Hyland's Consort
Page 18
Copyright © 2021 by Felicity Brandon
Prologue
Sean Hyland
GLANCING OVER TO WHERE Hilary was huddled beside me, anxiety twisted inside. I loathed seeing her so fearful unless, of course, I was the one inspiring the trepidation. I resented the power Morrison and his cronies exerted. Her large eyes rose to meet my glare before quickly looking away. Guilt flickered in her gaze, an acknowledgment of how we’d both landed ourselves in this mess. This was Hilary’s fault. Even though the moron, Morrison, had been the one to storm our wedding night—it was all on her. I should have known he would try something like this, should have anticipated his next move, but foolishly, I expected better from my new wife. She’d been the one who’d wandered out into the night, alone and without a penny to her name. She’d been the one who got in trouble within the first few minutes of her so-called freedom.
Lowering my head, I recalled how I’d raced to her. It didn’t matter that my hands were bound. In that split second, I acted on instinct—the urge to save her from the grubby hands of the vagrants, the need to protect what belonged to me.
What was mine.
“Sean.” Her voice carried softly over the backseat. “Sir.”
My lips curled as she addressed me the right way. It didn’t matter that we were both prisoners of my greatest enemy, Morrison, the same man who’d put a bullet in my uncle’s brain. My influence over her was still strong, robust enough to compel the important word from her lips.
“What?” My response was intentionally terse.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was a strained whisper. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
I turned to her, the emotion in her tone tugging at what little remained of my heart.
“You will pay for the mistakes you made tonight.” I didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding. “But it’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe.”
Though safe was a relative term. I was the man who had snatched her from a dank London street, taken her for my own, tormented her, and coerced her into marriage. I was no hero, but I was her husband. Hilary was mine, and I’d never let any harm come to her. I would never let her go.
“Aww, ain’t that sweet,” Connor smirked. The dark-haired guy in the front seat was the one had repeatedly driven his fist into my face in our suite at The Ritz. “He’s going to keep her safe.”
From across the back seat, Saul Morrison glared in my direction. “He’ll be doing nothing unless I approve it first.”
Fury simmered in my blood. To think the insidious moron who slaughtered my uncle in cold blood was now calling the shots filled me with rage. I hated the guy more than I’d ever loathed anyone, but in the short term, at least, he was right. I was bound. Hilary was bound, and we were both on our way to the headquarters of Morrison’s organization, The Syndicate, where no doubt he intended to interrogate me further.
My jaw tightened. I’d been around long enough to know what went on during those sessions, having been privy to many of them myself over the years before I lived in the South of France. I didn’t fear pain, but I certainly didn’t seek it. A face like mine looked better on the front page than at the end of a fist. More worrying was Hilary. Turning back to her, our gazes met. Morrison had foolishly shoved us into the back seat together, a mistake I would never have made in his place, but one that afforded me a few precious moments with my bride.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, but even I could hear the strain in my voice, the nagging doubt that maybe, it wasn’t okay. Maybe it never would be again.
What would they do to her now that I’d compelled her to take her wedding vows? Would Morrison consider her soiled because she was mine? Would he hurt her as well? Anger swelled until my shoulders trembled, and I was forced to push out a long breath.
“Sean.”
Hilary leaned toward me, mouthing my name. Normally, I’d have not looked favorably on the use of my name, but for once, it soothed me, and I was consoled by its intimacy. She was my wife, and she needed me. Truth be told, I needed her as well. Our few blissful hours as man and wife had confirmed that. I couldn’t imagine any scenario without her by my side, refusing to conceive a life without my exuberant blonde.
No man could come between us—especially not a low life like Morrison.
“I’m scared.” Tears brimmed in her eyes.
“Hey.” Tilting my head in her direction, I kissed her forehead. I wished I could touch her, hold her hand—anything to assuage her obvious concern—but with my hands bound behind me, it was hopeless.
When I’d had Hilary at my mercy, I’d been able to do anything I wanted to her. I’d taken those times for granted—taken her for granted—but pressed against her in the back of the claustrophobic vehicle, I knew I’d never make the same mistake again. When I got us out of Morrison’s grasp—and I would get us out of it—I would never make the mistake again.
“Are you going to let this slide?”
I tensed at the sound of Connor’s voice, my gaze reluctantly returning to him.
“Leave them alone.”
Morrison was satisfyingly demoralized. The night clearly hadn’t gone the way he’d expected, either. It was the one silver lining of the whole sorry experience.
“What?” Connor snorted. “How can you let him coo over her like that?”
