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"Prudence did a lot for all of us. Except Leighton, but if he'd been around when we were kids, she'd have done it for him too. It's just who she was." Rich replied. The pain of my memories was like a physical weight sitting on my chest that I couldn't do anything for.

"How did her daughter end up–"

"Like her father?" Rich offered. "I'm not sure what Victoria Bristol is just yet, but Az, this isn't how you handle it."

"I don't know how I'm going to get through this whole thing. I know I was on board with the plan. Bringing her down forwhat she tried to do is the right thing, but fuck, it's harder than I realized having to share space with her."

"It's not going to be easy for any of us. We lean on each other to get through it, like every other fucked up thing life's thrown at us. And next time that you need to work out the rage, try the gym." Rich reached out his hand to help me up from the floor. I took it and dusted myself off after I stood.

"Thanks man, needed pulled out of the spiral."

"No problem. And Az?" He paused to give the room another look around. "Get this shit cleaned up and replaced. She can't know you broke her mother's things. It doesn't matter who she is or what she's done, that would just be cruelty for the sake of it. We're better than that." His words hung heavy on my mind as he closed the door and left me with my mess.

Over the next week, I did what I could to avoid Victoria. Leighton seemed to shadow her like a lost puppy dog. I had barely managed to patch myself back together after his poolside prodding. I knew it would only take one sideways comment from Leighton to send me spiraling again, and that wasn't something we could afford, not if we were going to make her pay. Rich seemed to sense my need for space, ensuring that there was plenty of Horsemen business for me to handle when I wasn't in the office or working through my anger in the gym.

But she'd even invaded my space to work off my anger after a few days. Running a set with Craig on the new equipment we'd had installed, he'd greeted her with a friendly wave, and I wanted to burn the house to the ground again. Grabbing my water bottle, I headed for the door immediately because this room wasn't big enough for both of us to be in it comfortably. She'd tried to speak to me, her soft voice pricking against my ears as if she'd wanted to soothe me. I cracked the glass doorby slamming it on my way out. I wantednothingfrom Victoria Bristol.

Somehow, I found myself on babysitting duty, even with everything I'd done to keep away from her. Joey and Leighton were on a job, and Craig had gone with Rich to chase down a lead. We'd each gone out to chase a few down since we'd been locked up with the Princess. None of them panned out, and none had pointed back to her. We had more questions now than answers.

Unable to bear being near Victoria, I locked myself in the security room, choosing the safe route of watching her on camera over tolerating her presence. I watched her running on the treadmill, her ass shaking to whatever song was playing in her headphones. My mind and body had two very different ideas about dealing with her, my dick throbbing painfully the longer I stared at her. But I couldn't bring myself to look away. The shrill ring of my cell phone pulled me from my reverie.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"I'm having a dress delivered to the house. Be sure that Victoria gets it and puts it on. We may have found a lead, but they refuse to talk unless we're all present." Rich's voice came through the receiver. "We're meeting at Temptat!on at ten."

"You fucking give it to her, Rich."

Rich laughed at my clipped response.

"Az, man, it's time to put your big boy pants back on and pull yourself back together. You've been through hell and back, and you're going to let this spoiled Princess break you down?" I sneered at his comments, consciously telling myself to ease my grip on my phone or I'd have to buy another new one.

"Fuck you Rich. When's the delivery supposed to arrive?" And as if on cue, the doorbell rang.

"Sounds like it's there." Rich chuckled before his tone turned serious again. "I mean it Az. She comes with you tonight.We can't leave her alone to get up to God knows what. Especially if she is involved in all this shit. We will meet you in the back office of the club at nine so we can ensure the Princess is distracted while we handle business."

I grunted my acknowledgment before hanging up to answer the door. A delivery woman from Glow was at the door with a garment and shoe box. I grabbed the packages, dug a bit of cash from my pocket, and gave it to her without looking before I shut the door in her face.

I made my way through the house and had to stop outside the doors to the attached gym. I took a steadying breath before I pushed it open and strolled in, keeping my features carefully neutral.

"Princess!" I yelled before I remembered she was wearing earbuds.

Fuck. I strode across the room and yanked an earbud out of her ear. She jumped, her foot slipping out from under her. On reflex, I dropped the packages, reached out, and caught her before she ate the belt. I set her down on the floor.

"What the fuck, Az?!"

"Delivery. Go put it on. We're going out tonight."

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why would I go anywhere with you?" She demanded. I let out a slow breath, fighting the very different reactions I had to that statement.

"Because it wasn't a request, Princess. It was an order."

"Where do you get off? You avoid me all week and then storm in here, ruin my run, and start demanding I go out with you. I'm not doing it. You can't fucking make me." She was seething.

I chuckled darkly, stepping into her space as I crowded her against the arm of the treadmill. I watched the same warring emotions I'd been fighting flash across her face momentarily and gave her a wicked grin. Her face flushed red, and she turned itaway from me. Something about the action unleashed my more primal side. Reaching up, I wrapped her hair around my fist and pulled, forcing her to look me in the eyes.

"Princess…" I crooned. She almost successfully cut off the soft moan in her throat, but I pulled harder to let her know I'd heard it. "Put the fucking dress on, or I will do it for you."

The way her throat bobbed as she swallowed made my cock twitch. I gave her hair one last tug before pushing her away roughly and heading for the door.