Claiming His Queen

He growls, taking my mouth in a deep kiss that leaves me breathless.

“We’re here,” he says when he pulls back from the kiss. I swear Aidon is pouting right now. He did not want me coming to my mom's warehouse. That’s what it looks like from the outside at least. There are enough rooms for all of Mom’s girls to stay if they needed a place. This is where they train and do anything else they need to.

“You can’t keep me from my mom. Plus, I have things here I want to take home.”

“I’ll buy you all new things.”

I roll my eyes. “Some things are irreplaceable. Like my hardcover books.”

Bran opens the back door. Aidon slips me off his lap, getting out first before offering me his hand.

“I don’t like this,” he grumbles. His hand that’s holding mine tightens.

“Sorry, no men allowed.” I stand on my tiptoes to kiss him. He still has to lean down some for me to reach his mouth.

“Cora!” I turn to see Laura standing in the doorway. She’s all dolled up right now. Her breasts are almost spilling out of her corset. I have to admit that it’s nice to see a familiar face. I’ve been missing my friends from here. Even though Kailler and I have become closer, I’m still breaking down some of her walls.

I bounce over to her, giving her a hug. “When we told you to seduce the man, we didn't mean marry him,” she teases me. I glance over my shoulder at Aidon to see if he might be looking at Laura. I think she is the prettiest of all the girls. And the deadliest. Aidon’s eyes are on me and only me.

“Twenty minutes.” Aidon taps his watch.

“Twenty minutes!”

“It will be nineteen soon.”

“You’re lucky I love you.”

“I am,” he agrees quickly. “I love you too.”

“Okay. You win. I know you might go into withdrawal for me if I’m gone too long.” Laura snorts a laugh.

“We got her, big guy.” Laura pulls me in, shutting the door behind her. “That man looks like he wants to devour you.”

“He does.” I put my hand over my mouth. I can’t believe I just said that. Laura laughs even harder.

“Is my mom here?”

“She’s on a call in her office, but she’ll be out in a few. We let her know that you’re here.”

“Will you let her know I’ll be in my room?”

“Will do.”

I make my way toward my room. It takes me a minute because everyone keeps stopping me to hug me. I’m pretty sure they all think of me as their little sister.

“You’re back.”

“Sara!” I wrap her in a hug. Aidon told me he hadn't hurt any of the girls. They still, however, are on the hunt for who killed Poppy. If we’re all on the same side now, couldn't Sara sit down and talk? Fill in any questions everyone might have.

“You married Aidon Kasteros.” I did. I can tell from the look in her eyes that she hates my husband.

“He’s a good man,” I defend him.

“You don’t get it. You ruined everything. Aidon and Karin will be unstoppable together.”

“That sounds like a good thing?”

“You’re a stupid naïve little girl,” she spits at me. Holy cow she’s mad. “And you’re going to fix this for me and Ashford.” Who is Ashford? Sara grabs my wrist and starts pulling me. “I was going to be at his side. We were going to rule this city together. Until you ruined it all for us.”

From the wild look in Sara’s eyes, I’m not sure she’s all there. I’ve never seen her act this way.

“Maybe we could talk to Mom about this,” I try to reason with her, but she keeps pulling me. I try to jerk my arm back, but it doesn't work. I almost fall on my face in the process.

“No, you’ll fix it. You’re the only one that can.” I start to panic, realizing that she’s headed for the back door. She puts her hand on the scanner to unlock the door. The sun floods into the hallway, blinding me.

“Sara, think about this please. There is no way I can fix this. You’re just going to get yourself killed,” I plead with her. Aidon spared her life once, and based on the conversation we had only moments ago in the car, I know he wouldn’t do it again. Especially now that she’s putting me in danger.

“The only one dying today is you.”

Chapter 20

Aidon

“Let’s get down to business,” I say to Karin Vieth.

“I want six months.”

“For what?” I look down at the plate of desserts set in front of me and wonder if they’re poisoned and whether I want to risk it over a piece of lemon meringue pie that has a cloud of meringue so high that it defies gravity.

“Don’t play coy.”

Would Karin Vieth poison her son-in-law? Yes, the answer is an absolute yes. I allow my fork to clatter to the tabletop before addressing Vieth. “I have no clue what you’re talking about. I’m here to talk territory and free passage for your girls. My region is bigger, but you have a plum spot here in Midtown that everyone wants a piece of since it’s a nice shortcut from my compound to the bay. I don’t need but a small collection of buildings—say four or five. No one’s going to stay here permanently,” I add as she is about to object. “It’ll be a safe house for my men if they need it during a run. You won’t even notice they’re around.”