Page 6 of Nash

It’s a bad idea. It’s the best idea. It’s genius, kind of like me.

“The books at Delta’s are a mess,” I reply. “Vale called me to fix them, and I’ll have their audit done in a month, maybe two, and then I’m out, but there’s a room on their third floor. It’s private, protected, and very posh. It’s perfect.”

“No,” Axel coldly commands. “Two of us already work there, and nowyou? That’s too many targets in one location.”

I gesture to the paneled, wooden door. The one not able to muffle the carnal feast in the next room. “Every time we meet, we run that risk. At least at Delta’s, our meetings won’t draw attention. They’ll blend in, like us. But here? This is a respected law office where it sounds like a woman is being murdered in your boardroom.”

“It sounds like a woman iscomingin my boardroom.” Axel chuckles. It’s rare. “Again.”

I growl, “He needs to hurry up. I’m going to be late.”

I’m never late.

“She’s finally his queen. Let him enjoy her.”

We’re waiting for them to finish. We’re always the last to leave. Axel knows I have to check the locks three times when we do, or I won’t sleep.

Leaning back in his chair, he admires my form, how my clothes hide my inked flesh but not my strength. We stay in shape. Our bodies are trained to perform together.

“It’s time you find your queen, too,” he says.

I wedge my dress shoes into my duffel before neatly folding my soiled suit, laying it on top, and pressing it down, though I’ll take it to the cleaners first thing in the morning.

“I know you heard me,” he rumbles.

“You know I don’t share.” My snarl is low, and this fight is old.

“We’re not sharing; we’reinitiating.” To most, Axel is an attorney, and he’s damn good, arguing, “It’s our custom. It bonds us, protectsthem, and you know it’s your turn.” He tents his tattooed fingers. “And you know it’ll be Alena’s after that.”

“You’renotinitiating my daughter,” I sneer. “That’s final and fatal if you do.”

He nods. “Then find a vessel for her. Someone we’ll symbolically initiate before she gets married. She’ll need a second husband.” Usually, ice slides through Axel’s veins, but not about this, not about Alena. He offers, “It can be me.”

I’m loyal to Axel and his family. I had none, and now they’re mine. I’ve killed for them. They’ve killed for me. But this custom? This initiation of seven kings bound to seven queens. Of a second husband for each queen, each wife should the first husband die protecting her. One of us swears to claim her, protect her, and provide for their children.

It’s an honor to be a second husband. It’s ancient and admirable. It’s also archaic and absolutely never going to happen.

Over dead bodies, it will, and they won’t be mine.

Yes, my daughter needs protection. I agreed to let her marry. She’ll be one of our queens, though she’ll never know. She doesn’t know who we are, what we do, and she’ll never be initiated into our circle.

I don’t care if they’re like my brothers. I don’t care if they’d sacrifice their lives to protect her. The thought of Axel as Alena’s second husband makes it even worse. I see rage. I see death. I see blood, though he and I share none.

A double knock raps on his office door.

“I’m done.” A deep voice grumbles, then a giggle tickles the air, calling out, “Goodnight, my kings.”

Her tone sounds youthful with delight, though her voice rasps after hours of screaming orgasms.

It twitches my cock, I’m ashamed to admit.

My cock that was in her hungry mouth an hour ago.

She was begging for it. She was loving it. Wealwaysmake sure they love it. Even the tests most don’t pass, they’re consensual. They’re pleasing. They’re taboo, which is my kink, but I couldn’t do it. After all I did to her, when it was my turn, I couldn’t come down her throat, though my hard dick ached to do it. Though her raven hair reminded me ofher—my greatest shame, my greatest temptation—Vale, my daughter’s best friend.

But our newest queen is twenty fucking years old. So, hell no. She’s younger than my daughter, who will always feel like my little girl, though she’s twenty-seven now.

“Goodnight, our queen.” Axel shows her respect, calling toward the closed door.

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