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"Supposed to grab, what?" Joey demanded, moving to rifle through his toolbox. "Her? Why?" With a switchblade in hand, he turned his attention back to Colin.

"Delivery." Colin wheezed. "We were… it… we set Casadei up. To get the.. Girl. She's… his… property… now."

I reeled backward as if I'd been hit, and guilt coiled in my gut at his words. I'd known on some level that Victoria wasn't responsible for my sitting in jail for six months, even if she'd been the one to finger me as her attempted kidnapper. I'd been too angry to accept what we'd learned since placing ourselves as her bodyguards. Hearing it confirmed that she was just the scapegoat, that I'd have gone down even if she hadn't escaped her attempted kidnapping, was enough to turn that rage inward and flood me with regret. I'd made her hate me and deserved every drop of vitriol from her perfect lips.

"That was a real pretty song, Colin," Leighton said, sounding almost bored. "You got an encore for us?"

Colin lay on the floor wheezing for a moment. "Go… to hell…" His voice was barely audible above the gurgling sounds of his breathing.

"Put him out of his misery, Little Brother. Let's get the fuck out of here." Rich clipped, waving his hand dismissively.

In one swift motion, Joey crouched down by Colin and opened the other man's throat. Colin's eyes bugged out momentarily, and he gurgled frantically before he finally stopped twitching and lay still. His death rattle sounded loud in the quiet that followed.

"We'll see you there," Joey said, wiping his knife on Colin's shirt.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Victoria

I shouldn't have liked it. Watching Joey bludgeon a man with golf clubs shouldn't have caused my core to throb with need. Seeing him slit the man's throat only served to heighten my desire. Something about the feral edge to the man who had treated me so sweetly begged me to step into the dark and explore further. Craig's arms wrapped around my waist were the only obstacle between me and him. A barrier that would soon be removed if the way Joey's eyes roved over me was any indication.

He stood from where he'd been squatting next to the body and stalked toward me. My nostrils flared as he approached. The distinct sensation that I was now prey sent a shiver of anticipation up my spine.

"Have someone clean up this mess." Rich's baritone washed over me, adding another layer to my desperate need. "Let's get back to the manor and get some rest. We'll figure out how to proceed with this information tomorrow."

The drive back to the manor was a blur. My awareness extended no further than the press of Joey's side against mine in the backseat of the Impala. He'd pulled me to him with a vicious snarl when we'd settled into the car. If Craig had protested, I hadn't noticed. My mind devolved into wild scenarios this new, savage side of my sweet protector might bring.

The car was barely stopped before Joey dragged me out of the back seat. I yipped in surprise, catching a glimpse of Craig as I stumbled through the exit. He had a sly smirk on his face and gave me a wink. I heard the other guys talking as the garage door slammed shut behind us, but I didn't catch what they said.

He pulled me past the house, around the side of the garden, and toward the path towards the copse of trees left on the back mile of the manor property. Once we were alone, his pace slowed, and his grip softened, and we fell into an almost leisurely stroll once our feet found the path into the woods.

"Joey?" I asked hesitantly. My heart was pounding in my chest at the ferocity I'd witnessed, and the sudden change of pace had me grasping at straws. He grunted his acknowledgment but didn't directly answer me. "Where are you taking me?"

He whirled me around and pressed my back into a tree at the edge of the woods. His pupils were blown out, his eyes hooded, and his gaze was wild as he searched my face. His lips found mine in a crushing kiss that stole my breath. It was desperate, hungry, and animalistic as his tongue and mouth explored mine. Not at all the soft and gentle kisses I'd imagined from him. When he pulled back, I gasped for air and felt lightheaded.

"Do you trust me, Pet?" His voice was strained, his fingertips gripping my hips harshly as he closed the distance between us.

"You know I do," I whispered.

"Good girl," he crooned. The way he stretched out the vowels made my stomach flip, and my heart flutter. I definitely needed to hear that again. "You're always safe with me. But right now… I need you. I want to do something, and I need…" His voice was straining as he struggled to find the words. I could seethe impatience on his face, and I couldn't help but melt inside. Even in all his feral need, he was making sure I was okay.

"What do you need? What can I do for you?" I still couldn't bring my voice above a whisper, somehow fearing that it would end the moment.

"Yellow if it gets too much, and you want to take a break. Red if you want to stop. Yell it so I can hear if you need to use them, and I promise I won't be upset if you do." His stare was intense; a low growl seemed to underscore his words.

"Wha–"

"Say it back to me, Pet," he demanded.

"Yellow for a break. Red if I want to stop. Yell it loud enough that you can hear."

"And?"

"You won't be mad."

"That's my good girl. Now, one last thing…" his voice trailed off as he traced his fingers under the hem of my shirt across my stomach.

"What's that?" I asked, my voice airy as I enjoyed the feeling of his touch across my skin. He stepped back and pulled me away from the tree before gently pushing me towards the woods. An animalistic grin spread slowly across his face as he watched me stumble slightly.