Page 87 of Carnage Island

Yesterday, Caius showed me his laptop and let me browse the internet. Of course, staring in the mirror now, I realize he had a motive.

Because he told me to shop for clothes.

Clothes that I’m now wearing.

“How did you have them delivered so quickly?” I wonder out loud as he finishes sliding on my socks. He showed me the outfit with one catch—that I allow him to dress me.

Which I did.

He tugs on the hem of my skinny jeans near my ankles, ensuring they’re comfortable before pulling on one of my new knee-high boots. They don’t have a heel, making them ideal for shifter life.

“I picked them up from the mainland earlier this morning while Volt was giving you breakfast.” He glances up at the mirror, meeting my gaze with a knowing look.

My cheeks heat at the reminder of mybreakfastthis morning—which was Volt’s cock down my throat. He’s girthier than Caius, making him harder to swallow. But he patiently instructed me through it, just like he did the other day with Caius.

Then he returned the favor three times before showering and giving me some real food.

I assumed Caius was with Tieran, but he returned alone with a bunch of bags.Because he went to the mainland,I think, frowning as I recall what he just said. “How did you get to the mainland?”

The Reject Islands are supposed to be remote without mainland access. While he explained that life here wasn’t at all what the Elders thought, he never mentioned anything about leaving the island.

“We have several speed boats and a yacht,” he says. “As well as a residence on the coast, which is where I had your clothes delivered to this morning. It only takes about three hours to do a round trip, something Tieran does regularly. As do I.”

I blink at him. “You go onto the mainland regularly?”

“For work,” he explains. “We have to fund all this somehow. And the Elders just give us scraps. It’s why the docks look like shit—we maintain the facade of being a dystopian world in order to make them think that’s how we’re living life here.”

I glance around the elegant bathroom and peek through the door into the massive bedroom beyond. The mattress is fit for five or six big wolves, the furniture around is all crafted wood, and the technology of this place screams money. “They don’t know this exists.” It’s not a question, but a statement.

“Not at all,” he says. “Nor do they know about our frequent trips inland.” He finishes with my final boot and stands, his fingers running through my hair.

I start to turn, but he grabs my hips to keep me facing the mirror, then grabs a brush.

“We’ve explained a lot of the jobs on the island, which are all traditional pack roles for the most part. But there’s a whole other level to what we do. And that’s where the boats come in.” He starts running the brush through my hair, the brown strands at odds against my cream-colored sweater.

“Which is why you go to the mainland regularly,” I hedge.

“Yes. Tieran’s father, Alpha Umber, owns a global finance organization that manages estates for some of the most elite humans in the world. But he does more than just that. Many of our clients are outwardly innocent, but inwardly nefarious. Which is where my role comes in. And Volt’s, too.”

I ponder that for a moment as he meets my gaze in the mirror. “What do you do?”

“I blackmail them,” he tells me without remorse. “Or I make deals they can’t refuse. It’s all about reading the room and understanding motives. But I’ve always been skilled with money, something I’ve learned from my father, who happens to be Alpha Umber’s Chief Financial Officer.”

“And the Elders have no idea?”

“Oh, they’re aware of Alpha Umber’s organization and the roles Black Mountain Pack plays in that company. But they’re unaware of our involvement from here.”

“Because they assume you can’t leave the island,” I say.

“Yes, and Tieran has been tasked with handling the more unsavory parts of the business, and those items are purposely kept quiet.” He gathers my hair over one shoulder, kissing me on the neck. “His father wants our clan to work our way up the ladder, which has proved challenging since being sent here. But we’ve developed a good system over the last seven years.”

“So coming here wasn’t part of the plan.”

He snorts, setting the brush back on the counter. “Not at all. However, our pack is all about challenges and proving our worth. So we’ve worked with what we have, aided minimally by Alpha Umber, and have grown from there. For example, the blackmail side of the business is new. As is Volt’s role in the organization.”

“What’s Volt’s role?” I wonder aloud as he finally lets me face him.

“Death, sweetheart,” Volt replies as he enters the bedroom. His wolf ears must have let him hear our conversation as he’s still about twenty feet away, but sauntering toward us in a pair of low slung jeans and nothing else. “I kill for money.”