For the first time, it’s not what Peter might do to my body that I’m afraid of.
It’s what Hook could do to my heart.
Chapter 13
Hook
“You’re not focusing.”
Nigel isn’t wrong. Twenty minutes into this meeting to go over anything pertinent that went down last night and my mind keeps wandering back to Tink up in my bedroom. How she woke me up with a demand to give me a blow job. And then promptly bolted and locked herself in the bathroom.
I shouldn’t have left her like that. She was obviously out of sorts and fucked up, but I can’t be sure that staying would have helped more than it hurt. Which is why I’m sitting here, listening to my cousin go over information that I can guarantee I won’t retain. I drag my hand over my face. “Sorry.”
“How are things coming with her?”
I huff out a rough laugh. “How do you think? Fighting or fucking. Those are the only two modes we have.” Fucking isn’t on the menu right now, either. I’ve laid out my terms, and I’ll be damned before she convinces me to walk them back. I’m the unstoppable force to Tink’s immovable object, and I have to be the one to win. Too much rests on it.
Though I’d be lying if I said fucking her had anything to do with securing the territory against further coups. The marriage was enough to get that ball rolling. No, I want Tink on her knees for me. I want her. Full stop. That’s reason enough for me.
“You could try talking to her.”
I give him the look that deserves. Nigel sighs. “Fine. Fuck. Do what you want. I’ve already put out the news of your wedding. Had some of the kids talk it up on social media, too, in case he’s monitoring that.”
Hard to say. Peter was always a traditionalist, though I suspect it’s because he doesn’t trust new technology. Social media makes the rules more fluid and can get the unwary into trouble, especially when they move through the shadows like we do. Illegal activities and the publicness of the internet do not go well together.
“He’s got people watching us. One way or another, he’ll know she’s here soon.” If he doesn’t already. The knowledge gives me a petty level of satisfaction. Everything of his is mine now. His territory. His people. Even his woman. Tink having belonged to Peter at one point doesn’t make the list of reasons why I want her, but the truth is less important than perception.
A challenge of one monster to another.
Nigel leans back and stretches his arms over his head. “I’ve already reached out to Hades to negotiate having our people pick up her stuff.”
“Good.” It might make her feel more secure to be surrounded by her shit. And she’s got her clothing business to take into account. That won’t stop just because she’s living here. She’d gut me if I so much as suggested it, and I’m not cruel enough to carve away one of the things she fought so hard to establish in her independence. Especially when it’s presents an opportunity to be such an asset.
That doesn’t mean she’ll be able to move around with the same ease she used to. She’s no longer an employee of Hades and in possession of a neutral place as a result. She’s mine, and there are legions of strings that come with that new role.
I file that away as one more thing we have to talk about. Fight about. The same fucking thing.
“Hook!” Colin comes skidding into the room, his eyes too wide.
Instantly, I’m on my feet. “What’s going on?”
“It’s her. Tink. She’s …” He looks over his shoulder like he expects her to appear there and rip him a new one. When he finds the hall empty, he tenses further. “She’s trying to leave. Edgar is holding her off, but it’s not looking good.”
Considering Edgar is six-five and nearly three hundred pounds of muscle, I don’t want to know what Tink’s doing to make it look bad. I share a glance with Nigel, and we both decide speed is the best option because when I sprint after Colin, he’s right on my heels.
The scene I find in the entrance of the building would make me laugh if I didn’t have the intense desire to throttle everyone involved. Edgar is blocking the double doors as best he can, using his body as a shield. Tink stands in front of him, holding a truly impressive knife. It looks like something a hunter would use, large and serrated. Where the fuck did she get that?
“Tink.” I put enough snap in her name that she actually looks at me. Apparently the time apart has not calmed her down any. She looks just as panicked as she did when she ran from me earlier. It makes me want to go to her, but there’s the knife to consider.