Page 22 of Gambit
“Yes. Your mother’s brother, Liam. He has two sons. The other one is Cian.”
“Hmm. Is he older or younger than Robert?”
“Older and trouble, so don’t go looking, hmm? Not yet. Get this year out of the way, and then you will be free to do whatever you need to do.”
“Understood.”Like hell.
He gives me a long look then, searching my face for something—weakness, maybe, or hesitation. He finds neither. I’m made of tougher stuff than that.
“Good,” he says finally, and there’s a hint of respect in his tone—maybe even pride. “Stay vigilant, Elizabeth. We’re at the top because we never stop climbing.”
“Always.”
His eyes narrow, searching mine for the slip-up he’s itching for about the abduction. I just know it. But I’m airtight, locked down, a fortress with a smile. There are no cracks for doubt to seep through, no whispered confessions waiting to fall from my lips. “Remember who you are.”
“I can’t forget, and neither can Felix. He needs to be brought in. I trust him.”
“We’ll see.”
Knowing I won’t get any further with this, I nod and rise, moving around to give him a tight hug before slipping out the door and leaving the oppressive air of the office behind.
The living room feels like another world entirely. All is fixed up after the fight with Felix, which seems like a lifetime ago, and I smile at them. “Ready?” I ask, feeling their collective strength bolster my own.
“Everything alright?” Raph asks, his sharp gaze scanning my expression for any signs of trouble.
“Of course,” I reply, keeping my tone light. “Just another chat about family loyalty now that I have more than one.”
“Ah, yeah, figured it might be about that,” Oliver remarks, his voice carrying the gentle undercurrent of concern that he never fully manages to hide.
“And you didn’t think to mention that earlier?”
He grins. “Didn’t want to pile onto the pressure.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I assure him.
“Let’s get out of here,” James says, already heading toward the door. His protective instincts are always at the forefront, and right now, I’m grateful for it.
I slide into the Merc beside Ollie, letting the familiar scent of leather and the guys’ subtle colognes envelop me. It’s an intoxicating blend of safety and desire that I’ll never tire of. They surround me, a barrier between me and the rest of the world, and as we drive away from the mansion, I allow myself a moment to simply exist with them—strong, untouchable, and irrevocably theirs.
12
ELIZA
I’m loungingon the couch, scrolling through my phone, when a notification pops up. It’s from Lucas. I don’t need to open it to know that shit’s about to go down.
“Guys. We got a message from Lucas.”
James, Raph, Tarq, and Oliver materialise around me, their expressions tense with anticipation.
“What’s the word?” James asks.
I read aloud, “Potential power play from the outside.”
“Fuck,” Raph curses. “Outside is pissing me off.”
“Yeah, no shit. But we listen to what our guy has to say,” I say firmly. “Let’s meet him in his usual spot.”
As we pile out of the door, I can feel the tension rising. We’ve faced threats before, but this feels different—more dangerous. Outside can mean a lot of things, and none of them are good.
