Page 5 of Provocation (Den of Deception #3)

‘What do you want from me?’ I ask, shifting uncomfortably at the reminder of the heavy swings of that cane I was subjected to just a few minutes ago. ‘I assume there’s a price for you keeping my business to yourself.’

‘There is,’ he confirms, taking a step back. ‘You owe me a favor. Any time, any place. When it’s time for me to collect, you give me what I ask for, no questions asked. Understand?’

‘Yes,’ I say, though I have no intention of giving him anything. With any luck I’ll be long gone by the time he seeks me out to hold up my end of this deal.

‘What’s going on out here?’

I let out a sigh of relief as Shade comes into view.

‘I was just welcoming my new sister-in-law into the family,’ Marcus answers, grinning.

‘She’s not a Banderville yet,’ Shade snarls low.

Marcus backs up and Shade follows him, stalking him across the foyer. ‘Was all the shit you pulled in the frat this year a fucking test?’

Marcus raises his chin. ‘Of course it was. My father wanted to know if she was actually cured, or if she’ll be a liability to our family.

’ He sniffs. ‘But now that Joe has seen her in person, he wants her no matter what. If he has to fuck her in a padded cell to get his heirs, make no mistake,’ Marcus looks at me.

‘He will. Hell, he’ll probably get off on it.

And when he’s got what he wants, he’ll be more inclined to share . ’

He winks at me and laughs suddenly as his eyes find Shade again.

‘You think you have any real power here? Andy is John’s right hand, not you, Jack.

We could demand you be there, make you watch as Joe breaks in your precious sister on the wedding night.

Evidence that the union has been consummated.

That’s a thing in our family, you know? Wanna watch?

’ He licks his lips. ‘I know I will be.’

He suddenly doubles over with a low groan, and I realize that Shade has punched him right in the stomach. He falls to the floor, his knees cracking on it. He thuds to the side and curls up, wheezing. ‘You’ll pay for that Shade, you motherfucker.’

‘Maybe so,’ Shade snarls, holding out his hand for me to come, ‘but it was still worth it.’

‘Let’s go,’ he murmurs to me. ‘I think we’ve all had enough tonight.’

Shade opens the door and turns back. ‘Don’t come back to the house, Marcus. I have a feeling there might just be a terrible accident if you do.’

I see Marcus’ lips twist disparagingly as Shade closes the door behind us and guides me down the outside steps. When we get to his Jag, he opens the passenger door, and I lower myself in with a wince.

‘What’s wrong?’ Shade asks, concern evident. ‘Did Marcus do something?’

I shake my head. I’ll have to tell him, but I think if I do right now, Shade will go back inside and start something with Joe. While a part of me would enjoy seeing Shade beat the ever-loving shit out of another Banderville, I think a bigger part would rather just leave as soon as possible.

God, I hate this house.

I let out a long breath when the car passes through the iron gates and the house begins to get smaller in the rearview mirror.

‘Jesus,’ Shade whispers. ‘I know my father is an asshole, but I never thought he’d…’

‘Sell me to the highest bidder?’ I supply quietly. ‘What do you think he’s getting for me?’

‘Fuck,’ Shade whispers. ‘This is so fucked.’

He doesn’t say anything else.

‘I spoke to Stevens. He said the shoes were removed because your father said they were uncomfortable. They were probably destroyed.’

‘Anything else?’

‘John’s driver, Peter, was asked to go and get John from that gala the night of the accident, but Stevens didn’t know if he actually did. We can’t find out for sure because the guy was fired a couple months ago.’

‘I think it’s safe to say that you were right,’ Shade says, hands gripping the wheel tightly. ‘My father was at the scene. I’m sure of it. I’m sorry that I questioned you over it.’

‘It’s okay.’

He gives me a glance and puts his hand on my knee, squeezing gently. ‘I got the guys to get us pizza. That dinner was awful.’

I laugh a little. ‘In pretty much every way,’ I agree. ‘What time can you take me to your lab tomorrow?’

‘As early as you want.’

I nod. ‘I’m not sure how long it’ll take to make it the first time. It might be up to forty-eight hours for the preliminary batch. I’ll need a pill press, too.’

‘Already got one.’

I give him a small smile. ‘Where is this lab anyway?’

His answering grin is smug. ‘You’ll see.’

We pull up the driveway of the KIP House before I know it and, after my hellish evening with the Bandervilles, I’m glad to be home.

Home.

How odd that a couple of months ago, I hated this place almost as much as the Novelle house, but now I consider it a safe place despite the creeper who watches me.

We get out and go inside. The guys we see greet us both. It still surprises me that they’re being so nice to me. Upstairs, Mav and Blake are playing video games in Blake’s room. When they hear us, they both come out into the hallway.

