Page 185 of Pretty When She Breaks

Jewel, dressed in a white-and-gold suit, stepped into theroom. His golden eyes shimmered with delight as Aunt Ophelia actually fainted.

“Yes, I’d miss me too. No need to worry, dearly beloved family, I am back from my extended hiatus,” he announced to the dumbfounded room.

I’d had to talk Jewel down fromI’m back, bitches,because I figured we probably shouldn’t give Grandpa a heart attack.

Finch pulled up a chair between me and Rosalind, and Jewel sat down, propping his feet up on the table. Vivienne was helping her mother back up. Ophelia grabbed the bottle of wine as soon as she was finished.

“I can assure you, my mind is perfectly sound,” I continued. “And I already have my people on some important tasks. Tasks, as I said, I am the most equipped to deal with. Unless anyone else has a list of the relationships my father maintained? Or knows how to contact them to reassure them their deals are still intact?”

I looked directly into Valentino’s eyes.

“Thaddeus prepared a list that anyone could work from,” he said, his face dark.

“Oh, you mean the files in his office?” I examined my cuticles. “No need to worry. I had those moved somewhere safe.”

“You will stop this idiotic tantrum and return them immediately,” he snapped, slamming his hand on the table.

“Oh, silly me, I forgot where I put them,” I told him, tapping my chin. “Must be my fragile mind acting up again. Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll turn up sooner or later.”

Rosalind let out a laugh, sitting back and crossing her arms. Jewel was grinning from ear to ear. Valentino’s face had turned a vivid shade of puce, and he rose to his feet. There was a chorus of clicks as Finch and the three other security guards in the room all drew their guns.

“Sit down,” I told him, the mirth gone from my voice. “And listen carefully.” I looked around the room, making sure they were all paying attention. “Iamtaking over my father’s role as the head of this family. I am the sole possessor of the records my father kept. I know infinitely more than any of you about the influence he wielded and the vision he had for us. I am the one who built the relationships that ensure we are successful, and I can destroy each and every one of them if I wish. If you doubt me, just ask Marcus. Am I lying?”

Marcus paled further as everyone turned to look at him. His eyes darted around before they landed on me. He shook his head.

“Any other objections?” I asked, looking right at my grandfather. Despite the power and influence I had, if he wasn’t on board, I’d have to fight my family every step of the way. Not to mention watching my back excessively.

He pursed his lips but gave me a curt nod. “Very well, Laurel. Let’s see what you can do.”

I exchanged a victorious smile with Jewel, and caught the tail end of Rosalind’s smirk.

Valentino was still looking distinctly murderous, but he sat down in his seat and straightened his jacket. “Excellent. I’ll be arranging meetings this week, so I can—how did you put it?Help you all with this transition? Any questions?”

ONE HUNDRED FIVE

3 WEEKS LATER

LAUREL

Kaos was naked as he pressed his cool skin against mine, his beautiful sharp scent fresh. It was dark today, absinthe crackling with static and energy that almost burned with each breath. This close, breathing it in made my head spin, the scent a pain-pleasure in itself.

Slick was already coating my thighs, and his cock had no trouble gliding along my skin, pressing between us.

I panted and wriggled my hips, trying to get him to line up so he could sink inside me. He lifted himself up on his arms, his eyes hooded as he looked at my body laid out beneath him.

“Mine.” He pressed his hard cock between my thighs.

I hadn’t had a chance to spread them yet, and his eyes fluttered as he rubbed into the space where my legs pressed together.

“Mine,” he said again, moving so I could spread my legs. I could feel the drag of his hardness against me, pushing down and seeking my entrance.

The bed shifted beside me, and Ocean settled in, lying flush against me and capturing my lips in his. His scent of salt and moonlit water, of sturdy seabeds and deep coves, anchored me, making Kaos’s scent sharper in comparison. I groaned, and Kaos lined up and edged his way inside, tortuously slowly. My toes curled at the pleasure of it, of being filled up and stretched around him while I fell into Ocean’s kiss, swept away by the sensations.

Another shift in the bed, and I broke the kiss as Kaos drew out and thrust back inside, drawing a moan from my mouth. I tugged his face toward me, needing him as well.

Ocean’s hand slid down my abdomen, finding its way to drawing circles around my clit as Kaos sat back, lifting my hips and drawing into me.

“Mine,” he said again, a note of worship in his voice as he thrust, his swollen knot pushing against my entrance.