Page 44 of Fanged Desire
And with that, we sped off into the night, chasing after the woman who might just be the key to everything.
Chapter 17
Hunter
Sure, the lap dance was probably unnecessary, but if we were going to be playing detective we deserved to have a little fun with it. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. The truth? It had been near impossible to focus on anything else when Addison was straddling me, moving like she had the whole damn world wrapped around her finger.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how close she’d been – how easy it would’ve been to just pull her in and kiss her senseless, the kind of kiss that would have even the most degenerate of Micere patrons appalled. The thought alone was enough to make me grip the steering wheel a little tighter.
Now, as I drove, I found my eyes back drifting to her. She sat in the passenger seat, chewing on her lip, her hands fidgeting in her lap. High-strung, as usual. It was almost endearing how she tried to stay focused, her mind racing a mile a minute. Meanwhile, my thoughts were still stuck on that lap dance and the heat between my legs burning a damn hole in the car seat.
A low mutter from the backseat dragged me out of my reverie. I caught Ethan’s sulking scowl in the rearview mirror, his arms crossed and a perpetual storm cloud hanging over his head. I arched a brow at him in the mirror, offering a smirk that was more challenge than comfort. He glared back, clearly not amused.
“What?” I drawled, keeping my eyes on the road but sneaking another glance at him. “Jealous you didn’t get a dance too?”
Ethan’s scowl deepened, and he huffed. “Jealous? Please. I’m just wondering how you convinced Addison that was a good idea.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle, throwing him a wink in the mirror. “I’m very persuasive.”
Addison, still chewing her lip, finally snapped out of her thoughts to glare at both of us. “Can we focus, please? This isn’t exactly a joyride.”
Ethan muttered something under his breath, but he didn’t argue. I bit back another snide comment, focusing on the road as the mansion loomed into view.
The place was just as ostentatious as I’d expected – looming columns, pristine gardens, and the kind of security detail that screamedI have something to hide!Cathy’s mansion wasn’t just a home; it was a fortress.
I spotted the woman’s not-so-subtle black Bugatti creeping up the spiraling driveway and disappearing behind a row of clipped hedges. We pulled up a safe distance away, parking in the shadows of the towering trees lining the property. The mansion loomed in the distance, all sharp edges and grandiosity. We stared at it for a beat, the cold reality of the situation setting in.
“All right. I’m going in alone,” I said, breaking the tense silence.
Addison’s head snapped toward me, her eyes narrowing. “That wasn’t the plan. I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not.” I turned in my seat to face her. “Look, this isn’t a rescue mission. It’s recon. I need to scope the place out, figure out what we’re dealing with. If we both go in and something goes wrong, we’re screwed. It’s not like Ethan’s gonna run in, guns blazing, to rescue us.”
Ethan scoffed from somewhere in the back seat and Addison’s jaw tightened. “Hunter, we don’t have time for safe. Penelope’s out there, and every second we waste is another second she’s–”
“I know,” I cut her off gently. “I know. But if we rush in blind, there’s no telling what will happen.”
When Addison only folded her arms I sighed, pressing a palm to my temple. The determination in her eyes told me she was ready to do whatever it took. I respected that – admired it, even – but it also made me uneasy. The stakes were getting higher with every thread we followed.
“Breaking and entering is my cup of tea.” I reached over to unfold her arms, gripping her hands in mine, and offered a lopsided smile. “You partnered with me in the first place because you were impressed with my sneaking. Solet me be sneaky.”
Addison’s eyes searched mine, conflicted. She didn’t want to agree, I could see that. But after a tense moment she let out a frustrated sigh and nodded.
“Fine,” she muttered. “But if you’re not back in thirty minutes, I’m coming in after you.”
“Deal.”
Without another word I slipped out of the car, moving quickly along the fence line. The night air was cool, the distant hum of the city a faint backdrop to the stillness of the mansion grounds. I trailed the perimeter, keeping to the shadows as a small outer gate loomed into view.
Two guards idled nearby, postures slack, the soft glow of a lantern casting flickering shadows across the stone path. I pressed myself against one of the massive trees lining theproperty, peeking around the trunk to observe them. They didn’t seem particularly alert, their conversation low and lazy as the night crept on.
I scanned them for a beat, searching for any signs of talismans or charms that could repel my persuasion. It didn’t take long to spot them – small, silver medallions pinned to their jackets, now carelessly discarded on a nearby bench. The heat must have gotten to them, making them shed their layers and, with it, their protection.Amateurs.
Satisfied, I stepped out from the shadows, approaching with deliberate confidence. The guards stiffened as they noticed me, hands moving toward the batons at their belts.
I smiled, letting a touch of seductive power slip into my voice. “Evening, gentlemen. I’m here on Cathy’s orders – just a quick errand inside. Won’t take more than a minute.”
One of them narrowed his eyes, his hand still resting on his weapon. “We weren’t informed of any visitors.”
