Heartless Lover (Dark Syndicate 5)

7

Eric

As I walk through the glass doors at Romanov Logistics, I try to steady my mind and get into business mode.

This is where I meet Aiden and Maksim to discuss Bratva business. We’re here a few days a week on an informal basis. The larger Brotherhood meetings are held at the multi-story building in town.

This is the first chance I’ve had to brief Aiden, and because Massimo wants me to focus on Robert and Micah, I have a feeling I won’t be here for a while after today. So, I need to get my head together. It’s just that my fucking head is still spinning with all sorts of sinful ideas on what I could do with Summer Reeves and that perfect body of hers.

I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me.

I wish I could say I was joking around with Summer as I taunted her to earn her way, but I wasn’t. There wasn’t a damn thing I said to her I didn’t mean.

I think at first, I wanted to scare her. I did, and threw her off course from her demands concerning her sister. Then somehow, I went too far. I can’t even pinpoint when I took that direction. It just happened, and if I’m honest, that little scene we had was bound to happen.

From the state of her tight, taut nipples outlined against the fabric of my shirt, I knew she was aroused. That was enough. Even though I tried to remind myself of what mattered and what I should be focusing on, I couldn’t eradicate the desire to break down her resolve and explore her.

Unknown to her, my intentions weren’t of the asshole variety I usually portray to the world.

My refusal to let her go to the store or back to the cottage were due to the fact that it’s not completely safe yet. And it won’t be until my men and I finish checking into things. I need another day at the very least.

Because I still don’t have a fucking clue where Robert is, I have to be careful. The moment there’s any inkling he’s here in L.A. or sniffing around anything to do with Summer’s family, it will mean he’s figured out the truth. Then I would have lost the upper hand.

My refusal to allow her to do anything with regards to her sister was different. That was me being mindful. I’d go as far as calling it thoughtful.

I’m not entirely gone in my mind that I can’t be aware of the grief she must be feeling. In addition to the grief, Summer also blames herself for Scarlett’s death, but she shouldn’t. What happened wasn’t her fault.

It was just one of those fucked up things that happen in life.

I shouldn’t care one way or the other, but maybe I do on some level because I know what it’s like to blame yourself when things go so wrong you can never fix them. That’s what happened to my mother and sister while I was in captivity. Terrible things happened to them that neither speaks of, and they all happened because of me.

So, I can understand to some degree what Summer must be going through. However, I’ve never been blamed for someone’s death before.

That’s something I don’t think anyone can understand unless it happens to you.

There is no need for her to see that recording of her sister dying, and quite frankly, I was surprised she wanted to see it. Then I saw the guilty look in her eyes, and I realized, like a sadist, she wanted the pain. She needed the pain.

As far as going to her sister’s house is concerned, I felt it was too soon.

Earlier I already arranged for someone to go there and sort the place out. That was a courtesy to her father too as he’s sick and grieving.

I also considered how Summer might feel if she went to the house and saw it looking like her sister still lives there. I was certain it would it make her feel worse.

I remember the feeling all too well from when my father died.

I wasn’t allowed in his actual home, but there were places he used to go where I’d see him. Like his private office in the city. It was me who cleaned that up and only because his assistant allowed it.

My father was the chairman of the original Syndicate and the closest thing they had to a leader. He was killed in a bombing that took out the majority of the members as a result of a plot to steal their wealth.

When I heard he died, I didn’t know what to do with myself, and I suspected more at work. I was right, and when I started digging around, I unearthed all manner of shit, including it was the very people I’d aligned myself with that had a hand in his death.

I wanted out of everything before I discovered those truths, but I got myself in more trouble when I refused to make the weapon from my grandfather’s designs.

I was being hunted, and all I managed to do was write a letter to Massimo and send my sister to deliver it. I’d hoped I could help in some way to right wrongs, but it wasn’t to be because my best friend stabbed me in the back.

When I walk into Aiden’s office, he straightens up. So does Maksim.

“Morning, guys,” I say, and they both dip their heads.