AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Carver,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “What the hell happened?”
Carver met his brother’s gaze, unflinching.
“I made a mistake,” he admitted. “I left the door open. Lucy found Emmet and freed him.”
Devlin’s eyes darkened with anger as Carver told his brother everything.
“And you let her live? Just because you wanted to fuck her?” Devlin demanded.
Carver’s hand twitched at his side, but he kept his voice steady. “She’s different, Devlin. I can’t explain it, but I know she won’t betray us,” he said.
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” Devlin warned. “Sentimentality has no place in our world.”
“I know,” Carver replied, his jaw tightening. “But she’s mine now. She won’t rat me out and I won’t let her get hurt.”
Devlin studied him for a long moment before nodding curtly. “Fine. Deal with Emmet, but keep her in line, Carver. One mistake is enough,” Devlin warned, his tone hard to argue with.
Anger flickered inside Carver, a hot, searing flame. Devlin called the shots for a reason, but at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to wrap his hands around his brother’s throat and squeeze. He managed a grunt of acknowledgment, swallowing his retort, and turned to leave.
Carver made his way through the dimly lit halls of the house, still furious. Just as he reached the foyer, a voice called out from the den.
“Hey, Carver! Come join us for a game!” came Galen’s cheerful voice.
Carver glanced over and saw his middle brother surrounded by a group of men, a deck of cards in hand. Normally, he would have given in, played a game or two with Galen and his guys before excusing himself, but he wasn’t in the mood tonight.
“Another time,” Carver said curtly.
Galen raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “All right, but don’t stay away too long,” Galen said.
Carver nodded and exited the house, the cool night air hitting him like a slap. He got into his car, the familiar smell of leather and metal grounding him as he started the engine.
As he made his way back to his apartment, Carver’s mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. The fear of losing Lucy, of losing himself, weighed heavily on him. He knew their world had a way of destroying everything good.
When he finally pulled up in front of his building, he realized he needed to see Lucy, to make sure she was still there, and to figure out his next move.
Carver walked up the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. He unlocked his door, half-expecting to find her gone, but there she was, still asleep in his bed. Relief washed over him but it was momentary. Something told her things were about to get really ugly.
He sat on the edge of the bed, watching her sleep, her breathing soft and even. She looked so peaceful, so innocent, and it struck him how much he had to lose. He couldn’t afford any more mistakes. One wrong move, and everything could come crashing down.
Emmet wouldn’t stay down for long. Devlin would undoubtedly dispatch his men, scouring the city for any trace of Emmet’s whereabouts. That’s exactly what a rat would do—scuttle into the shadows, seeking refuge in the anonymity of a new city or town.
Carver couldn’t shake the image of Emmet’s face from his mind, the mix of fear and fury etched into his features. Some rats had a bite, he recalled with a cold practicality.
He hadn’t lied to Lucy—Emmet was dangerous. Not because of his strength or cunning, but because a cornered and desperate man was unpredictable.
One question remained. Would Emmet flee or would he linger, nursing his wounds and plotting his revenge, waiting for the perfect moment to strike back at Carver ?
Chapter Six
Lucy had been having a good dream, something warm and comforting that she couldn’t quite remember.
When she woke up, confusion washed over her. This wasn’t her bedroom. The room was unfamiliar, painted in muted, masculine tones. The furniture was minimalist, with a sturdy dark wood dresser, a single nightstand, and heavy blackout curtains that blocked out the morning light.
As she took in her surroundings, her eyes landed on Carver, lying next to her, his face relaxed in sleep. She watched the rise and fall of his chest for a moment, finding an odd sense of calm in his presence. She wanted to reach out, to tuck a stray strand of hair that had fallen across his forehead, but found she couldn’t move her hands. Her wrists were tied to the bedpost.
Confusion quickly morphed into fear, then anger. She tugged at the restraints, but they were secure. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of her predicament.
The events of last night came crashing down on her—Carver revealing who he was, the man she freed, and the undeniable attraction that had led her to fall asleep in his bed. How could she have been so naive? What was wrong with her that she’d just fallen asleep here, in the lion’s den?
