Page 46 of Seduction

“Luke!” he bellows for me, and I set Haliee down on the couch beside Torren before meeting Matt at the door.

“What? What is it?” I ask him and he points to a small box sitting just outside the door.

“What the fuck is that?” I curse, kneeling to look it over and catch Haliee’s name on the sticker. “Shit,” I curse under my breath, and he snorts.

“No shit. I can only think of one person that would send her a gift wrapped like this,” he points out and I agree, swallowing the lump in my throat and picking it up.

“Get Ollie to check the camera and see who dropped it here. It didn’t just magically fucking appear,” I snarl, and he nods heading back into the living room.

“Lukas?” Haliee’s voice is small when I come back in the room. “What is it?”

“I don’t know, Scratch, but it’s for you.” I sit down on the floor in front of her, my seat taken by Creed now, but I don’t care.

“I don’t want to open it,” she whispers, and I get it.

“Are you alright if one of us opens it for you?” I ask and wait for her response.

Haliee

I don’t even want to know what could be inside that box, but I know who it’s from.

This isn’t the first time Dimitri has played this game with me, but it will be the last.

Over the years, random gifts would just show up for me and always contain some form of letter. I’ve never actually seen any of them, but Dad told me about them a few years ago.

Letters that changed with my age. When I was younger, they would be about my favourite parks to play, or my favourite toys. Just ways to taunt Dad to let him know that his eyes were always on me.

When I turned sixteen, the letters became more aggressive and dominating as a way to try and claim ownership, but now? Now I have no idea what could be inside this box. All I know is there will for sure be a letter to go with it because I don't think he would change his game now.

My biggest fear though is it will contain a piece of my father inside.

“Ye—yeah, just um, if it’s something really bad don’t let me see it,” I croak out, my fear obvious as Creed pulls me over to his lap and Torren moves closer to hold my hand.

“I promise, Scratch,” Luke says as Ollie comes back with his iPad.

“You aren’t going to believe this shit.” He shakes his head and looks annoyed. “A fucking drone dropped it off before banging against the door.”

We all stare at him as he shakes his head. That’s some next level shit in order to not be caught or reveal who may be involved.

“I’m not even sure why we’re surprised. He’s not going to easily give up his allies,” Luke says as he starts ripping the box open.

Inside the wrapping box is a long, black velvet box that he opens, and sighs in relief.

I guess I wasn’t the only one worried about something sinister being inside.

“What is it?” Tor asks, squeezing my hands. We’re the only ones who can’t see it since Lukas is facing us.

“A heart necklace with a diamond pendant on the inside.” He frowns, then pulls out a rolled-up piece of paper. “And this.”

The letter. Just like I knew there would be.

I hold my hand out, requesting it and he watches me for a moment before handing it over.

It’s the first letter I will ever actually see and read, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

“Dad told me a few years ago that he would randomly send these letters, always addressed to me.” I take a deep breath and gather my bearings. “He never let me see them, but they would always be a taunt to let us know that he was close and watching us, and we always ran.” I shake my head, looking at my guys.

“It’s okay, baby girl. You don’t have to read it if you don’t want to,” Barren soothes me from the other couch, and I give him a sad smile.

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