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“Idid as requested. We’re even. Right?”
I give a humorless, cold laugh into the phone, a sound that has dropped men to their knees but say nothing. I don’t have to. And that’s when the fun starts. I can’t help but toy with my prey before I drive the blade through their hearts.
“Mr. Bellamy.” Nervous energy crawls along the other man’s tone and that’s when I know I have him where I want him. Unsure and desperate to please me.
“Please, Mr. Bellamy. You promised that if I got the girl on your yacht my debt to the Bellamy family would be paid in full.”
“You should have thought about owing my family before you lost my property.”
“You promi—”
“Enough,” I snarl, losing what little patience I have. “Don’t forget your place. And don’t ever remind me of my promises again, Simon. Unless you want to lose your tongue.” The million dollars Simon owes me means nothing when I have the real treasure I’m after within my grasp. My enemy's daughter. Three years of waiting, planning, moving people into place have finally paid off.
Now that I finally have her here under my roof I won’t let anything fuck this up for me.
I lean against the ship’s railing at my back, my eyes on the sweet creature. Sleek black hair is pulled high to hang down the full length of her back, exposing a graceful neck free of any jewelry. Kissable red clings to her lips but faded as if she thought better of the color and wiped it off. The small splash of color contrasting with her porcelain skin only makes me want to bite those plump, cherry temptations more. Taste her, see if her sweetness lingers on my tongue as her scent does when she passes me unknowing I’m the one her searching gaze seeks.
She makes her rounds, slowly mingling with my guests, gaining the attention of the men and women alike. How could she not? She outshines every single woman on this ship with her almond-shaped eyes, full lips, creamy skin, and easy laugh. The most alluring aspect, I don't think she notices how easily she commands a room.
All eyes gravitate to her swaying curves and graceful moves as she glides around the dance floor with a young gentleman, an up-and-coming politician I’m grooming to represent my family's interest once he’s in place. Lucky for him I can tell instantly Serenity isn’t interested. Had she been, nothing would have protected the man from my wrath.
“You fucked up.” I bring my attention back to Simon. “The friend. Get rid of her before I do. I can’t have any distractions.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And then you’re free. Step into my world again and there will be two more men I add to my body count. You and your partner. Trust me when I say, Simon, I won’t blink an eye when I pull the trigger.”
I hang up not caring about the weak mumblings ofyes sirs and weasleythank yous.
I slip my phone into my pocket and ease my way inside, stopping one of my men along the way. “Clear it out once I’m below deck.”
When Serenity first stepped onto my boat my thoughts shifted from blood revenge to something completely different. Revenge of a different kind. Maybe even more poetic.
My gaze tracks Simon through the crowd and I watch him do as instructed, leaving Serenity alone, vulnerable and ripe for the taking.
* * *
Serenity
Sequins, glittering curtains of small white lights, and fountains of champagne greet us.
But no mystery man to speak of.
A server guides us into a massive cabin on the middle deck of a yacht bigger than I’ve ever seen and leaves us. As soon as we step inside a wave of scents hits me and my stomach growls. A feast of oysters, lobster, and caviar is on display on one side all spread out on large pewter platters with servers along the back.
I’m tugging on the restrictive ends of my borrowed dress and then doing the same to help cover my breasts when Vannah clutches my arm and leans in. “If my life were a movie, this is where I would want Ben Affleck to sweep me off my feet and invite me back to his yacht for an all-nighter.”
My brows arch, my desire for food forgotten. “Okay. TMI. I didn’t know you had a thing for him.”
“Mmm… ever since he gained some muscle and grew a beard.”
I touch my bare face and cringe a little when a beautiful woman passes us wearing a painted-on bathing suit and a matching gold mask. Both stark contrasts to my black cocktail dress and brush of mascara. I’m not one for all the glamorous makeup and high maintenance routines but for the first time in my life, I wish I could be more like all these glitzy women draped over expensively dressed men.
“Are you listening to me? I can't believe Simon forgot to mention this is a masquerade party. I feel so out of place.”
Vannah’s head is on a swivel so her words drift in and out overtop of the thumping bass of music piping through the surround sound.
After boarding our mystery host’s elegant yacht, Simon took off with his partner, leaving us to marvel over the stunning ship beneath our feet for the next two hours. Anchored a few hundred yards from the shore, on the port side I can see the exclusive island resort’s lights in the backdrop while from the starboard all the waters of the Atlantic fade into the night.
