you?¡± I ask.
He gets to his feet. My big, beautiful husband levels that cold, icy stare at me, and his lips curl into a smirk.
¡°I¡¯m yours,¡± he says andes toward me. ¡°How angry are you?¡±
¡°I was pretty pisseding up here,¡± I admit.
He stops in front of me and puts his hands on my hips. I keep my arms crossed as he leans forward, his body pressing into mine. ¡°Angry enough that you want tosh out at me?¡± he asks softly.
¡°Are you turning this into a sex thing?¡±
¡°I¡¯m offering to make up for my mistake.¡±
¡°By doing sex things?¡±
¡°If you want to be crude about it.¡± He leans forward and kisses my neck. A tingle runs down my spine. ¡°Then yes.¡±
I lick my lips. God, what¡¯s wrong with me? Is my libido really that hungry?
He did apologize, though. And if he¡¯s not messing around about shooting some random Mantis guy earlier, I can understand why he might be a little distracted.
Cass will ept his apology.
As I run my fingers through his hair, I realize I¡¯ve already epted it too.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 28
He kisses me hard as he pins my hands above my head. I push back into him, finding thatst bit of frustration and using it to fuel the desire ringing down into my core.
¡°I think we¡¯ll y a little game,¡± he says, suddenly twisting my arm. I yelp in surprise as he turns me around and pins me face-first against the wall. It doesn¡¯t hurt, but he¡¯s definitely pushing hard enough that I can¡¯t get away. ¡°I¡¯m going to help you work out all that frustration.¡±
¡°How are you going to do that?¡±
¡°By punishing you.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t follow the logic, if I¡¯m honest.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± He pulls my hair lightly and kisses my neck. ¡°Let¡¯s give you a demonstration then.¡±
With surprising speed, he reaches down and unbuttons my jeans. I let out a shockedugh as he yanks them down, exposing my ass. I¡¯m in a pair ofcy navy-blue boy shorts.
¡°Seems like this is less of a punishment and more¡ª¡± I start to say until he brings his palm down on my left cheek with one quick motion.
I suck in a breath as painnces along my skin.
¡°You were saying?¡± he asks, lightly rubbing my ass where he just pped me.
¡°Was that¡ a spanking?¡± I ask.
¡°You can call it that if you want.¡± He nibbles my ear from behind. ¡°But I think you need to be pinned down over my knees for it to really count.¡±
¡°Is that something you can do?¡±
Heughs, dark and low, sending another spike into my core.
¡°Right this way, you bad fucking girl.¡± He leads me to the guest room across the hall and sits on the edge of the bed. My heart races as he drags me down into hisp, roughly wrenching my panties down further to show off my full bare ass. ¡°Is this what you wanted?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure wanted is the right word, but?¡ª¡±
He spanks me again, one quick and brutal motion. I arch in shock and pain as it fills me like fire. Then he¡¯s massaging again and murmuring how I¡¯m such a good girl.
¡°How was that, baby? Too much?¡±
¡°Fuck,¡± I say, drooling against theforter. My body goes ck as the wires mixing pleasure and pain get totally crossed in my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t think now, can you?¡± He spanks me again, and again. I¡¯m grinding against his thigh, panting and moaning. From a freaking spanking? What the hell is going on with me right now? ¡°Oh, baby, you like that, don¡¯t you?¡± He¡¯s purring at me, clearly enjoying this. I feel him stiffening underneath me.
¡°I don¡¯t know what I like right now,¡± I say, dazed, and arch my back. ¡°But do it again.¡±
He whacks me three more times. My brain fizzles and fries with total confusion, and he only makes it worse when he roughly pushes my legs open and runs his fingers up and down my slit.
Oh, fucking shit, that feels so good.
¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± he says as his fingers probe at my pussy andp at my clit. ¡°You need a little something nice to bnce out the spanking you¡¯re getting. You deserve a treat, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°And this treat is you touching my pussy?¡± I whine, wriggling against his hand, practically trying to hump his fingers.
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He pulls his hand away, and I moan from the suddenck of sensation. His fingers press into my mouth, and I suck them eagerly.
Until he pulls back and spanks me. This time, it¡¯s a wet p, and I end up moaning. He teases my pussy immediately, mming bliss against agony and driving me insane.
¡°What a good girl,¡± he praises. ¡°Your pretty pale ass looks so good with my red handprint right on your cheek. I¡¯m going to spank you until my fingers leave bruises. When you sit, you¡¯ll feel me. That¡¯s my mark, baby.¡±
¡°You¡¯re a little insane.¡±
¡°And you like it.¡± He spanks me again, and again, and one more time hard enough that I cry out, before he plunges his fingers deep into my pussy.
Shit.
Oh, god.
That is so, so good.
I whimper and moan as I push against his hand. My ass feels like it¡¯s on fire, but my pussy feels like it¡¯s being filled with heaven. I don¡¯t know which is worse or better, and I don¡¯t care. I buck back into him, desperate and greedy for more.
¡°That¡¯s such a good girl,¡± he whispers and gently pulls back. He pushes me down onto the bed, face against theforter, ass in the air. I look back as he takes off his pants and strokes his thick cock. ¡°Look at your pink little pussy. It¡¯s dripping down your thighs, baby. You¡¯re so fucking filthy and beautiful. You have no idea how much I want you.¡±
¡°Show me,¡± I beg, wiggling my ass for him. ¡°Fuck me. Fill me. You¡¯re making me impatient.¡±
¡°God, you look so good when you beg, my little dirty girl.¡± He strokes himself faster, his eyes like liquid desire. ¡°Tell me you want it.¡±
¡°Please,¡± I moan. ¡°Fuck me, Alexan. I want it. I want you.¡±
That gets him. He grabs my hips roughly and sinks himself inside of me. I bliss out for a second as he stretches and fills me to the brim, the ache of his big dick like the sweetest drug.
I arch back and lift up. He kisses me over my shoulder.
¡°Pretty little pussy,¡± he murmurs, stroking slowly in and out. ¡°And so fucking wet.¡±
¡°You like it when I get wet for you,¡± I say, breathing hard.
¡°And now you have a dirty fucking mouth too.¡± He buries fingers between my lips as he fucks me. ¡°Suck those and let me fuck you.¡±
I moan and give myself over to him. Alexan fills me again and again as he falls into a rhythm. His body is big and perfect, his athletic muscles tightening and flexing, and I¡¯m amazed at how good he looks. It¡¯s like the man was made to fuck me. He was built to make me submit. He was born to ruin my body and fry my brain.
And I love every second of it.
¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± he moans, wrapping his fist in my hair. He pumps harder, stroking again and again, making that perfect wet pping noise as his hips bang against my bare and aching ass. He¡¯s right, I¡¯m definitely going to have bruises. ¡°I dream about this. I¡¯d kill for this. I don¡¯t care how many men I have to bury, I¡¯m not going to lose you. You¡¯re mine now, Riley, you¡¯re my wife, my fucking woman. You¡¯re mine and I¡¯m entirely yours. I own you, and you own me. I¡¯m pathetic for you, baby. I¡¯m a fucking mess for you. And I want to feel your warmth as youe for me. I need you toe for me, baby, pleasee for me, you dirty fucking girl, please.¡±
As he talks, the orgasm builds and builds, until thatst please finally rips me to shreds. I unravel, all my threads twisting and spinning in the air, and Ie so hard I see ck spots. He speeds up, plunging deeper and deeper, until he stiffens and moans in my ear, his orgasm mixing with mine.
I copse on the bed, breathing hard. He pulls me against him, big arms wrapped around my body. We stay like that together, trying to gather ourselves back together, but it¡¯s like building my body out of clouds. I just keep drifting apart.
¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± he whispers, and it¡¯s his voice that finally does it. I blink a few times,ing together. ¡°Good fucking girl, Riley. Such a good girl.¡±
I kiss him lightly and bury my face in his chest.
And I start sobbing.
I don¡¯t even know why it happens. He seems as bewildered as I feel as he strokes my hair and tells me everything will be okay. Maybe the spanking softened me up or that orgasm finally broke me, but whatever it was, I just keep crying, my body racked as all my stress and sadness pours out.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry, it¡¯s not you,¡± I finally manage to say.
¡°I hoped not. What¡¯s wrong, baby?¡±
¡°Everything. I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just so stupid.¡±
¡°Tell me.¡±
And so I do. I tell him about visiting my brother, about the trouble he¡¯s in, about how helpless I feel to do anything to stop it. He listens, stroking my hair, and kisses me a few times until finally the tears begin to slow down.
¡°I didn¡¯t mean to ruin the sex,¡± I say, wiping my face with my hands. ¡°God, what a mess.¡±
¡°You didn¡¯t ruin anything. I¡¯m d you shared all that with me.¡±
¡°Brenden¡¯s not your problem. We¡¯ve got enough going on, right?¡±
¡°I can help him if you let me.¡±
¡°No, Alexan, please, I can¡¯t ask you to do that.¡±
¡°I want to.¡± He kisses me softly and brushes a thumb under each of my eyes. ¡°You¡¯re my family now.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t mean my brother¡¯s cartel problems are your problems too.¡±
He shrugs slightly. ¡°But what if it does? He¡¯s my brother-inw. We don¡¯t know each other, but that shouldn¡¯t matter. Family is family.¡±
¡°Alexan, just stop, okay? I appreciate the offer, but you¡¯ll only make me upset again. There¡¯s nothing we can do for him.¡±
¡°Let me think about it.¡± He pats my ass when I start to protest. ¡°That¡¯s all for now, alright? Just let me think.¡±
¡°Fine.¡± I sniffle and feel like a child again. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t cry after every time we have sex.¡±
¡°I know that.¡± He brushes his lips over my neck. ¡°Mostly I¡¯ll leave you a quivering, smiling, post-orgasm mess.¡±
¡°Promise?¡±
¡°Always.¡±
We stay like that for a little while. I¡¯m honestly touched that he wants to help my brother, even though that¡¯s not his problem and he¡¯s got enough going on. I feel guilty that I brought it up, but I couldn¡¯t help it. All my emotion just spilled out once he broke down my barriers.
He can think. That¡¯s not asking too much. But I won¡¯t let him do anything that might put him at risk.
Alexan¡¯s my family now too.
Which means I care about him and need to protect him with everything I have.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 29
Nobody follows me to Pomegranate House the next day. I¡¯m guessing Mantis got the message loud and clear.
I don¡¯t like a tail.
Daron, William, and Eric are already sitting at a corner table waiting for me to show up. Daron¡¯s entertaining the other two with some funny story from his youth. All three of my men have coffees in front of them. I nod at a waitress to bring over a fourth as I pull up a chair.
¡°And I said to him, listen, you little shit, it¡¯s a fucking stool, not a goddamn dildo.¡± Daron grins and gestures like he¡¯s climbing a rope, and the other two start cracking up like they¡¯ve just heard the funniest story in the world.
My coffee shows up, and I let theirughter die down. It¡¯s good those three are getting along. I need them focused and working hard, but camaraderie is a big piece of any new group.
That¡¯s part of why I brought Daron on. He¡¯s charming and outgoing, which makes him the perfect social glue. William¡¯s more like the quiet and serious type, while Eric¡¯s still too green to be useful.
¡°You missed a good one, boss,¡± Daron says, leaning back. ¡°Should I tell it again?¡±
¡°Only if it¡¯s more than half true.¡±
¡°Ah, damn, then I¡¯d better not.¡±
William shakes his head, still smiling. ¡°I knew you were full of it.¡±
¡°That really didn¡¯t happen?¡± Eric seems disappointed. ¡°What about the perfect hack?¡±
¡°That, my young friend, was real.¡± Daron¡¯s eyes sparkle as he nces at me. ¡°You know that story, right?¡±
¡°Daron can¡¯t go ten minutes without talking about his crowning achievement.¡± I sip my coffee and try not tough.
¡°I broke into a bank and pinned it on the bastard that stole my fucking girlfriend!¡± Daron leans back and stretches. ¡°Poor bastard never should¡¯ve touched her.¡±
¡°The worst part is you didn¡¯t actually like that girl,¡± I point out.
¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Daron steeples his fingers. ¡°I was going to break up with her anyway. But it was the principle.¡±
¡°Cold,¡± William says, shaking his head.
¡°I love it.¡± Eric raises his coffee. ¡°To pointless revenge.¡±
¡°The best kind,¡± Daron agrees. They toast, and I let them bullshit for a few more minutes before I call the meeting to order.
We go over some operational details first. What facilities we¡¯ll use, security best practices, that sort of thing. William has a few thoughts on some hacks we can pull off, and we discuss those for a little bit. I direct the conversation, but I wee input from everyone else and try to pull Eric out of his shell a few times throughout the meeting.
Toward the end, I knock my knuckles on the table to get their attention. ¡°I have a personal request,¡± I say, ncing over at Daron. The expression on his face is deeply skeptical. ¡°My wife¡¯s brother is having some trouble with Los Sombras.¡±
William¡¯s eyebrows raise. Eric leans back in his chair, arms crossed. Daron¡¯s the only one that speaks up.
¡°And what¡¯s that have to do with us?¡± he asks, keeping his tone light and casual, almost like he¡¯s just kidding around.
But there¡¯s an edge, like a warning. He¡¯s trying to say: you already pulled me into some bullshit, don¡¯t do it again.
¡°All I¡¯m looking for is information. My brother-inw pulled a heist out in Vegas recently that went all wrong. I want to know who he was there with and how they were connected with Los Sombras. I also need to know which Los Sombras agents are in Baltimore right now. Anything you three can get me will help.¡±
¡°Just information?¡± Eric asks, perking up slightly. ¡°I can do that.¡±
¡°Hold on,¡± William says. ¡°Los Sombras is serious shit.¡±
¡°They¡¯re just a cartel.¡± Eric waves a hand. ¡°I know some guys I can talk to.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t official business,¡± I point out. ¡°There¡¯s no job attached.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s say I¡¯m just trying to prove my worth for now.¡± Eric grins at me and practically jumps to his feet. ¡°Give me a couple days, boss. I¡¯ll handle this.¡±
He walks off. I watch him go, feeling like maybe I just did something wrong.
William heads out next. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure he doesn¡¯t get himself killed,¡± he murmurs on the way and follows after Eric.
Daron studies me from across the table. He drinks his coffee, eyes narrowed. I meet his gaze.
¡°Go ahead. Say it.¡±
He tilts his head. ¡°Say what?¡±
¡°You know what.¡±
¡°You want me to say you shouldn¡¯t be dumping personal problems on your crew?¡± He takes a sip. ¡°Or maybe you shouldn¡¯t encourage Eric to do stupid shit?¡± Another sip. ¡°Or maybe you already tried to fuck me?¡ª¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯t fucking you,¡± I say through my teeth. ¡°You don¡¯t seem fucked to me.¡±
¡°You know what I¡¯m saying.¡± Daron softens a touch and leans forward. ¡°I get it. You¡¯re in some shit. I don¡¯t know how deep that shit is, but I can smell it all over you.¡±
I push back from the table. ¡°You don¡¯t have to help.¡±
¡°You know I will.¡± He gets up too, and we walk out of the restaurant together. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is you need to be careful.¡±
I turn to him, ready to say something sharp, but I can¡¯t find the words. Because the problem is he¡¯s right.
I need their help, but I also shouldn¡¯t involve them.
I¡¯m not asking them to do anything they haven¡¯t done a million times before. Researching a rival organization is almost no big deal.
But what happens after that? Do I drag them even deeper? Would I do it to keep Riley safe?
A part of me knows there are no lines when ites to my wife.
Before I can muster a defense, a car pulls up. It¡¯s a ck sedan with dark tinted windows. Daron steps aside, hand drifting toward his jacket and the gun I¡¯m sure he¡¯s got tucked into the holster there. The car¡¯s window rolls down, and Jeremy Fong stares out at us.
Nobody moves. My heart¡¯s hammering in my ears. Daron¡¯s still got his hand on the gun, and his face is grim.
¡°Hello, gentlemen.¡± Jeremy seems genial and professional. ¡°I was hoping I could borrow some of your time, Alexan?¡±
¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± I put a hand on Daron, but he doesn¡¯t stand down.
¡°You sure?¡±
I¡¯m almost touched that he¡¯s willing to draw a gun for me. ¡°I¡¯m good. Head home; we¡¯ll talkter.¡±
Reluctantly, he pulls his hand from the jacket and nods. ¡°Check in soon.¡± Then he stalks off without looking back.
¡°You have protective friends.¡± Jeremy smiles and gestures for me to get in. ¡°But there¡¯s no need for the dramatics.¡±
I walk around to the other side and climb into the back.
Instantly, there¡¯s a gun in my face. A thickset man sitting in the passenger seat is twisted around and aiming a pistol big enough to blow my brain into a fine pink mist.
¡°You have protective friends too.¡± I keep myself calm as I shut the door.
The driver pulls out.
I¡¯m very much aware that I¡¯m trapped in here, and Mantis isn¡¯t the kind of organization that will hesitate to make me disappear. It¡¯s a risk to get in the car, but I have to keep ying this one straight.
¡°You shot my associate.¡± Jeremy studies me with an amused smirk. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, we might have crossed some professional lines by setting that tail, but still. It wasn¡¯t necessary.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t kill him.¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. Perhaps I should cut off your hand? It wouldn¡¯t be death, so I suppose you couldn¡¯t get angry.¡±
I have nothing to say to that. I only stare at him, my jaw working. I made an impulsive move, and I might pay a very steep price for it.
The car keeps driving. I don¡¯t know where we¡¯re going, but I feel like we¡¯re moving in a veryrge circle with no actual destination in mind. Jeremy goes silent for a little while, and I keep my breathing steady. The gun never wavers. The man¡¯s finger remains on the trigger. I¡¯m aware that if he twitches, I¡¯m dead.
I hope the car doesn¡¯t hit a pothole, but it¡¯s Baltimore. Potholes are an inevitable fact of life.
¡°I am unhappy about the dy so far.¡± Jeremy finally breaks the tense silence. He looks at me sidelong. ¡°You seemed very confident when we hired you.¡±
¡°That was before I realized how impossible the job really is. But I¡¯m doing my best.¡±
¡°Is there any progress?¡±
¡°Not as much as I¡¯d like.¡±
¡°Then that¡¯s a no.¡± Jeremy shakes his head. ¡°This is very bad news, Alexan. I had high hopes for the famous Permafrost. But perhaps your reputation is incorrect.¡±
¡°My reputation is what it is. I¡¯ll find the object eventually, but you need to be patient.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been patient.¡± He turns to stare at me. I get the sense he¡¯s studying my face for something. ¡°But you¡¯ve done nothing but dy.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve given you honest updates.¡±
¡°Can you find it? Are you wasting my time?¡±
¡°Yes, I can. And no, I¡¯m not.¡±
His lips press together. I can tell he doesn¡¯t believe me. I get the sense he suspects something is going on, but he can¡¯t figure out what yet.
