CREWE'S POINT OF VIEW
I couldn't let her think I cared about her damn fate. I couldn't let her believe I had shown compassion. Otherwise, all the rules would shatter. She would try to stab me in the back at night because she'd know I wouldn't retaliate. She could push me in directions I didn't want to go.
"I didn't hand you over to Bones because I wanted to make Joseph suffer even more. I wanted him to know that his little sister was getting fucked every night—by his worst enemy. My heart died a long time ago, *Mignonne*. Everything you see today is just flesh and bone."
Dunbar was waiting for me in the entrance hall.
"Your car is ready, sir."
I adjusted my cufflinks.
"Thanks."
"How many men do you want to accompany you?"
I pulled on my sleeves, then buttoned my jacket.
"None."
It wasn't because of London's words. The Barsetti brothers were harmless when you didn't provoke them. They probably wouldn't even be armed.
Dunbar raised an eyebrow, but he didn't question me, knowing it was suicide.
"You know where to reach me."
I nodded and headed for the door.
London's voice echoed behind me.
"Wait. I'm coming too."
I wanted to break her neck. I turned around and gave her a death glare, annoyed that she was defying me in front of my men.
She read my look without a hint of fear.
"I'm not staying locked up like a bird in a cage."
"You think these guys are going to save you, is that it?"
I didn't understand why she wanted to accompany me so badly. When we were in Scotland, she didn't try to follow me everywhere. She stayed in her room at the castle until I finished my workday and came to find her.
"No."
She walked up to me and spoke in a low voice.
"I don't want to be stuck here with Dunbar and Ariel… who both hate me with every fiber of their being. The only person I feel safe with is you."
I shivered with pleasure. Her admission flattered my ego, boosted my confidence. I should have been annoyed that she saw me as a protector rather than a danger, but I wasn't. Maybe it was because she was wearing tight jeans and a black top that made her tits look incredible, but something about her touched me.
"You shouldn't feel safe with me."
"At least I know what to expect with you.
There are no surprises. No sudden turnarounds. If I follow the rules, I'm at no risk. You won't hurt me, nor Joseph. Dunbar is unpredictable. He might hit me just for fun. And Ariel… if I were in trouble, she wouldn't come to my rescue. She'd just look the other way."
She was right about my two employees, but they were far too loyal to betray me. If London sought them out, they might brush her off or ignore her, but they would never go further.
London stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against mine. It was undoubtedly a strategy to convince me, to kiss me and soothe my calloused heart. Her soft lips moved with mine, then she licked them with the tip of her tongue, which made me shiver. Her arm wrapped around my neck, and she continued to kiss me in front of my men, making me get a hard-on in my pants.
I put an arm around her slim waist, and her Machiavellian plan worked. I let her do it because it didn't bother me. When her firm tits pressed against me and her tongue mingled with mine, I became another man. Her kisses were different from those of other women. Maybe she was just a good kisser, or maybe it was because she was uncontrollable. Every time I attacked her, she fought back twice as hard. She answered me with insolence. But I had finally won her cooperation. That made her more valuable than all my other women combined.
Because I was a sick pervert.
She stopped kissing me, then breathed softly into my mouth, the scent of her hair mingling with her naturally addictive perfume.
Now that I was hard, I didn't want her to leave me. My men had witnessed the scene, and I didn't want to leave my toy behind and give them ideas. I wanted to pull over on the side of the road, make her suck my cock, and get back on the road.
"Let's go."
A glint of triumph shone in her eyes; she had gotten what she wanted.
"But don't try anything."
I didn't need to threaten her any more.
"I won't."
We arrived at the Barsetti estate, a three-story mansion in the middle of the vineyards. The black gate opened, and I drove up the driveway to the roundabout with a fountain in the center. The valet parked my car.
London stood next to me, admiring the magnificent house with walls covered in ivy. The Mediterranean-style windows were open, letting fresh air into the many rooms upstairs.
When I reached the door, it opened before I had time to knock.
"Good morning, Mr. Donoghue. I am Lars."
The old man in a gray suit greeted me with a bow. He must have been the house butler; he reminded me of Finley, with a flashier outfit.
"Mr. Barsetti and Mr. Barsetti are waiting for you in the lounge."
He turned toward London, clearly not expecting her to accompany me.
"Sorry, Lars. This is Lady London. I should have specified that I was coming with her."
