Page 18 of Gilded Desires

Polaris, my brother’s relatively new executive assistant, is practically sitting in his lap with how close she stands. What? Didn’t think underlords have secretaries, did you? They probably don’t, but this one has a club to run and he sucks at spreadsheets.

“Belle,” my brother says dryly. “Where the fuck have you been?” His eyes immediately go to the wig and the barely-there dress. The office is a large open space in browns, leathers, and a few gold ornaments to add a flare of color and wealth.

The familiar scent of whiskey lingers in the air telling me I’ve driven my brother to drink before his usual time.

Not a good sign.

Polaris gathers her papers and…oh. Did I just see her brush her fingers over Harlon’s? I file that away and pretend to be looking at my nails and only raise my eyes when she heads my way. The faint click of her heels on the black marble is delicate yet deafening in the otherwise silent office.

Polaris is a broken soul I instantly bonded with the second she came to live at Club Genesis. She was kidnapped, tortured, and then nearly sold off into the underground sex slave trade. Only her sister, a mean-ass Russian biker gang, and the men of Genesis saved her from a far worse fate than working for my brother.

But Harlon is a whole other problem. I know he loves me, but he’s letting his past and what happened to Polaris tighten his grip around me. You see, my wanting to share something with three men isn’t new. My brother used to share a wife with his business partners and best friends.

And then she was murdered. But time doesn’t seem to heal all wounds. It’s been two years since their shared wife was kidnapped and killed. Long enough for my brother and his friends to want to find happiness again. Or so I thought. Sapphire and I hold a glimmer of hope that Polaris can fill the void I see in Harlon, Santi, and Cassius every single day. But sometimes I think all three are hellbent on being miserable and making everyone around them feel the same damn way.

Polaris goes to pass me with her loot of paperwork, but I stop her with a gentle touch. She does this thing with her shoulders when something bothers her, sort of tucks into herself. Those fuckers wanting to traffic her must have really hurt her.

“You ok, babe?” I pitch my voice low and make sure Harlon can’t hear me.

“Of course. I was just wrapping up for the day anyway. You’ve really pissed your brother off. I should be asking if you are okay.” Aware of it or not, the other woman’s shoulders relax.

“It’s not like he’ll send me to the basement,” I tease. “Meet up later?”

“I’ll bring the drinks if you bring the gossip.” Her attention moves to my wig and then the dress and fuck-me-heels. “I can’t wait to hear the story behind all this.”

Polaris and Sapphire are the two people I trust, hands down. Do I want to keep them on the outside of all this? I nod. “Deal.”

My security detail walks in just as Polaris exits.

I sigh with frustration resigned to the fact I brought this on myself. “Boys.”

“Ms. Constantine,” the leader says but only because my brother is in the room.

“Belle, your men tell me they lost you in the back of a boutique.”

I turn to face my brother. “They are notmymen, and I was merely testing out the abilities of the new guards you latched onto my ass.”

Harlon comes to stand at the end of his desk. At his height, he towers over me but it’s the men at my back whose knees I hear knocking.

“And how did they do timewise?”

I purse my lips and twirl the ends of my wig. “I lost them within thirty minutes.”

Harlon nails a stone-cold look over my shoulder. “You’re dismissed,” he says calmly, and I even have to shiver with goosebumps. “We will be talking later. Go to the lower level and wait for me.”

Oh shit. Basement time. I clench my lips teetering on the ledge. Do I stand up for them or let this ride?

Shit! Damn it. Harlon.

“Yes, Sir,” they say and turn, closing the door behind them.

Alone, I whirl on my brother, finger raised and my tongue like a whip. “You don’t need to duct tape bodyguards on my heels everywhere I go. I’m tired of your games. You’re not my father, Harlon. What? Are you going to whack every guard I ditch? I don’t think you have that many graves on hand.”

“Finding where to put bodies is never the issue,” he deadpans, and I swear with my hand on the Bible he’s actually telling God’s truth.

“Harlon.” It’s all I can do not to let my mouth gape open.

“What? Ever since Cassandra was kidnapped and murdered, I should lock you up and not let you out. I can’t lose you too. I refuse to lose you.”

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