He¡¯s suspicious, and that¡¯s bad.
¡°One more week,¡± he says finally. ¡°No more dys. No more shooting my men. No more bullshit. You know the consequences of failing the ck Mantis. I don¡¯t need to remind you.¡±
I re at him. ¡°One week isn¡¯t much.¡±
¡°It¡¯s all I¡¯m willing to give.¡± He taps the driver on the shoulder, and the man pulls over.
The gun remains aimed at my skull.
¡°Then I hope our next conversation is more pleasant than this one.¡± I push open the door.
¡°A word of warning.¡± Jeremy leans across the back seat. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot my tails again. Whatever you¡¯re up to, I¡¯m going to find out. I¡¯ll be seeing you soon. And tell that pretty wife of yours that I said hello.¡±
They drive off, leaving me alone on some random Baltimore street corner. I watch the car disappear and feel my stomach sinking deep into my knees.
He knows something¡¯s going on. Hisment about Riley at the very end was deliberate.
The fucker knows, and he¡¯s using her to threaten me.
I control my rage. I can¡¯t do anything impulsive again. That nearly got me into some serious trouble. If Fong didn¡¯t want the watch back so badly, I¡¯d probably have a bullet in my head right now, but he¡¯s desperate enough to overlook one ruined knee if it means getting Mantis¡¯s money back.
One week to go.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 30
I¡¯m tired of looking at bare white walls and piles of magazines nobody ever reads.
This is my house, right? I should be allowed to make sweeping changes if I want to.
Which is how I justify myself when I go into an impulsive redecorating frenzy.
I use a fancy metal credit card Alexan gave me to order a bunch of home goods on local courier delivery. It¡¯s obscenely expensive, but he never gave me a limit. And besides, when I get like this, there¡¯s no stopping me.
When cute baskets,fy nkets, more throw pillows than is reasonably healthy, and a bunch of pretty art start showing up, I get to work. Half of his stuff gets either taken down and piled in a corner or stacked up against a wall in the basement. I¡¯m tempted to paint the whole ce, but I don¡¯t have time for that.
Instead, I drape it in my personality. I¡¯m going for cozy chic, which involves a lot of pastels and fluffy things. I yank down his curtains and hang very beautifulvender drapes. I rece his coffee table with this gorgeous ss and gold-edged piece I find for sale at a local shop nearby. I get flowers, big potted nts, and a bunch of little decorative animal statues.
Basically, I lose my damn mind for about six hours.
I¡¯m starting on the second floor when the front door opens. It¡¯s like I¡¯m trapped in a fever dream, and only the sudden noise of Alexaning home jars me awake. I stand there ck-jawed, and it¡¯s only as he gets deeper into the house that it urs to me that maybe, just maybe, I went a little bit too far.
¡°What the hell?¡± I hear the in shock in his voice as I hurry downstairs.
¡°It¡¯s not what it looks like.¡± I don¡¯t even know why I say it because obviously, it¡¯s exactly what it looks like.
He¡¯s standing at the kitchen ind and staring out at the chaos of the living room. I can admit that redecorating hasn¡¯t been a smooth process. The ce is nearly a wreck. There¡¯s packing paper and boxes tossed around and stuff covering every possible surface. It looks like Ikea had a baby with Free People and the resulting demon spawn puked all over the house.
¡°What did you do?¡± he asks, turning toward me slowly.
I hold up my hands in surrender. ¡°I made some minor changes.¡±
¡°Minor?¡± He gestures around him like that somehow can epass the insanity. ¡°This is minor?¡±
¡°Look, I know I might¡¯ve gone a little too far. It¡¯s just, earlier I got the bug and I just?¡ª¡±
¡°And you just ripped my house apart.¡±
I pause for a second. I¡¯m about to apologize more, but something about that bugs me. ¡°Our house,¡± I correct.
His jaw ticks in frustration. ¡°Does it matter? This point is?¡ª¡±
¡°No, Alexan, seriously.¡± I step toward him, hands on my hips. ¡°Our house. I want to see you say it.¡±
His expression hardens. ¡°I don¡¯t need to.¡±
¡°But now I feel like you really do.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve done nothing but wee you here. I don¡¯t need to say anything in my defense. I¡¯m not the one on trial here.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what this is? You¡¯re having a trial for me?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s just an expression.¡±
¡°An expression you used.¡± I pick up a wooden elephant. ¡°I get it, this isn¡¯t your taste, but it¡¯s mine. And I live here now, right?¡±
¡°Yes, you do.¡±
¡°Then I get a say in how it looks, right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the point to me. You just said it. My house, not our house. I get it, this marriage is new and it¡¯s not something either of us asked for, bute on. At least pretend like you want to make it work.¡±
Hees at me then. It¡¯s a shock when he grabs me by the waist and pulls me toward him, mming my body against his. He turns and pins me up against the counter, looming over me like a demon. His hands press against my hips.
¡°Do you really fucking think I don¡¯t want to make this work?¡± he says quietly, but there¡¯s an edge to his tone.
¡°I don¡¯t really know what you want,¡± I admit. My heart¡¯s racing. I¡¯m not afraid of him, but I can tell I hit a nerve, and I¡¯m worried I might¡¯ve gone too far.
He leans down. His lips brush against my neck, and he lets out a soft snarl of frustration. Tingles run down my spine.
¡°Maybe I haven¡¯t made it clear to you yet. This started out as an arrangement. It started out as something neither of us wanted. But now it¡¯s different.¡±
¡°Different¡ how?¡±
¡°You¡¯re my wife.¡± He kisses my shoulder. His right hand moves up to grip my hair. ¡°You¡¯re a part of my life.¡±
¡°Are you saying that because of the whole Mantis thing?¡±
¡°I¡¯m saying that in spite of them. God, baby, you really don¡¯t get it, do you?¡±
I steady myself by pressing my hands into his chest. He pulls back, staring into my eyes. There¡¯s a hidden reservoir of emotion in that expression, and I¡¯m struck all over again by how good he is at hiding it.
¡°Make me get it then.¡±
He leans forward. His lips press to mine gently. ¡°Is that why you made a mess of our house? Because you wanted me to punish you?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be so arrogant.¡±
He pulls my hair lightly. I let out a little gasp. ¡°Admit it, baby. You made this mess because you like it when I get angry.¡±
Honestly, that hadn¡¯t even urred to me, but it¡¯s a nice bonus. ¡°There you go, being arrogant again.¡±
The low, throatyugh he makes drives every inch of me wild.
¡°Is it arrogance?¡± He kisses me again, this time with more hunger. ¡°Or is it just the truth?¡±
His tongue invades my lips. I moan into that kiss as his grip on me tightens. He pulls my hair harder, and I whimper. I slip up onto the edge of the counter and wrap my legs around his hips.
He rocks forward into me.
¡°Fuck, you drive me crazy sometimes,¡± he whispers, kissing my neck. He pulls my shirt off and throws it aside. My braes off next.
¡°And you can¡¯t seem to keep your hands to yourself.¡±
¡°Because of this.¡± He sucks my pierced nipple, rolling his tongue around it.
God, that feels so good.
¡°It¡¯s almost unfair,¡± I whine, shimmying my hips. ¡°You know what I like.¡±
¡°You¡¯re damn right I do. I study everything about you, Riley. Every day I wonder how I can make you happy.¡±
¡°Is this making me happy?¡±
He licks harder, tonguing around my nipple faster. ¡°I think so.¡±
¡°I just wanted to redecorate.¡±
¡°And now look at you.¡± He pulls me down off the counter and turns me around until I¡¯m bent over. Roughly, he slides off my jeans until my ass is bare for him. He reaches forward and lightly trails his fingers around my nipple before pulling my hair. I stay where I am, exposed for him, heart racing like wild.
¡°It¡¯s all your fault. I was being good until you came home.¡± I pout, ying it up.
¡°This is being good?¡± He kisses me hard, then spanks me once. I yelp in surprise and grin like a drooling idiot. ¡°You think this is good?¡±
¡°Yes, I do,¡± I say, licking my lips.
He spanks me again and again. As he does it, he shoves his fingers in my mouth, and once they¡¯re dripping with my spit, he rubs my nipple.
Fuck, that¡¯s incredible. The spanking, the control, the bliss in my piercing. It¡¯s driving me absolutely crazy. I¡¯m moaning, mindless with pleasure, as he spanks me again and again.
¡°You dirty fucking girl,¡± he says, voice heavy with lust. ¡°You don¡¯t get tired of me spanking you raw, do you?¡±
¡°No,¡± I admit. ¡°Keep going.¡±
Heughs again. God, that sound kills me. I arch my back, mouth hanging open, pushing myself up off the counter with my palms.
He squeezes my tits as he gets out of his pants. I feel his hard dick press against me from behind as one big hand wraps around my throat.
¡°Next time, you¡¯ll ask before you make a major decision.¡±
¡°Is that what this is about?¡± I wriggle against him, grinding into his cock. ¡°Poor little Alexan wanted me to ask permission?¡±
¡°Not permission.¡± He shoves me down roughly. I gasp,nding onto my elbows as he rips my panties aside. ¡°I want a conversation.¡±
¡°Aw, poor boy.¡±
He snarls and slides his dick inside.
Oh my god.
Bliss hits me like a hammer. All my cheeky bullshit fades away as he fills me to the brim.
¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he says, gripping my hair. ¡°Suddenly you¡¯re not talking shit anymore.¡±
He starts to fuck me, and I can¡¯t think of aeback. I can¡¯t think of anything at all except my beast of a husband filling my pussy over and over again. I push back into him, desperate for pleasure as he squeezes my breast and rubs my pierced nipple. It¡¯s too much, the pleasure almost too intense, and I¡¯m trembling and shaking against him as he leans forward to whisper in my ear.
¡°You¡¯re my partner. You¡¯re my wife. You will consult me on big things, and I will consult you. We¡¯re in this together, baby. Do you understand? You¡¯re mine, and I¡¯m yours.¡±
¡°I¡¯m yours,¡± I moan, grinding against him hard. ¡°You¡¯re mine.¡±
¡°Good slut. That¡¯s such a good fucking slut. Now you¡¯re going to take my dick, and you¡¯re going toe, and when you¡¯re done, you¡¯ll get on your knees and suck my cock until I finish on your tongue. Do you understand?¡±
¡°Yes, baby, I understand.¡± Sweat rolls down my back. I¡¯m straining and right on the edge. ¡°Oh, god. Oh, my fucking god. I want toe so badly.¡±
¡°You want it? You need it, don¡¯t you?¡± He strokes in deep and holds me there.
¡°Oh, fuck,¡± I say with desperate frustration. I try to make him move, but he won¡¯t. ¡°Please, Alexan, don¡¯t you stop.¡±
His chuckle is amused. ¡°Beg me.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do anything. I¡¯ll swallow every drop of you. I¡¯ll let you fill me as much as you want. Just please?¡ª¡±
He pulls back and ms into me. My eyes roll back as bliss rams straight down my spine.
¡°That¡¯s it, baby, you¡¯re such a slut for me, and I love it. Look at your pussy dripping down my cock, you messy fucking girl. You cane for me now. Come nice and messy. Leave yourself plenty to clean up.¡±
He reaches up and strokes my nipple, and that does it.
I shatter like porcin all over his dick.
It¡¯s an explosion of pure bliss. I¡¯m trembling and moaning his name as I orgasm, my body tightening and tensing. He fucks me through it, talking the whole time. I can¡¯t hear the words or understand much of anything, but I know that tone, that sultry gorgeous tone, and it makes the orgasm that much sweeter.
¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± he says as Iy gasping against the counter. ¡°What a good fucking girl.¡± He pats my ass, then gently grabs my hair. ¡°But you¡¯re not done yet.¡±
Eagerly, I drop to my knees. His dick¡¯s thick and long, and it¡¯s soaked with my pussy. I suck it like I¡¯ve never wanted anything more in my entire life. He makes me feel beautiful and strong in a way I didn¡¯t know I could. I¡¯ve never been wanted like this before, but as he looks down at me with pure desire in his eyes, I know nobody else could ever make me feel this good again.
¡°Fuck, you¡¯re perfect,¡± he whispers.
I suck him and stroke him, and hees in my mouth. It¡¯s salty and warm, and I swallow every single drop like I told him I would. I stare into his eyes as he melts for me, and in the same way he had power over me when he was deep between my legs, now I have power over him as he twitches on my tongue.
That¡¯s the most addictive power I¡¯ve ever tasted.
He pulls me to my feet and kisses me. We stand like that beside the kitchen ind for a little while, his arms wrapped around my body. Our breaths sync up, and I close my eyes, feeling warm andfortable.
¡°It¡¯s not bad, you know,¡± he says.
I pull away and get dressed. ¡°What¡¯s not bad?¡±
¡°All this.¡± He gestures around at my mess as he pulls on his pants.
¡°Come on, don¡¯t give me that.¡± I chew on a fingernail. ¡°It¡¯s kind of crazy, right?¡±
¡°I get it. I wasn¡¯t angry about the changes. But I do want you to talk to me first before going all crazy on me.¡± He lifts my chin toward him. ¡°And you¡¯re right. This is our ce now.¡±
I grin a little and step into him. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight. ¡°So is this what it¡¯s like to justmunicate with someone?¡±
¡°Seems that way.¡± He pulls back and lightly kisses me. ¡°There are going to be problems. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll disagree about some things. But so long as you¡¯re honest and open with me, I¡¯ll do the same for you.¡±
¡°I can handle that. And maybe I need to be a little less impulsive moving forward.¡±
He tilts his head and surveys the house, lips pressed together. ¡°I like you for who you are, but¡ª¡± He gestures at a pile of garbage. ¡°Maybe you can work on being a little bit neater.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a fairpromise.¡± I walk over and start gathering my trash. Hees and helps, and together we get the ce looking halfway decent.
When we¡¯re done, we sit out back together. I put my feet in hisp, and he gently rubs them. I¡¯ve never met a gangster who doesn¡¯t mind giving affection like this, and it feels good.
It feels easy, like it¡¯s supposed to.
My stomach bubbles with nervous excitement. He nces at me and smiles a bit. ¡°What?¡± he asks. ¡°You¡¯re staring at me.¡±
¡°Just thinking, that¡¯s all.¡± I stretch and sigh. ¡°I probably shouldn¡¯t ask, but would you do me a favor?¡±
¡°Anything. You know that.¡±
¡°Would youe meet with my brother?¡±
He stops rubbing my feet. I kick him lightly to make him start again. ¡°Why would you need that?¡±
¡°He¡¯s in trouble. I think we can help him.¡±
¡°Riley¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m not asking you to do anything but talk to him.¡±
He sighs and nods. ¡°I can do that. I already asked my crew to dig into Los Sombras. Maybe they¡¯lle back with something useful.¡±
¡°Seriously? You did that?¡±
¡°He¡¯s my brother-inw, and you¡¯re my wife. This is what family does.¡±
I lean forward, stretching my leg, and kiss him. ¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°Now that you¡¯re feeling grateful¡ª¡± He nces over his shoulder, expression darkening. ¡°How about we discuss the sheer amount of pink in my living room?¡±
¡°Our living room,¡± I correct, grinning. ¡°And maybe I can tone it down.¡±
Although I really doubt I will.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 31
I drive over to Riley¡¯s old house and park out front. She hesitates before getting out, frowning at the front door. ¡°Does it feel strange now?¡± I ask her.
¡°It shouldn¡¯t, but it does. I mean, how long have we been married? It feels like it¡¯s been forever.¡±
¡°I know what you mean.¡±
¡°This was my home for a long time. I didn¡¯t want to leave, and now I can¡¯t imagineing back.¡±
¡°It¡¯s strange how fast life can change.¡± I push my door open and get out.
She follows, and we head inside together. ¡°Brenden?¡± she calls out. I head into the kitchen to wait while she checks upstairs for her brother.
The house is in good shape. It¡¯s slightly messy, but her father clearly did well for himself. I don¡¯t know much about the man except that he¡¯s well-respected in the McGrath organization. He¡¯s got a reputation for ruthlessness on the streets, which makes a lot of sense.
¡°I¡¯m not sure where he is.¡± Rileyes trudging down the steps, looking worried. ¡°I thought he¡¯d stick around the house for a while.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s okay.¡±
¡°Yeah, you¡¯re probably right.¡± She takes out her phone and starts texting. ¡°But I¡¯m going to ask around anyway in case someone knows where he¡¯s at.¡±
The back door opens as she sends out her messages. I¡¯m on edge until her father trudges in through the mudroom and pauses to frown at us both. He nces at her, then at me, clearly surprised to see us. He¡¯s got a bag of groceries under one arm.
¡°Not going to offer to help?¡± he says sharply to Riley.
She leaps up. ¡°Sorry. I was just about to.¡± She hurries over and takes the bag from him. He frowns at her, looking hard and unhappy as she unpacks it.
She doesn¡¯t even live here anymore, and she¡¯s still doing his chores.
¡°What are you two doing here?¡± he asks, ncing at me. ¡°Hope things are going well, Alexan.¡±
¡°Things are fine,¡± I say.
¡°We were just looking for Brenden,¡± Riley adds quickly. ¡°Do you know where he is?¡±
¡°That boyes and goes as he pleases.¡± Her father stomps over to the refrigerator and takes out a beer. He cracks it and sucks some down. ¡°I hear he¡¯s been spending more and more time over at that new pub they opened, what¡¯s it called?¡ª¡±
¡°The Hen and The Snare.¡± Riley looks at me and nods a little. ¡°We should check it out.¡±
¡°Not even going to visit with your old man?¡± Her father looks at her with mild disgust. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised. You did your duty and got married, and now you¡¯ve forgotten all about the people that raised you.¡±
¡°That isn¡¯t true,¡± she says.
¡°It¡¯s not? And how many times have you visited? But no, that¡¯s alright, you have a husband and responsibilities in his house now. Just thought you wouldn¡¯t abandon your father so quickly.¡±
She stares at him, clearly taken aback. Anger rushes through me. I turn to him, ready to put the bastard in his ce, but Riley holds a hand out to stop me.
¡°I¡¯ll do better,¡± she says, wilting slightly.
What the fuck? She¡¯ll do better? She doesn¡¯t owe this man a goddamn thing, not if he¡¯s going to talk to her like that.
But her shoulders slump, and it¡¯s like she¡¯s sucking into herself before my eyes. Normally, she¡¯s strong and outgoing, but what the fuck is this?
¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what you always say.¡± He finishes off the beer and tosses the can in the sink. ¡°Never happens, though. Good to see you, Alexan. Good luck with that one.¡± He gives Riley one more shake of his head before he walks off.
When he¡¯s gone, I turn to her, but she just grabs my hand and pulls me away. I follow, not sure what the fuck that was, but she holds on tight enough that I can¡¯t get away without yanking hard. It¡¯s not until we¡¯re in the car again that she finally turns to me.