Even though I'd only known it for thirty minutes.
"Lady London, it is a pleasure to meet you," Lars said, ushering us in. "I know these gentlemen prefer Scotch. Should I serve it to you as well, or would you prefer something else?"
She smiled.
"Scotch is perfect. Thank you, Lars."
I stared at her in surprise.
"Let me show you the way."
Lars walked ahead of us and led us to a lounge on the second floor.
I watched London, monitoring her every move.
She turned to me when she felt my gaze.
"What?"
"You're as beautiful as a flower, but you drink like a man."
"What are you getting at?"
I took her hand.
"Nothing."
I could pour a bottle of Scotch over her body and lick it off when we got back. I'd lick the alcohol out of every hole in her body. Her nipples would taste even better coated in amber liquid.
I walked into the lounge first, whereas normally I would let London go ahead of me out of chivalry. The two brothers were sitting on sofas in front of the fire. A bottle of Scotch and an ice bucket were on the table, along with three glasses. They were already drinking. I would have been disappointed if they hadn't been.
"I'll be back with appetizers."
Lars bowed before heading for the door.
"We don't need to eat," Crow said. "We just want to drink."
London cleared her throat.
"I'm not going to refuse to taste some homemade Italian cuisine."
Lars smiled as if nothing could have made him happier.
"Right away."
He left.
Crow and Cane stared at her, having clearly not noticed her until then.
"My apologies," Crow said. "I didn't know a lady was joining us. What can I get you, my pretty?"
I didn't hide my furious look, offended that he addressed my girl with such familiarity.
"She'll drink Scotch—like us."
I sat down and tapped the cushion next to me, indicating where I wanted her to sit.
The second her ass was on the cushion, I put a hand on her thigh and crossed her legs. I should have been indifferent to Crow and Cane finding her attractive. She was nothing to me, anyway.
But I wasn't indifferent.
Crow smiled before opening the bottle, apologizing. He poured two glasses and handed them to us.
I gave London hers,
Meven though she could have taken it herself. It was an unnecessary possessive gesture, but Crow and Cane were no ordinary criminals. They were both handsome and rich.
"Meet London. London, this is Crow."
I raised my glass and held it in his direction.
"And this is Cane."
Crow nodded. He was the older brother, the one who owned the vineyard, while Cane handled the arms trade. They laundered their money through the legal company, just as I did with my distillery.
"Nice to meet you."
Cane's eyes lingered on her for too long for my liking.
I shouldn't have brought her.
"Where is Ariel?" Crow asked.
"She's working."
I didn't have to explain where my partner was. I negotiated all the business, while she worked in the shadows. That was our arrangement. Sometimes she came with me. Sometimes she didn't.
"I was hoping London would be her replacement," Cane said.
Cane was not a fan of Ariel. Probably because she couldn't stand his crude remarks and sexist comments.
"London is my personal property."
I didn't say my girlfriend because that would imply she mattered to me. But I didn't use the word slave so that London wouldn't make a scene.
Cane winked at me.
"Oh… even better."
Crow shot his brother a glare before turning to me
"Let's talk business. We're here for that, right?"
I had always had a preference for Crow. He got straight to the point and didn't ask questions.
"Absolutely."
Cane left the room to take a call, and London walked over to the large windows on the other side of the lounge to admire the view of the vineyards and the pool. For a brief moment, Crow and I were left alone.
"How's business?"
I knew he would give me a vague answer, as we never revealed our secrets to each other.
"I'm not complaining. And you?"
I smiled.
"I'm not complaining."
I knew he was pursuing a vendetta against one of my clients, so I never mentioned his name in front of him. I considered myself a neutral businessman who had no feelings for his clients. They bought what I sold, or they didn't. End of story.
Crow pointed his chin at London on the other side of the room.
"Josephine is gone, huh?"
I didn't like talking about that woman, but all of Western Europe knew about our engagement. I had never been so humiliated in my life. She had left me for a man who had a better chance of taking the throne, spitting on my heritage and everything I had to offer her. I probably wouldn't have suffered so much if I hadn't loved that bitch.
But I had loved her.
The Russians had liquidated my family, and that English whore had destroyed my name. Now, I wanted revenge on two fronts, and I would achieve it one way or another. I would never let anyone step on me again. I would never let anyone into my heart again. I would marry for convenience to a woman who could give me children to carry on my legacy.
But that was it.