Page 75 of Bonds of Obsession

“Although god knows we’ve crossed plenty of others,” Atlas adds dryly.

“Yeah, but we choose our targets,” Killian says. “We’re not good men, siren. Never claimed to be. But we’re not monsters either.”

“We’ve got your back on this,” Killian says, his voice carrying that deadly edge I know so well. “Whatever play we need to make.”

“But the Syndicate—” I start.

“Fuck the Syndicate,” Atlas cuts in. “We’ll figure something out.”

Killian moves closer, and I can see something haunting in his eyes. “My mother—” He stops, his face twisting. “That bitch tried to drown me when I was eight. An innocent fucking kid. And yeah, I killed her for it, but I swore I’d never become like her. I’d never hurt someone who didn’t deserve it.”

“There has to be another way,” I say, but I’m still not totally convinced there is. “Elliot won’t just let me refuse.”

“Then we get creative,” Nico says, that calculating look I know so well crossing his face. “Give Elliot his pound of flesh without actually spilling innocent blood.”

I don’t know what he has in mind, but I’m starting to believe there might be some hope. “You really think we can pull that off?”

“We’ve done harder shit,” Killian says, although he doesn’t give any examples of what that harder shit might have been

“The point is,” Nico says, “we didn’t build what we have by following other people’s rules. We make our own path.”

“Even if it means taking on the whole fucking Syndicate?” I ask.

“Even then,” Atlas confirms. “You’re one of us now, vicious. All the way.”

“And we protect our own,” Nico adds.

“Besides…” Killian’s lips curve into that dangerous look I love so much. “What’s life without a little chaos?”

Something rises in my chest, a mix of admiration and desperation and need. I grab Killian’s shirt, yanking him down to me, pouring everything I’m feeling into the kiss. His lips are warm and familiar against mine, grounding me in the moment, reminding me that no matter what comes next, I’m not alone.

When I pull back, I look over to find Atlas. My heart clenches at the sight of him, still amazed that he’s really here, alive and breathing. I cross to him, being careful of his wounds as I press my lips to his. He groans into the kiss, his hand tangling in my hair.

Finally, I turn to Nico. My Nico. His mismatched eyes are dark with hunger as I step into his space. The kiss starts slow but builds quickly, matching the heat building between us. His hands grip my hips, pulling me closer.

“I want you, mia cara,” he breathes against my lips. Then he pauses, something darker and hungrier crossing his face. “No, I want more than that.”

“What do you want?” I ask, my pulse quickening from his tone and the way he’s looking at me.

His gaze flicks to Atlas and Killian, then back to me. “I want to watch them with you first,” he says. “I want them to fuck you until I can see their cum dripping from your sweet pussy.” He kisses me again, so hard and rough that I can’t help but whimper when he pulls away. “Then I want my turn.”

26

NICO

I grind against Quinn,my cock already hard as a fucking rock after telling her exactly what I want from her.

“You’re still thinking too much, mia cara,” I murmur against her neck, breathing in the scent of jasmine and honey that clings to her skin. The stress from tonight’s meeting with the Syndicate is still there, tensing her muscles, clouding those gorgeous gray eyes. “Let us help you forget for a while.”

Her breath hitches as I bite down on the sensitive spot below her ear. Killian and Atlas watch us with predatory intensity, and I know she’ll get off on putting on a show for them… if I can just get her to fucking let go.

“I can’t just forget what they want me to do,” she whispers, but her body is already responding to me. I can feel her nipples hardening, even through the layers of fabric separating us. “That woman is innocent. Her baby?—”

“We’ll figure it out tomorrow,” Atlas cuts in before I can. “Right now, just be here with us.”

I spin her suddenly, turning her to face my brothers. My hands slide down her sides, possessive, claiming. “You want to know what I love about you, mia cara?” I ask, nipping at her throat. “How much you fucking care. Most people in our world,they’re dead inside. Like my father. Like too many people we all know.”

“Nico…” She tries to turn her head to look at me, but I hold her still.

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