Consumed (Blood Ties Book 9)

Do you want him over me?

The question still lingered as I climbed into the Hummer. I answered him, but Riven didn’t believe me. I knew that because he refused to meet my gaze as he closed the door.

Thud.

Water ran down the sides of my nose. Thomas and Kane were quiet beside me. Even Hunter flicked those dark eyes my way, watching me in the rear-view mirror. He said nothing as Riven climbed into the seat, just shoved the four-wheel drive into gear and pulled back out of the alley.

I didn’t want the Sons.

Adrenaline surged inside, making my pulse race and my thoughts freeze. It wasn’t desire…but it was something.

“You okay?” Thomas murmured beside me.

I looked his way, desperate for solace, and found love. I didn’t want those others. But how could I describe that pull toward them? It was like gravity was lopsided, like somehow my balance was off and I felt myself falling whenever they were around.

I didn’t want them.

I turned away, staring at the bright lights reflected in the puddles on the edge of the road. Vivienne would know how this felt. She’d know exactly what to say. I lifted my gaze as we left the towering buildings behind, making for the quiet residential streets where those who had money lived.

It was a Mafia neighborhood. Dark sedans sat on street corners. Armed men paid to keep watch for trouble. We were trouble. I was, anyway. I glanced at the back of Riven’s head. Trouble for them. That panicked fluttering in my chest grew bolder. Trouble for them and everyone else who loved me.

We turned once more. My focus shifted to the massive, opulent house at the end of the cul-de-sac. Flashes of memories invaded and terror followed as we pulled up alongside the curb and parked. A black Mustang was parked in the driveway…was Ryth here as well?

I fumbled for the clasp on my seatbelt and yanked open the door, shoving it wide as I clambered from the vehicle. But Riven never called my name, just let me race along the driveway that ran down the edge of the path until two armed gunmen stepped out from the corner of the house.

“You’re clear to go in, Ms. King.” One gave a nod and stepped to the side. “Mrs. St. James is expecting you.”

Mrs. St. James.

I doubt I’d ever get used to that. My little sister was now a married woman. I forced a smile and made for the back door, yanked it open, and rushed through. “Viv! Vivvv!!”

Movement came from the doorway to the kitchen. Guild stepped out, carrying a tray of coffee and two neat sandwiches. He lifted his gaze. “Helene.”

I glanced around. “Is everything okay? Where is everyone?”

“They’re in the gym.”

“The gym?” What the fuck…

He started walking. But the creak of the door behind me and the heavy steps that followed drew my gaze. Riven and Hunter stepped in. Kane and Thomas followed as I turned back and started walking, hurrying to catch up to Guild as he made for the east wing of the house.

“What the hell is going on in the gym?”

“You’ll need to see it to understand,” he muttered.

Riven and Hunter caught up as we strode along the hallway, all the way to the end.

“Over there!” Vivienne called out. “Carven…you’re doing it wrong!”

I stepped into the doorway of what used to be a fully equipped gym to find…chaos.

A blow-up pool sat in the middle of the space. Vivienne stood next to it with a pissed off look on her face. Carven carried the biggest punching bag I’d ever seen heaved onto his shoulders to carry it where I wasn’t quite sure. I glanced at Ryth, holding her baby, and Nick and Tobias, who were not even trying to cover their smirks as Viv waddled toward Carven.

“What’s going on here?”

She stopped, then slowly spun around. Her smile was instant, highlighting the dark circles under her eyes. “What do you think?” She waved her hand around the room.

I stepped closer as Carven gave a grunt and heaved that bag into the corner of the room and dropped it with a thud. “It’s…” I started, looking around the room trying to understand exactly what I was looking at. “It’s lovely.”

Viv scowled, then followed my stare. “It’s not lovely, Hel…it’s a birthing room.”

I jerked my gaze to hers and my eyes widened. “A birthing room?”

“Yeah.” She said slowly, concern creasing her brow. “You know.” She waved her hand over her massive belly. “Where you give birth.”

Ryth just chuckled before she handed over my nephew to Tobias and headed our way. She still walked slower, favoring her side. But she was alive…and with us. I opened my arms as she neared and wrapped one arm around her, waiting for Viv to step close and complete the circle. She did, all belly and the scent of Chanel.

I closed my eyes, my arms wrapped around my sisters.

My…sisters.

I’d waited for what felt like a lifetime for this moment. I’d dreamed about it, ached for it, and for a long time watched as it slipped through my fingers as I lost my sisters to the Order. Still, I’d fought. I’d fought for them when I no longer had the strength to fight for myself.

Riven cleared his throat gently behind me.

Now I didn’t have to fight alone.

“Riven.” Nick’s deep voice followed.

“Nick…London.” Riven answered.

I lifted my head and opened my eyes as the birthing room was filled with men armed to the teeth. The plastic pool, covered with cartoon palms and beach balls, half filled with water looked so out of place here. A terrifying reminder of just what we were up against.

War…

And my sister’s body.

“The meet,” London started. “Want to tell me exactly what happened?”

“Nothing happened.” Riven drew everyone’s attention. “They seem to have decided we’re the losing side.”

“Motherfuckers,” Tobias muttered. “Fuck them, we don’t need them.”

“Don’t be an idiot,” Kane snapped. “Of course we need them, take a look around the room. We need everyone.”

Riven glanced my way, anger and desperation shining in his eyes. Everyone saw. Including my sisters. Viv gave my hand a nudge, forcing my gaze to hers.

What happened? She mouthed.

I looked to Ryth. To the dark circles under her eyes and the permanent look of fear, and shook my head.

Viv smacked my hand even harder this time. Don’t lie to us.

