Page 166 of Ruthless Chaos

I nod, my throat thick.

“There will be so many people on the plane. What if they hear?" I ask weakly. Alexander’s eyes flash like I’ve issued him a challenge.

“Then they’ll know exactly who you belong to.”

FORTY

ALEXANDER

I stabthe steak with my fork, wishing it was Keller’s face instead.

The nerve of him to bring Cassidy here. That she even agreed to his plan means she’s even crazier than I thought. They’ve formed some kind of fucked up alliance.

I can’t let Alize out of my sight, even when we get back to school.

She’s sitting beside me, pushing her food around on her plate. Our group is in the resort’s dining hall. Nine of us are seated around a large oak table eating dinner. Cassidy and Keller aren’t around, and I would love it if they kept it that way.

The conversation around the table is mundane.

Ezra and Vance look just as tense as I feel. This trip is official Kingmaker business. If things go south between Keller and me this weekend, it can still be reported. I’ve already got one strike against me for bashing his face in.

I’m willing to take my chances, though.

A soft hand on my forearm pulls me out of my thoughts.

“You’re frowning again,” Alize says softly, smoothing her finger over my brow.

My sweet girl doesn’t even know the danger she’s in, and I want to keep it that way. I need to get rid of this problem without worrying her.

I pull a small smile, hoping that will appease her.

“I’m just thinking,” I say. “I’m fine, really.”

She gives me a knowing look but says nothing else.

The sight of her calms me. It always does, I realize.

Alize is a drug I can’t get enough of—and I’ve given up trying to resist it. Her neck is angry with bite marks and hickeys from the sex we had on the plane.

I have the urge to add more. To cover her skin with them so they’re the first thing anybody else sees when they look at her. I want her to wear them like jewels.

I’ve zoned out again. The entire table is staring at me.

“We should have the first meeting now,” Vance says, and he sounds like he’s repeating. “It should only take an hour. That way, we can have a late start to our morning.” He sneaks a look at Nya out of the corner of his eye.

She blushes, and nobody would have to guess why Vance would want a “late start.” The thought isn’t offensive to me. I would like one of those too. If Alize will be in my bed, I’m certain I’ll have little interest in leaving it.

“Good idea,” I say. I turn to Alize. “What are you going to do while I’m busy?”

“The girls and I were talking earlier about going to the hot springs,” she says with a bright smile. “The brochure calls it a hidden wonder of the world.” She chuckles.

I sigh, trying to match her smile.

I would much rather have her by my side this entire trip, and the thought of her being somewhere without me makes my skin crawl. There’s no reason for me to tell her no, though.

I want to tell her she isn’t allowed to leave the room unless it’s with me, but I know she wouldn’t like that. I don’t want her to be unhappy.

“That sounds like it will be a lot of fun,” I say instead.