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Warm arms drew her closer until all she could feel was Sevastyan’s and Matteo’s strength wrapping around her—body and soul. Roman slammed the lid to the laptop closed, shutting out the horrors of the video.
Streams of tears wet her cheeks, and she buried her face into Matteo’s neck, taking comfort from the steady beat of his heart.
“Shh, cariña, you never should have watched that. Never should have witnessed that horror, mí amor.”
“God, how much more can you take?” Sevastyan’s softly accented voice worked to help calm a fraction of her rage. He held her tighter, and she heard him curse under his breath as raging sobs tore from her uncontrollably. How could he comfort her when it was her father who let his brother die? She’d recognized that tattoo instantly. It was the only part of him they hadn’t skinned. Sevastyan probably thought her father deserved the torturous death Dimitris gave him.
“They left him to suffer like that, Sevastyan. He could have suffered hours before they finally killed him.”
“You can’t think of that. You mustn’t. Take it from me. Clear it from your mind.”
She pushed out of his arms, her tears blurring his image in front of her. “I need to leave. I don’t belong here, Sevastyan. Your world, your rules. Look at what it did to my father. What he did to your brother!” She clutched at the sides of her head, trying to understand all the violence. The rage. The thirst for power that cost people their lives.
She moved to push by him but he had his arms around her again, and this time she didn’t have the strength left in her to fight.
A part of her died in that instant. Shriveled up inside her and lost all meaning of love and hope.
The door to the private office closed as she sensed the other men leaving them.
“Where are they going?”
“They need to prepare and want to give us a moment. They aren’t far, milaya moya.”
With a hand on her head, he tucked her under his chin. “Just feel my heartbeat. Count them out if you have to because all of them are for you. Take comfort that the horror is already over. You’re safe. We told you no harm will ever come to you. Not while you are with us. Trust me. Trust what you feel between us and let that guide you back.”
“But it’s not, Sevastyan.” She stepped back to look up at him. “What about the people in those containers? They are going to sell them. The auction isn’t for ‘priceless art’. It’s for people. And they’re going to sell them to the highest bidder and my father helped. He took those kidnapped victims and used our name and company to ruin their lives. For money.” The longer she talked the sicker she became. “Money I took. I used.” The words were torn from the deepest part of her soul.
“Unknowingly. Don’t even try to think that you had anything to do with this. None of what is happening here is your fault.”
He gathered her shaking body in his arms and sank into the nearby sofa, pulling her to sit within his embrace. Cocooned within his powerful arms, his essence cascaded over her raw nerves and emotions, soothing her ragged breathing.
Rhia hung her head, not bothering to sweep aside the loose tendrils of hair that had escaped her messy bun.
Something shifted behind his eyes. A brother thirsty for vengeance peeked out from behind a veil and he fell silent. Though invisible, a destructive sheen settled over him, causing his body to stiffen beneath her weight. He stroked a thumb over her thigh where he held her close, but the longer they sat in silence the more oppressive the darkness in him became. She could feel it as though his emotions were her own.
Sevastyan’s expression tightened, grew haunted, and she could see him wanting to slip into the darkness as if born from the shadows. Where he walked and lived, she realized with instant clarity. The storm around them was beginning to swirl. Havoc waited for them just beyond the horizon.
She cupped his face in her palms and gently brought his gaze to hers.
Haunted darkness greeted her despite the pretty gold set of his irises demanding he claim her. She instantly missed the man she made love to last night. The man that had let himself enjoy her body. Smile even.
“Don’t hide from me. That’s too easy. We both saw what was on that video. What happened to your brother, Sevastyan? This time I need to know the truth. No leaving anything out.”
Hard eyes came to rest on her. He swiped at the tears on her cheeks, but still, he didn’t speak. Currents of banked power wafted around them like an impending storm.
“I’ve witnessed the horrors you’ve tried to hide from me. Is that why you held back at first. Why you didn’t make love to me that first night together?”
Soft, warm male lips brushed against her neck. He cupped her face between his palms and kissed her gently. “Yes,” he mouthed against her lips. “I was afraid of how much I wanted you. How much it clouded my judgment. My brother’s death has left a stain on me. I can’t—won’t—have you a part of that. What I am going to do tonight will drag you down to hell with me, and I won’t be responsible for handing your soul over to the devil. He can have mine, but he won’t have yours. You’re an angel. Our angel and filled with too much light.”
He stood and helped her to her feet. “Matteo will see you home. Gather your valuables and he will see to it that you are taken to safety.”
Sevastyan pressed a kiss to the top of her head and he turned, ready to walk away.
From her. From them. From what they shared last night.
Her mouth hinged open. “Like hell.” Blood boiled with anger and fear until all she could see was Sevastyan’s blood running in the streets as he lay dying. No one else would be losing their lives if she could help it. Especially her kings.
“You’re not walking into that viper pit tonight without me. I’m going to be at your side whether you like it or not. If I’m to be queen, then I will be at the front lines leading not in the back hiding. Don’t do that to me. Don’t ask that of me. Don’t take my choices away.”
