my phone buzzes in my pocket. A call from Kahn. “Yes?”
“I have a problem.” His icy tone is filled with frustration. I sent him and his team to look for my brother, but we also have Lorenzo to deal with. Everything is happening at the same time, and for a moment, I wonder if there’s a connection. I’m not sure why I would even consider this, but the coincidence is too obvious.
“If it’s my brother, kill him. If it’s Lorenzo, let’s call Alex and see if we can move in on the church,” I respond, glancing at my fiancée to find her staring, wide-eyed at me.
“Lorenzo has gone underground. I have an inkling on where, but we raided the church and found nothing of consequence. That’s not something you would want to tell Alexei.” He’s right. Going back to the mafia boss to tell him I lost the bastard he’s looking for will only be a confirmation that we’re not able to tackle a job so insignificant.
“Where was the last place he was spotted?”
“New Mexico,” Kahn tells me, and I have a feeling we may need help from the Cartel, which means calling Victor Cordero, and that’s not a man I want to be involved unless we need him.
“I’m headed to the gala right now. It’s important.” I don’t need to explain. Kahn knows why I have to be there. “Get the jet ready. I’ll fly out tonight and make sure the apartment is ready for Scarlett. She’ll be joining me.”
“Yes, boss.”
Once I hang up, I turn to a stunned beauty who’s glaring at me as if I’ve grown a second head in the time of my phone call. “I’ll have the maid pack some clothes. We’re leaving after the gala.”
“Where? I can’t just leave.”
“New York. And you will do whatever I say. There are secrets in the city that may offer you the answers you’re seeking.” It’s not entirely a lie, but it’s also not the whole truth. Yes, there are answers in the Big Apple that Scarlett would need to learn about, but it may have to wait until after the wedding.
“This is ridiculous. I can stay with my grandmother. I don’t need to follow you around like a lost puppy.” Her adamant tone has anger surging through me. She doesn’t realize just how much I’m doing for her, and perhaps that’s the problem. Maybe I should offer her more answers, just to ensure she’s on my side.
“Listen to me,” I say, turning to face her fully. My hands cupping her smooth, tanned cheeks. “Your father has secrets in New York, things he’s been hiding for years. I cannot tell you about them, or I’ll break the contract—”
“You mean that if you were the one to divulge the secrets, I wouldn’t have to marry you.” Such an intelligent girl. “Is that why you want to keep me in the dark? I could just go to my grandmother and ask her about it. She’d tell me the truth.”
“Would she?” I challenge easily, knowing that Grace Bardot would rather die than tell her sweet granddaughter about her past and present secrets.
For a long moment, Scarlett stares at me. Her lips part on a soft sigh before she shakes her head. “I don’t know.” There’s a sadness to her face, an emotion I want to eradicate.
Stepping closer to her, eating up the distance between us, I allow my larger frame to loom over her. With my index finger under her chin, I tilt her head until she’s looking directly at me. The silence hangs heavy with desire. As much as Scarlett doesn’t want to feel something, she knows there’s a magnetism between us, it’s palpable.
“I want nothing more than to keep you here tonight, to sit with you on the couch, drink whisky, and talk about growing up as a Shaw.” My admission is startling to both of us, but I don’t stop. “I want you to know who I am. Even though I’m the monster in this story, the wolf seeking out his prey, I wouldn’t hurt you. Not unless you want it.”
“You’d just devour me whole until nothing is left,” Scarlett responds, the confession true as it escapes her glossy lips.
Arching a brow at her, I challenge, “I didn’t hear you complaining the last time I made you come.”
The corner of her mouth quirks. “No, you’re right. I want to hate you—”
“But you can’t. It’s not who you are.” It’s true. The woman before me may have anger toward