The Bond (Unbroken Raine Falling 4)

“Thanks. I’ll double bag.”

“Good. If you’re going to take one for the team, you don’t want to be regifting anything nasty to your next conquest, like a bad fruitcake at Christmas.”

“You’re sure she’ll be in the bar downstairs, right?”

“Yep.” Seth nodded “According to her social media, this hotel bar is her Thursday evening watering hole. A little Google mapping tells me it’s close to the financial district, which is an environment rich in both men and money. Supposedly, she’s meeting people later, so she’s arriving early to stalk her prey—I mean, grab a table. You’ll have to work fast and get ’er done before then.”

“Got it.” River nodded. “Walk me through all these high-tech gadgets. I don’t want to fuck anything up. This may be the only chance I get to make things right with my sister and her, um…”

“Doms or lovers,” Seth supplied. “I’m sure either is cool with them. But they’ve both asked to be her husband.”

“Seriously?” That surprised River. “Then why isn’t she getting married? Did Raine turn them down?”

“Yep.”

“She has the power to say no?”

Seth reared back. “Absolutely. Normally I’d tell you to butt out of their business, but I get being worried about family. Your sister isn’t a slave, and she doesn’t give them her control because she’s weak. Raine may look delicate. Emotionally, I’ve seen her fragile. But she has a damn strong will.”

“Then why is she into the whole submission thing?”

“Hang around for a while and you might understand. But I promise you, your sister has tons of power over those two. The first time I met her?” Seth laughed. “She’d left them both without a word because they were former best friends bickering over her like idiots. For two days, they searched for her—together. While she was hanging at Beck’s place, cozying up to a bottle of Cuervo—and oh—beating the shit out of your dad, Hammer and Liam were finally having the first civil conversation they’d managed since allowing her to come between them. When she came back, Raine handed them their balls. They got their shit together fast after that. Otherwise, she’d made it clear they were both going to lose her. You look shocked.”

“Yeah. I watched them chastise her for coming to visit her own damn brother. She knelt at their feet and…” River shuddered. “Ugh.”

“Yeah, I guess you’d see that, but let me give you the Dominant interpretation of that day. Their pregnant submissive put herself in potential danger without their protection or permission. It’s their job to keep her safe, and she agreed to their boundaries. But to see you, she risked everything. If you still don’t think that’s a big deal, they were both ready to kill you after that stunt you pulled at the spa. So, yeah, she knelt. She loves and respects them, so that was the very least she owed them. Frankly, if my sub had done what Raine did…” Seth shook his head. “Displeased doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

River tried to wrap his head around that. “She’ll kneel for them, have a baby with them, but refuse to marry one of them?”

“Well, the baby part wasn’t planned,” Seth explained. “But think of it this way: if a relationship with two is hard, it’s a downright fucking challenge with three. After their jealousy issues, Raine has to be fair and equal to maintain balance. It can’t be easy.”

“Yeah.” He still didn’t like the idea of his sister shacked up with two guys both older than him…but he couldn’t deny they loved her. And she loved them. “I just want Raine happy. Shut up and show me what to do.”

He paid close attention as Seth pointed out where he’d stashed the recording devices in the room earlier that day, making mental notes about where he should stand or lay so Seth could capture optimal audio and video.

“Let’s do a quick sound check, then you’ll be good to go.”

Several adjustments later, Seth gave him the thumbs-up.

“You’re ready.” He clapped River on the back. “Now go be a hero.”

Once the guy had disappeared into the adjoining room, River took a long, hot shower, shaved, and sprayed on the pheromone cologne Raine had shoved in his hands designed to drive women wild with lust.

Carefully laying his Class A’s out across the bed, River skimmed his fingers over the rows of ribbons, medals, and patches—milestones of his multiple tours in Afghanistan. Closing his eyes, he sent up a mental salute to his brothers who hadn’t made it home from that godforsaken fuckhole.

After meticulously donning his dress blues, he slanted the beret on his head and slapped a hand to his bicep. Paying silent homage, he pressed his fingers against the Unit Insignia, the Special Forces, Ranger, and Airborne rockers at the top of his sleeve. Adjusting his tie once more, he waved to Seth in one of the hidden cameras, then strutted out the door.