Page 48 of Falcon's Prey

She let out a humorless laugh. “They won’t give me my trust fund, but trust me with millions for a night?”

“Face me,” I commanded her. “This—” I pulled out the scalpel that was in my pocket. I pulled the cap off so she could see the obsidian steel. “—is fucking sharp. One swipe of this in a major artery is near fatal.” As I taped the scalpel to the headband, I started to instruct her. “In case you haven’t noticed, princess, you’re guarded more than the fucking president. I think it’s bullshit that your family won’t tell you this…so I am. Someone wants you dead.”

She let out a soft gasp, and her eyes went wide with shock.

I ignored it. “I want you to wear this tonight.”

In her eyes was something that had every part of me wanting to recoil. Fuck me, she trusted me.

“Something happens, you hit major arteries. Neck, wrist, left side of the chest. If you’re down, try to go for the tendon behind the ankle. Not only will it hurt like a motherfucker, but cut off the ability to walk.”

Ember swallowed, but ultimately nodded.

“I’m going to hide this. It will be our little secret, okay?”

When she didn’t say anything, I brought both my hands under her dress.

“What are you—”

Her words trailed off the moment my cold fingers made contact with her bare leg. Her skin was smooth like silk, no scars tarnishing her flesh, making my makeshift holster glide with ease. I felt her skin shiver beneath my fingertips, making my cock grow hard. When I made it to the top, Ember was looking at me with wide eyes and a parted mouth. I heard a car honk, but I ignored it. Putting my hand higher, I cupped her pussy.

“Tonight, I own this.”

There was a fuckingknife between my legs. Someone wanted me dead, but all of that didn’t matter at the moment. Right now, I was savoring the fact that I had finally brought Ren down to his knees.

If I was being honest with myself, it didn’t surprise me that someone wanted me dead. It did scare me, but for now I was going to enjoy this small victory. I mean, the timing didn’t get more perfect than this. I fucked Ren, and he was gone, and Silas’s threat would remain at bay. Then I would worry about whoever wanted me dead.

Wars were won through cunning and intelligence, and sometimes it was easier to lose a battle, no matter how devastating it might be, than to lose the war. So my battle with Ren was coming to an end. He could think he won and he owned me, but everyone knew a woman could never be owned. She could be kept, or possessed, taking away her fight, making her hide within herself or cower, but owned? Never.

So, I tried to calm myself with the fact that tonight I would have one less problem to worry about. Before I knew it, we were parking at Remington’s headquarters with Marcus waiting outside. He opened the door in a suit, not as fancy as the one Ren wore, and slid in next to me.

“How are you holding up, Em?” he said, the nickname he used to call me with casualness and ease. What he used to call me at a time I’d lashed out and seduced him, taking out my rage on him.

“I’m okay,” I said without meeting his stare.

My father was in a coma, and I had yet to see him. What was the point? I was used to him not being there; this was nothing new.

When I turned my head to the company doors, three guards came out with the one in the middle carrying a briefcase that was cuffed to his wrist. Gio was one of Silas’s preferred bodyguards. He was tall and beefy, and his morals were questionable, but he was a loyal dog to his master. He saw me the day I left Silas’s place with a red cheek, my hair a mess and a limp to my walk. Sam had never made a comment, which meant Gio hadn’t reported anything to him.

He took a seat next to Ren, and we finally made our way to our annual gala.

Ren parked in a side entrance, since I would not be coming through the front. Instead, I would arrive once everyone was seated and descend the stairs with a rock of fire around my neck.

The car that was behind us came out first, flanking Gio to make sure the Ember was protected with Marcus following behind them. Once they were inside, Ren opened my door. I took a deep breath and took the outstretched hand he offered.

Emotions were a weakness, a disease really once you started feeling it spread until it touched your chest, and that right there was one hell of a way to make it go away: broken heart or a dead body. You felt too deeply, or you felt nothing at all, and my perfectly crafted world had tilted the moment Ren Falcon stepped foot in it.

The moment he held on to me, I knew my life was in his hands. He could be my savior, or he was just here to make my time pass while I waited for hell.

We walked quickly inside, and the quiet made my skin crawl. I was about to put on a show. The back hallways were empty; just Gio, Marcus, Ren, and me. Everyone watched Gio as he worked the combination to the safe. Millions of dollars hung off his wrist.

My hand went to the back of my neck to remove the diamond choker. Before I could remove it, I felt Ren at my back like someone would feel death looming. His presence was strong and near suffocating. I asked myself if I wanted to go down this road tonight, then turned my head to look at him. His blue eyes shone with mischief, and my answer was yes. Everyone always did stupid things for a pretty face.

“Let me,” he said.

I turned to look forward, not meeting Marcus’s nor Gio’s eyes. “Can you guys make sure that the hallways are empty before I make my way down?”

Marcus nodded and walked away, giving Ren and me one last look.

---