‘Fuck, Daisy. That dress is killer,’ Blake breathes. ‘The things I want to do to you…’

My eyes lower as my cheeks heat.

‘Look at that blush,’ Mav murmurs in a voice that makes something else heat.

‘I’m just going to get something else to wear,’ I murmur, glancing up at them.

I might look amazing, but this outfit doesn’t quite meet my comfort standards. My feet are aching, and my torso wants to be free of the restricting velvet.

‘Food is here,’ Blake says, jerking his head in the direction of his room as his eyes continue to devour me.

‘I’ll be right in,’ I say, going into my room and closing the door.

I lean against it and let out a small sigh.

I’m here with them. My body relaxes, my muscles untensing as I reach back and stretch, arching to grab the zipper.

I pull it down and shrug out of the arm holes, letting the green velvet pool at my feet and shimmying my body a little now that I’m free of its confines.

It really is a beautiful dress. I’ve never worn anything like it.

I mean, when would I have? The Heath wasn’t big on parties bar Christmas, and it’s not like I was allowed things like this there.

I hang it up on a hanger almost reverently with my back to my door, but as I do, I hear my name, and it opens.

‘Hey, Tulip, do you want?—’

I freeze, turning to face Mav as quickly as possible, but I already see from his shock that it’s too late.

‘What the fuck?’

He strides in as I skitter backward across the room, but he catches me easily and turns me around, bending me over his thick forearm to get a better look at me in the mirror.

‘Who did this to you? Shade!’

‘No,’ I struggle in his arms. ‘Don’t?—’

But it’s too late. I hear multiple sharp intakes of breath at the door, and I flinch as I look over my shoulder to see Shade and Blake staring at the bruises.

Shade looks furious.

‘I was going to tell you,’ I begin, but he cuts me off.

‘Marcus?’ he snarls.

‘Marcus?’ Blake growls just as angrily. ‘He hasn’t even been here.’

‘He was there tonight with his brother and his father.’

I deflate in Mav’s arms, my shoulders slumping.

‘It wasn’t Marcus,’ I whisper.

Shade’s jaw ticks. ‘Joe?’

I nod.

He approaches, bending me over further so he can get a better look. Fingers touch and I shy away with a hiss of pain.

‘What did he use to do this, Daisy?’ Shade asks, his voice very quiet.

‘A cane,’ I whisper. ‘He used a cane.’

‘Jesus,’ Mav snarls under his breath, his arms tightening around me. ‘How did this happen? You were with her!’

I shiver at the fury in his voice. He’s very angry with Shade, I realize.

‘It wasn’t his fault,’ I say. ‘Please let me up.’

After a moment’s hesitation, Mav releases me and I turn to face the three of them. I wrap my arms around myself, conscious that I’m wearing nothing but panties.

‘John made him leave me with Marcus and his brother, Joe. I drank some Scotch in front of them. Joe told Marcus to go and then he said there were rules…for Banderville women, and if they aren’t followed, there’s punishments.’

I feel something soft being draped over me and see it’s Shade’s robe that I’ve been stealing every chance I get.

‘Go on,’ he says, cupping my face.

‘He pushed me over the back of the sofa and… I don’t know where he got the cane from. He just had it. He pushed my head into the pillows and hit me with it. Five or six times, I think.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Shade asks quietly.

‘I was going to. Later.’ I look away. ‘Probably.’

‘I mean, why didn’t you tell me at the house? When it happened?’

‘What would you have done? Beaten up Joe Banderville? Where would that leave you?’ I huff. ‘In John’s crosshairs, that’s where.’ I straighten and give him a steely look. ‘And we can’t afford that.’

‘I don’t understand something,’ Blake says from the door, his voice so devoid of emotion that I know from that alone that he’s super pissed. ‘Why the fuck is Joe Banderville touching Daisy in any way, shape, or form?’

Shade sighs. ‘Because, thanks to my father, Joe and Daisy are engaged.’

Mav stares at him. ‘They’re what?’

‘Getting married. In the Spring.’

‘The hell they are!’ Blake bounces off the wall where he’s leaning and stalks across the room, grabbing me by the back of the head and kissing me hard. His tongue demands entrance into my mouth, and when he doesn’t get it, he nips my lip, drawing a surprised cry from me.

‘You’re ours,’ he snarls, ‘and we’re not letting anyone else have you. That fucker is going to pay for hurting you.’

‘That’s good,’ I murmur, leaning against him with a sigh, some deep part of me loving how he’s acting. ‘Because I don’t intend on letting anyone else have me either, and I’m going to make sure he gets his comeuppance as well.’

Blake looks surprised, as if he hasn’t seen me properly before. He steps back.

‘Lay on the bed,’ he says.

‘But. Pizza!’ I practically wail. ‘The food at dinner was awful. I’m actually really hungry.’