Page 36 of Broken Surrender
I smiled to myself. I knew the truth; the Board wouldn’t allow the message that would send to the other members and initiates.
“So what happened to John?” I asked. “We had a deal, but I haven’t heard about the transfer of ownership yet. Did you get rid of him?”
I gave a sly grin. He flinched. It was amusing to make him squirm.
“Why would I do that?”
“Perhaps you want Shin & Co Inc to be yours.”
“As do you, Mr. Callen.”
“Absolutely,” I lied. The truth was that I didn’t care what happened to the company. In fact, all I wanted was to know what products they had so I could use that information against them. If I had my way, they would be declared bankrupt by the end of the year.
“Tell your boss that we need to finish our deal,” I said. “I’m eager to get my hands on Shin & Co Inc.”
“Of course,” Vaughn said. He smiled, but his upper lip curled in a suppressed sneer. “It’s interesting that you come this close to your past acquaintances.”
I adjusted my mask. “This is my first masquerade,” I said.
“You know what I’m talking about.”
I narrowed my eyes, daring him to say it, to expose what we both knew about the past. But he shifted under my gaze and turned away.
“Some people die under unfortunate circumstances, don’t they?” he said, not meeting my eyes. “Whether it’s by suicide, or experimental treatments, or perhaps unlucky circumstances, like a robbery.” He flicked his hand to the side. “In a place like this, the Marked Blooms Syndicate’s masquerade, murder is possible too.”
Who was he talking about? John? My sister?
Lena?
“Let’s hope our sacrifices are lucky tonight,” I said, lifting my glass.
He clinked drinks with me, and after we both took a sip, he nodded in the direction of Lena.
“Who is she?” he asked.
My jaw ticked. He must have known she was John’s wife. What game was he playing at, pretending like he didn’t know her?
“My lover,” I said, extenuating the words.
“And you’re sacrificing her tonight, I suppose?”
“To those who are invited,” I said.
“Pity, isn’t it?” He plastered a grin across his face. “A woman like that is ripe for the taking. Always ready to please. Sopping wet at the slightest touch.” He grabbed my shoulder. “I bet she gets wet for a good beating, doesn’t she?”
My jaw clenched, my temperature rising. “You’ll find your own treat,” I said. I jerked out of his grip.
I immediately found Lena, taking her arm in my grasp, bringing her to the wall, pressing her against it. She breathed into me, soaking me in.
I had never wanted to devour her as much as I did right then. To show everyone that she wasmine.To make sure that she knew that’s all she would be.
But that was never an option. I understood that. I let go of her, fixing my tie, pointing at the bathroom.
“Freshen up,” I said. “The event begins soon.”
She sucked in a breath. “Yes, sir.”
My cock pulsed in my pants and she disappeared behind the door. My mind went to Corinne. She was the only person who would be honestly eligible as an offering from me, and that’s something I wouldneverdo. And now, I was questioning if I could do it with Lena.
