Page 32 of Keeper

“There wouldn’t be anywhere in the world she could hide. Maybe the Provost will just... let her go?”

I can’t see whatever look they give each other, but when they both sigh, I get the feeling they fear for her life.

That makes me angrier than anything, and it takes a second to realize I’m angry at the thought of her being hurt in any way. Comical coming from the man who killed her fiancé, took advantage of her for a blowjob — albeit his favorite blowjob, if that counts for anything — and then stole her away to this life. But somehow, I know I’d intervene if given the opportunity. I don’t ask myself why, I can’t.

“Hopefully she gets pregnant soon. I saw Morella near Alexander’s room an hour ago, do you think Sully knows about her?”

“Alexander had to tell her, I’m sure of it. How else could just justify never touching her?”

“I don’t know. He’s stronger than me,” she teases. “Girl is gorgeous.”

Damn right she is, but she’s mine. Or wait, she’s my brother’s. Fuck.

I guess she isn’t anybody’s.

“She is.” Lina’s voice drops. “I can’t believe Alexander still lets Morella come to his room, though. That’s so insulting to Sully, isn’t it? Like it’s one thing to ignore your future wife and have an affair, but it’s another thing entirely to flaunt it in her face when your dad is putting her through hell every day.”

“I know. I didn’t expect it from him at all. Sounds like more of a Draven thing to do.”

I have to fight back the laugh that almost spills out of me. I hear her, I can see why she’d think that. But she’s wrong. The thing about being raised to believe none of this life of luxury really belongs to you is that you hold onto what is yours with all of your might. If that girl was mine, the whole damn city would know it.

“Do you thinkthey’refucking?” she asks so quietly, I have to lean closer. “I had to go into her room the other night to bring her more sleeping pills, and she was already asleep by the time I got up there. I heard her whispering ‘Draven, please’ over and over again in her sleep. I couldn’t tell if it was a sex dream or if she was begging him not to kill her.”

“He would be the one, you know. If the Provost decides the cleanest way out of this is to kill her. He’ll make Draven do it.”

I want to hear more about that dream, but just knowing I’m wreaking havoc on her peace makes me smile. Guess I’m still an asshole.

It fades quickly though, because the reminder that I’m my father’s enforcer fucking sucks. I don’t want to kill her, I want to fuck her.

“I don’t think they are. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried, but I’ve seen the way they look at each other when they don’t think anyone is watching. You could cut that tension with a knife. I’d be rooting for them to fuck if I didn’t know the trouble it would cause.”

“Honestly? The kid would have Creed blood. It might be the thing that saves her life if they can keep quiet about it. God knows Alexander isn’t lifting a finger to keep her safe.”

She’s not wrong. At least I’m not going insane for thinking this is a good idea, and I take her opinion as a green light. It also fixed how annoyed I was at them, so I force my feet to move away and stop eavesdropping before I get caught.

Too late.

Miss Maddy is shaking her head at me with a soft smile, but I pretend like I wasn’t doing anything wrong and stroll away.

Their conversation has me seeking out my brother instead of the woman I crave, and when I find him in his room with Morella, my eyes nearly roll out of their sockets. He’s lucky Father is out of town for the evening, but he’s also an idiot. The more people who know, the more at risk they are, and if the wrong person finds out it’s curtains on his sweet little flower girl. Father won’t care they lost their virginity to each other in the very gardens they stroll through, he’ll cast her aside and he’ll make me fucking do it.

Alex would never speak to me again.

I count my blessings at the fact that they’re both decent, but the way they’re cuddling as I let myself in leaves little to the imagination. God, they’re dense. “Oh, pardon me. Am I interrupting?”

Alex sits up quickly like putting an extra three inches of space between them will distract me from the fact that she’s in his bed. “Do you ever fucking knock?”

“Why would I?” I ask innocently, moving over to plop on the edge of the bed and wave my fingers at her in greeting. The same fingers that have been inside his fiancé. “Hey there, Morella. What brings you indoors on this fine day?”

“Cut the shit, Draven. You know,” she mumbles.

“Course I do. I know everything.” I lean back on my hands and shake my head at them. “And what exactly doyouknow about Alex’s situation?”

She shrugs, leaning closer to him. “He’s engaged to Sullivan, but it doesn’t mean anything. She’s just a trophy wife.”

Normally, I know Morella to be almost sickeningly sweet, optimistic, and empathetic. Hearing her talk like this... the jealousy must run deep.

She should be, because even though she’s attractive, she doesn’t hold a candle to my — to Sully. “A trophy wife who needs to get pregnant.” Her tone annoys me enough that I don’t pull my punches. “And soon.”

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