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
¡°Your dad treats you like shit.¡±
¡°I said it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
¡°Riley¡ª¡±
¡°Stop, okay? I know it¡¯s pathetic. I know I turn into this little weakling whenever he¡¯s around, alright? It doesn¡¯t feel good, but I can¡¯t help it. He just makes me feel so fucking small.¡±
I reach out and put a hand on her knee. She wipes her face, and all I want to do is go back in that house so I can break her father¡¯s fucking face into tiny little pieces.
Nobody makes my wife feel small. Not even her own fucking father.
Especially not her father.
¡°I¡¯ll kill him for you,¡± I offer gently.
She smiles like I¡¯m kidding. ¡°Thanks, but that¡¯d only make me feel guilty.¡±
¡°Then stand up to him. Don¡¯t take that shit.¡±
¡°Easier said than done.¡±
¡°Try anyway. I¡¯m here for you, baby. I¡¯m on your side. Don¡¯t let that man push you around.¡±
She leans back and stares at the roof of the car. ¡°I know you¡¯re right, okay? All my life I keep telling myself that I won¡¯t take his crap anymore. But it never happens. If anyone else talked to me the way my father talks to me, I¡¯d kick them in the freaking throat. But with him, it¡¯s like I just take it and take it and keep letting him break me down. I hate myself for it. But I can¡¯t change.¡±
¡°You can,¡± I whisper, reaching over to stroke her cheek with my thumb. I cross the distance between us and kiss her. ¡°You¡¯re strong. You can do so much more than you give yourself credit for. Don¡¯t let anyone talk to you like that.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± She smiles a little. ¡°But I¡¯ll probably just take my anger out on you.¡±
¡°Be my guest. It might be fun.¡±
Sheughs and wipes her eyes. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s head over to The Hen and see if we can find Brenden.¡±
I start driving, but inwardly, I¡¯m seething with rage and passion. I hate seeing Riley like that. I fucking hate her father for how shitty he is to her too. And maybe she doesn¡¯t want me to say anything to him?¡ª
But the next time I see that, I won¡¯t be able to keep my mouth shut.
Much less my hands to myself.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 32
I¡¯m feeling pretty miserable when we park near The Hen and The Snare. It¡¯s bad enough letting my dad walk all over me, but letting it happen in front of Alexan is humiliating.
I want to be a stronger person now that I¡¯m out of my father¡¯s house. And I think I am, at least a little bit every day. Going back there makes me regress to that pathetic loser I used to be, and it makes me sick remembering the way my father¡¯s always been such a fucking bully.
It¡¯s not easy to shrug off that shitty interaction as I head into The Hen. Alexan follows close behind like a protective bloodhound. The ce is loud and surprisingly crowded for the early evening, with most of the tables packed by youngish people and a lot of men and women in business casual clothes. I¡¯m guessing they¡¯re the post-work rush.
¡°I don¡¯t see him,¡± I mumble as we search the people at the bar. ¡°I really thought he¡¯d be here.¡± I check the back hall, and Alexan even pokes his head into the men¡¯s room. I¡¯m about to totally give up when Ie back out into the main room and spot my cousin Ricky sitting in the far corner.
He nces up when I approach. His face is tense and his eyes are sunken, and right away I can tell something¡¯s wrong. He¡¯s a good friend of my brother¡¯s and a few years older than us both. I grew up with Ricky, and it¡¯s pretty obvious that he¡¯s surprised to see me, and not in a good way.
¡°Riles, what¡¯s up?¡± he says, ncing uneasily at Alexan. My husband looms behind me, big and scary in his sleek Armani suit.
¡°I¡¯m looking for Brenden. Have you seen him?¡±
Ricky clears his throat. ¡°I mean, I guess a little bit.¡±
My eyebrows raise. ¡°What¡¯s that mean?¡±
¡°It¡¯splicated, you know?¡± Ricky squirms and downs his beer. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯d want you getting involved.¡±
Alexan steps forward. He leans in slightly. ¡°Where is he?¡± he asks simply.
Ricky stares at Alexan, clearly afraid. A little thrill runs into my stomach. It¡¯s one thing living with the gorgeous hulking monstrosity all the time, but it¡¯s another to see the way other people react to him too.
And I like it. The way Alexan demands respect.
¡°They showed up for him.¡± Ricky looks from Alexan to me, clearly panicking. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do anything. I swear, I tried, but?¡ª¡±
¡°Who came?¡± Terror jolts into my stomach. ¡°Ricky, who the fuck came?¡±
¡°They¡¯re out back,¡± he whispers, looking down at the table, then back up again. ¡°Don¡¯t go out there. Please, Riles, he wouldn¡¯t want you getting involved. Just¡ just let them figure it out, okay? You can wait here with me, and?¡ª¡±
I¡¯m already running. I sprint to the door, ignoring the looks I get, and fling it open. There¡¯s an alley alongside The Hen, and that must be where they took him. I make it two steps before Alexan¡¯s got my arm.
¡°Hold on there,¡± he snarls, pulling me back.
¡°Let me go,¡± I say, struggling toward the alley entrance. ¡°Alexan, please. Brenden¡¯s in trouble. Let me go!¡±
¡°You¡¯re being too loud,¡± he snaps and drags me back. He pushes me against the wall. ¡°Deep breaths. Come on, fucking breathe, Riley. I¡¯m going to take care of this, alright? But you¡¯ve got to stay calm. I don¡¯t want you getting hurt.¡±
¡°Alexan.¡± I¡¯m hyperventting. I have to struggle to get myself under control. ¡°They¡¯re hurting him again.¡±
¡°I know.¡± He reaches into his jacket and pulls a gun from a concealed holster. ¡°But I¡¯ll handle it.¡± He lets me go and turns to the alley.
I follow him. I know I shouldn¡¯t. This isn¡¯t something I should see, but I have to know Brenden¡¯s okay. He gestures for me to wait further back, but I don¡¯t listen as he stalks down the narrow gap between buildings, his expensive loafers sloshing through stagnant, dirty water.
There are figures down near the dumpsters. Dread fills me, cold and biting. Alexan doesn¡¯t slow as one person turns away andes toward him.
The man is short. He¡¯s maybe my height, but stocky, with dark buzzed hair and an ugly scar near his chin. ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡± he demands.
Beyond him, two more men are kicking something. It looks like a bup sack. But then the sack moves, and I realize it¡¯s Brenden, bloody and battered, curled up in a little stretch of mud.
Alexan doesn¡¯t answer. He darts forward, blindingly fast, and bashes the scarred man in the mouth. The scarred man staggers back, blood spilling from his lips, as Alexan drops to one knee and raises his gun.
He blows the skull off one of Brenden¡¯s attackers. I cover my mouth to keep from screaming. Blood stters all over the dumpster in a spray of gore and red. The body slumps sideways and falls as the other attacker turns, pulling his own gun, looking terrified.
Alexan moves. He¡¯s sleek and powerful. I¡¯m in awe as he easily shoots the scarred man in the gut, grabs him by the neck, and jerks his head to the side. His spine cracks with an audible snap. Alexan uses the scarred man¡¯s corpse as a shield, shoving it forward.
Thest attacker staggers backward to keep the body fromnding on him. That leaves Alexan enough time to cover the distance between them. The attacker tries to raise his gun, but Alexan knocks it sideways, knees him in the stomach, elbows him in the throat, and puts his gun against the man¡¯s temple.
¡°Who do you work for?¡± Alexan asks.
The man curses at him in rapid Spanish.
¡°Try again.¡± Alexan lowers the gun and shoots him in the foot.
The man screams and falls to the ground. Alexan kneels on his throat and rips the gun from his hand. He tosses it aside.
¡°Who do you work for?¡± he asks.
¡°Los Sombras,¡± the man says, whimpering, tears rolling down his face as his face turns red. ¡°Los Sombras, Los Sombras, por favor, no me mates.¡±
Alexan leans harder on his neck, making him gag. He stays there for what feels like a very long time until thest Los Sombras attacker fades and slowly dies.
I can¡¯t move. It happened so fast. There were three of them, and now there are none. All dead under Alexan¡¯s vicious and ruthless onught. My husband slowly stands, and I see him for what he is.
Magnificent. Brutal. Deadly. Beautiful.
I¡¯ve never wanted him more in my life.
He nces back at me, his gaze dark and hooded.
¡°Riley?¡± My brother¡¯s voice snaps me out of it. ¡°Alexan? What the fuck?¡±
I run to him. Brenden¡¯s covered in filth and blood. One eye is swollen shut, and he¡¯s missing at least one tooth. He spits more blood and groans, hand pressed against his side as he struggles to sit up.
¡°I got you,¡± I say, helping him. ¡°Oh, god, Brenden. They were going to kill you.¡±
¡°Probably,¡± he says, his face twisted in agony. ¡°How did you find me?¡±
¡°Ricky told us you were back here.¡± I try to wipe some of the dirt from his face, but I only manage to smear the bloody mud around. ¡°We¡¯ll get you help. The hospital?¡ª¡±
¡°No,¡± Brenden says sharply. ¡°No hospital.¡±
I look at Alexan, panicking. ¡°We have to do something.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll go back to our ce,¡± Alexan says. He goes to Brenden¡¯s other side and takes some of his weight. ¡°We need to hurry, though. Someone heard those gunshots.¡±
¡°Fuck,¡± Brenden whispers as we move. He¡¯s clearly in a lot of pain. ¡°You killed them. They were Los Sombras.¡±
¡°And now they¡¯re all dead,¡± Alexan says. ¡°They can¡¯t talk, and you shouldn¡¯t either.¡±
We get him out of the alley and into the back of the car. I sit with him as Alexan drives fast away from The Hen. I briefly wonder if I should text Ricky and let him know that Brenden¡¯s alive, but fuck it. He didn¡¯t do shit to help my brother.
Alexan stayspletely calm as he navigates back to the Inner Harbor.
Once we¡¯re at the house, I help Brenden inside as gently as I can. I notice the front door isn¡¯t locked, but I¡¯m too busy worrying about my brother to think about it.
We head into the foyer, and I almost don¡¯t notice the basket lying at the foot of the steps until I¡¯m right on top of it.
¡°The fuck is that?¡± Brenden asks.
We stagger backward. The smell is terrible, like something rotten. Alexan pushes forward, putting himself between me and whatever the thing is. He kneels down and lifts off a cloth covering the top.
A human head is inside, and I know that face.
¡°Oh my god,¡± I say, gripping Brenden tightly. ¡°Oh my god, oh my god.¡±
Jeremy Fong¡¯s lifeless eyes stare at nothing as flies buzz around his bloody mouth.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 33
I open the door to my safehouse and make sure it¡¯s clear before letting Brendene up. ¡°It¡¯s not much,¡± I tell him, gesturing at the sparsely furnished one-bedroom apartment, ¡°but it¡¯s close, and it¡¯s safe.¡±
¡°It¡¯s more than enough.¡± He hobbles inside, looking like absolute shit, but still alive. The doctor said he¡¯d be fine given enough time to heal.
But he¡¯s hunched in on himself, and I can tell the stress of what¡¯s happening is weighing as much as the injuries.
I give him a quick tour. He ends up sitting down heavily on the couch, legs stretched out with a sigh.
I ce a loaded gun on the coffee table. ¡°You know why you¡¯re staying here, right?¡±
He stares at me, his face hard. ¡°I¡¯m not safe right now.¡±
¡°Los Sombras is no fucking joke.¡± I leave the gun and step back. ¡°I have enough problems without them trying to kick down my door.¡±
¡°I get it, don¡¯t worry. I saw that fucking head. I¡¯ll be fine here. You don¡¯t even need to do this much for me.¡±
¡°We both know this is for Riley.¡±
He nods slowly. ¡°I figured.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be back in a few hours with groceries. If you have anything specific you need, tell me then. Don¡¯t call or text. Better yet, give me your phone.¡±
¡°Seriously?¡±
¡°Los Sombras is probably monitoring you.¡± I hold out my hand. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a burner.¡±
Reluctantly, he tosses it over. I power it off and shove it into my pocket for disposal with a hammer when I get back home.
¡°Let me ask you something,¡± Brenden says, adjusting himself with a grunt. He keeps one hand pressed to his ribs. ¡°You¡¯ve been married to my sister for a little while now. Why are you willing to kill cartel men for her?¡±
¡°You know what they say about gift horses.¡±
¡°I¡¯m being serious right now. I get it, you¡¯re hiding me because of Riley, but why are you going so far for her?¡±
¡°Because she¡¯s my family now. Which means you are too.¡±
He grunts and shakes his head. ¡°Bullshit. You were arranged to marry her. You don¡¯t actually owe me a damn thing, and you have no real reason to put yourself on the line for her family. Why do you care?¡±
I push back against the anger that starts to bloom. This isn¡¯t Brenden being ungrateful. I have to remember that this is a protective, worried older brother thinking about the safety of his little sister.
¡°I care because she¡¯s my wife.¡±
He stares at me. ¡°Do you really not understand what I¡¯m trying to ask you here?¡± He leans closer and grimaces at the movement. ¡°I want to know if you love my sister. I saw the way you looked at her. You immediately stepped in to protect her when we found that severed fucking head on your stairs. Is this just about your marriage? Or is it about more?¡±
I let the question rattle around in my head before answering, but I already know the truth. I¡¯ve known it for a while now. Maybe ever since the first time I kissed her.
¡°It¡¯s about more,¡± I tell her brother. ¡°I¡¯m in love with her.¡±
Brenden sighs and leans back. He closes his eyes and nods to himself. ¡°Thank fuck.¡±
¡°It¡¯s really that much of a relief?¡±
¡°Just means you¡¯re going to do everything in your power to make sure she¡¯s safe. That takes a whole lot of stress off my shoulders.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll die before someone hurts her.¡± I turn away and walk to the door. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere.¡±
¡°I believe you,¡± he calls after me. ¡°Just make sure she does too.¡±
I head back down to the car. Fucking hell, what am I doing? Telling some stranger that I¡¯m in love with his sister? A few months ago, I never would¡¯ve imagined I could be capable of feeling love.
And yet here I am, burning down my life for a woman.
Riley¡¯s everything. Her stubbornness, her strength, her pride. Even her impulsiveness. She¡¯s beautiful, but she¡¯s also clever and funny. When she¡¯s around, it¡¯s like all the cold, hard darkness hanging heavy on my soul turns to smoke and drifts away. I¡¯m lighter than I¡¯ve ever been.
When I get back to the house, I have to turn off the security system before I can get back inside. I reactivate it once I¡¯m through the door. Whoever slipped in here and left that head was good, but now I¡¯m going to be twice as paranoid.
¡°How is he?¡± Riley asks. She¡¯s sitting on the edge of our bed, looking worn out and stressed. The head is long gone¡ªthat¡¯ll be disposed of along with Brenden¡¯s phone. Though I probably won¡¯t use a hammer on it.
¡°He¡¯s in pain, but he¡¯ll be alright. I need to get him some groceries and things in a little bit.¡± I sit beside her and put a hand on her leg. ¡°You okay?¡±
¡°Just keep thinking about it.¡± She stares down at her hands. ¡°I met him, you know? I saw him alive not all that long ago.¡±
¡°Does it help knowing he was a very bad man?¡±
¡°I guess so.¡±
¡°He would¡¯ve happily cut off both our heads given the chance.¡±
¡°You¡¯re really good at thisforting thing.¡±
I put my arm around her shoulders and pull her close. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this, I promise.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the thing. They were in here. What if they found the watch?¡±
¡°It¡¯s locked in a safe. They didn¡¯t. I doubt they even went beyond the entryway. Otherwise, they would¡¯ve been here waiting for us when we got back.¡±
¡°But my point is they could have.¡±
¡°Mantis is dangerous, but we¡¯ll be safe here. Fong¡¯s head was a message, but the fact that they didn¡¯t try to kill us too means there¡¯s still time.¡±
She nods to herself, and I hope she understands. Fong got killed because he messed up, and his bosses must¡¯ve found out about it. We¡¯re still here because those same bosses need us to fix Fong¡¯s mistake. They won¡¯t be nearly as patient as he¡¯s been, though. I can feel the noose tightening, and I need to find a way to slip us both free.
What I told Brenden was true. I¡¯m in love with Riley. It took me a little while to identify the feeling, but saying it out loud to him only crystallized it in my heart. She¡¯s my wife, but she¡¯s more than that. She¡¯s my light. She¡¯s a pair of wings keeping me from dropping into the ck pit my life had be before her.
¡°I hope you¡¯re right.¡± She leans into me, and I hold her tighter. Her chin tilts up, and I bend down to kiss her softly. She pushes harder into that kiss, and I drag her into myp, running my hands through her hair, our lips pressed together. She grinds herself slowly, and I can taste the desperation on her tongue.
¡°You¡¯re safe, baby,¡± I whisper as she pulls her shirt up over her head. ¡°I promise, you¡¯re safe because you¡¯re mine.¡± I kiss her neck and down to her breasts. Sometimes, her impulsiveness works out in my favor.
She buries my mouth with hungry kisses. I think she¡¯s looking for a distraction, and I¡¯m happy to provide it. We kiss like that for a while, building the tension until it¡¯s starting to boil over, and only then do I finally turn her and pin her down to the bed. Once she¡¯s writhing, I suck her nipple while I open her jeans and slip my hand down between her legs. Her moans are like heaven as I lick her and tease her wet lips, gliding my fingers up and down before plunging them inside.
¡°Oh my god,¡± she whispers as I suck her piercing. ¡°That feels so fucking good.¡±
¡°You taste incredible.¡± I kiss her mouth again, tongue invading her teeth. ¡°I promise, baby, you¡¯re all mine. Every inch of you is mine. And I protect the people who are important to me.¡±
She pulls me on top of her and wriggles out of her pants. She grabs my pants and yanks them down, desperately kissing me, moaning, pulling at them, begging for me to fuck her. It¡¯s fast and filthy, and I fill her to the brim with one hard thrust, filling her up and holding her there as she shivers in my arms.
¡°God, yes,¡± she moans and bites my shoulder. Her fingers dig into my back. ¡°I need this.¡±
¡°I need you,¡± I tell her, stroking in and out. She¡¯s so fucking wet and warm; it¡¯s incredible. ¡°I need every inch of you. I need my wife. I need her moaning, gasping, begging. I need her pregnant.¡±
Her mouth drops open as I fuck her. We grind into each other. There are no worries, no fear, nothing at all past wanting to climax together. I fill her over and over, and she rolls her hips, encouraging me, wanting more and more as our pace increases, and I glide harder between her legs.
¡°That¡¯s right, baby, this is all I need.¡± I fuck her faster, kissing her, my hands on her hips. ¡°I want to feel it, baby. I want to feel youe.¡±
¡°Alexan,¡± she gasps, arching her back, and I bite down on her pierced nipple.
