Page 32 of Lord of Ruin

“I get it but keeping Jenna here is just as dangerous as if you’d left her there. You are aware of that.” He was acting more like my older brother than he was the leader of our illustrious organization.

I rubbed my eyes, a headache having formed the moment I’d put her on the plane. Seeing the hatred on her face shouldn’t have bothered me in the least. But it had. That was almost as jarring as the reprehensible situation. “I’m not a fool, Phoenix. However, for the first time I let my guard down. I was too goddamn cocky and it cost me. Whitie and Frankie weren’t worth the effort to track them down, especially in New York. They were bit players who fucked up royally. However, I think they were hired or forced to lure me there. I think whoever is behind the charade knew you wouldn’t think twice about sending me there given we are so territorial. Unfortunately, I stepped in the shit but that doesn’t mean I should take down an innocent girl who fucking did what she could so I wouldn’t bleed out.” When I glanced at him, his huge smile pissed me off. “Don’t you dare say a goddamn thing. You can’t tell me you weren’t like that when you met Whitney.”

He studied me for a full minute.

“I’m not saying a thing, brother, except you’re right in that you were lured there and we need to discover the reason. We need to ensure all our businesses are protected, extra soldiers put on notice. Now, I will ask. What’s she like?”

I closed my eyes, allowing several images of her face to cross back and forth across my mind. “She’s a handful, but she knows her stuff. She certainly didn’t flinch at the sight of blood. She’s beautiful and ballsy, just like our sisters. She had no issue fighting me not once but twice and there is no doubt in my mind she’ll do it again.”

“And you like her.”

“Yeah, I like her. Maybe a little too much. What I’m going to do with her remains to be seen.”

He finished pouring his drink, taking a sip as he walked to the window. “I’m curious. Where is she?”

“Locked in my bedroom. At least she’d safely tucked away for now. The future is what bothers me. Seriously, what the fuck am I going to do with her? I heard all the stories about your wife, but this is different.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Whitney was feisty and determined to get away from me until she saw the light. However, I can tell you do have your hands full. Fascinating.”

“Why fascinating?”

When he turned toward me, the bastard was grinning, pointing out the window. “She’s here?”

“Yeah, upstairs. What are you getting at?”

“Are we talking about the girl running toward the back of the property at this moment?”

My mouth dropped open and I rushed toward the window. “Son of a bitch. How the hell did she climb down from the third floor? She could have killed herself.”

“Women are resourceful. I’m just warning you. Maybe you should go get her and take a little time to explain some rules.”

“Fuck you, brother. Fuck you.” I moved toward my desk, yanking open two drawers before finding what I was looking for.

A thick piece of rope. I’d either corral her like a wild mare, or I’d secure her to a tree. I wasn’t certain which I preferred.

“Interesting, I can’t wait to hear about the outcome,” Phoenix said from behind me. He certainly had as much of a sick sense of humor as I did if not more.

I shoved the rope into my trousers, yanking off my coat and taking the time to roll up my sleeves. She couldn’t officially get anywhere. Why not allow her to tire herself out?

Now the remaining question was what in God’s name I was going to do with her.

The evil man inside of me already knew, the attraction I felt for the kickass girl more intense than I’d anticipated.

One taste hadn’t been enough, one kiss just the tip of the iceberg. Soon I would taste her all over, requiring her full surrender as I kissed and licked every inch of her voluptuous body.

Then I’d fuck her until she screamed out my name.

But she’d need to learn that fighting me wasn’t in her best interest.

Even if I had to break her in the process.

First, I’d need to catch her.

And there was nothing more exciting than the thrill of the hunt.

CHAPTER 10

Jenna