Page 1 of Unhinged Cravings
Chapter One
EMERSON
Waves crashed against the shore, leaving trails of froth as they receded. The sun left a soft warmth on my skin that opposed the violent splashes of crimson that corrupted my vision. On the other side of the country, my brother was celebrating. The thought of my brother having any amount of pleasure in his life scratched at my insides like spikes dragging down sheet metal. A wedding. As if he deserved a moment of happiness. He’d been so quick to ruin mine twenty-five years ago that his actions had made us the enemies we were today. I had turned my back on him, building my empire in Seagate, far from his territory and from him.
“Our men are in place, boss.”
I didn’t bother to look back at Pack, my second, feeling his tension and knowing his eyes were scanning the deck out of habit. Even with men on the ground making rounds and another guarding me at the end of the deck, he was on high alert. We all were. I scraped my hands through my hair. Years of war brewing between Greyson and me had led to this moment. But it wasn’t one I had anticipated, no matter that he likely thought it was. Things were out of my control, and this was my last attempt torein them in before I lost everything. That left my future hinging on what took place in the next twenty-four hours.
“Good. The plane is scheduled to depart at five a.m. Make sure the two at the hangar take out the guards tonight and don’t move from their posts. I want no fuckups.”
“Got it. The other three will take surveillance until Tides arrives. Only then will they move to ambush. There will be no mistakes. We’ve gone over the plan and accounted for any unexpected turns.”
My hand swiping down my face, I said, “Once I make this call, he’ll have his security on high alert. Our men need to strike quick and lethal. My brother is the best on the east coast for a reason. They are not to underestimate him. It’s imperative they leave him alive and conscious. I want him to know what I’m taking from him. If they fuck that part up, I’ll kill every one of them.”
“They know the importance of the mission. We all do.”
I gave him a nod, my worries still not completely quieted. There were too many factors, and two of the men I’d sent were still green. That’s why they were the decoys, taking the place of the guards they would kill and going in first. My seasoned men would do the real work. I should have sent Pack, but with so much at stake here at home, he’d stayed to ensure my protection.
“Let me know the minute you hear anything.”
Staring back out at the ocean, I pulled my phone from my pocket. As much as I needed to make this call, it would alter what scraps of necessary politeness existed between my brother and me and obliterate it completely. Unless my plan worked. This plan was one that would force him to do the one thing I’d avoided for twenty-five years: talk. Sure, he knew how to contact me, but we had spoken only a handful of times in necessity, with nothing more than curt warnings. This time, I needed his full attention. I needed him here, on my turf, begging and desperate. The advantage had to be mine for this to work. And the only wayto do that was to have leverage. Something he valued more than his pride—Riley Brinks.
Walking into the house, I placed my phone on the bar and poured myself a glass of scotch, contemplating the move I was about to make. This game was dangerous, and it was one that could backfire on me. There was a high probability he would kill me, but I flourished in risk. Death held no sway for my consideration. I faced it every day.
My teeth gnashed as I thought about Greyson. I knew him well enough to expect his next move. He wouldn’t buckle to my threat, and he was too cocky to change his plans. Too proud to let me think I made him nervous. That would be his downfall and leave him only one option—to come crawling to me.
With a chug of my drink, I dropped the glass and picked the phone back up. Ready to make the call that would change everything, and content that I would have my brother’s coveted prize and the advantage in my hands soon.
Chapter Two
GREYSON
Riley threw me a smile from across the room. The bustle of her dress had fallen again, and her friend Casey was huffing about it as she fixed it. Riley blew a strand of her ebony hair from her face as she laughed. She looked like a princess, my princess. The day had been perfect and seeing her walk toward me, the train of her dress following her as she held her brother’s arm, had been the most memorable moment of my life followed by the one when she’d returned to me. It had only been a few months since that day, but each day that passed only brought me more happiness because they involved Riley. I’d brought her in on all the parts of my business, amazed at how she picked right up. I hadn’t had a partner since the falling out with my brother, but Riley was my partner in every way.
“You keep my sister safe, Tides,” Mason said, coming to stand next to me. He was the part of the deal I’d bristled at, but we were making it work. We had to because Riley was too important to us both for it not to.
“That’s all I’ve done, Brinks.”
I glanced at him, noticing how his eyes lingered on Casey.Downing the rest of my drink, I said, “You getting any sleep tonight?”
He swiveled his alcohol before taking another drink. “Fuck off, Tides.”
I shrugged, “Just saying, I know that look. Trust me, it’s the same one I give your sister.”
“Asshole,” he mumbled as I walked away. Casey was Tyson’s sister, and that seemed like a complication, but then again, so was loving your enemy’s sister and that had worked out.
As I crossed the dance floor, my intention was to steal Riley away and tell them I didn’t care about her bustle because I was just going to rip the damned dress from her anyway. We were leaving for our honeymoon in the morning, and I planned to make love to my new wife until Den came to take us to the airport.
My phone rang, and I considered ignoring it. This was my wedding day, after all. But habits are hard to break, and I answered, bringing it to my ear as I walked through our guests.
“Speak.”
“I hear congratulations are in order, brother.”
I froze, standing in the middle of the dance floor, my eyes scanning the room and catching Mason’s. He was sharp, his expression becoming serious as he read my own. He made a beeline to me as I said, “Emerson.”
“She’s quite a beauty, Grey. Too bad my man had a taste of her before you sank your cock into her.”