That does it. She moans, eyes rolling back, and I keep fucking her as shees. It¡¯s heaven, and I can¡¯t take much more before I¡¯m exploding deep between her legs. The orgasm is intense and perfect, and we end up lying together in tangled, sweaty sheets. I hold her tight, our bodies close, our breathing synced, and I marvel at how this feels.
¡°Can I tell you something?¡± I run my fingers slowly down her bare spine, trying to memorize every bump and curve.
¡°Sure.¡± She¡¯s practically purring in my arms.
¡°This, right here, is my favorite thing in the world.¡±
¡°What? Fucking me?¡± She smiles a little. ¡°Better be.¡±
¡°Fucking you and everything thates after.¡± I kiss her gently. ¡°It¡¯s funny. I was dreading this marriage. And now I can¡¯t imagine ever living without you.¡±
¡°Even though I¡¯m so much trouble?¡±
¡°I¡¯m able to overlook it for now.¡±
She grins and leans into me. ¡°Good. Me too.¡±
We stay like that, and I feel better than I ever have in my life, even as the world crumbles down and two different vicious groups are poised to murder us at any moment. Life doesn¡¯t get better than this.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 34
This is thest time I let Daron pick the meeting ce.
¡°Why are you giving me that look?¡± he asks as he piles an enormous helping of chicken wings onto his te. In the background, a bored-looking girl grinds up against a pole.
¡°A fucking strip club?¡±
He shrugs, frowns at the wings, adds a few more, and stalks off to the corner booth where William and Eric are waiting.
¡°It¡¯s loud,¡± he exins, shoving his way into his seat. I pull up a chair and take the very end. ¡°If anyone¡¯s listening, they won¡¯t be able to hear very well. Besides, it¡¯s owned by the McGraths.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t make it better,¡± I say, scowling at him. ¡°If anything, going to a strip club owned by my wife¡¯s family makes it decidedly worse.¡±
Eric¡¯s busy staring at the topless girl on the stage. ¡°Beats the bar at least,¡± he says with a shrug. ¡°Although I¡¯m not excited by the mid-afternoon talent.¡±
¡°Focus,¡± I say and wave a hand at Daron. ¡°No more strip clubs.¡±
He shrugs a little, chowing down. ¡°I¡¯m serious though. This ce is perfect. The lighting is low, lots of open sightlines so nobody can sneak up, and the music makes it impossible to eavesdrop.¡±
¡°He¡¯s got a point,¡± William concedes and tosses a sugar packet at Eric. ¡°Although I don¡¯t share our young friend¡¯s enthusiasm.¡±
¡°What? I¡¯m a monster for liking an attractive girl¡¯s tits?¡±
¡°Focus,¡± I snarl again. ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, we¡¯re supposed to be professionals.¡±
¡°What¡¯s the point of being criminals if we act like fucking investment bankers?¡± Daron waves a chicken wing in the air. ¡°This, right here, is why we do crime.¡±
¡°I definitely don¡¯t do crime for the bad afternoon strip club visits,¡± William says, rubbing his face.
¡°Alright, enough.¡± I gesture at Eric. ¡°Give me what you have.¡±
He clears his throat and stops watching the girl. ¡°We¡¯ve actually been pretty productive. Turns out, Los Sombras has been pissing off more than a few people all over Baltimoretely, which means lots of guys wanted to talk.¡±
¡°We made contact with some former associates of theirs,¡± William confirms. ¡°They were helpful.¡±
Eric takes a file folder from his bag and slides it to me. I flip it open, and inside is a dossier with a photo of a man at the top. He¡¯s wearing sunsses, has a thick ck beard, and very dark hair.
¡°Diego Navarro, also known as El Espectro, is running operations on the East Coast. He¡¯s mainly working out of Baltimore right now, but he¡¯s got bases in New York, Philly, and Boston. Not much is known about his background except that he¡¯s a skilled assassin.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why they call him the ghost,¡± William says. ¡°He¡¯s good at sneaking in and out without getting caught.¡±
I consider that, flipping through the pages. ¡°What else do you know?¡±
¡°We have a location. I guess our pal Diego hasn¡¯t been too careful in thest few months, and more than a few people have figured out where he lives.¡±
¡°Not very ghostly,¡± Daron says.
I ignore him and flip to thest page. ¡°This is the ce?¡±
¡°It¡¯s a decent house,¡± William says.
¡°We don¡¯t know about the security yet.¡± Eric keeps talking, warming up to the subject. ¡°I haven¡¯t had time to stake it out, but he¡¯s definitely got awork with a ton of chatter. I did some basic scanning from a nearby street, and I¡¯d guess we could break into it without too much effort.¡±
¡°Meaning you could,¡± Daron corrects. ¡°Eric here can¡¯t break into a wet cardboard box.¡±
Eric flips him off. ¡°From what we heard, it seems that Diego was directly involved in the heist Brenden got burned on. I¡¯m betting he was the one funding it all from the start.¡±
¡°The other guys are definitely locked up,¡± William cuts in again. ¡°They haven¡¯t talked yet, which is good, but who knows how long thatsts. Once they spill their guts, Diego¡¯s going to be even more motivated to take care of your brother-inw.¡±
¡°Meaning we don¡¯t have much time.¡± I flip the folder shut as soon as Def Leppard¡¯s ¡°Pour Some Sugar on Me¡± res over the speaker system. As much as I hate to admit it, Daron¡¯s probably right about the noise covering any eavesdropping, and the low light would make it very hard to read over my shoulder.
Still, a fucking strip club. I thought I was past this shit.
¡°What¡¯s the y here?¡± Eric asks eagerly. ¡°I assume we didn¡¯t just do all that recon for nothing.¡±
¡°The y is you don¡¯t worry about it.¡± I shove the folder into my jacket. ¡°Erase any evidence that you were looking into Los Sombras. Make sure anyone you talked to forgets you exist. Understand?¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to do something.¡± Eric leans closer. ¡°I want in.¡±
I nce at Daron. He¡¯s chewing and staring right at me with a deep frown. ¡°That¡¯s not happening.¡±
¡°We¡¯re a crew, right? Whatever you¡¯re in on?¡ª¡±
¡°This is personal. I already asked too much of you.¡±
William interrupts. ¡°I¡¯m on Eric¡¯s side here.¡±
¡°Seriously?¡± Daron asks, looking perturbed. ¡°I expected this from young buck here?¡ª¡±
¡°Fuck off, Daron,¡± Eric says.
¡°But you have actual experience. Why the fuck would you want to get involved with Los Sombras?¡±
¡°Because we¡¯re a crew now.¡± William seems strangely calm about all this, considering what he¡¯s saying. I don¡¯t know how I feel about it, but I let him talk. ¡°Eric¡¯s motives are wrong, but his heart¡¯s in the right ce. If we¡¯re going to build trust, it should start here. I¡¯m willing to help so long as you¡¯re sure this is going to be worth our time.¡±
I sit back and consider. I could use their expertise, but I understand Daron¡¯s hesitation. They don¡¯t need to stick their necks out for me.
But maybe William¡¯s got a point. If we¡¯re going to build this team, we can start right here, with something simple. Daron looks annoyed, but I cut him off before he can start to argue more.
¡°I want you three to probe the Los Sombraswork,¡± I say, talking louder when Daron tries to protest. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid. Find vulnerabilities, but don¡¯t go past that. I¡¯ll need a way inside when it¡¯s time.¡±
¡°What else?¡± Eric asks, looking excited. ¡°Want me to stake them out?¡±
¡°No, not yet. I¡¯ll handle anything like that if ites up.¡± I look at Daron and hold his gaze. ¡°You want to argue? Tell me this is stupid?¡±
He finishes chewing. William¡¯s watching the dancing girl with a bored expression, and Eric seems like he¡¯s about to vibrate out of his seat. I hold Daron¡¯s stare and practically beg him to challenge me. I want him to make a good point, to convince these other two idiots that they don¡¯t need to get involved in my problem.
But he finally shakes his head. ¡°Fuck it. I never liked the cartel assholes. One of them stole my car. Did I ever tell you that story?¡±
¡°You¡¯re full of shit,¡± Eric says, grinning widely. ¡°When should we start?¡±
¡°Tonight.¡± I push back and stand. ¡°If any of you have second thoughts, I won¡¯t hold it against you. But I appreciate this show of support.¡±
William shrugs. ¡°We¡¯re a team now. Might as well get used to it.¡±
¡°Enjoy the buffet on me.¡± I toss some cash on the table. Daron eagerly grabs it.
¡°Happy to, boss.¡± He gives me a sarcastic salute as I walk off.
Their help is more than I deserve. But if they really do want to help, then I need to make sure I can take care of them in the end. I¡¯m not going to be the kind of man that takes advantage of the people working for me.
They¡¯ll get rewardedmensurate with their risk.
I just don¡¯t know how yet.
I¡¯m distracted as I drive back home. I¡¯m thinking about how I can put my new team to good use as I disengage the security system and head in through the front door. ¡°Riley?¡± I call out and pause when there¡¯s no response. ¡°Riley!¡±
Nothing. Dead quiet. I¡¯m on high alert as I pull my gun and immediately start sweeping the area. I check my phone for sensor alerts, but there¡¯s nothing. Only one ping from an hour ago: someone left through the back.
That fucking girl.
I know exactly where she went. I put my gun away and storm back out. This time, I hit the street, walking instead of driving. I¡¯m at the safe house door ten minutester, banging on it angrily.
My sweet angel wife answers with a happy smile. ¡°Alexan! We were just talking?¡ª¡±
I storm past her, fucking livid. ¡°What were you thinking?¡± I snarl as she closes the door behind me.
¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡±
¡°I told you when I left not to go anywhere.¡±
¡°But I was just checking on Brenden.¡± She frowns at where her brother¡¯s sitting on the couch. He still looks like shit, but he¡¯s still alive at least. ¡°I thought this ce was safe?¡±
¡°It¡¯s safe-ish, but it won¡¯t be if you keeping here.¡± I gesture at Brenden, trying very hard to keep myself under control, but failing. ¡°What were you thinking, letting here here?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± he says with a shrug. ¡°I actually told her all this already.¡±
¡°Fine, okay, it was dumb!¡± She res at me. ¡°But since I was here, we both figured I might as well visit.¡±
I take several calming breaths. If I had known that the woman I¡¯d fall for would be so damn impulsive, I would¡¯ve learned meditation or something. Because I¡¯m pretty sure she¡¯s going to give me a heart attack.
¡°Mantis is good,¡± I say, stressing the word. ¡°They¡¯re extremely adept at what they do. Which means you could be followed and never know it. Which means they could know where Brenden¡¯s staying.¡±
¡°I thought we were worried about Los Sombras?¡± she asks, ncing over at her brother. He shakes his head, exasperated.
¡°We¡¯re worried about everyone!¡± I say, throwing up my hands. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. You have to be more careful.¡±
¡°My brother¡¯s all alone in this stupid empty apartment. He¡¯s half dead?¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m not that bad,¡± he says, scratching the back of his head.
She looks at him like she wants to kick him in the teeth. ¡°My brother is half dead,¡± she says through her teeth. ¡°I can¡¯t just leave him alone.¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to have to.¡± I wave a hand at him. ¡°Say goodbye. You¡¯ll see each other again soon.¡±
She crosses her arms. ¡°That¡¯s not going to work for me.¡±
Brenden sighs. ¡°Don¡¯t get all stubborn now, Riles.¡±
¡°You hear this, right? My husbandying down thew?¡±
¡°He¡¯s not wrong.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± I say to her brother. ¡°We have rules for a reason. You need to follow them if we¡¯re going to live through this.¡±
Riley¡¯s jaw works, but she finally nods. I can tell it¡¯s hard for her. ¡°Fine, alright? I screwed up. I can see that now. Just don¡¯t be so smug about it.¡±
¡°Believe me, there¡¯s not a smug bone in my body.¡± I nod at Brenden. ¡°I¡¯ll drop off more supplies soon.¡±
¡°Good luck with that.¡± He grins at me, and I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s talking about my wife.
I direct her out of the house and back down onto the sidewalk. She¡¯s ring at me the whole time as we take the long way back to my ce. I make sure nobody¡¯s following the best I can, but it¡¯s not easy with Riley in tow. Finally, we make it back home.
¡°I know this is hard,¡± I tell her once the security system¡¯s back in ce. ¡°But it won¡¯t be forever.¡±
She slumps down onto the couch and leans back. Her eyes shut, and I study her long neck and her pouty lips. God, she¡¯s beautiful, but infuriating too.
¡°I know,¡± she says atst, looking at me. ¡°I made a mistake. I¡¯m owning up to it.¡±
I walk over and sit beside her. I put a hand on her knee, then pull her close against me. Reluctantly, she leans into my side.
¡°This is hard,¡± I say softly. ¡°But we¡¯re going to get through it together.¡±
¡°I know that. I¡¯m just worried.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t do anything for Brenden right now. I promise, I¡¯m taking care of him.¡±
¡°I know you are. I just hate feeling powerless.¡± She pulls back slightly and looks away. ¡°That¡¯s how I felt growing up, you know? My dad treated me like I was some huge disappointment. I couldn¡¯t do anything right.¡±
¡°Your dad¡¯s an asshole. You¡¯re a clever and beautiful woman, Riley. You just need to be a little less impulsive.¡±
¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± She smiles slightly. ¡°I¡¯m working on it. It¡¯s just hard to unlearn all the shit my father forced into my head over the years.¡±
My jaw flexes. I hate what that man did to my wife. She¡¯s holding onto all this baggage because of him, but she doesn¡¯t deserve it. I want to break that fucking man¡¯s skull in half, but I know that would only upset her. Otherwise, I¡¯d make him suffer.
¡°He doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± I tilt her chin toward me. ¡°You know that, right? He¡¯s nothing. You¡¯re something.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡± She leans up and kisses me. ¡°That helps.¡±
¡°Now, keep your ass in the house, alright?¡± I kiss her again and drag her into myp. ¡°Don¡¯t make it even harder to keep you alive.¡±
¡°Yes, sir,¡± she says, wrapping her arms around my neck. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can, sir.¡±
I grip her ass and kiss her. This girl is going to get us both killed, and I can¡¯t even stay angry.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 35
I feel guilty about my stupid decision to go visit Brenden. I don¡¯t even know why I did it. I know that it isn¡¯t safe to go anywhere near that other house right now, but I just couldn¡¯t keep myself at home. An impulse hit me, and I¡¯m still powerless to resist it.
Alexan had every right to tear into me. He could¡¯ve yelled and really rubbed my face in it. Lord knows my father would¡¯ve. But instead, he made me understand why I screwed up, and then he got over it. Sure, he was mad, but he didn¡¯t take it too far.
Which is a novel experience for me.
All my life, my father¡¯s been losing his temper and telling me how I¡¯m worthless and stupid. It¡¯s almost like that¡¯s what I expect from men.
That¡¯s not how Alexan approaches me. He¡¯s not exactly patient, but he does seem to understand.
It feels good. Honestly, it feels healthy.
I sleep in the next day and wake upte. Alexan¡¯s already out of bed and probably has been for a few hours. It¡¯s a little past nine when I finally get up, use the bathroom, and head downstairs. I expect to find a note, but instead, my husband is in the kitchen humming to himself. A fresh pot of coffee is waiting, and there¡¯s fresh toast with butter already made.
¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± I ask.
Alexan shrugs a little as he pours me some coffee. ¡°Breakfast.¡±
¡°Aren¡¯t you working?¡±
¡°I will, but our talk yesterday gave me an idea.¡±
¡°Our talk?¡± I raise my eyebrows. ¡°Are you shackling me to the bed before you leave now or something?¡±
¡°Not exactly.¡± He grins at me. I ept the mug and take a long sip of coffee.
¡°Why do I have a bad feeling?¡±
¡°Because you have too little faith in me.¡± He pushes the te of toast over. ¡°Eat something.¡±
I nibble at the corner. ¡°I¡¯d rather you just got into it.¡±
¡°Then follow me.¡± He sweeps away and stalks over to the door that leads into the basement.
¡°I¡¯m not sure I want to,¡± I call after him as he descends downstairs. I frown after him. I haven¡¯t been down there many times since moving in, mostly because it¡¯s just storage space and equipment. ¡°You¡¯re not going to torture me, are you?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t need to lure you down here to do that,¡± he calls back. ¡°Come on, quit being afraid.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not afraid,¡± I grumble, clutching my coffee tightly in one hand. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid at all.¡± Although a part of me is aware that I¡¯m going into the basement with a big violent killer.
The floor is bare concrete, and the walls are water-treated cinderblock. A hot water heater sits in the corner, surrounded by spider webs and ant traps. The furnace is in the other corner, humming softly.
Set in the very middle of the empty space is a folding table. Alexan stands before it, arms spread wide, a big grin on his face.
¡°Here you go,¡± he says.
¡°Are you selling subscriptions or something?¡± I frown and walk over. A bunch of magazines are stacked in front of him. ¡°What is all this?¡±
¡°All this is how you¡¯ll keep your mind off what¡¯s going on and how you¡¯ll make this ce feel more like your home.¡±
I pick up a magazine called Interior Designs. My eyebrows raise. ¡°Exin, please.¡±
¡°My ce is pretty much finished.¡± He gestures above us. I¡¯m pretty sure we¡¯re somewhere below the living room at the moment. ¡°The house is in good shape and doesn¡¯t really need any major updates. But the one space that hasn¡¯t been changed much is the basement.¡±
¡°You¡¯re saying you want me to do some home renovations?¡±
¡°No, I want you to make the basement your own.¡±
I frown skeptically. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m following.¡±
¡°Think about it. You can do whatever you want down here. You want to make it a gym? Great, go for it. You want to make it a home theater? A ce to do your hobbies? A fancy bar? Anything you want. I¡¯ll give you any resources you need to make this your own.¡±
I put down the magazine and turn a low circle. The basement is rough, but it¡¯s tidy and it¡¯s a good size. We don¡¯t get water down here, and there aren¡¯t any pest problems as far as I know. I mean, it¡¯s a pretty typical city basement, but it¡¯s in very nice shape.
And with the right vision, it could be all mine.
¡°That¡¯s really nice,¡± I say after a long pause. Emotion wells up in my chest. I don¡¯t know thest time anyone ever did something like this for me. I definitely didn¡¯t expect it when I first moved in here with him. It always seemed like this would be his house first and my house second, but now this is my chance to make it really ours.
¡°I want you to understand how important you are to me,¡± he says,ing around the table. He tugs me against him. ¡°This is just a room. This is just a gesture. But it¡¯s what the room and the gesture mean. You¡¯re here permanently. I want you here forever. I want you to be my wife, Riley, not just temporarily, not just for some deal our families struck, but because I want you.¡±
I blink back tears. I¡¯m suddenly so overwhelmed I can barely think. I push myself against him and hug him tightly, and he wraps his big arms around my body, hugging me back. I let out one sudden sob, and that finally breaks the whole dam.
