by Penelope Sky
I wasn’t expecting such an extravagant tale. It was mind-boggling and heartbreaking at the same time. “I’m sorry. I know I said that already, but I mean it…”
“I know.” He moved his hand to my chest and brushed his fingers against my soft skin. He watched my lips for a moment like he might kiss me, but then he thought better of it. He lowered his hand. “He’ll get what’s coming to him eventually.”
“So, Finley raised you?” Now it made sense why they were so close.
“For the most part. He’s been part of the family for a very long time.”
“Do you have any other family?”
Crewe shook his head. “I’m the last of the bloodline.”
“That means you need to have children.”
He nodded. “I do.”
That meant he would let me go eventually. Obviously, I couldn’t be his wife and give him children. He would have to marry a duchess or a princess or something, not some American woman.
We stared at each other in silence, the sadness hanging in the air between us. I lost my family far too early in life, but he lost his even earlier. My parents weren’t murdered, but we still had a lot in common. “I’m going to use the restroom. Do you know which way it is?” I wanted a moment to compose myself, to really think about what he just said.
His hand moved to my waist, and he nodded to the hallway. “Down and to the left.”
“Thank you.”
He placed a kiss on my temple before he released me, my body feeling warm at the unexpected touch. The second his hand released me, I felt the sting of the cold. He gave me a final look before he walked away, his shoulders broad and powerful. He commanded the room with just his silence, his kingly grace.
My eyes were transfixed before I finally turned away and followed his directions. I entered the hallway and turned to the left. A man stood there in a waiter’s uniform, but he didn’t contain a tray. His eyes honed in on me like he recognized me, but I didn’t have a clue who he was so there was no way I was familiar to him.
He stepped in my way, his hand behind his back. “London Ingram?”
How did he know my name? “Yes?”
“Please come with me.”
“Where?” I demanded. “Why?”
“Just follow me.” He walked down the hallway and turned right, away from the bathroom.
My body told me this wasn’t a good idea, that I could be walking into some kind of trap. But my gut told me to follow because he would lead me somewhere I was meant to be. We were under the queen’s protection, and Crewe was just a room away. If anyone could help me, it would be him.
So I followed.
I walked up the stairs and reached the second landing, which was absolutely silent. The sounds of the merriment from the party drifted to my ears, and my dress trailed across the hardwood floor underneath my heels.
He kept going. “This way.” He reached the fifth door on the left, checked the hallway to make sure no one was watching, and then opened it. “Go inside. We don’t have much time.”
“Who are you?”
“Just go.” He held the door open.
My arms were covered with bumps, and sweat formed on my temple. My heart was beating so fast it hurt. I tried to steady my breath and remain calm as I walked inside, unsure what I would find waiting for me.
A man in all black stood with his back to me, his hands in his pockets as he stared out the window.
I stared at him, recognizing the soft brown hair that was similar to mine. His posture was familiar, the way he shifted his weight to one foot. The build of his arms reminded me of someone I’d known all my life.
The waiter shut the door, leaving us alone together.
Joseph turned around and stared at me, his eyes taking me in like he hadn’t seen me in twenty years. He wasn’t an emotional man, usually teasing me rather than paying me a single compliment. But the moment he looked at me, the sadness took up his entire body. “London…” He closed the distance between us and hugged me, holding me so tight it didn’t seem like he wanted to let me go. “I’m so sorry…”
I held on to my brother, recognizing his cologne instantly. The last time I saw him on his feet, he had come to the city for Christmas. It was just the two of us in my cramped apartment while the snow fell outside. My radiator was broken, so we spent an entire day freezing until he managed to fix it. At the time, it was terrible. But now it was a cherished memory.
He pulled away, the same sadness in his eyes. “I don’t have a lot of time.”
“How did you get in here?”
“We don’t have time for that either,” he said quietly. “I need to get to the point, London. Crewe is a paranoid man.”
“Do you have a plan?”
He nodded. “But you aren’t going to like it.”
“Do you want me to destroy the detonator. I know he keeps it on him most of the time. I don’t know where he puts it when he sleeps…” But if I did enough digging, I could figure it out. He couldn’t keep it from me forever.
“That won’t work,” he said. “Even if you recover it, he’ll have a way of overriding it.”
“You think?”
“Definitely. Crewe always covers his tracks. He’s not a guy you fuck with.”
But yet, you did. “So you’re saying there’s nothing we can do? We aren’t even going to try?”
“There’s only one way out of this. And it’s not a plan either of us will like.”
He was going to ask me to kill Crewe. There was no other way. But the idea of ending his life, stabbing a knife through his heart, brought me nothing but pain. I had every right to do whatever was necessary to save both myself and my brother, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that. Despite what he’d done to both of us, I didn’t want to hurt Crewe.
“You have to get him to fall in love with you.”
I stared at him blankly, unsure if he really said those words. “Are you insane? That’s never going to happen. I thought you were going to ask me to kill him.”
“That would never work,” he said. “Crewe is too smart for that.”