I was acutely aware of Carven, and Colt as he slipped into the room, carrying an armful of blankets and pillows to drop beside the pool.

The Sons. I mouthed, meeting my sisters’ stares. That’s what happened.

Ryth scowled, but Viv stiffened, her breath catching. She knew…

They tried to take you?

I started to shake my head and stopped. Did they try to take me? Yes, the answer was yes. But not by force. Do you want him over me?

“They want something,” Kane continued. “We just need to find out what that something is and use it to our advantage.”

“We know what they want,” Hunter growled and glanced my way, and everyone else in the room followed.

Heat burned my cheeks. My stomach clenched. Betrayal was a heavy burden to wear. I didn’t like it, not one goddamn bit.

“I don’t want them.” The words slipped free. “I don’t know how many times I need to say it, but I’m saying it one last time and I’m hoping you’ll remember this. I. Don’t. Want. Them. I don’t want any of them and I don’t understand the hold they seem to have over me.”

“Over us,” Vivienne said quietly, lifting her gaze to London, then to each of the sons. “We all feel it.”

It was Carven and Colt who reacted the most. Carven stalked to her, that hunger glinting in his stare. “Like a pull of gravity or a memory of each other. One we can’t place. But we know it and we feel it.”

He neared her, flanking her side. She was mesmerized by him as Colt also headed straight for her. She cupped Carven’s cheek, staring into his eyes. “Yes.”

My pulse raced at the sight of them. That connection. That desire raging inside them. Ryth’s cheeks burned before she looked at Tobias and Nick. I wasn’t sure she’d ever faced the Sons, not really. Not when they had their sights set on you.

But I had and I didn’t like it one bit.

“If their aim is to find the Daughters, then we use that to our advantage,” Kane murmured.

“They want them,” Carven answered, staring into Vivienne’s eyes. “They can’t help themselves but want them. It’s undeniable.”

“So then we need to figure out how to get them onboard,” London answered. “And we use you and Colt to do it.”

Carven lifted his gaze, that twinkle of desire dying instantly. There was no love lost between the twins and others of their kind, men born into the Order and programmed to hunt and kill.

“Then we need more men,” Carven answered. “They need to see we’re the ones to align with. We need more men and we need more guns. That’s how you’ll win them over. We have to do the things we’ve been afraid to do. We have to lie and cheat and steal. We need to do whatever it takes to get every man and woman on our side.”

Movement came from the doorway as Caleb slipped in, wiping the back of his knuckles with a handkerchief before slipping it into his pocket. Tobias and Nick looked his way. The nod he gave them wasn’t lost on me, nor Ryth, as she took a step away from me and headed straight to him.

“Then we have a lot of calls to make,” London said carefully.

Caleb wrapped his arms around Ryth, and leaned down to kiss her. But his lips didn’t find hers. Instead, he moved to her ear, whispering something the rest of us couldn’t hear. She stiffened, then jerked her gaze to his. I saw panic before she smothered it with a forced smile, then glanced my way.

What the hell was going on? She said nothing, only turned her gaze back to Caleb.

“We recruit anyone else willing to stand by our side.” London said.

“And anyone else, we force them,” Riven added. “We’ve been the bad guys before. But this…this is personal.”

The entire room was utterly still. Not even the draw of a breath pierced the silence. Then in an instant, London turned around, found Vivienne, and gave a nod. “Playing the good guy was never my strong suit anyway.”

Vivienne gave a soft, sad smile. I watched them, and the way they were so fiercely protective of her reminded me of my own life. I turned back to find Riven, then Hunter and Kane…but Thomas wasn’t here. I glanced around the room. Caleb was gone, as well.

“Okay. That’s that. We keep in touch and make sure everyone is updated. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Same goes for you,” Nick added, and glanced Riven’s way. “Both of you.”

We all moved, but I was the first to head for the door, leaving everyone else behind. Something was going on and it involved Thomas. I headed back along the east wing hallway to the foyer of the house, hearing voices coming from the kitchen.

I stepped inside, finding Caleb and Thomas standing on the other side of the middle island. Thomas’ gaze was lowered, but Caleb’s was fixed on him.

“What’s going on?”

Thomas jerked his focus my way, his cheeks red.

“Nothing,” Caleb answered, giving a smile as he patted Thomas on the shoulder. “Just catching up with Priest.”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“It doesn’t look like nothing to me, Caleb.” I stepped closer. “I think you forget who you’re dealing with here.”

All of a sudden that smile died away, leaving the stare of a dangerous man behind. Caleb had been mysteriously absent these past few weeks. My sister made excuses, but I knew they were a lie. Caleb Banks was up to something and now he seemed intent on drawing the man I loved into whatever he was up to.

I wanted to know what it was.

“Water,” Thomas muttered and turned away, went to the refrigerator, and yanked it open. “That’s what I came for.”

His hair was still damp. His white shirt was still so wet it stuck against his skin. “Haven’t you had enough of that?” I asked as he let the door close and screwed the top off the bottle.

One large draw and he swallowed. But I wasn’t buying this for one minute.

“C?” Tobias called his brother from the doorway. “You ready to head out?”

“Yeah.” Caleb answered, giving me a smile, then flicked those dark eyes to Thomas. “Talk soon, yeah?”

Thomas just lowered his hand, met the lawyer’s stare, and nodded.

They left, leaving their lies behind.

They wanted to hold to their schemes and their lies, that’s fine.

We’ve been the bad guys before. Riven’s words repeated. He had, that was for sure. I took a step, moving closer to my Priest and dragged my fingers through his hair, finding those beautiful brown eyes. But not my Thomas. He wasn’t anything like the others. I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my cheek to his chest, knowing all that was about to change.