Page 22 of Capturing the Ruthless Billionaires

Swan House’s time was up.

She didn’t know how to process the symbolism of Cian’s action. It wouldn’t matter where she was going.

Her threats faded away, and her efforts to be released died down as they reached the ground floor of the house where she had grown up. Everywhere she looked, she saw their guards knocked off their feet, unconscious, some in the process of drawing their weapons, before they were taken out instead.

Oh god.

Melle.

They passed the great dining hall. Slade slowed his step, and so did Lachlan and Cian. Her parents must have been in the process of serving dinner to the councilmen. There were other faces she didn’t recognize in person but knew from nefarious newspaper articles. They were crime lords and mob bosses. Had Swan House resorted to the most dangerous men on the planet to help them with their centenary problem?

She wanted to throw up but something else stayed her breath. Every person seated around the table, including her parents, was bound to their chairs, their napkins, clean or dirty, stuffed into their mouths. Their eyes were bulging with either fury or fear. In the corner, on one of the chairs, sat Melle. She was unbound, sipping her favorite Earl Grey tea.

They had left her unbound.

Thank you.

Before she could lock her gaze with Melle’s, Slade picked up the pace, and she soon found herself out in the night sky, the stars twinkling and the scent of roses misting the air around her.

She made a startling revelation.

There was only one reason they had kept her parents and the councilmen alive. They were going to use her against them the way her family had used Cara against them.

She wasn’t going to survive this.

Chapter Fourteen

Alexandria’s head turned to mush. All her thoughts flatlined, leaving her with a dull headache and tiredness that enveloped her in its embrace, and she refused to let go.

She didn’t know if she should be bargaining with them for her life, swearing allegiance, or just jumping out of the moving helicopter.

Yes, she was in a helicopter.

While her stress had muted her thoughts, her words, and her fight, she was taken from her home, in their car, then to a helicopter pad. Destination unknown. Would it matter where they were taking her? It would be better if she didn’t know.

She hadn’t meant to put her head against the soft, plush leather cushion behind her head. She had seen what the insides of helicopters looked like, and this was definitely a high-end, custom-designed luxury. After nights on a hard stone bed, the softness of the seat under her bottom felt sinful.

She also hadn’t meant to close her eyes and fall into such a deep sleep that her head dropped to the side and rested on a wide, warm shoulder. The scent of rich and woodsy cologne cocooned her in an ambiance she didn’t want to leave.

After what felt like a second of the best sleep she’d had in forever, the pilot’s voice brought her straight back to reality, she jerked upright, blood red with embarrassment that she’d fallen asleep, and then used Slade’s shoulder as a pillow, of all people.

She bowed her head, at once reminded that she was still clad in a dress that looked as if it had been made from a potato sack. At least she was clean underneath it, grateful for the shower—actually a hose that blasted out ice-cold water and the soap was harsh and smelled too sweet—she’d had that morning. She’d tried to finger-comb the knots out of her hair, but her arms got tired, and she gave up, not caring in the least.

Did she care how she looked now? The resounding answer was yes, and it made zero sense to her at all.

Trying to tuck her unruly hair behind her ear and failing, Alexandria gave up.

Nothing matters.

Maintaining her silence, she bit back, asking if she could see Cara. She so desperately wanted to see a familiar face. Someone she loved.

Her heart missed a beat when the helicopter landed in a lush forest in an area she couldn’t name. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her. Crumbling down with age and beaten by the elements of the weather, there was no mistaking that the boulders in front of them were molded in the shape of three giant dragon heads. Was this their altar? She’d never paid much attention to the history of the four families under the umbrella of The Console. But she did know that dragons were not part of it.

What were they going to do to her here? Sacrifice her blood. As far-fetched as the thought was, given her luck, it would probably be exactly what happened.

Without a word, Cian picked her up and swung her over his shoulder.

“I can walk,” she seethed. Dammit. Couldn’t she have maintained her silence for a bit longer?

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