Page 101 of Vicious Intentions

“Uh-huh,” I told her. “You’ll be wearing a collar, and one of us will have control of the leash.”

“You’re so mean,” she purred.

“You got that right.” I grinned, twisting her nipple until she moaned. I could ravage the girl’s body for hours and still never get enough.

The moment of passion was short-lived, the sound of Hunter’s phone drawing our attention away from the beautiful woman curled at our sides.

He eased off the bed, grabbing his jeans.

“You were expecting a call?” Cristiano asked as he rolled over, kissing Sage on the lips.

“Yeah, one of my employees has a unique ability to find out any information, even if it’s been well hidden.”

Cristiano grinned. “And you thought our boy was too vanilla.”

I had a massive computer system at my disposal, the hackers I employed able to slide by every fire wall from the FBI to the CIA without being detected. It was only a matter of time before connections were made.

Hunter gave him his middle finger before answering the call. “Jarvis. What did you find out?” He paced the floor while Jarvis mentioned whatever he’d found.

I tossed back the covers, dragging my tongue across her nipple before jumping out of bed. “I’ll be right back.” I’d pushed off opening the envelope for long enough. I yanked it from my trousers, walking to the door leading to the balcony. There was just enough light coming from inside the room that I should be able to read whatever notification Sage’s father had dared send.

The old anger jetted to the surface, but I tamped it back. I’d already made the decision the man wouldn’t be touched. There would be more harm done than a benefit added.

I was the kind of man who never allowed anything to surprise me. That’s because I’d grown up learning to expect the worst. To have my stomach in knots while I pulled out multiple pages was odd, and I debated bagging the read. But something compelled me to find out what was important enough for a man known as the Iceman because of his lack of remorse and his creativity in methods of extermination to dare send me anything.

After taking a deep breath, I read the information.

Then my thoughts drifted to Sage. Everything about the woman had surprised me, including her tenacity and resolve. She was one of the strongest people I’d ever met, her love of her family unwavering. She trusted me enough to be able to share the truth, carrying a burden that shouldn’t have been placed on her shoulders.

The three of us had been drawn to each other ten years before, just as we’d been once again, not knowing the truth. In her, we’d found something perfectly unexpected, something as dark and broken as the rest of us. But in the shattered pieces, she’d offered something even more precious.

Hope.

And love.

I adored the woman with everything I had and would honor her until the day I died.

I lifted my head, studying the twilight sky, stars already peeking through the thin clouds from before. There were methods of betrayal that I was accustomed to in the business I was in.

Then there were those that could steal your breath.

Cristiano walked outside, narrowing his eyes. I handed him the letter and accompanying proof, then gripped the railing. As the seconds passed, I concentrated on the sound of my thudding heart as the scent of her continued to linger in my nostrils. Light to darkness. Good to evil.

I didn’t deserve a second chance, but I would take it.

Only after righting the wrongs that should have been handled long ago.

“Shit,” he said quietly.

“Yeah.”

“What are you going to do?” I heard the concern in Cristiano’s voice. He’d heard the gory stories, had experienced my battles with what a school psychologist had called PTSD.

I knew a part of me was dangerous as well as unhinged. You couldn’t put a child through a minefield and not expect him to come out a little crazy. But this was…

The ache in my gut about my brother swept through me as painfully as it had done all those years ago. “I’m not sure.”

Hunter moved outside, shaking his head.

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