Page 115 of Phantom
Scarlett inhales a shaky, steadying breath. “It was you that night, wasn’t it? You’re the one who… when I killed my father’s murderer, you were there, weren’t you?”
“His name was Two-Shot…” I hesitate for a second before finally admitting the whole truth. “That man killed my father. I tracked him once I was strong and capable in the art ofaccidents. I found him outside Commander’s Palace that night and had my rope ready. I’d planned to take care of him there and then stage his body at his own home. But I realized he was waiting for someone,lookingfor someone, and I stayed in the shadows to spy on him. Then you came out searching for your father. You were… captivating. My inability to stay focused almost cost you your life. It was obvious you were innocent in all this, so when Two-Shot attacked you, I almost lost it and blew my cover. But your father finally came out of hiding and took his shot. I was too late to stop Two-Shot from returning fire.”
“My father was a Chatelain informant. That’s why he began to perform in the French Quarter. It was to get closer to the Bordeaux shadows. Rand said that my father betrayed the Chatelains almost a decade ago, but Rand only found out last year. That’s why he sent Two-Shot to assassinate him.” She confirms my suspicions with shame heavy in her voice as she lowers her head.
“He tried to do right in the end. But the bullet hit Two-Shot in the shoulder. Your father’s shot was wide.”
“My shots weren’t.” Glorious fury glitters in her eyes. Just like that night when her darkness called to me and I answered. “Iknewhe was dead, but when the police came, he and the gun were gone…”
She trails off, her moonlight gaze locks with mine as I continue.
“When you ran to check on your father, I looped my noose around Two-Shot’s neck and made sure the job was finished before hiding him in a nearby grave. I didn’t know what the issue between Two-Shot and your father was. Rand may be telling the truth, but if your father betrayed the Chatelains, mine didn’t tell us. Ben and I were only fifteen when my father died and he kept the business private because we were minors. I was afraid Rand’s proxy would retaliate against you if they found out that you were the one who killed their best assassin. On top of that, you were young and still full of understandable rage. I didn’t want them or the police to come after you, or ask you questions about the gun you used since it was a Chatelain pistol—”
“What does that mean?”
“The Chatelains deal in drugs, weapons, and women. I could tell the gun was one of theirs because of the model and the filed-off serial numbers.” Her eyes widen. “I didn’t want this distraught victim to get caught up in the criminal legalities and questions of a stolen gun. It was better for everyone, and especially you, if the murderer and the gundisappeared.”
“You protected me that night.”
“And I’ll never stop. After I witnessed you exact justice on my father’s assassin, my obsession with revenge transformed into a craving for you. I haven’t been able to resist you ever since. Your light, your darkness, your passion…youhaveconsumed me every moment. You became more than an obsession. You became everything. But now you’ve asked me to leave you alone, so protection is where my obsession ends now.”
Her moonlight eyes plead, bright in the golden light flickering around us. “What do I have to do to get you to… to want me again?”
“It’s never been a matter ofmewantingyou, Scarlett,” I growl.
She swallows. “What do I have to do to get you to believe thatIwantyou, then? How can I convince you to forgive me?”
I watch her carefully as the firelight dances across her smooth alabaster skin before finally making my decision. “If you want me to trust you again, prove to me you don’t think I’m a monster.”
That sexy plump bottom lip purses in question. “How do I do that?”
“Beg for it.”
Scene 30
LIKE SHE NEEDS IT
Sol
Her eyes widen with shock and hunger and my cock lengthens in anticipation. An evil smirk crosses my face and I begin to lazily unbutton my shirt. My gaze homes in on her tongue as it darts out.
“B-Beg for it? H-how?”
As I once again unveil the multitude of scars and tattoos I have crisscrossing all over my chest and torso, her expression only gets more ravenous. My muscles and shaft tense, ready to move and thrust inside her when she crosses her legs under her long dress, no doubt trying to keep her arousal from dripping down her creamy inner thighs.
Once I’ve finished removing my shirt, I toss it onto the couch and study her features. My chest thrums with cautious hope at her expression. There’s no horror, only the same starved ache I’ve had riding me every day I’ve had to be without her this week.
“Strip for me.”
Her cheeks flush as she bites her lip and loops her thumbs under the straps on her dress. My gaze catches the rip in her plunging neckline, and rage has my head pounding and my fists clenching to the point of pain.
I have half a mind to wait and lock Scarlett in my apartment for her safety while I go kill Rand. But I trust Sabine and Jaime to keep him secured for me and I know Scarlett. She needs this right now.
She needs to know I trust her before we separate again. Without that reassurance, her thoughts could spiral while she’s alone. And I want her to know I’ve got her back before we face the monster in my dungeon.
She pulls the fabric over her shoulders and lets go. Satin flutters to the ground, leaving her awaiting my next command in a black strapless bra and thong.
“Strip everything,” I specify, unable to produce anything but a growl while I hold myself back from taking her here and now.