I cry into his chest. I don¡¯t even know why. He must think I¡¯m absolutely insane. I mean, the guy does this super nice thing for me and basically tells me that I¡¯m the most important person in the world to him, and all I can do is cry like a little baby.
Years of repressed emotions spill out. I feel more wanted than I¡¯ve ever felt in my life. I¡¯ve been rejected, belittled, and embarrassed by my father for so long that I never really expected to feel anything else. Now suddenly Alexan is giving me pieces of himself, all because he really cares.
It¡¯s too much. And it feels so good.
¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I say after I finally manage to calm down. ¡°I bet that wasn¡¯t the reaction you wanted.¡±
¡°No, it wasn¡¯t, but that doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
¡°I just want to say that this is the nicest thing anyone¡¯s ever done for me. I mean it, I really love this.¡±
¡°Good.¡± He wipes my tears away and kisses me. ¡°That means you¡¯ll do it?¡±
He means more than just that I¡¯ll finish the basement. He means I¡¯ll stay here with him as his wife, and it hits me all at once what that really means.
Living together. Starting a family. Having babies.
Falling in love.
The idea doesn¡¯t seem so insane anymore.
Actually, it seems really, really good.
¡°Absolutely,¡± I whisper, fighting tears again. I kiss him to keep myself from sobbing for a second time.
Understanding rushes over me. This is what I¡¯ve been waiting for. This moment, right here. I feel all those emotions suddenly click into ce. The world rifies and has meaning again. At the center of all that is Alexan, my husband, my rock, my protector. He¡¯ll do anything for me, and I have to do anything for him.
I kiss him harder, this time letting lust take me over. I slip my tongue into his mouth, then tug him behind me, desperate to get out of this dirty basement. I drag him all the way up into the bedroom and pull him down into the bed.
¡°Now this is the reaction I wanted,¡± he says, grinning a little.
I roll my eyes and pull his hair, dragging his mouth to mine. ¡°Listen to me,¡± I say softly, kissing him hungrily. ¡°Don¡¯t talk, okay? Just nod.¡±
He nods slowly, saying nothing.
¡°Good. Okay.¡± I breathe in through my nose and blow it out. ¡°I want you to do something for me.¡±
He nods again.
¡°I want you to fuck me. And I want you to get me pregnant.¡±
His eyes widen.
¡°Just do it, okay? I know we haven¡¯t been careful, but now I just?¡ª¡±
He buries his mouth on mine. I moan into his kiss as the rush of the moment fills me. This is what I need; it¡¯s what I want. He undresses me fast, and we fuck in a desperate, crazy grinding of bliss. All the while, I¡¯m thinking of the moment, of our future together, of all the moments we¡¯ll have after this time. I push into him, wanting more and more, needing him, all of him. Ie first, and he¡¯s not far behind, filling me to the brim.
¡°You do realize you¡¯ll have to give up one of your rooms for the nursery, right?¡± I ask him, teasing.
He shakes his head. ¡°The baby can have the basement.¡±
¡°Alexan.¡±
¡°Kidding. I¡¯ll dly give them all up for our family. I can put an office somewhere else.¡±
¡°Good boy.¡± I kiss him, tugging at his hair. ¡°My good husband.¡±
¡°My good girl.¡± He smiles, arms wrapped around me. ¡°Any idea what you¡¯ll do with your room now?¡±
¡°No clue. And you know what? I¡¯ll probably change my mind fifty times between now and when it¡¯s finished. That¡¯s the fun part, right?¡±
¡°If you say so.¡±
He pulls me against him, and I smile to myself, snuggling in tight, already dreaming of what we¡¯ll build together.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 36
Diego Navarro¡¯s house is pretty fucking nice. I have to hand it to the cartel bastard. He¡¯s got good taste.
It¡¯s a multi-million-dor townhouse on the opposite side of the harbor, almost right up against the water. It looks a lot like mine, only even bigger, with gaudy columns in the front. The fucker clearly doesn¡¯t care about being subtle.
¡°I¡¯ve been watching this ce ever since the meeting a few days ago,¡± Eric says, peering through a pair of small binocrs. ¡°Navarro¡¯s got some pretty set habits. Like, for example, he goes for a run every morning right at six. Then he¡¯s back and inside for a couple of hours, but then he goes out again around eight for coffee at a shop nearby. He¡¯s there for like a half hour beforeing back.¡±
¡°You sure he does this all the time?¡±
¡°I¡¯d have to watch him more to make sure, but yeah, I think so. They seem like pretty well-established routines anyway.¡±
¡°What about work?¡±
¡°He¡¯s on hiswork the whole time. Most of what he¡¯s doing is via encrypted channels, but it¡¯s not particrly good. William and Daron both think they can break it, given enough time.¡±
¡°No need for that.¡± I purse my lips, thinking. ¡°I don¡¯t care what business he¡¯s conducting. That¡¯s not so important. But if we can tap into hismunications, that¡¯s a bonus.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll see what the guys think.¡±
¡°What else did you learn?¡±
Eric seems excited to keep talking. I appreciate his enthusiasm. ¡°Honestly, the ce isn¡¯t that well-guarded. He¡¯s got some guys thate by once in a while, but otherwise it¡¯s just him in there. His security system is off the shelf too, nothing special about it. We could take it out with our eyes closed. I doubt he¡¯s got anything important in there, though. He¡¯s been around long enough to know that you don¡¯t keep the real shit at home. Still, we could easily get in there and take whatever he¡¯s got.¡±
I listen to him describe details of the house and itsyout, my mind spinning. Ideas start to form in my brain, and something snags. ¡°Do you remember a story Daron told?¡± I ask suddenly, interrupting him.
Eric hesitates. ¡°He tells a lot.¡±
¡°He called it the perfect hack. Remember that one?¡±
¡°Sure, it was basically a guy that pinned a crime on an ex-girlfriend or some shit like that, right?¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± I stare at Navarro¡¯s house for a little bit longer as the idea snaps into ce. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the bar. I want to talk to the group.¡±
Eric starts the car and drives. I close my eyes and let the details of the n begin to take shape. I¡¯m thinking about Riley too, about her moans, about her wanting to get pregnant, about our life together, the future we¡¯re going to have.
If I can pull this off.
Daron and William are waiting at the Pomegranate House. They¡¯re sitting at the bar watching an Orioles game and making bets on their phones. I sit down next to Daron and Eric sits on the other side of William, and all three guys turn in my direction.
¡°I have a job for us,¡± I say to them. I feel a strange pang of eagerness flit into my stomach. ¡°But I want you all to understand the full scope before we get started.¡±
¡°We know it¡¯s Los Sombras,¡± William says with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal.¡±
¡°Not just Los Sombras. This is going to include ck Mantis as well.¡±
William and Eric both look surprised. But Daron only sighs and takes a long drink of his beer.
¡°Exin,¡± Daron says.
¡°I don¡¯t have the details yet, but it¡¯s going to be a big score. If we pull it off, Mantis is going to pay us good money, and it¡¯s going to deal with Los Sombras and get them off my brother-inw¡¯s back. You three will split the full take from Mantis. My payment is keeping my family safe.¡±
Daron grunts and seems to soften a bit. ¡°That¡¯s generous. How much we talking?¡±
¡°Twice my usual fee. That¡¯ll be a solid win for you three.¡±
¡°All we have to do is go up against two of the more violent gangs in the region,¡± Daron says with a sigh. ¡°Yeah, sure, why the fuck not?¡±
¡°I already said I¡¯m in.¡± William raises his ss. ¡°To our first job as a crew.¡±
¡°Here¡¯s to that,¡± Eric chimes in.
I sit back and study the three men. Theyugh together, and Daron starts telling a story about the time he hacked into a heavily guarded bank system as a teenager and nearly got caught. It¡¯s probably bullshit, but it gets everyoneughing.
I can feel it then. Everythinging together. The light at the end of the tunnel. The only way this is going to work out. I need all my skill and a whole lot of luck, but this is possible.
Probably, at least.
¡°You¡¯re fucking insane,¡± Riley says, pacing back and forth across the basement. She¡¯s got paint swatches,mps, bits of carpet, and thrift store paintings scattered all over the ce as she tries to figure out what she wants to do with the area.
¡°It makes sense though, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°To a crazy person, sure.¡±
¡°Come on. Think about it. We need to get Los Sombras off your brother¡¯s back, and we need to find a way to get rid of the damn watch without Mantis killing us. What better way than to pin it all on Diego Navarro and kill two birds with one stone?¡±
Rileyughs and gestures in the air. ¡°How in the hell do you n on pulling that off?¡±
¡°Easy. I¡¯ll break into Navarro¡¯s house, nt the watch in his safe, and create a fake trail of chatter on his homework. I¡¯ll build up just enough proof that Mantis will buy it, all while making sure they won¡¯t believe Navarro when he denies everything.¡±
¡°And how will that help Brenden?¡±
¡°Mantis will kill Navarro. Los Sombras will go to war with the ck Mantis, and at that point, they won¡¯t give a shit about your brother anymore. Mantis will dismantle those fuckers.¡± I spread my arms, grinning like a lunatic. ¡°The enemy of my enemy and all that.¡±
She rubs her face with both hands and groans. ¡°It¡¯s crazy. There are so many ways that can go wrong.¡±
¡°Yeah, you¡¯re probably right, but if I pull this off, it¡¯ll be the perfect hack.¡±
¡°The perfect what now?¡±
¡°Nothing, never mind.¡± I go to her and pull her into my arms. ¡°Trust me, baby. This can work. It¡¯s going to work.¡±
She sags into me. ¡°I just don¡¯t like it, that¡¯s all. Just feels like too much can go wrong. You could get hurt, or Brenden could get targeted, and I just don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do if it blows up in our face.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t let that happen.¡±
She leans back and a little smile slips onto her face. ¡°Does this mean you need me to pick some locks?¡±
¡°Absolutely fucking not.¡±
She pouts and pulls back. ¡°Why? Come on, I did greatst time. You said yourself, you¡¯re the one that screwed up.¡±
¡°Riley, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting you get anywhere near this job.¡±
¡°What, you¡¯re going to pull it off? Theputer nerd?¡±
¡°I can do a lot more than break into securityworks.¡±
¡°Can you pick a lock?¡±
I hesitate, then re at her. ¡°Can¡¯t be that hard.¡±
¡°God, you¡¯re clueless.¡± She chews a thumbnail like she¡¯s thinking. ¡°Fine, you convinced me. I¡¯ll teach you.¡±
¡°What now?¡±
¡°You need my help, right? I can teach you.¡±
¡°I never said I needed your help.¡±
¡°Sure you do.¡± She waves a hand and starts pacing again. ¡°You don¡¯t want me going near that house, right? Well, I can ept that, so long as you let me contribute in other ways.¡±
¡°That¡¯s almost like real growth.¡±
¡°I know, right? I¡¯m really amazed with myself. I¡¯m not impulsively running off to break a window!¡±
¡°It¡¯s incredible. I¡¯m so proud. But you¡¯re not teaching me anything.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be such a big baby.¡± She pats my cheek, beaming. ¡°It¡¯ll be fun. I promise.¡±
She walks off, already making ns for how she¡¯s going to torture me, and I am very sure that it¡¯s going to be anything but fun.
Only the n¡¯s taking shape, and maybe it¡¯s not perfect and there¡¯s a lot that could go wrong, but it¡¯s a genuine path forward.
I just have to hope that Mantis is as bloodthirsty as I think they are.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 37
¡°You¡¯re about as nimble as a pirate with two peg legs.¡±
¡°Any pirate still alive after losing both legs is probably pretty dexterous.¡± Alexan res at me as he wiggles the lock picks. ¡°And you¡¯re a terrible teacher.¡±
¡°You¡¯re a terrible student!¡± I pace around the living room, ring at him as he works. He curses and gives up, throwing the practice lock into the pillows.
¡°I¡¯m a fucking systems engineer, not a thief. This is bullshit.¡±
¡°I learned it. Howe you can¡¯t?¡±
¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± He crosses his arms and glowers at me. ¡°I think this whole thing is rigged.¡±
¡°Give me that.¡± I stride over, take the lock, grab the picks, and get it open in less than thirty seconds. I dangle it from my fingers, eyebrows raised. ¡°Got something to say?¡±
¡°This is bullshit,¡± he grumbles through his teeth.
I click the lock closed again and hand it back. ¡°Look, let¡¯s take a break. We¡¯re both getting frustrated.¡±
¡°No.¡± He goes back to wiggling the picks. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for breaks.¡±
¡°You¡¯re just going to burn yourself out.¡±
¡°How did you do that? Walk me through it again.¡±
¡°We tried that already. I walked you through it ten times. It hasn¡¯t helped.¡±
He curses in Armenian and keeps trying to get the lock open as I slump down onto the couch and watch. I¡¯ve seen Alexan beat men to death and make insanely urate shots with his stubby pistol, and yet for some reason, picking this lock ispletely messing him up.
I don¡¯t get why. He¡¯s obviously capable. I doubt there¡¯s anything Alexan couldn¡¯t figure out, given enough time. Except he¡¯s right; we¡¯re in a hurry, and it needs to click for him right now.
Stress is written on every inch of my husband. His jaw works, and his shoulders are hunched. He¡¯s working so hard, and maybe that¡¯s the problem. This lock has be a life-or-death situation when really, it¡¯s just a stupid lock.
¡°You¡¯re trying too hard,¡± I say suddenly.
¡°That¡¯s dumb. There¡¯s no such thing.¡±
I throw a pillow at his head. ¡°Don¡¯t call my ideas dumb.¡±
¡°Fine. Sorry. But still.¡± He growls and gives up on the lock again. ¡°I have to try hard.¡±
¡°Lockpicking is about finesse. It¡¯s about feeling the tumblers, working them up one at a time, and getting them into the right position. It¡¯s delicate.¡±
¡°I can do delicate.¡±
¡°I know, but right now you¡¯re like a monkey trying to solveplex math with a hammer.¡±
¡°Your metaphors are wonderful today.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡± I give him a bow. ¡°You just need something to help you rx.¡±
¡°I n on robbing one vicious psychopath to appease another organization full of violent, vicious psychopaths, and if I don¡¯t get this right, they¡¯re going to kill you, your brother, and probably everyone I care about, myself included.¡±
¡°Exactly.¡± I sit up and snap my fingers as an idea hits me. ¡°How about this: for every tumbler you get into position, I¡¯ll take off a piece of clothing. When I¡¯m naked, and you get that lock open, you can do whatever you want with me.¡±
His eyes light up. A little smile ys on his face. ¡°Are you joking?¡±
¡°You need proper motivation.¡± I lean forward, pressing my breasts together. I give him a pouty smile. ¡°You do want to fuck me, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Now you¡¯re just distracting me.¡±
¡°Come on, Alexan. Stop making excuses and get the lock open so you can use me however you want.¡±
His eyes narrow, and a smile ys across his face. ¡°You¡¯re a crazy person.¡±
¡°Impulsive, remember?¡± I wiggle my hips a little. ¡°I¡¯m serious though. Tell me when you feel a pin slip into ce, and I¡¯ll strip. More and more you¡¯ll unwrap me until I¡¯m naked and wet for you, and then you can do whatever you want.¡±
He licks his lips. ¡°I¡¯m going to get this lock open, then I¡¯m going to make you suck my cock while I lick your pussy.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± I say, a little thrill of excitement running into my core. ¡°I figured you¡¯d want anal.¡±
¡°Boring.¡± He picks up the lock, the picks, and slips them inside. ¡°Anal makes me yawn. I¡¯d rather listen to you choke and gag on my cock while youe on my tongue. That¡¯s fucking heaven.¡±
God damn, my husband is a dirty man. I watch him carefully, trying to keep myself calm, but now I¡¯m into this whole idea. Arousal ys through my core, and I want him to get that stupid lock open so I can taste his big dick between my lips.
¡°Got one,¡± he says, tongue pinched between his teeth.
¡°Good boy!¡± I pull off my shirt. He nces over, eyes fluttering to my tits. ¡°Concentrate.¡±
¡°Hard to do that when you¡¯re taking off clothes,¡± he mutters but keeps going. He¡¯s not nearly so hunched and stressed this time around. Instead, he looks more like himself. His fingers are deft and careful as he wiggles the pick and keeps the tension rod in the right position. He rakes, using the technique I showed him. ¡°Got another.¡±
¡°That¡¯s my husband.¡± I stand and take off my pants.
He clucks his tongue. ¡°I was hoping for the bra.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t like my ass?¡± I turn a little, letting him look.
¡°I love your ass. And your mouth, and your tongue, and every inch of you.¡±
I let myself smile big as my heart races. He¡¯s deep in concentration mode now. I want him thinking about me, my body, what he wants to do with me when he wins, not about all the other pressure shoving down on his chest.
He grunts and nces up. ¡°Got another.¡±
¡°Here you go, baby.¡± I reach back and unhook my bra. I let it slide off and cover my tits with my hands. ¡°Keep going.¡±
¡°Fucking tease.¡± His face breaks out into a big grin. ¡°Got another. Guess you¡¯ll have to move those hands.¡±
¡°For a man who¡¯s seen me naked plenty already, you sure do seem eager.¡± I sigh dramatically. ¡°But a deal is a deal.¡± I drop my hands and slowly slide my panties off. ¡°What now?¡± I ask, using one arm to cover my tits and the other hand to cover my pussy.
¡°And now¡ª¡± He licks his lips, staring at me, and turns the tension wrench to the side. The lock clicks, and it opens. ¡°I get you.¡±
¡°Alexan!¡± I say, ted. ¡°You did it!¡±
¡°I just needed motivation.¡± He tosses the lock aside. ¡°Nowe here.¡±
¡°Oh, no way. You need more practice.¡±
His expression darkens. ¡°What happened to a deal is a deal?¡±
¡°I¡¯m a very bad girl.¡±
¡°Yes, you are.¡± Hees for me, and I yelp,ughing, as I dance out of his way. But he¡¯s fast, and I¡¯m not very motivated to escape him. I make it to the other side of the couch before he grabs my wrist and yanks me back, mming his mouth down onto mine.
God, I love kissing this man. I love his taste, his tongue, his soft lips, the way he breathes, the way he presses himself against me like he¡¯s starving. I¡¯m naked and vulnerable, and my heart¡¯s racing wildly as he kisses my neck and breasts, pausing to lick my pierced nipple. Bliss runs down my spine.
He turns me around and presses me against the couch. I gasp, hands pressed against the cushions, as his fist grips my hair. The other spanks my bare ass hard.
¡°You shouldn¡¯t try to run from me,¡± he says and spanks me again. ¡°Not when I¡¯ve already been properly motivated.¡±
¡°But running makes it more fun,¡± I say, gasping with pleasure as his hand spanks me again. He slides his fingers between my legs and teases my wetness. ¡°Oh, that feels good.¡±
¡°I know you like that,¡± he whispers in my ear. ¡°You love getting all messy for me, baby.¡±
¡°How do you know that?¡±
¡°Because.¡± He pulls his hand back and shoves his soaking fingers into my mouth. ¡°Look at you, eager little slut.¡±
I moan as I taste myself. I suck his fingers, whimpering. He pulls them out and slides them back between my legs, teasing up and down my wet slit before sinking deep inside.
