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Or sitting on a gigantic throne.

“Stop,” I hissed, following him up the stairs. “Where are you going?”

“I told you. I’m putting everyone’s safety first.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

He knocked on Fran’s door. Inside, I heard the chattering stop cold. Seconds later, my twin opened the door, blinking at us both. Behind her, Sammy sat on the floor in a pair of silky, two-piece, mint-green pajamas. “Uh, hi, Daddy. What’s up?”

The girl I adored looked back at me with eyes that matched her outfit. Her smile was uncertain, failing the longer she realized that I wasn’t even trying to look happy.

I’d been so fucking sure he could donothingto me.

So sure ...

That I’d forgotten he could do plenty to Sammy.

- CHAPTER SIXTEEN -

SAMMY

“Where are you taking me?” My voice rose while I yanked frantically on the impossible vise that was Maverick’s fist. He was pulling me easily through the mansion, both Fran and Kain close behind.

“Dad!” Francesca snapped, rushing toward my side. “Let her go! This is insane!Daddy!”

The tree of a man didn’t even look at her.

My heels dug in; I skidded, close to falling, but Maverick righted me without even slowing a step. “Hey! Ha-ha, let’s just talk about this like normal, non-dragging-girls-through-a-mansion kind of people!” In desperation, I twisted so violently my shoulder threatened to pop free. “Kain,” I said, searching his face for some clue. “What’s happening? Is this because you took me off the estate?”

Maverick ripped me around a corner. “Yes, you have my son to thank for what I’m being forced to do.”

The scalding hate Kain aimed at the back of his father’s head stunned me. “You don’t have to do anything! You’re overreacting!”

His father grunted, dismissing the accusation. “Sammy, I took you in to make sure nothing happened to you ... and also to make sure you couldn’t be used against us. You and my son seem to think that I’m joking around.”

Our tiny parade was heading into a part of the house where I’d never been. The long walkway was flush with windows, the night sky peeking inside. Being forced along by muscle and fury, I actually thought that this place with its glowing white marble and angelic-halo lights couldn’t hold back the darkness that Maverick Badd was burning with.

At the end of the hall, there was a door. It was deceptively simple, nothing about it should have scared me. Somehow I knew that if we reached that place ... everything would end.

Iwould end.

My heart’s rhythm was breaking down, the pattern erratic. “Hey—uh, wait! Just wait! I thought you said you liked me? Remember?” I tugged and tugged. “If you quit now, we can forget this whole thing! I’d like that—anyone else like that idea? No? Just me?”

Maverick’s hand closed on the doorknob. His son’s palm came down like a whip, clamping shut on top. Their fingers were pretzeled, the two men staring each other down. Sandwiched between, I was suffocating in their raw intensity.

“Kain,” his father said softly. “Back off.”

“I won’t let you do this to her,” he growled.

Dowhatto me?

“What’s all of this?” The voice was flat; Costello stood in the hall behind us. His loose sweatpants hung off his slim hips, the top of his black boxers creeping above the lazily tied strings.

A tight, white shirt strangled his biceps, and though he was standing still, I had the impression that he was ready to jump into battle.

Maverick eyeballed his son. “Costello, come get your brother off of me.”

The lighter-haired brother considered Kain, then his eyes crossed to where I was trapped between them. “Maybe you should explain what’s going on here first.”