Page 38 of Keep Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 2)
Kronin’s Muse
Sloane
Istand in front of the mirror, the evening sky behind me shining through the large span of windows in the bathroom, as I run my fingers over the elegant updo I am sporting. Shaking my head I look over the comfortable and fairly modest pair of cropped pants, black with white polka dots, and a breezy white off the shoulder top I’ve chosen to wear. The choice is in almost direct contrast to my makeup and hair, which are not nearly as ‘ordinary’ as I’d originally been going for. I may have to go through with this plan but you better believe I’m going to try to look as unsexy as possible without him catching onto my lack of willingness to be there.
Unfortunately, when we had woken up this afternoon, exhausted from the rehearsal dinner the night prior, I’d been almost immediately whisked away to the luxurious hotel spa downstairs. Apparently, it was necessary to run through the makeup and hair for the wedding, something that resulted in me attempting to make conversation with a woman I was really starting to hate. Luckily, after a bit Royce showed up, hiding his overprotectiveness under the guise of Blaine needing help with something.
The man in question now stands, arms crossed, against the marble wall, his face twisted in frustration. River doesn’t seem to be faring any better as he gets ready, tugging on a dark button down and expensive jeans and loafers. Well, hell that isn’t helping anything. Who does he think he is looking so delicious? That’s some bullshit.
“Royce.” I turn to look at him as River squeezes my waist in passing, oddly quiet and probably a bit on edge considering we’re walking right into the psycho bastards’ den tonight. My large, brooding Royce offers me a concerned look as I uncross his massive arms and melt against his chest, the tension releasing from his form and making me feel much better. A stressed Royce isn’t good for anyone.
“Promise me you will be careful and book ass if anything at all goes wrong,” he demands, cupping my jaw as I nod in understanding.
“I will.” I speak softly and then I smile. “Plus you guys will be on our headsets, so you won’t miss anything.”
The boys have come up with a fairly extensive plan that even I’m impressed by if we’re being honest. My part in it is essential which makes me a bit nervous because if I don’t slip him the little concoction I planned for his drink? Some eye drops, for laxative purposes, and a Benadryl, so he’s a bit out of it. If I don’t slip him that, then I have no idea what the fuck we’re going to do and I don’t know about you but I have absolutely no plan to be part of his gross art. You remember the shit paintings right? I mean, how could you forget something that goddamn crazy.
“Once he’s out, we will slip in and Kaden should be able to get that information from his ring. Hopefully he will be um—uncomfortable enough to send you home.”
My eyebrows rise. “I just realized we might have wanted to figure out a way to knock him out without including the eyedrops.”
“Why?” He arches a brow in response, looking confused.
“The man makes shit paintings.” I point out.
River chuckles from the bedroom. “If he starts throwing that around, you're on your own kitten.”
I roll my eyes as he grunts, letting me know Blaine bopped him over the head. The two of us walk out of the bathroom and Kaden looks up at me, his face set in a serious mode that makes me see the agent that I now know he is. Honestly, it’s more than a bit sexy.
Before I can give a sassy response to River, Blaine is placing a small, almost invisible, clear listening device in my ear canal. I shiver as he lets his fingers trail down my collar bone offering me a searing look that has my body getting all heated up with no relief in the near future, no doubt.
Inhaling, rolling my shoulders back, I walk in front of River as he ushers me towards the staircase. The others follow to set up shop downstairs until it’s safe enough for them to join us. They’re going to move to a lounge closer by which makes me feel better just in case I need them. You know, in case Kronin decides to pull some insane shit.
He drops my hand as we walk out the door and I’m suddenly hating this sibling story because I could very much use his support, even in the form of a hand hold. We had a note delivered telling us to arrive at a nearby penthouse that he’s using as an art studio during his stay here. I suppose it’s better than his goddamn yacht because the man is impulsive. I wouldn’t want to look away and not realize he’s taken off without me knowing.
“You good?” I ask River as he flashes me a smile despite the tension I see in his gaze, and believe me, after the way River and I started, it’s crazy to think I can find support in him, but I can.
If you had asked me a month ago, when this entire shit show began, if I’d ever thought I’d be in a place where I trusted River Rhodes with my life? I would have laughed and then possibly cried. Now though, I more than trust him. I love him and he makes me feel completely safe. I know he acts unpredictable at times, often crazy, but I have no doubt now the extent he’d go to for me. The extent all of them would go to for me.
“Yeah, Kitten.” He places a hand on my back gently and leans closer. “Just remind me to rip these tight pants off of you later, your ass looks fucking fantastic.”
“River,” I admonish as an older couple offers us a scandalized look, my face flaming as he barks out a laugh, looking absolutely thrilled at the coincidence.
“You love it,” he teases me, pressing a kiss to my temple. That’s totally factual, I do love him.
“I love you,” I mumble softly.
He groans, “Fuck, Sloane. You can’t say hot shit like that to me—”
“There is my muse!” Kronin bursts out from a hotel room door looking thrilled and covered in actual paint … thank God. I smile as he literally, this is not a joke, tugs me into a hug and spins me around. I hear River grunt and realize that he’s being patted down by Kronin’s large bodyguard. A growl sounds in my ear from Blaine or Royce or even Kaden at Kronin’s closeness but luckily he doesn’t notice and I am tugged into the room, glad that my tiny purse carries the unsuspecting material so easily.
“I am absolutely thrilled about this,” he begins and I look around the massive penthouse, slightly smaller than our own, but then again he’s using it just as a studio and staying on a yacht … so there’s that. The center of the room has an ottoman and a large canvas, with closed windows and professional lighting. Alright, at least this seems legit so far.
“Would you like a drink?” he asks ceremoniously as I nod thankfully because let’s face it, this shit’s scary. I have no real idea what the hell I am doing.
“Yes!” I say immediately as he turns towards the bar, grabbing a crystal decanter and sitting down on a paint stained, velvet sofa. River grunts out a thanks as Kronin pours a third glass, his bodyguard going back to stand outside.
“So good for your brother to join us,” Kronin says and if I wasn’t looking right at his face, I wouldn’t see the dark shadow that sweeps across his face as if he meant literally the exact opposite.
