A Promise of Torment (A Violent Agenda)

Adrien gives him a bank look. “Making sure my asset is well-protected.”

Dino shakes his brother off. “What is that?” he spits out. “What the fuck does it do?”

Kristian chuckles. “Calm down, little brother, it’s just a tracker.”

Gigi lets go of me, and so do the others. I pick myself up with a grimace and glare at my father. When I was a kid, I learned how to get out of the ankle bracelets. But this one is a model I’ve never seen. Adrien has moved on since I was twelve, obviously.

Adrien looks at me. “If you are quite finished, take your seat.”

When I don’t move, Adrien moves his hand holding the gun until it points at Dino. “Now.”

Kristian’s face darkens but my father doesn’t notice.

Interesting. He doesn’t like that.

I brush myself off, suppressing the burn inside my chest at my father for threatening what’s mine, and take my place at the table.

But Adrien keeps the gun on Dino.

I look around. The steak knife is gone. Gigi must have picked it up.

“So, whose offers are on the table already?” I ask sweetly, gritting my teeth. Adrien nods, taking my interest as further evidence of my newfound obedience.

I can feel the tracking device weighing my foot down as I cross my legs.

“Mine, of course,” says Kristian, practically licking his lips.

“And mine,” Dino pipes up.

Lorcan looks at me darkly but doesn’t utter a fucking word. Finn laughs when no one else offers.

“Fuck it, I’ll put my hat in the ring,” says Griffin gruffly.

I arch a brow. Griffin is twice my age and then some. Still, he’s good looking for an older man. I wouldn’t say no, but I’m surprised. He has daughters my age already from his previous marriage. And the way he looks at me isn’t the same way the others do.

“If we’re all doing it, then count me in too,” says Finn, still chuckling.

I roll my eyes.

I refuse to look at Lorcan who hasn’t even deigned to speak to me since he arrived. As the staff appear to take away the dinner plates and bring dessert, there’s movement at the corner of my eye from Lorcan’s seat.

“Well, I’m not. I’m fucking done for the night,” Lorcan clips out, throwing his napkin on the table, stalking out of the room.

Dino openly scowls at the retreating form of his friend. I don’t even bother to waste energy on making a facial expression. I expected Lorcan to act like this. It’s what he does. He’s just like me in that way. Petulant.

“I’ll review the offers and make my decision by tomorrow evening. I’m having some friends over. You’re all invited to stay, of course. We have plenty of beds,” Adrien says. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have more guests to attend.”

Dino throws me a look to say, ‘we’re staying’.

“Wait, do we not get to test the goods?” Kristian says smoothly. I look at him as he regards me back, leaning in his chair like he already owns the estate and everything in it.

Dino’s jaw tightens and he shoots a dangerous look at his brother. “What the fuck, Kristian?”

“I’d like to know that answer too,” says Finn, smirking.

Adrien’s face darkens. “No one is to touch one hair on her head or take my daughter off the premises until I’ve made my fucking decision. Got that?”

“Of course,” Kristian says. “No touching until tomorrow.”