His Stolen Princess - MINK Page 0,26

his throat, drawing more blood.

“I don’t know!” he screams. “He paid me! That’s all! H-he said that his boss would own all this soon enough, and I’d be rewarded for helping him, and then he gave me a hundred thousand euro. So I did it! I didn’t know why he was here.”

“Who sent him?”

“He didn’t say!” his high-octave scream is abruptly cut off.

For the second time this night, I’ve spilled blood to protect the ones I love. I’ll do it as many times as necessary and take pleasure in my kills as a gift to my lioness.

If someone wants her blood, she shall have theirs, and plenty of it.

15

Apollonia

I lie by the pool dozing in and out of sleep. Carter is out in the garden with Diego, and I’m not sure where Cato is. If I had to guess, he’s dealing with the situation of how someone got on his property last night.

I don’t know how he’s functioning today. Neither one of us got much sleep last night. Our time together has been so intense. My stomach flutters thinking about it. That man has a wicked mouth. I could easily become addicted to him. I've never felt so close to someone as I did in that moment when we were making love. It’s been so long since someone held me close.

I was amazed how quickly Cato could switch between making love to me and fucking me. I enjoyed both. I practically begged for both sides of him. His lovemaking felt sweet, while his fucking made me feel like he needed me more than his next breath. He was greedy for me. Thinking about it has me growing wet. I clench my thighs together and hope it wasn’t a one-time deal. I’m craving another taste of him. It’s quite the contradiction from where I began.

I’m just not sure where it leaves us. Am I still trying to get out of here with Carter? The thought of leaving Cato makes a knot form in my throat. What have I done? I was supposed to make him fall in love with me. I’m afraid that I may have gone and fallen in love with him instead.

“Apollonia.” I’m startled by someone who isn’t Cato saying my name so starkly. I didn't think Cato would let anyone out by the pool when I was out here. He’s got a jealous streak. I like that, too. Damn it. He doesn't want anyone else to touch me or see me like this. It should make me mad, but really it turns me on even more.

“Hey, Nico.” I push my sunglasses up as I rise to a sitting position on the lounge chair. It looks like his face has healed up from whatever Cato did to him the other day. I think he was trying to sniff out a mole. None of them seemed mad about it. He really does have everyone's loyalty. It makes me think that Cato might not be as bad as I thought he was. Or maybe his orgasms are messing with my head. They have me thinking that everything is sunshine and rainbows when I know better.

“I found some more kittens. Cato thought you might want them.”

I grab my cover-up and slip it on before I don my flip-flops.

“How many are there? Did you see their mama?”

“No mama that I saw. Just two kittens. I’ll show you.”

I follow after him. He doesn’t say anything else as we hurry through the garden. The silence stretches.

“It’s a lovely day out,” I comment. I’ve been trying to get to know some of Cato’s men. I thought I could use that against him in the beginning. It looks like my plans are all changing. Now I want to get to know them because they’re the men protecting Cato and Carter, the two most important things in my life. That thought shocks me, but I’ll have to revisit it later. I have kittens to see.

“It’s nice,” he agrees as I follow him around the house.

“Did you know my brother?”

He only nods. Okay then. He clearly doesn’t want to talk, so I let it go. He almost looks annoyed at my interruptions. I’m guessing he didn’t want to be sent on kitty duty. He probably thinks that it’s beneath him.

“This way.” He motions me over toward a small barn or maybe it’s a shed. He opens the door and lets me inside.

“Kitties.” I step in farther. “Come out, babies,” I coo. It’s dark in here. A strange feeling comes