¡°Oh my god,¡± I moan, shivering with pleasure.
¡°That¡¯s my girl. Nowe here.¡± He drags me to the couch and starts shedding clothes. I help him out, not pretending to fight back anymore. I just want him, in and simple. Once he¡¯s naked, I drop to my knees before he can order me around and take his tip into my mouth. I suck him and stare up into his eyes, going slow, rolling my tongue around and getting him nice and wet. He stares down at me like he¡¯s seeing heaven for the first time.
¡°You like that,¡± I say, teasing. He reaches down to rub my pierced nipple.
¡°You know I do.¡±
¡°Should I reward you?¡±
¡°Whether you will or won¡¯t doesn¡¯t matter.¡± He grabs me and drags me over to the couch. I gasp as he lies down and shoves me into position, yanking my hips down over his mouth and shoving me forward. ¡°I¡¯m taking my prize either way.¡±
I spread my thighs, my knees on either side of his face, and he licks my pussy like a madman. Fuck, that feels so good. I grind down into his mouth, moaning, and take his dick into my mouth. I suck him, messy and wet, moaning as I do it. I¡¯m stuffed, my mouth filled, his tongue inside my pussy, and it feels so fucking good I could scream. And as I suck him and he licks me, I realize all that stress he¡¯s been under has been messing with me too, and I need this as much as he does.
¡°Keep going,¡± I gasp, the pleasure building into an explosion in my core. ¡°Please, keep going.¡±
¡°I want my dick in your mouth while youe,¡± he orders. ¡°Suck me, you messy, dirty fucking girl.¡± He licks at a steady and fast pace, and I can¡¯t take it anymore. I shatter for him, the orgasm hitting me like a truck, and I nearly ck out as his cock slips into my throat and I gag on him.
¡°Fuck,¡± I say, pulling back, gasping for air. I stroke his spit-drenched dick, blinking ck spots from my vision. ¡°Holy shit.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a good girl,¡± he says, lightly patting my ass.
I realize I¡¯m squeezing his skull with my knees and ease up. ¡°Sorry. Almost killed you.¡±
¡°I think you almost killed yourself choking on me like that. But you¡¯re not finished.¡± He spanks me, and Iugh, stroking him a little and looking over my shoulder.
¡°You want me to keep going?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t fucking tease.¡±
¡°I should make you practice the lock again first.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll survive.¡±
I pout a little, loving this sudden power. ¡°Beg,¡± I say.
His eyes widen. I grin, wondering if maybe I crossed a line.
¡°Please,¡± he whispers.
And fuck, that¡¯s the sexiest thing I¡¯ve ever heard in my life. ¡°Again,¡± I say, licking his tip.
¡°Please,¡± he says again. ¡°Please, baby. Suck my cock. I need it. I need you. God, I need toe so fucking badly.¡±
I pull back and change my position until I¡¯m straddling him. ¡°Keep begging. I haven¡¯t decided if you deserve it yet.¡±
¡°You filthy fucking tease.¡± He grabs my ass. Iugh as he arches forward and plunges his cock inside me, slipping in deep, filling me to the brim. ¡°I¡¯m not going easy on you now.¡±
¡°Good. I don¡¯t want you to. Fuck me like you want to break me.¡±
He thrusts hard into me, squeezing my ass. ¡°God damn, baby, you feel so fucking good. I need toe. I need to fill you.¡±
¡°Keep going,¡± I say, breathing hard, bliss filling me again. ¡°Beg for my pussy.¡±
¡°I love your fucking pussy. I love every inch of you. Let me fuck you and fill you, baby, please, I fucking need it.¡± He roars and pulls my hair, and I grind against him, the whole couch rocking and shaking as we fuck like goddamn animals. ¡°Please, baby,¡± he says, and the pure lust in his voice ruins me all over again. Ie hard on his dick, and he doesn¡¯t stop. He thrusts and fucks me, and he fills me as hees too.
¡°Shit,¡± I say, breathing hard. His heart¡¯s hammering in my ear as I lean against his chest. ¡°God damn.¡±
¡°Yep,¡± he says,ughing lightly. ¡°Agreed.¡±
¡°All this over a stupid lock.¡±
¡°I think all I needed was the proper motivation in the end.¡±
¡°Exactly. And you thought I wasn¡¯t a good teacher.¡± I reach up and lightly kiss him.
He returns that kiss with a surprising hunger. ¡°You¡¯re a perfect teacher,¡± he whispers, staring at me with pure adoration. ¡°Listen. I need to tell you something.¡±
¡°Oh, no, you don¡¯t.¡± I shimmy off him and get to my feet. ¡°You¡¯re not about to say what I think you¡¯re going to say, are you?¡±
He seems amused and stretches his arms above his head. God, he¡¯s such a beautiful specimen, it¡¯s unbelievable. ¡°I might. Why are you reacting like this?¡±
¡°You¡¯re not saying¡ you know what¡ right after sex. Absolutely not.¡±
His eyebrows raise. ¡°Why not?¡±
¡°Because! It cheapens the whole thing!¡±
¡°Cheapens it? Baby, we¡¯re living on borrowed time right now.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± I grab my clothes and start getting dressed. ¡°Tell me when it means something.¡±
He rolls his eyes, but he doesn¡¯t argue. And he doesn¡¯t say that I¡¯m wrong and crazy for thinking he was about to say those three stupid words, which means?¡ª
That¡¯s how he feels.
It¡¯s a strange revtion. I feel my cheeks turn pink, and I have to go get a ss of water to hide the sudden rush of emotion that hits me.
He loves me. Alexan loves me. I thought he did; I mean, I figured he did, but?¡ª
Now I¡¯m sure.
He loves me.
A rush of giddy excitement runs into my belly. I nce at him as he pulls on a shirt and picks up the practice lock again. He gets back to work, concentrating this time without all the heavy baggage weighing him down.
Alexan loves me. He loves me, for real. Not as some forced bribe bullshit or a way to enforce a peace treaty, but as a partner and a wife.
He loves me, and I love him too.
¡°Got it,¡± he says, grinning and holding the lock up. ¡°Fuck, woman, you are truly a great teacher.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t call me woman. And thank you.¡± I drink down my water, fighting back the rush of toe-curling joy. I¡¯m smiling like a moron, and he probably thinks it¡¯s about the lockpicking. When really, I¡¯m grinning because I¡¯m in love. ¡°Now do it fifty more times before we move on to the harder locks.¡±
¡°There are harder locks?¡±
¡°Better get back to work.¡±
He groans, shoves the lock closed, and obeys.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 38
¡°You know I don¡¯t like this,¡± Alexan says, frowning at my father¡¯s house. He nces away and looks around the block, searching for threats.
¡°I know, but it¡¯ll be quick. Brenden needs some stuff from his room and I have a set of lock picks I want you to use hidden under my bed. It¡¯ll just take a minute, okay?¡±
¡°I shoulde with you.¡±
¡°Just stay here.¡± I pat his hand and lean across the car. I kiss him quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±
He clearly doesn¡¯t like that, but I don¡¯t give him the chance to argue.
For the past two days, we¡¯ve done nothing but n. We¡¯ve gone over every inch of that house, from photos taken by Alexan¡¯s crew to the actual blueprints he managed to steal from the city registry. He¡¯s picked a dozen different kinds of locks, and he¡¯s at the point where I¡¯m confident he can handle anything hees across.
Now it¡¯s just a matter of giving him the right tools.
I head into the house. ¡°Hello? Anyone home?¡± I hesitate, listening, and my stomach sinks when my father answers.
¡°Is that you, Riley?¡± He appears at the top of the steps, frowning down at me. ¡°When you got married, I assumed you wouldn¡¯t show up here much anymore.¡±
¡°Nice to see you too.¡± I head up toward him. ¡°Just need to grab some things.¡±
He lets me pass withoutment. I head into Brenden¡¯s room and gather clothes into a bag. He stands in the doorway and watches, face impassive.
¡°You know where he is,¡± Dad finally says.
I pause, hand shoved in the bag, and look over. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±
¡°Tell me.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± I shake my head and finish packing up. When I¡¯m done, I head to the door, but Dad blocks my way. ¡°Excuse me, please.¡±
¡°Tell me where my son is, Riley.¡±
¡°Brenden¡¯s okay. He¡¯s just hiding out. The less you know, the better.¡±
Dad¡¯s face cracks. His mask slips, and a contemptuous snarl flits across his expression. ¡°God, you¡¯re so worthless.¡±
¡°Excuse me.¡± I stare at him, heart pattering. ¡°Please.¡±
He moves aside. I hurry across the hall into my room, locate the picks under my mattress, and put them into the bag.
¡°I always knew this about you,¡± Dad continues, following me. ¡°Always just a leech living under my roof. You never did provide a damn thing, did you?¡±
I take a deep breath. I feel myself withering under his hateful stare. It¡¯s been like this all my life. No matter what I do, this man is able to break me without even having to try.
¡°You never let me,¡± I say quietly, staring down at the floor.
¡°I never what?¡± He steps closer, his tone sharpening. ¡°What did you just say?¡±
¡°You never let me contribute.¡± I look up at him, hands curled into fists. ¡°I wasn¡¯t allowed to work. I wasn¡¯t allowed to go to college. You never let me contribute.¡±
He looks like he can¡¯t believe I¡¯m even responding. And honestly, I don¡¯t me him. I¡¯ve been letting him stomp on my face since the day I was born, and I don¡¯t even know where this ising from.
But I keep seeing Alexan in my mind. I keep seeing him struggling with that lock but never giving up. And for some reason, a strange, iron strength fills me.
I broke into a Mantis facility. I was nearly killed in the process, but I survived. I¡¯ve done thingstely that I never imagined I would, and it¡¯s all because Alexan believes in me.
And if Alexan thinks I¡¯m worthy, then I shouldn¡¯t let a man like my father push me around anymore.
¡°I gave you everything,¡± he says, hissing at me. ¡°A roof over your head. Food on your te. And all you¡¯ve ever done isin.¡±
¡°That isn¡¯t true. I cooked all that food, and I cleaned this stinking ce top to bottom. Dad, I was a good gymnast. I was really, really good, and you made me quit so I could sit around here and do nothing. God, you know what¡¯s sick? I thought you were selling me to the Armenians, but now I realize you were freeing me from this fucking prison.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you dare use that tone with me,¡± he says.
I shove past him before he has a chance to block my exit. I hurry into the hall, heart hammering in my ears as I rush down the steps. He storms after me, his heavy footsteps stomping behind me.
¡°You don¡¯t get to treat me like shit anymore,¡± I say, breathless as I stand in front of the door. ¡°You don¡¯t mean anything anymore.¡±
¡°You stupid little bitch,¡± he snaps. ¡°What kind of shit did that husband of yours tell you? I protected you from the world. I made youfortable. I fucking spoiled you?¡ª¡±
¡°And belittled me, told me I was worthless, made me feel small. I was your fucking punching bag for years. You wanted me around to make you feel better, but I¡¯m gone now, and I¡¯m noting back.¡±
¡°Yeah, go ahead, run away. Go running to your shitty husband. Let him see how you¡¯re nothing. You¡¯re nothing, Riley!¡±
¡°Fuck you, Dad.¡± I stare at him as a cold certainty rushes through me. ¡°From here on out, act like I¡¯m dead.¡±
¡°Happily.¡±
I turn and leave the house, mming the door behind me.
Alexan¡¯s out of the car the second I¡¯m down the stoop. Hees rushing over, his face caught between anger and concern. ¡°What happened?¡± he asks, reaching into his jacket for his gun. ¡°Did something happen? Are you okay?¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I say, pushing his hand away from his weapon. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t look fine.¡±
I grab him and crush my mouth to his. I kiss him hard, sloppy and hungry, and let that kiss linger. He returns it, his hands on my hips.
¡°It¡¯s just my dad,¡± I say quietly, leaning against him.
¡°Not sure I want you talking about your father after kissing me like that.¡±
I p him lightly. ¡°He was just being his usual asshole self, but I stood up to him.¡±
¡°You did?¡± He strokes a hand down my back. ¡°Honestly now?¡±
¡°I did.¡± I smile a little. ¡°Told him to fuck off.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Heughs lightly and squeezes me. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you.¡±
¡°I meant it too. He¡¯s dead to me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s my fucking girl.¡± He kisses me again, and we head into the car together. He puts his hand on mine as he drives. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m proud of myself, honestly.¡± Iugh lightly, feeling giddy and free for the first time in my life. ¡°I¡¯ve never, ever talked to him like that before.¡±
¡°He doesn¡¯t matter anymore. If you don¡¯t want him in your life, he¡¯s gone. You know that, right?¡±
I shift to study my husband. The solid lines of his face. The cold strength in his eyes.
¡°I know that now,¡± I say softly. ¡°Because I have a home with you.¡±
¡°You¡¯re damn right you do.¡±
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 39
Riley¡¯s voice is low and calm in my ear. ¡°Are you in position?¡±
I crouch down in the narrow alley. My boot¡¯s in something wet. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡±
¡°We¡¯re in the system.¡± Daron¡¯s voice now. I halfway expected him to give me shit for bringing my wife on this job, but he didn¡¯t say anything when she climbed into the van. ¡°Give me a minute to drop the security.¡±
¡°Eric here. I¡¯ve got eyes on Navarro.¡± There¡¯s loud music in the background of wherever Eric¡¯s chiming in from. ¡°He¡¯s, uh, heading into a strip club.¡±
¡°Two strip clubs in one week?¡± Daronughs lightly. ¡°Lucky boy.¡±
¡°Concentrate,¡± William says, sounding tired.
¡°I¡¯m going to mute my line,¡± Eric says. ¡°I¡¯ll update if I lose eyes or if he moves.¡±
The noise ends. A short silence. Then Riley says, ¡°Are you guys always this unprofessional?¡±
I grin to myself. I can almost see the annoyed look on Daron¡¯s face right now as he tries to ignore my wife. ¡°We¡¯re working on it,¡± I tell her, shifting my weight so I can reach up to the top of the fence. I pull myself up and stare into the backyard of Navarro¡¯s silent, dark house. ¡°Tell me when it¡¯s time.¡±
¡°Another minute,¡± Daron says.
¡°Goingms quiet,¡± Riley says. ¡°Good luck, baby. Let me know if you need me to walk you through anything.¡±
¡°Will do.¡± Riley¡¯s here in case Ie across a lock I can¡¯t handle. But also, because she¡¯s safer in a van with my crew than she is sitting at home in my house. Even though my system¡¯s good, I still worry when she¡¯s not around.
I hang tight and keep myself calm. I should be jittery, but I¡¯m strangely not worried. My specialty is cybercrime, and I don¡¯t usually do many breaking and enterings, but we¡¯re on top of this one. I¡¯m as confident as I can be.
¡°Go now,¡± Daron says. ¡°You¡¯ve got ten minutes tops.¡±
I pull myself up over the very nice back fence and drop down into a well-manicuredwn. I skirt around a small pool and head to the door. I think of Riley¡¯s training as I take out the lock picks and nce up at a camera in the corner of the house. There¡¯s no red light. No indication that it¡¯s working.
Fucker better be dead, or else we¡¯re screwed.
I picture my wife, topless and smirking, as I get down to business. It takes me almost five minutes, but eventually, I turn the tension rod, and the lock makes a quiet snick noise as ites undone.
¡°Good job,¡± Riley says in my ear. ¡°Proud of you.¡±
¡°Enough of that,¡± Daron grumbles. ¡°Half your time¡¯s gone. Get moving.¡±
I slip into a back entryway. There¡¯s a closet on the right and nice-looking shoes lined up in an expensive rack. I hurry down the hall, turn right, and take the steps to the second floor.
The office is at the front of the house. I slip inside, careful not to disturb anything, and stand quietly for a moment as I limate to the room.
¡°What do you see?¡± Riley whispers in my ear.
¡°Desk near the windows like we figured. Bookshelf with lots of pictures and shit.¡± I recognize Navarro standing among men and women, likely all cartel members. ¡°There¡¯s a filing cab.¡±
¡°Ignore that,¡± Riley says. ¡°Find a safe. Hurry.¡±
I start rifling through the ce. I can¡¯t just leave the watch out in in sight. If I do that, Navarro¡¯s going to get suspicious. I need Mantis to find the watch right here, in his house, where he can¡¯t deny that he ever had it.
¡°Got one.¡± I find a safe hidden behind some sawed-off books. It¡¯s a clever disguise, except the books were clearly glued together, and not all that well either. ¡°Fuck. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing here.¡±
¡°Describe it.¡±
¡°Digital. Basic keypad.¡± I give her the make and model numbers, grunting as I pull it out and lower it down onto the floor. Asshole Navarro didn¡¯t bother to anchor it to the shelf. ¡°Talk to me.¡±
¡°Try default numbers first. 0000, 1234, 0123.¡±
I enter those and nothing happens. ¡°Next please.¡±
¡°Mallet time.¡±
I pull a big rubber mallet from my bag. ¡°You sure this works?¡±
¡°Oh, sure, on the cheap ones. Give it a shot. Smack the top and yank the handle at the same time.¡±
I m the mallet on the top and jerk the handle. I can feel the mechanism inside jolting when I hit it, but that doesn¡¯t work. ¡°Nothing,¡± I say, feeling the time crunch. ¡°I have to crack it.¡±
¡°Unscrew the keypad.¡±
I get to work. I have the tools with me. The front facinges off easily enough after I use a jeweler¡¯s screwdriver to remove the tiny bolts. Then I disconnect the wiring and look in at the bare control board.
¡°Hurry up,¡± Daron says. ¡°I¡¯m giving you more time, but not a lot.¡±
¡°He¡¯s moving.¡± Eric¡¯s noise breaks through ourms. It sounds like he¡¯s out of breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but he just suddenly leapt up and got out of there.¡±
¡°How far away are you?¡± I ask him.
¡°Ten minutes tops. But he¡¯s hurrying.¡±
¡°Fucker knows,¡± I say as I start to connect the keypad bomber to the circuit board. It¡¯s a simple ck device designed to brute force the key password by trying thousands ofbinations every second. ¡°He¡¯sing home.¡±
¡°Get out of there,¡± Riley says, sounding terrified.
