I whimper, playing victim as Lachlan silently stands up. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
Charlie laughs, and it’s low and filled with cruelty. “I know how theLordsoperate. You expect me to believe you don’t enjoy being used for their pleasure? It sickens me. Women like you are the problem,” he snarls. “The minute we start giving you a voice, you spread your legs and spout that feminist bullshite. But not anymore.”
Lachlan is right behind Charlie now, and I can’t help but smile as I say, “Actually,youare the problem, Charlie. You fucked with my dog, so now I have to kill you.”
Before he can respond, Lachlan swings one of his cuffs down onto the back of Charlie’s head. I have to duck and move away as a sickening thud sounds through the dungeon, and when Charlie falls over on his side, Lachlan throws one heavy punch into the center of his face that collapses his skull completely.
I look away as Cocoa whines next to me, nuzzling into my neck.
“Impressive,” I tell him as he crouches down in front of me. “How’d you get out?”
“Gideon taught me never to leave without certain tools. I had this clipped to the inside of my belt,” he adds, holding up a paperclip. “These are Victoria-era manacles,” he murmurs, taking my right hand in his and gently rotating it. “You can tell by the thickness of the cuff and the fact that they’re iron.” He presses the paperclip into a small hole and the cuff releases. “They also happen to be very easy to get out of if you have a paperclip.”
I don’t say anything as he releases my other hand, and before I can pull it away, he brings it to his lips and places a gentle kiss on the back of my palm.
“I’m glad you’re okay, pet.”
Pet.
He hasn’t called me that since…
That first night.
Without thinking, I lurch forward and press my lips to his. A low, heady groan escapes his throat, sending vibrations through me. As his tongue dips into my mouth, I gasp and run my fingers through his hair.
“Fuck, Charlotte,” he rasps, his breath hot against my lips. “I’ve been wanting to do that again for months–”
“I need you,” I tell him, pushing him back into a sitting position. Charlie’s corpse is only a few feet away, but I’m overwhelmed with arousal–with the desire to make sure he’s okay. The gunshots–the blood–
I straddle his hips and bring his face to mine. His large hands run up my thighs, settling on my arse. Squeezing once, I feel him moan, though it’s too low to be audible. I’m just hiking my dress up when footsteps sound just outside the cell.
“Fuck–”
The door crashes open, and several men take in the scene before us–Lachlan and me without cuffs, and Charlie dead on the ground next to us.
And then all seven of them raise their guns and point them right at our heads.
CHAPTER 31
Alex
The private jet lands in Glasgow just after midnight, and I work with Max the entire flight to ensure we take them all out at the same time.
No more risks to our lives.
No more second chances.
We’re going to eliminate the entire structure and kill them all for what they’ve done.
The thought surprises me, because three months ago, I never would’ve considered murder. I never would’ve been thinking of ways to make their death slow and painful. But when Lottie and Lachlan disappeared… something inside of me snapped.
It finally makes sense for me–what this order means, and how we all act in tandem. They’re not just co-workers… as evidenced by all of the physical contact we take part in. And even though Lachlan hasn’t taken part inthatwith us, I am developing feelings for him.
We all are.
No, we’re something else now–something closer.
I can tell when Max is about to argue, because his jaw tenses ever so slightly. I can tell when Otto is feeling insecure, because he’ll make a self-deprecating joke. I know when Lachlan needs food or sleep down to the minute. And I can play Lottie’s body like a fiddle–it’s like they’re all apartof me now, and I didn’t realize it until someone threatened to sever that bond.
