Page 42 of Psycho Saviors

I watched her try on a small selection of heels, some silver sparkling ones, white ones, and black ones, her legs looking even more enticing in them. Almost tempting enough that I wanted to take her again, but I fought the urge. Why had she gotten to me so much? Wiggled under my skin and branded herself within me?

"They all look good," she said with a heavy sigh as she inspected her reflection. "What do you think?" She turned to me, a soft furrow to her brow.

To think she was actually asking for my opinion made the corner of my lip quirk. She was a vision, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still as our gazes locked, something fluttering in my chest at the way she waited for my words.

"They're all good. I think we'll take them all," I said, nodding at the saleslady. She bobbed her head and got to work boxing them up and carrying them over to the register to ring them up alongside the dresses.

"Are you sure? It's an expensive haul," she said, her voice dropping low as her gaze followed the woman.

"Money is not an issue. Besides, having you looking ravishing is beneficial to my brothers and me," I stated, and her cheeks reddened slightly, the makeup hiding it for the most part.

Having a gorgeous woman on our arms was always good for our image, but the sight of her right now, the way it made me feel, sat uneasy. Cristian wanted her, he'd made it clear that she was his. But we'd also always shared. She was woven into our lives now because of him and his decision in claiming her. Whether or not it would change things when her term ended, I had no idea. I'd stick to my word and let her leave, but I couldn't vouch for Cristian. Controlling him was like trying to leash a tornado. It wasn't possible, and I'd learned to just guide him and hope for the best.

How would that work out for our little Scarlet?

I sighed as I rested my hand on her lower back and guided her to the register, asking them to pop her shoes in a bag and leave her wearing the sparkling silver heels she had on at the moment. Some diamonds would go well with it considering all she had on was a pair of basic sleeper earrings. But Cristian had made a comment this morning before heading out that he wanted to get her some stuff in that department. He wanted me to handle dressing her up nicely.

Maybe he'd known her pull over me would be too much and I'd break, but I doubted he'd given it that much thought. No, he was too obsessed with her now, watching her sleep, wanting to be around her. Everything had changed in an instant when the Russos had taken her, our entire dynamics shifting and lurching, blossoming into something new. It was something I had to navigate carefully, for she could easily cause damage if we weren't careful.

In more ways than one.

Scarlet looked confused as the saleslady rang it all up and asked how I was paying, not sharing the amount. She knew better considering my company.

"But don't you own this place?" Scarlet asked.

I chuckled at the hint of distress in her eyes despite everything she'd been through. A woman with her background would always worry about money. "Can't just take inventory, baby girl. Gotta keep the books straight."

A small smile touched her lips at the pet name, and my chest tightened at how beautiful she looked, hiding it from me.

Any woman of mine would never have to worry about money.

I banished the unwarranted thought from my mind immediately. She was not mine in that way. More a pet than anything, something I owned until her term was up, to be used how I pleased.

I guided her outside, keeping silent as I contemplated everything.

As we exited the shop, the bell above the door jingling softly, I couldn't shake the nagging sensation that I'd made a grave mistake. The cool air hit my face, having dropped in temperature whilst we'd been inside, carrying with it the scent of impending rain, but it did nothing to clear my troubled thoughts. My fingers instinctively brushed against the chunky gold ring on my middle finger, a habit I'd developed when deep in contemplation. Something about the moment with Scarlet had left me unsettled, my usual calm demeanor slightly shaken. I prided myself on being calculated, on always making the right moves, but this time, I wasn't so sure. The weight of my decision pressed down on me, heavier than the dark clouds gathering overhead. Finishing inside her had been reckless, even with the IUD. I'd never lost control like that before, but I'd been overcome with my need for her, something about her in the moment ensnaring me. She had me sliding down a dangerous slope.

I opened the door for her absently, not noticing her looking at me with a confused expression as she climbed in, and I offloaded the bags to my driver who shoved them in the trunk as I slid into the passenger seat.

I'd known from the start she was going to be trouble. I just hadn't realized how much. Cristian had fallen for her hard, drawn to her fighting spirit like a moth to a flame. It was unsettling to see my wild brother so captivated, so quickly. And after learning she'd already killed to protect her friend, a part of me admired her for it. She wasn't just a survivor; she was a real fighter, someone willing to get her hands dirty for family. That kind of loyalty was rare, dangerous even.

She was like us in that way, and it pulled me in deeper than I'd ever intended to go.

I sighed as my driver slipped into the car and started the engine, Scarlet remaining silent in the backseat to my relief. I didn't need her muddling my mind even more. I looked out the window of the car, watching the city blur by as we returned home. Was I willing to slip under the waves for this fiery little brunette?

I had no fucking idea.

20

SCARLET

The dining room hummed with an unsettling stillness, empty save for our presence. Cristian and Julian stood at my sides, both men looking sharp in their fitted suits. Cristian had said they'd paid to have the restaurant empty tonight, the service focused entirely on us.

I felt a flutter in my stomach as Cristian's gaze swept over me, his eyes dark with appreciation. "You clean up nice, kitten," he purred, his voice low and husky. The intensity of his stare sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction. He'd been practically devouring me with his eyes ever since he'd shown up at the apartment to escort me here, and I'd caught Julian stealing glances too. Their attention made me feel powerful, desirable, and just a little bit dangerous. I smoothed my hands over the dress again, reveling in the way the fabric clung to my curves. For a moment, I allowed myself to bask in their admiration, pushing aside the nagging voice in my head that warned me to stay on guard.

Julian nodded in agreement, but his gaze was moving around the dining hall carefully, assessing the environment. "The dress suits you."

My heels clicked softly against the polished marble floor as we moved to the podium, where a waiter in a fitted black suit nodded and beckoned for us to follow him. The restaurant was a masterpiece of elegance and opulence. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high, ornate ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. The walls were adorned with intricate moldings and framed by rich, velvet curtains in deep burgundy.

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