“And he’s too hollow to feel anything real for anyone—especially me.” Crewe had a line of beautiful women at his beck and call. He could be with princesses and foreign diplomats. He could go to Milan and find a model. There was no way I would ever be enough to keep him around.
“I don’t believe that. He took you to one of the biggest social events of the year. He could have taken anyone, but he chose you.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” I had to admit it was odd to bring some boring American girl. But I couldn’t read too much into it.
“We both know you’re smart, witty, and beautiful.” It was the first time Joseph paid me a real compliment. “The guy would be an idiot not to feel something for you. You’re charming and a smartass—in a good way.”
Since we were in a rush, I didn’t have time to even crack a smile. “I seriously don’t think that’s going to work. We have to think of something else.”
“Just be whatever he wants you to be. Be whatever fantasy he likes. Say the things he wants to hear.”
Easier said than done.
“The only way he’s gonna give up that detonator is if he actually starts caring about you. Otherwise, he’s going to hold it over both of our heads for the rest of our lives. It’s the only way out for both of us.”
I was willing to do anything to free my brother, even something as sinister as this. I didn’t think it was likely to succeed, but I had to try if there was no other alternative. “I’ll do my best…”
“Thanks.” His eyes filled with clouds as the silence stretched between us. He put his hands in his pockets and cleared his throat. “Does he treat you well?” Joseph cringed like he didn’t want to truly hear the answer.
Even if he didn’t, I would have lied about it. “Yeah, he does.”
“Really?” he whispered.
I nodded. “It could be a lot worse. He doesn’t hur
t me.”
Joseph suddenly looked away like he was ashamed of the thoughts in his mind. He was probably thinking about the things Crewe did to me at night when we were in bed together. Ashamed that he couldn’t save me, he couldn’t look at me.
“He’s not as bad as he seems.” I wasn’t just saying this to make Joseph feel better. It was the truth. “He doesn’t let the other men touch me. He gives me everything I need. And he protects me against everything. We have dinner together and talk. I would much rather be with him than go to Bones…” That man was utterly terrifying. I wouldn’t be alive right now if I’d been transferred into his care. “I think there’s a chance he could be a good guy underneath all that darkness…”
Joseph looked up, meeting my gaze. “It sounds like you like him.”
“No,” I said quickly. “I just think there’s hope.” Now that I knew he’d lost so much at such a young age, I understood his need for power and control. When he was vulnerable and young, there was nothing he could do to protect his family. He had to wait years before he was even big enough to do anything about it. By the time he was an adult, they’d been gone for twelve years. Now he had to make a name for himself, to be as threatening and terrifying as possible.
I understood him a lot better now.
“I’ll get in contact with you again,” he said. “I don’t know when or how. But I’ll figure it out.”
“Okay.”
He sighed when he knew this was goodbye. “I’m so sorry I got you into this.”
“It’s okay.” He shouldn’t be working in this kind of business, and he certainly shouldn’t have robbed a man of four million dollars. But the time for a lecture had passed. He’d already learned his lesson.
“I would do anything to change places with you.”
“I know, Joey.”
He pulled me in for another hug. “You should get going…he’ll start to get suspicious.”
“I know.” I didn’t want to let go of my brother just yet. He felt like home.
For the first time ever, he kissed me on the head. “We’ll figure this out. I promise.”
“I know.”
He pulled away, reluctant.
Tears pooled in my eyes, but I fought them back. If Crewe saw them, he would ask a million questions. I didn’t want him to figure out what had happened here. And I didn’t want him to hit the trigger on that detonator. “I’ll see you later.”
Joseph gave a quick nod.
I walked out without looking back, knowing I would start to cry if I saw the devastation on my brother’s face. The guilt he carried because of my imprisonment was killing him. I could see it in his limbs as well as his face. I walked down the stairs then returned to the drawing room where everyone was still mingling.
I spotted Crewe against the wall near the window. He was speaking with a beautiful woman with brown hair, wearing a champagne pink dress that complimented her dark skin. She was naturally radiant, looking like a princess without a tiara. She stood close to Crewe like she knew him well, and then her hand moved to his wrist.
As I approached them, I felt the blood pound in my ears. Her blue eyes were glued to Crewe’s like he was the only person in the entire room. She watched his lips as he spoke, hanging on to every word like she was afraid she would miss something.
Now I started to feel angry, wondering what was going on right under my nose. Was she one of the women he slept with on a regular basis? Was this a former lover? A current lover? The second I went to the bathroom, he was already flirting with someone else? If that was the case, the plan would never succeed.
I finally reached Crewe, standing so close to him that it was unmistakable I was his date—not her. I gave her a fake smile, just to make sure I wasn’t offending a monarch who could get me thrown out of this place.
Crewe turned to me when he realized I was there. He didn’t change his posture or look alarmed like he’d been caught doing something wrong. “Hello, Lovely.” He greeted me with a slight smile but didn’t touch me.
The nickname wasn’t enough affection for me. I grabbed his hand and interlocked our fingers. It was the first time we’d held hands this way. It was juvenile affection, something young lovers did. But I wasn’t going to stand there and let this woman think Crewe was available.
