Page 33 of Ruthless Bonds

“OK then—I’ll let her know you stopped by.”

She looked as if she wanted to say something else, but didn’t, just smiled brightly and thanked me before heading back down the hall. I’d have to tell Dove she’d stopped by because I was sure Agent Greene would text her. I really didn’t want her here when I wasn’t home. Especially since there had been no developments in Dove’s case. There were no answers as to who had done this to her, and I was worried that Agent Greene was doing more harm than good with all her pestering.

The days blurred together as I focused on finding inspiration to take photos for the competition. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched and I constantly checked over my shoulder. Nothing was ever there, though.

Lucky for me and my wallet, the bar was packed every single night. It was like since the bar had been closed for the weekend, everyone had a lot of drinking to make up for. Hell, I couldn’t blame them.

A group of office workers cheered when I brought them another round of shots. They were celebrating someone’s promotion and were not shy about tipping. The skimpy pink tank top and skintight shorts I wore probably didn’t hurt either.

I filled drink orders, chatted with regulars, and even gave some advice to a heartbroken woman who’d been stood up. By the time we closed and cleaned everything up, exhaustion had taken over me. But on the bright side, I had to have pulled in over three hundred in tips. Mentally I’d already split up the money for gas, groceries, but most of it to rent. Because, believe it or not, I still hadn’t heard from Dylan.

Solene and I chatted at her car while we waited for Drake to lock up. A few minutes later, I hugged them goodbye and then turned to unlock my door.

No sooner did Solene and Drake disappear from my sight than a black sedan pulled into the parking lot. My skin prickled with goosebumps.Rule number one: always trust the goosebumps.My keys fell to the ground, not once, but twice, and I realized that I would probably never survive a horror movie. I snatched them up and attempted to unlock my door with fumbling fingers. Before I could open it, heavy footsteps approached from behind. With only a second to think, I reached down and pulled my knife out of my boot, turning to face whoever was coming.

In one smooth move, Kreos yanked the knife out of my hand and slipped it into his pocket. He stepped forward until my back was pressed against my car door. One thing was for certain.

He was pissed.

And that anger was directed all at me.

Chapter Six

Kreos

I could sense her fear, like a shark sensing blood in the water. Her green eyes widened, then blazed with fire when she realized it was me.

God, she was fucking beautiful when she was angry. Her pouty red lips were begging to be kissed. Devoured. To be made mine.

Fury ran through me as I gripped her wrist and dragged her to my car. “Get in the fucking car, now,” I said through clenched teeth.

Her eyes narrowed, as if she was unsure of what to do. The look on my face must have convinced her not to put up a fight, and she slid into the backseat. I climbed in behind her and slammed the door. Her perfume, light and sexy as fuck, permeated the car. I slid the divider up so my driver couldn’t smell her.

Nobody got to smell her perfume except me.

I didn’t know what I was madder about, the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about her, or the fact that she was wearing next to nothing, flaunting her body all night while she worked.

In reality, what I should have been mad about was that fucking FBI agent. The cameras I’d had installed in Alora’s apartment while she and Dove were in my Manhattan penthouse didn’t pick up the view from the hallway. I hadn’t seen Alora’s face, but herposture told me the agent was unwelcome.

Gavriil had looked into it after he grilled me incessantly regarding Alora. “I can’t advise you if you don’t tell me everything.”

The truth was, this time, I didn’t want his input. I knew I wouldn’t like it. I’d told him what he needed to know and affirmed I had it under control.

Turned out the FBI agent was working on Dove’s case. I was surprised Alora hadn’t told me. Of course, why would she? I was a monster to her and her sister. That didn’t sit well with me. I was a lot of things, but I’d never laid a hand on a woman. I wasn’t like my father and uncles, far from it. It repulsed me to think about what Dove had gone through.

Per usual, the incompetent agents at the FBI had no leads and no viable intel. At my request, Gavriil agreed to dive deeper into it.

There was so much work to be done, and yet I found myself constantly checking the video feed in her apartment. I’d had Sago install cameras in her unit—everywhere except the bathroom, of course, because I wasn’t a fucking deviant. It was for her own protection. She belonged to me, and I protected all my valuable belongings. No one else had access to the camera feed, or knew what I’d done, other than Sago, and I trusted him just as much as I did Gavriil.

I kept tabs on her throughout the day, ensuring no one bothered or touched her. She was always on the move, going to the art studio, taking photos, buying groceries.

She was working too much. Exhausting herself.

And I didn’t like it.

But that wasn’t why I was here.

“What the hell is going on?” She scooted further down the seat, closer to the other door.

---