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His eyes widen, and he turns the chair to face me, seemingly forgetting about whatever he was watching before I walked in.“I thought you were going to wait a while longer before claiming her.”

“I am. But after I was done at her apartment, something told me I needed to go check on her to make sure Lucas did as he was told, which he didn’t, mind you. He had her working the VIP section with two assholes pawing her.”

Killian bristles, and if I weren’t so mad at the memory, I’d smirk. Lucas may not be directly attached to the skin trade, but he walks a line neither of us is comfortable with, especially when his sister was taken by the Lounder Cartel a few years back, an organization we helped to dismantle without anyone ever knowing we were involved.

That reminds me, I should check in on Ayvah and make sure that asshole, Storm Saint James, is treating her right.

Although I believe Ayvah would have made a good queen, and I was thoroughly fascinated with her, I think things worked out how they were supposed to. Because there isn’t a single doubt in my mind that Ember is my future. She just doesn’t know it yet.

“I requested time with her in a private room so I could get her out of there.”

“You did what?” he snaps. “Orion, it’s too dangerous for her to see you right now.”

“She didn’t,” I placate him. “I had all the lights off, and we just…talked.”

He stares at me for a beat before a startling laugh escapes his throat. “You talked?”

“We did.” I nod. “It likely wasn’t the worst idea I’ve ever had. At least I had the chance to make sure we’re not totally incompatible before I make her mine.”

Killian shakes his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You’ve got it bad, man.”

I don’t bother denying it, not when we both know my obsession with this woman has been getting progressively more unhinged as the months have worn on.

“Are you seeing her again?”

I nod. “Tomorrow night.”

“Lucas is going to know something’s up.”

“That’s why I’m telling you. I need you to keep her safe when I can’t.”

If it were anyone else, I would expect an argument, but Killian nods his understanding.

He knows how much she means to me, and he doesn’t want me to suffer the way he has, even if he’ll never say that to my face.

Our peculiar little family will soon grow by one. We just have to get Ember on board with it.

CHAPTER TWELVE

EMBER

The envelope of cash sits on the table in front of me, beside the manila envelope that makes my stomach flip to look at, let alone open.

The Hunter killed my brother.

The nameless, faceless, lethal man who rules the drug trade is the man who ran us off the road and into that ravine.

He’s the reason my brother is dead.

He’s the reason I can’t get into a car without a panic attack.

He’s the reason my entire life came crumpling down.

Before the accident, I had hoped that one day I would get out from under Lucas’s thumb. That maybe I’d be able to build a life for myself, far away from the sins of my past.

But that was torn away from me when I realized I would have to pay both our debts. There’s no chance of freedom now. At least not for the foreseeable future, depending on how long my usefulness lasts. I’m not so dumb as to think Lucas will allow a valuable member of his team to walk away from him without a fight.

But you don’t get to where I am without knowing how to get the hell out of dodge without a trace. When the time comes, I’llmake myself disappear, and not even Lucas will be able to find me.