Morrison’s gaze slid to Hilary and me. “He’s her husband.” There was neither joy nor condemnation in his tone.
“Saul.” Hilary leaned past me, catching Morrison’s eyes. “Saul, don’t do this. Just let us go.”
Stretching back in his seat, he turned away from her. “It’s too late for that.”
“It’s not too late!” She pulled in a shaky breath. “Everyone here has made mistakes, but why walk straight into another one?”
“You know me better than that.” Disgust radiated from his voice, and the stare he threw Hilary was viscous. “You know everything I do is thought through and considered.”
“This?” Hilary raised her bound hands into the air. She had the distinct advantage of having hers cuffed in front of her. “This is considered? The man I knew would have understood he messed up, would have realized it was over. The man I knew would have walked away.”
“That’s bull,” Connor grumbled. “The Syndicate doesn’t walk away from anything.”
“Except me.” Her words lingered in the dark interior. “The Syndicate doesn’t walk away from anything... except me.” Her glare spoke of recriminations. “You walked away from me, Saul. You left me after I was abducted. How could you?” Hilary pulled in a breath, but this time I could tell fury pulsing through her veins, not fear. “How could you do that?”
“We had this conversation already.” A glimmer of guilt glinted in Morrison’s eyes.
“And you had no answer.” She practically spat the words. “And now it’s done.” Her gaze glided to mine. “I’m married. I’m no longer yours.”
My cock swelled at her admission. Despite everything that was going on, all the trauma and adrenaline of the last hour, there was still electricity when our gazes locked.
“Listen.” Saul sighed. “I’m not saying I don’t have regrets, but I can’t just let you go.”
“Why?” She raised her voice, but her eyes never left mine. “It’s the least you owe me.”
“And what about him?”
I imagined Morrison’s disdainful expression as he gestured to me.
“The man who kidnapped you. What does he deserve?”
“A chance at happiness.” She pulled in a deep breath. “A chance to end this pointless gang violence and for both of you to leave each other alone.”
“Enough of this!” Connor hissed. “I told you we should have covered their mouths with duct tape. I have plenty of it.”
“That’s your answer to everything, Reilly,” Hilary sneered, cocking a brow at Morrison’s man. “You take, you torment, and you destroy.”
Connor snorted. “You know nothing about me.”
&nbs
p; I glanced back in time to see his jaw tense.
“I know how you met Molly.” Hilary’s chest rose. “Know how you treated her.”
“Shut up.” Connor flashed her a glare. “Saul, make her shut up!”
“That’s enough, all of you.” Morrison lifted his hands in the air. “I can’t think with all this noise.”
I wanted to laugh at his performance. The man was weak, always had been. I knew precisely what I’d have done if the shoe had been on the other foot.
“We’re going back to The Syndicate.”
I rolled my eyes. “What a surprise.”
“Saul.” Hilary shook her head sadly. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
I pulled in a breath as their gazes met.
“You’re wrong, Hilary.” Morrison’s tone was miserable. “It’s always been this way.”
https://books2read.com/u/bOJ2xo
Stay in touch with Felicity’s new releases by subscribing to her mailing list.
https://felicitybrandonwrites.com/newsletter/
You’ll also receive FREE reads just for signing up!
Love Dark Romance?
Discover ALL The Dark Necessities universe!
https://books2read.com/u/mdGvJd
Devour Tempted for FREE:
https://books2read.com/u/b5kPPA
Join Felicity’s Facebook group, and Discord group, to engage with her and other awesome readers.
Don't miss out!
Click the button below and you can sign up to receive emails whenever Felicity Brandon publishes a new book. There's no charge and no obligation.
https://books2read.com/r/B-A-WMUI-MAFNB
Connecting independent readers to independent writers.
Also by Felicity Brandon
The Dark Necessities—Dalton's Tale
Tempted: The Dark Necessities—Dalton's Tale #1
Taunted: The Dark Necessities—Dalton's Tale #2
Tested: The Dark Necessities—Dalton's Tale #3
The Dark Necessities Prequels
Flawed
Fallen
Forbidden
The Gates of Fortorus
Her Dark Protector
His Dark Intentions
Her Dark Nemesis
The Kings of Dukes Series
The Bad Guy
The Rage and Revenge series.
Hyland's Property (Coming Soon)
Hyland's Consort (Coming Soon)
Hyland's Obsession (Coming Soon)
The Rule of Lawes
Captured
Countered
Watch for more at Felicity Brandon’s site.