Page 13 of Darkness Tempt Me (Bloody Desires #7)

Chapter eleven

Mavik

H unter chuckles, the rumbling sound mocking. “I can see why you find that bratty little assistant so damn attractive.”

I growl low in my throat. “Stay away from him, Hunt. He isn’t yours to look at.”

Hunter laughs.

“I fucking mean it.” The asshole might be my best friend, but he has no right to look at Peyton. Nobody does. My eyes narrow on my assistant possessively. “Peyton is mine.”

“And does he know that? Does your little assistant know just how often you watch him? Or how much you’ve invaded his privacy? Does he understand just how much you’ve done for him… behind the scenes?”

I grind my teeth together to keep myself from saying anything. Hunter already knows Peyton is oblivious to just how far I’d go to keep him near me.

Peyton’s gasp of shock echoes in my head as I continue to stare at him.

Why the hell was he listening in on my call?

As far as I know, he’s never eavesdropped on me before.

Rage and confusion swirl together in an intoxicating whirl.

What if Hunter said something incriminating?

What if I slipped and said something? Peyton could have heard.

On the other hand, Hunter and I understand the rules.

There’s a reason we have meticulous plans and took expensive and illegal measures to maintain security.

Murder discussions are limited to our encrypted burner phones or shared in person over coffee.

“He hung up. Now, what’s this about my uncle?” I ask, dodging the questions. Answering Hunter would only encourage the fucker to ask more questions about Pey, and I don’t have any answers at the moment. I continue to stare Peyton down as Hunter talks.

Peyton stares unseeingly at his computer screen, face flaming a bright red, shoulders tense.

I drum my fingers over my desk, palms itching to take my assistant over my knee, peel off his tight pants, and discipline him for listening in on my phone call.

I’d mark his porcelain skin with cherry handprints and make him squirm on my lap.

“I’ve been going through all the legal documents your uncle left me in his will.” Hunter chuckles again. “Uncle Mick has been very naughty.”

A sickening feeling sours my stomach. What the fuck is Hunter talking about?

A million different scenarios race through my mind.

My uncle, Mick Blackwood, the late owner of Blackwood Investments, was the only other individual aware of who and what I am.

Did he tell someone about me? Did he leave our family business to someone else?

I have a few distant cousins who have been champing at the bit and wanted to purchase stock right before Mick passed.

No, he’d never betray me. Just like I know Hunter never would either.

Mick saw what my father did to all those women.

To my mother. Thank God my uncle was there for my mother when I was younger and couldn’t be, but when he found out what I did to my father, he congratulated me.

Encouraged me even. He thanked me for saving those who couldn’t be saved.

Uncle Mick helped me clean up the mess and was there for me when I realized this darkness inside of me didn’t end with my father’s death.

“What did he do?”

“Come to my office, Mavik. There’s some legal information I need to go over with you. Stuff that will be better received in person. Plus, there’s something else. He left you a handwritten letter, something I’m hoping will give us answers.”

Heart racing, I snap my mouth shut. What did he have to say that he hadn’t already? My uncle and I were very close, and I was there for him until the end. He never mentioned anything about a letter.

Memories of the last time I saw my father alive flicker through my mind. All the blood. Hunter, on the floor, sobbing. Helpless. Barely able to move. The rage in my father’s eyes as he continuously kicked the only real friend I had. The knife in my hand. Did Mick think I was a monster after all?

It’s been eighteen years since I killed my father, and my only regret is not taking my time.

The man deserved to suffer. But if I had a time machine, I’d do it all over again.

And again. I’d kill him a thousand times and slice him up into bloody ribbons, just to see if it would heal that broken part inside of me or turn my fucked-up soul into a black pit of nothingness.

“What does the letter say?” I grit through my teeth.

“It’s not mine to open, Mav,” Hunter says softly. “But you know he loved you. Loved us both. I’m sure there’s a reason he did what he did.”

I still. Did what he did.

What the fuck is going on? “Hunter,” I say slowly, voice deadly. “Who did Mick leave my company to?”

He pauses for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh. “You’d better come to my office.”

Fuck.

“Peyton! Cancel all my meetings for today. Now.”