I input the start sequence, and the bomber gets to work. ¡°I can do this.¡±
¡°Alexan. Please. It¡¯s not worth it.¡±
¡°Sorry, baby.¡± I stare at the bomber, sweat dripping down my forehead. ¡°Daron, how¡¯d he find out?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t know. Trying to figure that out right now. Fucking motherfucker.¡±
¡°He¡¯s in the car,¡± Eric says. ¡°Shit, I¡¯m sticking close.¡±
¡°Alexan!¡± Riley says. ¡°Get out of there!¡±
I let the bomber run. If this fails, we¡¯re fucked. We won¡¯t get another chance, especially if Navarro got an alert that I¡¯m in here. Daron must¡¯ve tripped someyer of protection we didn¡¯t know about, and normally that¡¯s something we¡¯d find during the nning phase. But this was rushed, and we fucked up.
The lights keep shing rapidly. Numbers flit across the screen like grass in the breeze. I pace across the office and look out the front windows, but it¡¯s quiet out there. ¡°Eric, update.¡±
¡°He¡¯s definitelying back. Headed your way. Eight minutes.¡±
¡°Motherfucker had a dead man¡¯s switch on the wholework,¡± William says suddenly. ¡°Daron, do you see this?¡±
¡°I see it,¡± Daron confirms. ¡°The second we took it down, Navarro got an alert. He knows something¡¯s up.¡±
¡°Time to go,¡± Riley presses.
¡°I can¡¯t.¡± I turn back to the safe. ¡°The bomber¡¯s still working.¡±
¡°Leave the watch somewhere else,¡± Riley pleads. ¡°Under his mattress. In his sock drawer. I don¡¯t care. Just get out of there.¡±
¡°Anywhere else will look suspicious. We have to make sure Mantis buys this.¡±
¡°Alexan¡ª¡± She¡¯s pleading now. ¡°Juste back to me.¡±
Riley¡¯s voice breaks my heart, but I¡¯m staying for her. She has to understand that. If I back out now and half-ass this job, Mantis might realize we were behind the watch theft from the start.
¡°I love you, you know that?¡± I crouch beside the safe.
Herugh isced with tears. ¡°Seriously? Seriously? Right now?¡±
¡°Right now,¡± I say gently, gently touching the safe. The bomber keeps buzzing, sending code after code into the electronic lock pad. ¡°I love you, Riley, and I can¡¯t leave until this is done.¡±
¡°I love you too,¡± she whispers, crying softly now.
¡°This is touching and all,¡± Daron says, cutting in, ¡°but I¡¯m inclined to agree with your wife. Time to cut loose.¡±
¡°Give it another minute.¡±
¡°Six out,¡± Eric chimes in.
¡°I say go,¡± William says. ¡°Take the chance.¡±
I ignore them and wait. The numbers keep turning. ¡°Five,¡± Eric says. ¡°He¡¯s driving like a fucking maniac.¡±
I close my eyes. I picture Riley smiling, her hips under my fingers, her mouth on mine. I can see a fork ahead of me. A life with her on one side and a smoking crater and our corpses on the other. The choice isn¡¯t really a choice¡ªit¡¯s a slow-motion travesty.
¡°Three minutes,¡± Eric says.
I open my eyes again, and the bomber beeps.
I stare, mouth hanging open. Four numbers sh on the screen. 8517.
Then the lock bangs open.
¡°I¡¯m in,¡± I say and yank open the safe door.
It¡¯s chaos in my earpiece. Everyone¡¯s yelling at once, but I tune them out and concentrate. ¡°WE¡¯RE CLOSE,¡± Eric¡¯s shouting as I rifle through the safe. Papers, a gun, passports, money. I take the watch from my bag and shove it in the back, tucked under a stack of fresh twenty-dor bills. ¡°He¡¯s on the block!¡±
¡°Get out!¡± Riley screams.
I m the lock shut, shove my gear back into my bag, and fumble with the facing screws. I manage to get the keypad back in ce, cursing the whole time.
¡°He¡¯s parking!¡± Eric yells in my ear. ¡°Go, Alexan! Run!¡±
I lift the safe up, growling as I strain, and get it back onto the shelf. I shove it into position, carefully putting the pictures back where they belong, and drop the fake books down into their slot?¡ª
When I hear the front door open.
¡°He¡¯s here,¡± I whisper, snatching up my bag, and slip into the hall. ¡°Daron?¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m letting him have the system. It¡¯ll look like a power surge took it out.¡± He¡¯s talking quietly now.
I hear Navarro downstairs. He¡¯s cursing in Spanish as he jabs at the security console near the front door. I peer at the steps and realize he¡¯s on the phone talking to someone.
¡°Don¡¯t turn it back on yet,¡± I hiss softly, backing away. ¡°The cameras.¡±
¡°Understood,¡± Daron says.
¡°I have an out.¡± Riley¡¯s voice now, calm and clear. ¡°Alexan, head to the master bedroom.¡±
¡°What? Why?¡±
¡°Do it! Just move!¡±
I follow my wife¡¯s orders and sneak to the other end of the house. ¡°If this is what the rest of our marriage is going to be like, I¡¯m kind of into it.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t joke right now,¡± she snaps. ¡°Tell me where you are.¡±
¡°I¡¯m in his room. It¡¯s actually kind of nice.¡± Big bed on a raised tform in the middle, dark wooden bureau, several high-end watches lined up on the nightstand. And a big stack of vintage yboys on the other. ¡°Oh, no, he¡¯s a sex pervert.¡±
¡°Focus. Get in the bathroom.¡±
¡°Not sure I want to go into a sex pervert¡¯s private bathroom.¡±
¡°Are you seriously deciding to be funny right now of all times?¡±
She¡¯s got a point. I quietly go into the bathroom and pause. There¡¯s a vanity to the right, a shower straight left, and a toilet against the left wall. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m here. What should I do? Get into the tub?¡±
¡°Windows,¡± Riley instructs. ¡°The one on the right corner. There¡¯s a drainpipe next to it.¡±
¡°You want me to scale a downspout? Not sure it¡¯ll hold my weight.¡±
¡°Either that or you get caught. Move it, Alexan.¡±
I smile to myself. ¡°So bossy.¡± I head to the window as instructed and softly get it open. Any second, Navarro coulde into the room behind me, and that would be the end of all this. But I manage to get the screen up and my body half out before that happens.
And there¡¯s the pipe. The building is rtively old, which means it¡¯s made of metal and bolted into the facade. That¡¯s good news, actually. I test it with a few stiff tugs, and it doesn¡¯t move.
¡°I¡¯m going for it,¡± I say, swinging myself out.
Cold air whips around my body as I cling to the pipe. I careen into open space, fingers gripping hard and nearly slipping. I grunt as the pipe scrapes against my forearms, leaving red marks on my skin.
¡°Talk to me,¡± Riley says.
¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± I reach back over and scramble at the window. ¡°Fucking thing.¡±
¡°Better hurry,¡± Daron cuts in. ¡°He¡¯sing upstairs. I¡¯m watching through the cameras.¡±
¡°Alexan,¡± Riley says, sounding desperate. ¡°Move it.¡±
¡°Almost¡ª¡± My hand grips the window. I slide it down so slowly it¡¯s like a knife in my chest. ¡°Okay. I got it.¡±
¡°Go, damn it,¡± Riley yells.
¡°Wait!¡± Daron¡¯s voice is urgent. ¡°Don¡¯t move! He¡¯s right there!¡±
I go totally still and press myself as t to the wall as I can. If Navarroes to the window, he¡¯ll see me. No doubt about it. My heart¡¯s racing in my chest, and god, I hope a pedestrian doesn¡¯t walk past right now.
¡°He¡¯s taking a piss,¡± Daron whispers. ¡°I can hear it. Just hold tight.¡±
¡°Not much else I can do.¡± My arms are tired, but I¡¯m in good shape. I could dangle here for an hour if I had to. ¡°Well? What¡¯s he doing? ying with himself or what?¡±
¡°Move,¡± Daron says. ¡°He¡¯s heading back downstairs.¡±
I lower myself down hurriedly but steadily, doing my best not to make any noise. The wrong bump or jerk could bring this whole pipe down, and that would alert the whole building. I get close enough to the ground and let myself go, dropping thest few feet. I hit with an awkward stumble.
¡°Daron? Did he hear?¡±
¡°Not a fucking thing. He¡¯s messing with the rm system right now. Hold on¡¡± I hear him typing in the background. ¡°And now it¡¯s back on. You good?¡±
¡°I¡¯m good,¡± I say and start walking away down the block. ¡°Someone meet me at the corner.¡±
A van pulls up the second I reach the crosswalk. The door slides open, and Rileyes streaming out. She ms into my arms, wrapping herself around my chest and hugging me so tight it¡¯s enough to knock the wind from my lungs.
¡°That was too close,¡± she says, fighting tears.
¡°Nobody said it would be easy.¡± I grin over her shoulder at where Daron¡¯s sitting behind a makeshiftputer desk. William¡¯s behind the wheel. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of this ce.¡±
Riley ms her mouth to mine, kissing me furiously and possessively, then pulls back and ps me.
I stare at her, touching my cheek. ¡°The fuck?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you ever make stupid jokes while in the middle of a life-or-death situation again, do you hear me?¡±
Then she kisses me again.
Fucking hell, this girl is a whirlwind.
And I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn¡¯t absolutely love it.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 40
I put on my best suit, load my favorite gun, and tie my mostfortable shoes. I check myself in the mirror, strangely calm despite everything riding on this meeting.
I have to trust that the n will work.
One week ago, I nearly got my ass caught hanging off a drainpipe. Now I¡¯m heading over to drop off a dossier to the local Mantis operative who took over for Jeremy Fong. And who most likely cut off Jeremy¡¯s head.
¡°Riley? Where¡¯d you disappear to?¡± I walk down to the kitchen, but she¡¯s nowhere around. I want to say goodbye, just in case. ¡°We have to go over the contingency n.¡± If Mantis murders me today, Riley has to run to the McGrath leader, Liam McGrath, as fast as she can. Only he¡¯ll be able to keep her safe. Daron has orders to make sure she stays alive, no matter what happens to me.
My wife appears from the downstairs powder room. She looks pale, and I can¡¯t me her. A lot can go wrong, and the stakes are impossibly high.
¡°Alexan,¡± she says, her voice trembling.
¡°It¡¯ll be okay, baby.¡± I go to her, but she holds up her hand.
Clutched in her fist is something white and pink.
I stare, notprehending at first.
¡°Alexan,¡± she says again. ¡°I just took this.¡±
Then it hits me.
¡°That¡¯s a pregnancy test.¡±
¡°I know. I should¡¯ve said something sooner, but¡ª¡± She chews her lip and stares into my eyes. Tears roll down her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s positive.¡±
Fuck.
My world stops.
Everything goespletely still.
The outside doesn¡¯t exist anymore. Riley is the only person in the whole world. I reach for her, my mouth working.
Then joy floods me. It¡¯s so intense, I can barely control it. I crush the distance between us and wrap my arms around her. I hug her close and lift her into the air,ughing like a maniac.
¡°You¡¯re pregnant!¡± I yell, flinging her around. ¡°You¡¯re fucking pregnant!¡±
¡°Alexan!¡± she says,ughing too. ¡°Put me down, you crazy person! You¡¯re going to break my spine!¡±
I lower her back to her feet and bury my mouth in a kiss. My hand moves to her stomach, even though I know I can¡¯t feel the baby yet. But they¡¯re in there. My little child is in there.
¡°This is perfect,¡± I whisper, forehead pressed to hers. ¡°God, I love you, Riley.¡±
¡°I love you too.¡± She strokes my cheek, grinning through her tears. ¡°But what if this doesn¡¯t work out? What if?¡ª¡±
¡°You know what to do. Brenden will get you to Liam. From there, Daron and Liam will help you disappear. You¡¯ll raise our child and have a good life. You¡¯ll be happy.¡±
¡°Alexan,¡± she says, shaking her head. ¡°I can¡¯t do this without you.¡±
¡°You can if you have to. But I promise, baby, if I cane back to you, nothing in this fucking world will stop me. Because you¡¯re mine, and that baby is mine, and I won¡¯t ever lose you.¡±
I hold her tight for a while. I don¡¯t want to bete to the meeting, but I need to sear this in my brain. If this is thest happiness I ever feel in life, at least I¡¯m going out at the absolute peak.
She walks with me to the car. I can tell she doesn¡¯t want me to go alone, but she knows the deal. Brenden wille over shortly, and they¡¯ll sit together while they wait. Her brother knows he has to keep her from doing anything impulsive and stupid.
¡°I¡¯ll be home soon,¡± I say, kissing her.
She nods, crying again. ¡°You better be.¡±
I start the car and drive away. I don¡¯t look in the rearview because if I do, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to keep going.
My wife. My pregnant wife. Fuck, this changes everything.
A cold determination fills me. I don¡¯t give a damn about Mantis or Los Sombras or any of them. Fuck them all. I¡¯ll kill a thousand Mantis operatives and a million cartel soldiers if it means being here for my wife and my child. To hell with them all.
I reach the meeting point. It¡¯s an hour outside of the city at an abandoned-looking construction site. I¡¯m guessing they¡¯re putting in a warehouse or something based on the size of the ce. The back gate was left unlocked, per the Mantis instructions, and I head through the fence on foot.
The structure is concrete, exposed rebar, and cinderblocks. Muddy puddles lurk like a minefield. There¡¯s nobody around, only quiet equipment and a broken-looking radio. I keep the dossier tucked under my arm as I find the entrance to the half-constructed building and go inside.
The floor¡¯s bare poured concrete. Standing midway down is a group of ten men, all of them armed to the teeth and wearing ckbat fatigues. I stop moving and stare, but three more armed men appear to my left, talking fast.
¡°No weapons,¡± the lead guard says. He¡¯s in a ckbat helmet, and I can¡¯t see his face, but his ent is American. I¡¯d bet these are mercenaries.
¡°I have one gun in my jacket.¡± I pull it open to show the holster.
The guard reaches in and takes it. He releases the magazine, removes the bullet from the chamber, and hands the weapon off to his assistant. Then he pats me down quickly and efficiently but finds nothing else.
¡°Go ahead,¡± he says, nodding.
I walk toward the waiting group.
A folding card table is set up, and a small man is sitting behind it. He¡¯s wiry and older, with a bald head, dark eyes, and a hard frown. I¡¯ve never seen him before.
¡°I brought what you¡¯re looking for,¡± I say, holding out the folder.
The man doesn¡¯t move. ¡°My name is Fungal Spread. Do you know me?¡±
My eyebrows raise. ¡°If that¡¯s true, then you¡¯re the most notorious hacker in the world.¡±
¡°And you are Permafrost. One of the best I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Fungal Spread watches me with a cold, ruthless stare. ¡°But you took too long.¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯t given much to work with.¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware. My predecessor, Iron Head, was a desperate, stupid man. You never should have been brought into this process from the start.¡±
¡°We can agree on that.¡± I hold the folder up. ¡°Do you want it?¡±
He frowns at me. ¡°Did you really find the watch?¡±
¡°Take a look and find out.¡±
He seems intrigued and gestures sharply. One of his soldiers walks over, takes the folder, and hands it off. Fungal Spread sifts through the documents, reading them quickly. His eyes dart from side to side, and his lips move as if he¡¯s vocalizing to himself.
¡°And all this is correct?¡± he asks.
¡°Everything in there is entirely urate.¡± I¡¯m extremely aware of the high-powered weapons all around me. I¡¯d bet there¡¯s a sniper or two up on the partially finished roof as well. One wrong move, one gesture from Fungal Spread, and my brains will be a fine pink mist. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy to find.¡±
¡°This is a very disturbing revtion. How did you even think to look here?¡±
I have to be very, very careful here. I need to skirt the line between true and false. If I make up too much bullshit, Fungal Spread will grow suspicious. But I can¡¯t just say I guessed.
¡°Iron Head¡¯s records indicated he was meeting with a wide variety of people on the day the watch went missing. We noticed he stayed with several known associates of Los Sombras. My wife¡¯s brother was involved with one of their heists¡ª¡± I hesitate, running right up against the edge here. ¡°And he told me about a rumor he¡¯d heard. That Los Sombras hade up on an even bigger score. Something massive and dangerous.¡±
¡°And that was enough to make you hack their systems.¡± Fungal Spread nodded to himself as he flipped through the pages.
¡°I found the conversations first. As you can see, they¡¯re mostly in code, but they all keep referring to some massive score. But they were having trouble figuring out how to ess it. That was one huge clue. We kept digging after that and monitored Diego Navarro¡¯smunications. The smoking gun finally showed up two days ago when he directly referenced an encrypted watch. That¡¯s on thest page.¡±
Fungal Spread grunts softly and leans back in his chair. He watches me, his face giving up nothing. If he realizes that every single conversation in that dossier is a forgery, I¡¯m fucked. He¡¯ll kill me and everyone I know. But I don¡¯t back down, and I don¡¯t show fear. I stand strong for Riley and our future child.
¡°And if I direct my people to hack Navarro¡¯s system as well?¡± Fungal Spread asks. ¡°What will they find?¡±
¡°Exactly what¡¯s in that dossier.¡± Which is true, thanks to my crew. We worked day and night to set it all up right under Navarro¡¯s nose. He¡¯s got no clue the incriminating evidence is on hisputer system now. And unless Fungal Spread himself does an extremely deep and detailed investigation into Navarro¡¯s logs, which is possible but very unlikely, nobody will ever know the evidence was nted.
Fungal Spread nods slowly and closes the dossier. ¡°Very good,¡± he says. ¡°Very, very good. We were aware Los Sombras was unhappy with our organization; however¡ª¡± He stops himself as if suddenly realizing he was saying too much. ¡°At any rate, you did good work, Permafrost.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡± I hold his gaze, not moving. ¡°I had an arrangement with your predecessor.¡±
¡°You will get paid. Once the watch is back in our possession, I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡±
¡°Then our business is finished.¡± I turn away, heart hammering. I¡¯m so close. I start back toward the door.
Fungal Spread calls out. ¡°One more thing.¡± I hesitate and look back. I keep seeing Riley with a swollen belly and a smile on her lips. I have to get home to her. ¡°Congrattions on your marriage and your new alliance with the McGrath family. I hope this sessful joint venture will allow all of our organizations to work well together in the future.¡±
¡°I think we¡¯d all like that.¡±
He nods and gives me a smile.
A chill runs down my spine.
Fungal Spread looks like a wolf pretending to be a human.
I get out of there. The soldier hands my gun back, though he keeps the magazine. ¡°No offense,¡± he says.
I shrug and don¡¯t argue.
Each step I take toward my car is one more step on the path back to my wife.
I know there are still a dozen ways this can go wrong, but for the first time since that watch came into my life, I¡¯m starting to feel hope.
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 41
The Pomegranate House is busy on a Saturday night. Anyone who wants to do business with the Brotherhood is here, packed into narrow tables, spendingvishly on food and drinks. These days, that¡¯s a lot of people.
Daron raises a ss. He¡¯s drunk and happy. ¡°Here¡¯s to the happy couple,¡± he says. ¡°And to having children. And to winning an impossible game. And to pregnancies, and arranged marriages, and?¡ª¡±
¡°I think that¡¯s enough,¡± Riley says.
