“Or you can stay here and make a try with me.”
Scarlet’s gaze clung to his. He could see the longing there, but then fear crept in. Rejection. She was used to running. Hiding. She believed Holden was a powerful man.
“We’re assassins, Scarlet. Eighteen of us, the original Torpedo Ink members, trained from the time we were children. We have an additional two members: Czar’s brothers both trained in other schools, also from the time they were children. That brings us to twenty. We recently patched over twenty-five members of a club, all trained in a school one step down from ours. Trained assassins, all experienced. All lethal. They could wipe up the floor with a club like the Venomous club. With our prospects and theirs, we’re at fifty. All trained assassins. We aren’t talking men who might have some military training or think they’re badasses because they grew up on the streets.”
“I don’t want any of you to get hurt. He’s very vindictive and he’ll never stop.”
Absinthe shrugged. “He’s going to die. We’re already locked on to him. I want you to come home with me, look at the house and decide if you want that one or if you want to go house hunting. I need to talk with you alone. We have to decide one way or another if you can live with me. I know I can live with you. I want you to stay with me permanently. For me, it’s a done deal. You have to be as certain. Either way, whatever decision you make, I swear, we’ll protect you until Holden’s dead, then you can go your way if I’m not what you want.”
Scarlet’s gaze moved over his face and then jumped back to his eyes. “Any woman in her right mind would want to be with you, Absinthe. I’m not a great bet.”
“Ledi, did I not tell you that I’ve already taken the leap? My brothers know it. My sisters as well. I want you to say yes to me. That’s all I need from you. One fuckin’ word. Come to the house. Look it over. Hear me out and tell me yes or no.” He didn’t wait. He stood up and held out his hand, giving her no option. “A couple of the brothers will come with us just to make certain none of the Venomous club members lose their minds and try to follow us.”
She put her hand in his without hesitation. He closed his fingers around hers. Her hand was so much smaller and felt delicate. He had to remember at all times what she was capable of. Czar had been right; he might have hesitated had she attacked him. The more he was with her, the more he could feel the connection to her growing stronger.
The ride to the house was smooth. She was a good passenger, moving with him and the Harley as if born to do so. He slowed as they approached the drive, wanting her to see the way the slow-curving road opened up to the beautiful sprawling explosion of plants. The former owners had been master gardeners and they’d spent a great deal of years putting together so many amazing areas, each with colorful flowers or bushes that were indigenous to the coast. Pathways of blue and gray stone rambled through various gardens, matching the fence surrounding the property and the house itself. The house was a single story, with high, vaulted ceilings, gables and rambling verandahs. It was shaped like a U with a courtyard of stunning gardens to enjoy.
He parked the bike close to the front stairs and sat for a minute, taking his time, watching her as she wandered around near the back porch looking toward the ocean. The views were spectacular. He’d paid for those views. He loved the house, but he’d paid for the way his home sat on the bluff perfectly overlooking the ocean on three sides. He could sit anywhere on his verandah from those three sides and see the waves crashing. When he was on the front of the house, he was surrounded by the garden.
“This is incredible. You own this? I love it and I haven’t even seen inside.”
He slid off the Harley and walked up the stairs to her. She had her head tilted back and the sun hit the red in her hair so that it blazed with fire. “Take your hair down, baby.” He leaned down and brushed a kiss along her cheek. “I love when it tumbles down your back like a waterfall. It’s so fuckin’ sexy I can barely breathe.”
She followed him to the front door, her hands in her hair as he inserted the key and stepped back to allow her to walk in first. The floors were hardwood. He hadn’t yet gotten the throw rugs he wanted to make it warmer. Anya told him he needed a few, especially in front of his fireplaces. He had two. One in the living room and one in the master bedroom.