Page 12 of Dirty Crown
He argued with me about the timing, how hard it would be to make it, and even the location. He didn’t like the fact that I chose the rooftop helicopter deck of Ivan’s building to make the exchange.
Finally, he capitulated. We were done with the debate, and he asked for one more thing.
“What is it?” I asked, disdain clearly dripping from my tone and my expression.
“Do you think there’s any chance of a future with you and Maksim?” he asked with hope edging his words. “You’d make a fine member of the family and keep things running smoothly with that sharp mind of yours.”
I guffawed and sat up, threw my head back and laughed.
“Not on your life,” I replied. “I wouldn’t want your family resources or your family problems!”
He was deflated at that, and I shook my head as I ended the call.
Was he insane? I mean yeah, I knew he was clearly nuts, but this was next level even for him.
There was no way I wanted anything to do with his family after this unless it was me running them down on a dark country road or carefully putting a bullet in them where nobody would connect the murder to me.
“Can you believe that shit?” I asked as I slammed the phone on the coffee table. “What would make him think I want anything to do with him or his deranged son after this?”
“I can’t imagine you’re easy to lose,” Kingston said, and draped his arm around my shoulders as he sat on the sofa next to me. “I know I’d make a fool of myself to keep you around.”
“I’d do anything,” Ryker agreed. “I’d even pretend to like getting fucked up the ass if it meant keeping you around, princess.”
“Pretend?” I asked, and raised a brow. “I’ve seen the way your cock twitches when I’m behind you. I know you like it. We just have to get you used to it from all the guys, now.”
I reached for him and grabbed his dick through his pants. It was so bizarre to me, swinging from murder to sex and back again like it was the most natural thing in the world.
But when you craved blood like me, and were surrounded by four gorgeous men, it made sense.
“I’ll get him liking it,” Archer said. He came up behind Ryker and grabbed him by the hips, pantomiming humping him hard. Ryker yelped and jumped away, but Archer hung on.
“You’re a natural,” Valen said with a laugh. “We’ll get him relaxed and ready to go in no time.”
“Not before I have a crack at all three of you,” I said. I raised my hand, formed a fist, and thrust it up. Their eyes all widened with horror as I continued. “I have three more I’d like to break in. Oh god, the looks on your faces, like I’m going to use an actual fist. Geeze, you’d think I was out to hurt you.”
I laughed, and they joined in. “We’re just worried you want revenge for all the things we’ve, uh, used on you,” Kingston said. He looked down at my lap and raised his eyebrows. I knew exactly what he was talking about, not just the dicks or fingers, or even hands. He meant the zucchini. We’d never talked about it, we hadn’t had the time, and I was still processing how good it felt.
But I owned it. I could let my freak flag fly with the best of them and still maintain my dignity.
“You know, they say you should have a variety of vegetables in your diet,” Valen suggested.
“Fruit, too,” Archer added. “Maybe a banana split would keep you full?”
“How about a little meat in there, babe?” Ryker said, grabbing himself and flashing me a wicked grin. “Gotta keep it balanced.”
“You guys are terrible,” I said, and shook my head, loving every minute of it.
We spent the rest of our time relaxing with each other, ignoring the fact that we had two captives and were waiting to get my father back. Sometimes I had to ignore reality and enjoy what I had in front of me or else I’d go insane.
* * *
Ten o’clock rolled around too fastfor my liking. Not because I didn’t want to give up Maksim and Avery, or because I was reluctant to get Ivan and Amara back. But simply because the entire exchange was going to be so stressful, I didn’t think I would be able to handle the way my nerves were already fraying on the ends.
I just knew Ilya was going to try something. And the possibility that one of us would be injured or killed because of it felt imminent and real.
Fuck this whole thing, all because Ilya wanted to force Ivan’s hand so he would make more money. All because he tried to force me into marriage, for what reason? To what end? All the shit I’d been through because of Ilya’s ill conceived plans started to fester in my heart the more I thought about it, and the nerves began to heal. How could I be this afraid when I was this righteously angry?
“It will be okay,” Kingston said, sensing my unease. He rubbed my shoulder to calm me.
