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I glance at the stacks of bills, conflicting emotions swirling within me. It’s not about the money, but the gesture feels sincere. But Wint’s words, whilst well-meaning, fill me with sadness. It’s true that there’s enough money in this bag to solve my problems. I could probably become a homeowner and finally get a car. Or run away and travel the world for twelve months. But…I don’t want to. I want to stay with them. Not because I have nowhere else to go, but because I choose them. Because they want me there and they choose me too.
North reads my hesitation and pulls me against his chest. “Just to be clear, Floss. The key I gave you Christmas Day was an invitation. We want you to move in with us, for good. As our…girlfriend? Partner. Whatever you want to call it.”
“Please,” I reply, curling further into his warmth. “I would love that.”
“Of course, Floss. I’m sorry I didn’t make it clearer before now. I’m never letting you go. You’re mine.”
Wint clears his throat. “We’renever letting you go because you’reours,” he clarifies. I smile.
“One last thing,” Dash says. His voice is low, carrying a weight that makes my heart sink. “Eric Royce.”
My breath catches, and I swallow hard. “What about him?”
“He’s dead, Gumdrop. He’ll never hurt you, or anyone else again.”
The words hang in the air, a heavy revelation that leaves me stunned. “What?” I gasp.
“He was behind your kidnapping and the trafficking ring Jamie was involved in. Jamie was trying to negotiate his freedom in exchange for giving Royce what he wanted – you. I’m glad they’re both dead.”
I can see how difficult it is for Dash to admit that; he cared greatly for his stepbrother – proven by the lengths he went to to keep him safe. So his admission means a lot to me.
“How?”
“You probably don’t want the details or the proof, so I’ll ask you to trust me on this one, but once The Holy Trinity had finished with him, I made the final blow. He will never hurt anyone ever again.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “But thank you.”
Dash gives a surprised laugh. “Why are you sorry, Gumdrop?”
“That you had to kill someone because of me.”
“Floss,” North interjects, “We’re all killers. We were trained by the best to be the best, and just because we’re no longer special ops anymore, it doesn’t mean you lose that skillset. We’ll always be soldiers.”
“But now we’re you’re soldiers, Gumdrop. There isn’t a person on this earth that I would hesitate to kill for you.”
I’m stunned. And I have no idea what to say to that.
Frost gives an exasperated snort. “Drama. Can we get back to the fun stuff now?”
I wipe away a stray tear and manage a small laugh. “Yeah, let’s get back to the North Pole. I think I have some naughtiness to explore.”
Dash smiles, a mixture of relief and determination in his eyes but it dies the moment North turns his impenetrable stare on him. “You,” he growls. “You watch. Your punishment is you don’t get to join in tonight. Even if she begs for you, you’re looking-not-touching for the foreseeable future. Do I make myself clear?”
Dash pouts but nods, and I pout right along with him. “That’s mean. I can think of a dozen ways he could make it up to me.”
The banter lightens the heavy atmosphere until North interrupts our laughter.
“Only a dozen, Floss?” North grins dangerously. “There was me thinking you’d learnt a thing or two since you started working here. Maybe it’s time you got into position and I teach you how to take a punishment.”
NORTH
Watching her shiver in anticipation sets my blood on fire. I’ve been rock hard since the moment she walked into my lair – desperate to have her down here since the day I met her. I’ve had to be patient, but now I plan on making up for lost time.
I love the way her eyes widen with a mixture of fear and excitement as she takes in the surroundings of the dungeon. The dim light from the faux-candles flickering on the walls casts eerie shadows across the room, and the scent of musk and leather fills the air.
Nodding to Don, he understands my silent edict and grabs hold of Candy, hauling her up and off my lap. I remain seated while he carries her into the centre of the room and circles her the way a predator would play with its prey. Candy stays statue-still, the only movement to give away her emotions is the too rapid rise and fall of her breasts.
Internally I groan. She looks sensational tonight. More confident than I’ve ever seen her and that turns me on far more than any clothes or makeup she might wear.