Crewe stared at our joined hands but didn’t make a comment. “Allow me to introduce you to Josephine, The Duchess of Cambridge.”
I gave a slight bow, still wearing a forced smile.
“And this is London.” Crewe didn’t refer to me in any possessive manner. But there wasn’t a realistic title to explain what I was to him. Prisoner? I doubt that would go over well with the duchess.
She wore a smile faker than mine. “Pleasure to meet you. Please excuse me.” She walked away, her pink gown moving across the floor. She held her shoulders so far back that her chest looked even more robust. Diamond earrings hung in her lobes, sparkling under the light of the chandeliers. She looked more graceful than the queen herself.
When she was gone, Crewe took his hand away from mine. He placed it around my waist instead. That arrogant smile stretched his lips, and I already knew what he was going to say before he even said it. “You know, it kinda seemed like you were jealous for a moment there.”
I stared him down, not finding his words remotely comical. “I was.”
He was about to chuckle but stopped himself when he heard what I said. He nearly did a double take, surprised by my confession.
“I saw the way she looked at you.”
Crewe’s eyes darkened, his eyebrows slightly furrowing.
“What is she to you? Were you once together?”
Crewe didn’t answer my question. “That’s none of your concern.”
That was enough of an answer for me. “Is it over?”
“I’m here with you, aren’t I?”
That didn’t answer my question. “I want to be the only woman in your bed.”
His eyes narrowed again. “For a prisoner, you sure seem to like me.”
He was a playboy, a dictator, and an asshole. It would be tough work to make this man fall for me, let alone simply care about me. But Joseph was right. Pulling his heartstrings like he was a puppet would be the only way out of this mess. “Is it really so much to ask for your fidelity?” I wouldn’t be able to manipulate him if he was getting action everywhere else.
“It’s too much to ask for anything. I’m in charge here. Don’t forget it.”
I grabbed him by the tie and pulled his mouth to mine, giving him a kiss that was a little too rough for such a public place.
But he didn’t stop the kiss.
I was the first one to pull away, to feel the swelling of my lips.
He stared at me hard, his brown eyes trained on my expression. He looked like he wanted to pick me up and pin me against the wall, fucking me then and there. “We’ll pick this up when we get home.”
“No.” I released his tie and smoothed it out over his chest. “We’ll pick this up in the car.”
19
Crewe
I thought I would enjoy the hurt look on Josephine’s face.
But I didn’t.
Actually, I didn’t care at all.
Slowly, the blood drained from her face, and her cheeks turned pale. Her eyes lost their innate sparkle, something I’d come to notice since I knew her so well. The second she laid eyes on London and saw our fingers intertwined together, she knew I’d moved on.
And it broke her heart.
Too bad, so sad.
After we said our goodbyes, we returned to the roundabout entryway and waited for my driver to arrive. All I wanted to do was return to the castle so I could rip that expensive gown off London and fuck her until dawn. I liked the possessiveness she showed, although I couldn’t explain why. She was definitely mine, but I would never be hers. She wanted me to be monogamous with her, and I was, but I refused to tell her that. She would know she had some kind of control over me.
I
couldn’t allow that.
I would much rather her think I was out fucking around every time I wasn’t in her presence than let her know she was enough to satisfy me. The greatest kings had been destroyed by the greatest women. Men were the ones who ruled the world, but in reality, the world was ruled by the women who ruled the men.
I wouldn’t let that happen to me.
It didn’t matter how fond I’d grown of London. It didn’t matter that I actually respected her. It didn’t matter that I didn’t mean a word I said when I threatened to kill her brother. There were lines I refused to cross.
The car arrived and Dunbar opened the door to the back seat. I allowed London to enter first before I got in behind her. The windows in the back were tinted to the darkest shade, and the visor between Dunbar and me was closed once I pressed my finger to the button. He already knew where he was going so I didn’t need to say a word to him.
We pulled onto the main road and London crawled into my lap and straddled my hips. Her enormous gown stretched across the seat and the floor, ruffling at every move she made. Her hands dug into my hair, and she kissed me hard on the mouth, devouring me like she’d been wanting to have me all night.
I didn’t like being on the bottom. I didn’t like surprises. I didn’t like letting someone take over.
But I thought it was pretty hot with London.
I moved my hands up her dress and touched her smooth thighs, my cock hard in my slacks and pressed against her panties. I gripped her ass with my strong hands and slowly grinded against her, rubbing against her sensitive clit the way she liked.
She panted into my mouth, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
All thoughts of Josephine were gone. London was the only woman I thought about.
She continued kissing me, undoing my slacks and yanking down my boxers so my cock could appear. She pulled her thong over then slowly lowered herself onto my length. Her lips stopped moving against my mouth as she took in the inches that stretched her wide apart. A quiet moan escaped her lips, enjoying my steel rod.
When she had every inch, she sat in my lap and hooked her arms around my neck. The car drove down the road, changing lanes from time to time. The sounds of traffic could be heard, and every now and then, a honk.