The Fortunates (Unfortunate #2) - Skyla Madi Page 0,22
there? Did she not feel him press his lips to hers in front of Fortunates and Unfortunates alike? Did she not see him put a gun to Soyer’s head? What more could he have done to prove to her that his love had no limits? He knew her biggest concern was Vince. Kade would kill Vince, but not until the time was right. Another death so close to Michael’s would be suspicious. It’d lead into an extensive investigation that could expose everything. There was also the matter of appearance. Vince and Kade had to provide a united front to keep the other houses at bay. They’d crush the Sario house under their weight if they ever discovered just how disorganised the Sarios were. Another death would plunge them into anarchy…into civil war.
Leaning against his desk, Kade stuffed his hand into the pocket of his slacks and slumped into himself. Inside his chest his heart stumbled in its beat.
He missed her already.
In his pocket, a thin metal chain brushed against his fingertips. His heart tightened as he lowered the bottle of drink to his belly button. Blowing out a heavy exhale, Kade wrapped the tiny chain around his fingers and pulled it out, freeing it from his warm pocket. Light leaked in from the bathroom, hitting the lion pendant on the right angle. It was exquisite. He was so certain she’d like it…Maybe it just wasn’t the right time to give it to her, he thought.
“My, my…isn’t that beautiful.”
Kade bristled at the venom-laced feminine voice that infiltrated his private space. He flicked his stare from the ruby mane to the woman who draped herself against the doorframe.
Elizabeth.
He took note of the sensual way she held her body as she casually brushed the tips of her fingers across the tops of her breasts. As always, her dress was glamorous, a mixture of deep blood reds and glistening golds. She looked like a queen. An evil, malicious queen who was up to no good.
Kade noticed the corset on her dress tied up at the front—the way he told her he liked it. It wasn’t something he fancied anymore. At least, not on her.
“That would look gorgeous around a worthy neck,” she said, her tone ending on an amused high.
“It would.” Kade swallowed down the bitterness that mixed with saliva on his tongue. “I’ll be sure to give it to N—Anna—the next time I see her.”
He squeezed the necklace in his fist and pushed it back into his pocket. Kade knew that Nine, and only Nine, was worthy of the necklace. It was one of a kind. A necklace unlike any other in Freeport. He fitted the ruby himself and paid the Unfortunate who made the chain and sculpted the lion in food and fresh water. Kade even gave the young man a dab of antibacterial cream for the cut he’d sustained while doing it. Her necklace was blood free. It was made willingly, not by force.
The only one of its kind.
Just like her.
A necklace like this would never be for Elizabeth. Not in a million lifetimes.
“Cute. You call it by its real name.” Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth dropped her pathetic attempt at seduction and stomped into the room.
If only he hadn’t left his gun in the bathroom.
He exhaled. “What do you want, Elizabeth?”
Batting her eyelids, she fingered the lace that held her corset together, keeping her bare, generous bust from pouring out.
“You.”
“Me?” Kade simpered as he turned and placed his bottle on the desk behind him.
“You don’t have an Unfortunate to take care of you anymore.” She frowned, her lips pouted in a sympathetic pinch. “I assumed we’d pick up where we left off. How long has it been? You must want it really bad.”
He wanted sex. He wanted nothing more than to come by something other than his own hand, but he didn’t want it bad enough to do it with someone who didn’t have auburn hair, violet eyes, or smelled like cherries. He didn’t want to be inside anyone else.
Kade shook his head, folding his arms tightly over his chest. “I don’t want it that bad.”
“No?”
Elizabeth’s eyebrows curved as a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. Between the pads of her thumb and index finger, she pinched the lace of her corset, pulling slightly.
“Don’t,” he warned her, but perhaps he didn’t put enough warning in his voice.
Elizabeth tugged at the lace and it unravelled, exposing her milky breasts and flat tummy. “Oops.”