Eric and Williamugh. I hug my wife closer and drink to her health. Daron sways in his chair, beaming like a madman. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it worked,¡± he says, his voice lowering as he leans in closer to me. ¡°Honestly, Fungal Spread himself? That¡¯s one bad motherfucker.¡±
¡°I have a feeling they didn¡¯t look too hard.¡± I keep my hand possessively on Riley¡¯s thigh. She doesn¡¯t mind, though. These days, I have a lot to protect. ¡°Once they got their crypto keys back and realized nothing had been stolen, I have a feeling they didn¡¯t have much incentive to investigate too closely.¡±
¡°Still, what a fucking hack.¡± He sighs and drinks again.
¡°Can I admit something?¡± I raise my ss to him. ¡°I was inspired by the perfect hack.¡±
His eyes widen. His mouth drops open. And then he bursts outughing so hard he has to hold his ribs. ¡°That story isn¡¯t even true!¡± he shouts, cracking up. ¡°Oh my god, you madman!¡±
Eric and William do their best to calm Daron down as half the restaurant looks in our direction. I lean in to Riley and kiss her neck, brushing her hair back.
I like the attention. I want people to see me and my beautiful wife together.
I¡¯m a proud husband these days.
¡°I have one more surprise for all of you,¡± I say to my crew. Daron barely gets control of himself as I drop a piece of paper down on the table.
Eric lifts it tentatively, frowning. ¡°What is this? Looks like three big bank transfers.¡±
¡°That¡¯s your payment.¡±
His eyes bug out. ¡°Holy shit. Seriously?¡±
William snatches the paper from him andughs. ¡°Are you kidding right now?¡± he asks.
Daron¡¯s thest one to see the numbers. His jaw works, and for once in his life, he¡¯s got nothing to say.
¡°Mantis was generous,¡± I admit, stroking my wife¡¯s knee. She¡¯s grinning too. This little disy was her idea. I had nned on just telling them, but she insisted on the theatrics. Their reactions were totally worth it. ¡°You three went above and beyond, and you all deserve it.¡±
¡°How generous were they, exactly?¡± Eric asks.
¡°They paid me three million.¡±
¡°But you transferred a million to each of us,¡± he says, looking confused.
¡°You three deserve the money. I got payment enough already.¡± I lean in and brush my wife¡¯s hair from her neck.
She shivers and waves me off. ¡°He¡¯s a big fat liar. He wanted to pay you all less, but I¡¯m the one that made him give it all up.¡±
Daronughs again, and the three of them toast my lovely wife for what feels like the tenth time that night.
Frankly, they really do deserve the money, but it¡¯s about more than just giving them what they deserve for the risks they took. I also need to make sure none of them ever tells a living soul about what we did. Aside from the men at this table, only Darren, Tigran, and Arsen are aware that Los Sombras had nothing to do with that watch¡¯s disappearance.
And I need to make sure it stays that way.
So maybe my motives aren¡¯t pure. So what?
At least my guys are happy.
¡°You have a visitor,¡± Riley murmurs a little whileter. I turn to look as Tigran approaches the table.
¡°I hear you boys have been busy.¡± He grins down at our little crew. ¡°I made a good choice putting Alexan in charge, didn¡¯t I?¡±
¡°He¡¯s going to take credit for all my hard work,¡± I say, ncing at him.
Tigranughs and gestures with his head. ¡°Come on. Arsen wants to talk to you.¡±
I push back from the table, kiss my wife on the cheek, and follow. Riley will be safe with the crew for a little while.
¡°Been one hell of a week,¡± Tigran says softly to me as we cross toward where Arsen¡¯s holding court in a private room. He pauses before we enter. ¡°You know, when I promoted you, I really didn¡¯t think you¡¯d immediately get tangled with ck Mantis.¡±
¡°Funny how life is sometimes,¡± I say with a shrug.
¡°Funny,¡± he echoes. ¡°Yeah, sure, something like that.¡±
We enter the back room. Arsen¡¯s sitting alone at a table with documents spread out around him. He¡¯s reading something with a frown. A drink¡¯s at his elbow. He nods tersely as Tigran leads me over.
¡°Patron,¡± I say respectfully. ¡°I¡¯m told you wanted to see me.¡±
¡°Sit down, you two.¡± Arsen leans back and rubs his face. ¡°God, I¡¯m tired. What a fucking week. Do you know how many bodies there are rotting in the Baltimore gutters right now?¡±
¡°A lot,¡± I venture, pulling out a chair and dropping down into it.
¡°A lot,¡± Arsen confirms. ¡°Mantis is going hard on Los Sombras. Navarro¡¯s dead. Half his leadership is dead too. I¡¯m guessing half their Mexican counterparts will be dead by the end of the month. It¡¯s a nightmare.¡±
I nce at Tigran. He¡¯s staring at me but gives me nothing. ¡°Are you angry about that?¡± I ask, not sure where this is going.
Arsen studies me for a long moment. ¡°You¡¯re not stupid,¡± he says finally. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have put all this in motion if you didn¡¯t have a choice. I assume you did what you did because of your new wife.¡±
I shift in my chair. I¡¯d told them about pinning the watch on Los Sombras¡ªbut I hadn¡¯t mentioned that it was Riley who took it in the first ce.
¡°Something like that,¡± I admit.
¡°Fine. Keep the details to yourself. It¡¯s better that way.¡± He lets out a long sigh. ¡°Turns out that ck Mantis wants to be better friends. They¡¯re happy with your work.¡±
I nce over at Tigran. Now he¡¯s smirking at me, arms crossed over his chest.
¡°What¡¯s he saying?¡± I ask.
¡°We just pulled in a big ount, that¡¯s what,¡± Tigran exins. ¡°And you¡¯re first in line for a payday.¡±
¡°Call it a bonus for hard work. When our new rtionship begins to pay out, you¡¯re first in line for a slice of the money. Congrattions, Alexan. Not only are you running your own crew, but now you¡¯re stinking fucking rich.¡±
¡°Just like the rest of us,¡± Tigran adds, beaming now.
Arsen raises a ss. ¡°Here¡¯s to the future.¡± He throws back his drink. ¡°Do me a favor and start nning some more jobs. I have a feeling you¡¯re going to have a long and interesting career.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡±
Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 42
Six Months Later
I jiggle the pick and feel the pins slip into ce. As I move through the lock, I adjust the tension rod and slowly manage to get the door open. ¡°You¡¯re mine now,¡± I mutter victoriously.
The basement steps loom in front of me. At the bottom, an expensive carpet disappears into my private world. I cradle my pregnant belly as I sneak down, going as slowly and quietly as I can, which isn¡¯t very stealthy, if I¡¯m honest. I¡¯m pregnant as hell and about as quiet as an elephant.
My heart¡¯s pattering in my chest. My palms are slick with excitement. I creep down into my oasis, toes curling into the plush, soft carpeting. Gone are the spiders, mostly. Gone is the concrete and the storage space. Instead, everything¡¯s soft andfortable, lots of pale beige and soft reds, flowers in one corner, a bench against a far wall, a couch and a TV, and a little corner for my crafting supplies. It¡¯s still a work in progress, but it¡¯s all mine.
¡°I know you¡¯re down here,¡± I say, eyes darting around. ¡°You do realize you shouldn¡¯t mess with your pregnant wife, right? I¡¯m liable to pop at any moment.¡±
¡°You still haven¡¯t found me yet,¡± his voice says, and I look over toward the utility closet. The water heater and the furnace are hidden away in there.
The door¡¯s open ever so slightly.
Well, shit.
¡°Are you going to make mee in there?¡±
¡°If you want to catch me, you¡¯d better.¡±
I breathe in deep and blow it out. Then I start grinning like crazy.
We started ying this game a few weeks ago. It¡¯s like hide and seek, except with more filthy sex. We both figure when the babyes, there won¡¯t be much time or freedom to do weird shit like this, so we might as well have our fun while we can.
I tiptoe over to the door and slowly peer in.
Nothing. Empty.
¡°What the hell?¡± I say, surprised.
Then hands grab me from behind.
¡°Got you,¡± he says, pulling me against him.
I yelp loudly, and his hand covers my mouth. I struggle, elbowing him in the stomach, but his abs are like iron. Heughs, yanks my hair lightly, and kisses my neck.
¡°You scared the shit out of me!¡± I say, pping his chest. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t do that!¡±
¡°Doctor said it was fine.¡± He grips my hair tighter. ¡°And we both know you like it.¡±
He¡¯s got a point. I really do like it. He¡¯s a total freak and made sure it was safe to scare me before actually doing it. He¡¯s way too protective and way too open about our sex life for my liking.
But I¡¯ll admit I enjoy the benefits.
He pulls me over to the couch. Even though I¡¯m swollen, he doesn¡¯t seem to give a damn. I melt into his embrace as he kisses me and strips off my top. His mouth finds my pierced nipple and sucks, teasing me with his tongue. Ever since the first trimester ended, my breasts have been twice as sensitive and tender, and he even made mee one time doing nothing but licking my piercing and talking dirty. I moan and enjoy myself because when the babyes, the bar¡¯sing out.
¡°There¡¯s nothing I love more than making you feel good,¡± he purrs, tugging off my pants. His fingers keep teasing my breasts as his mouth buries itself in my pussy. His tongue licks and sucks, and I arch into him, gasping as bliss hits my core like a hammer. ¡°I swear, the more pregnant you are, the more I want to fuck you into submission.¡±
¡°You won¡¯t hear meining,¡± I say, pushing his face tighter. ¡°Now quit talking and lick my pussy.¡±
¡°You filthy fucking girl.¡± He slides two fingers inside and strokes in and out. His tongue licks and flicks up and down my clit. ¡°Sometimes you forget who¡¯s in charge.¡±
¡°Yeah? Who¡¯s that?¡±
¡°Me, you messy little slut.¡± He moves up and kisses me. He¡¯s right; I can taste myself on his tongue, and I¡¯m so eager for more I can¡¯t help it. I tug at his pants until theye off, and he slips himself inside me.
I moan as he fills me to the brim.
¡°Fuck yeah,¡± I say, reaching my hands above my head as his hips rock and grind into me. ¡°God, that¡¯s good. I love it when you¡¯re inside me.¡±
¡°You¡¯re so fucking tight. I need to fill my wife to the brim.¡±
¡°Keep going.¡±
He fucks me, and we grind together, getting into a rhythm. He kisses me, moves down to my nipples, licks them, and sucks them, and that finally does it.
I shatter for my husband. Ie so hard I feel like I¡¯m breaking. He keeps going, fucking me harder, until he squeezes my hips as he finishes with deep, rough, shuddering thrusts. He twitches inside me, and when he¡¯s done, he slips behind me on the couch and cuddles up close, his big arms wrapped around my sweaty and flushed body.
¡°Now that is how to end a game,¡± I say with a happy sigh.
Heughs and kisses my neck. His fingers stroke my arms. We stay like that and luxuriate in the quiet intimacy of our naked, vulnerable bodies. I never imagined I¡¯d feel this way with a man like him. Big, scary, violent, terrifying. And yet somehow tender and kind, caring andpassionate, at least for me. Everyone else? Better watch the fuck out.
¡°I was just thinking,¡± I say, adjusting slightly onto my back. I press a hand to my belly, and he does the same. ¡°Have youe up with any names yet?¡±
He shrugs a little. ¡°Some. None that I love.¡±
¡°I was thinking¡ª¡± I repeat and try to stifle a smile as a really bad joke urs to me. ¡°What about naming him Jeremy?¡±
Alexan stares at me. His eyebrows raise. I can almost see the fight he¡¯s having internally, and it¡¯s so fucking funny. Does he tell his pregnant wife that naming our child after a dead man we both kind of hate is the height of insanity? Or does he somehow pretend like it¡¯s maybe okay but we can keep spitballing some other ideas first?
¡°Why would we do that?¡± he asks, which is smart. He¡¯s splitting the difference.
¡°Well, you know, Jeremy was very important to our story.¡± I say it as casually as I can, but it¡¯s taking a lot of effort not to break down intoughter. I stroke my belly and make cooing noises. ¡°What do you think, little baby Jeremy? Aw, baby Jeremy?¡ª¡±
¡°No,¡± he says, looking horrified. ¡°God, Riley, I love you, but under no circumstances, over my dead fucking body, there¡¯s no goddamn way?¡ª¡±
He stops talking as I finally break. I burst outughing so hard tears roll down my cheeks. He looks perplexed until he realizes I was messing with him the whole time. Then he just shakes his head and sighs with relief.
¡°Can you imagine?¡± I ask, gasping for breath. ¡°We¡¯d be psychotic. How could we ever exin that?¡±
¡°You¡¯re a sick, sick woman.¡±
¡°You believed me! I should be deeply insulted!¡±
¡°I was willing to hear you out.¡±
¡°Aw, you¡¯re so kind, but please, seriously, the next time I have an idea like naming our first child after a freak that would¡¯ve happily cut our throats, please tell me I¡¯m a fucking moron.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll say it a little nicer than that.¡± He nuzzles against me. ¡°What about a good Armenian name?¡±
¡°I was thinking Irish, since they¡¯re taking Sarkissian as their surname.¡±
¡°Seamus Sarkissian?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not terrible, actually.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s think about it some more.¡± He grunts and kisses my neck. ¡°You have me all fucked up right now.¡±
¡°Good. That¡¯s how I like you.¡± I turn and kiss him, smiling like my face might forget how one day, and hold him tight.
Bitter Arrangement: Epilogue
Six Months Later
¡°You should¡¯ve seen Dad¡¯s face.¡± Brendenughs as he takes a long drink of wine. I join him, maybe overindulging a little bit, but it¡¯s been a long pregnancy and I could use a freaking drink. ¡°When I told him he¡¯s not allowed to meet his grandchild. My god, he was livid.¡±
¡°Good,¡± I say, nodding to myself. I haven¡¯t spoken to my father since the day I stood up to him and had Brenden break the bad news instead. ¡°Not that he deserves even that much.¡±
¡°I think he¡¯s finally starting to realize how fucked he is.¡± My brother¡¯s face is hooded in shadow. It¡¯s early evening, and the sun¡¯s going down.
¡°Do you care?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t hate him like you do. He was hard on me too, but not like he was on you.¡±
I tilt my head, studying my brother. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t that make you dislike him more?¡±
He considers that, swirling his ss. ¡°Yes and no. I feel bad for him. I don¡¯t go out of my way to have a rtionship, but if he calls, I¡¯ll pick up.¡±
¡°Good for you, I guess.¡± I finish my ss and sigh. ¡°I want another, but I probably shouldn¡¯t. I¡¯ll have to pump and dump, and I hate doing that.¡±
His eyebrows raise. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what that means.¡±
¡°One day, you¡¯ll figure it out. Maybe when you¡¯re older.¡±
The back door slides open, and Alexan steps out. He¡¯s in dark sweats and cradling little Connor in his arms. He¡¯s bouncing slightly, and Connor¡¯s fussing a little, but it seems like the little guy is sleepy. ¡°I¡¯m going to put the baby to bed. Cass insists on doing it.¡±
¡°Let me say goodnight.¡± I get up and go over. I bend down and kiss my little baby boy. My heart stretches and grows, and I have the sudden, crazy urge to grab my baby away and hold him tight to my chest, which is unreasonable because that¡¯s all I¡¯ve done for the past three months, and now I deserve a little break. ¡°Love you, little guy,¡± I whisper and kiss him. ¡°And I love you, big guy.¡± I kiss my husband.
He smiles back. ¡°Let loose. We have plenty of milk frozen for a bottle. It¡¯s my night anyway.¡±
¡°No, really?¡ª¡±
Brenden¡¯s already pouring. ¡°She¡¯ll have another,¡± he says.
¡°Good man.¡± Alexan kisses me again. ¡°Be back soon.¡± He disappears inside, and I watch him go.
¡°Never would¡¯ve guessed that man would turn out to be such a doting father,¡± Brenden admits as I sit back down and start in on that ss of wine. If Alexan¡¯s getting up anyway, I might as well take him up on the offer.
¡°He¡¯s just like that. I mean, all tough on the outside, but when ites to his family, he¡¯s just a big softie.¡±
¡°Still hard to believe.¡±
We share stories from growing up for a little while, and Brenden tells me about his next job. It took him a while to get back into the heisting world after the way things shook out with Los Sombras, but all that¡¯s a moot point these days. That cartel is a smoking ruin, all thanks to ck Mantis.
It¡¯s good being an adult for a bit. I miss my baby fiercely, but I¡¯m aware that I need time to be more than a mother. Maybe the word more isn¡¯t right¡ªbecause I¡¯m always a mother, now that Connor¡¯s in the world. I¡¯m just other things too.
Like a friend. A sister. A wife. A damn good thief, though my thieving days are in the past.
Casses out a little whileter. She¡¯s been staying over a few nights a week to help out, and I don¡¯t know where I¡¯d be without her.
¡°Serious question,¡± she says, giving me a hard look. ¡°What are you doing with that basement?¡±
¡°Oh, god, I haven¡¯t thought about it.¡± I frown back at the house. ¡°It¡¯s just a mess of parent stuff.¡± What was once my refuge has now be the yroom. Baby toys and other random junk are scattered all over the floor.
¡°You really have to reim it.¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t know it was lost,¡± I say jokingly, since we all know the truth. I lost the basement battle to my sweet angel, Connor.
¡°Seriously, next week, you and I are going to renovate. We¡¯re turning it back into the glorious oasis ofdyhood it once was.¡±
¡°Ladyhood?¡± Brenden asks. ¡°Sounds exciting. I¡¯ll help.¡±
¡°No men.¡± Cass gives him a hard stare.
My brother¡¯s lips quirk like he¡¯s about to ept a challenge. They have a moment where Cass stares him down, and eventually, Brenden blinks.
¡°Guess I¡¯ll make other ns,¡± my brother says.
The two of them bicker back and forth while I think about Cass¡¯s offer. In the end, I turn her down.
¡°But why not?¡± she asks.
¡°Because I don¡¯t need to carve out my own space.¡±
¡°Sounds insane.¡±
¡°All this is my space.¡± I gesture around us at the backyard. String lights dangle from a vine-wrapped perg. ¡°And the baby will grow up soon enough. I guess I just don¡¯t need to rush it.¡±
¡°Well, okay, if you¡¯re sure.¡± Cass doesn¡¯t seem convinced, but that¡¯s okay. My life¡¯s messy, but it¡¯s a good mess. It¡¯s a baby, lovely, warm sort of mess. I¡¯m into the mess.
Alexan¡¯s thest one to join, the monitor in one hand, and soon the table¡¯s full ofughter and joy over the soft whirr of Connor¡¯s noise machine.
My tribe is here. Cass, my best friend. Brenden, my brother.
Alexan, my husband, my light, my everything.
I sink into easy, happy bliss and have another ss of wine.
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