Page 35 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. Two (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #2)

Wren

Retrieving the makeup bag from Aubrey’s room is a breeze. I double-check that everything is inside before slipping into the hallway.

So far, I haven’t encountered another person on the second floor. It doesn’t seem like Axel followed me up, which is a relief. He’s huge—and terrifying. Now all I have to do is get into the billiard room without being seen.

I resist the urge to clutch the makeup bag too tightly as I take a turn. Out of all the places I have to be tonight, this is the worst spot to get caught. From the main staircase, you have to walk right past Aubrey’s bedroom to get here. I can always claim that I got turned around, but there’s a chance whoever finds me will call bullshit.

Just look a little confused, I remind myself as I near the billiard room. Like you’re just really bad at following directions and don’t know how you ended up here.

My heart feels like it’s going to beat its way out of my chest. The calming breaths I take do absolutely nothing, and holding the bag is the only thing hiding how badly my hands are shaking.

You can do this, Wren. You have to.

I count the doors as I go, and I reach the billiard room without interruption. The place is eerily empty except for the music and laughter coming from the ballroom.

Aubrey stashed a pair of gloves in the makeup bag, so I put them on quickly. My hands are shaking as I unlock the door and slip inside the billiard room. Once I’m out of sight, I slump against the door and release a long, slow breath. Half of the dangerous part is over.

Not wanting to be in here any longer than I have to be, I get to work. Turning on the light would be too conspicuous, so I use the flashlight on my phone, careful not to point it at any of the windows.

I find the painting with ease. Aubrey said the hinges are on the left side, so I get a grip on the right side of the frame and tug. There’s a slight resistance, but then it swings open. Elliot must be right about a magnet holding the unconnected side of it to the wall.

“Okay,”

I tell myself, my voice barely audible to my own ears.

“You can do this. Just like you practiced.”

As I remove the device from the makeup bag, I think I hear the faintest noise from the hallway. I freeze. It was so quiet that I’m not entirely sure I actually heard anything.

I don’t move for a minute, listening for any indicators that someone is in the hallway, but there’s only silence. Not even footsteps or the sound of a door opening or closing.

You just imagined it. Keep going.

The cracker fits over the dial exactly like it did at home. The magnets hold it in place, so I step back as it spins, working automatically to find the correct combination.

I can barely breathe. It’s a good thing I don’t have to work the device myself because I can’t stop my damn hands from trembling.

Why does it feel like I’m being watched?

“It’s just your anxiety,”

I whisper to myself. Still, I shut off my phone’s flashlight so the light isn’t visible from the windows. As the darkness envelops me, my chest tightens.

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. I gasp in short breaths of air as I feel around for the wall and press my back to it. It provides some semblance of a feeling of safety. When I close my eyes, I can pretend I’m standing anywhere other than exactly where I am.

There’s nothing in the dark. You can’t panic. Not when everyone’s depending on you.

I’m not sure how long it takes for the telltale click of the safe unlocking to reach my ears. All I care about is that it gives me an excuse to turn my flashlight on, even if I have to be careful with where I aim it.

The hard drive is the only thing in the safe. I snatch it up and stuff it in the makeup bag before quietly closing the door. After taking the cracker off and putting it in the bag as well, I close the safe, swing the painting back into place, and breathe a sigh of temporary relief.

Now for the most nerve-racking part—leaving without being seen.

Tucking the makeup bag under my arm, I press my ear to the door. I can’t hear much of anything, which is either perfect or disastrous.

Before opening the door, I turn the lock on the doorknob so I don’t have to use the key in the hallway. I should’ve locked it the moment I came inside, and now I feel pretty damn stupid for not doing exactly that.

At least no one tried to come in. Focus on the positive, Wren.

I press my ear to the door again. It’s solid wood, which isn’t helpful at the moment. I’d prefer something thinner so sound could pass through easier.

After a couple seconds of silence, I square my shoulders. I can’t stand here all night listening. This is the best it’s gonna get. Slowly, I open the door and peek out.

Nothing.

That’s good. Get a move on.

I close the billiard room door behind me and creep back toward the main hallway. As I’m shoving my gloves in the makeup bag, footsteps sound from the direction I’m heading. Of course, they’re headed my way.

I dart back the way I came. For a second, I debate hiding in the billiard room, but then I hear the laughter of two men. They’re way too close for comfort and only coming nearer. I don’t have enough time to unlock the door and get back inside.

Running in heels on carpet feels as dangerous as it sounds, but I don’t have a choice. It’s either move quickly or get caught. I could always claim I got lost on my way downstairs, but this is the worst hallway for someone to find me in.

If I’m remembering the blueprints correctly—and I’d better be, considering how much time I spent studying them—I can make a turn up ahead that’ll get me out of sight. All it’ll take is a glance down this hallway, and I’m toast.

I reach the turn just in time and throw myself around the corner. My plan is to wait until the voices pass and then sneak back down the hallway, but I quickly realize I’m not going to be able to do that.

The voices—and the footsteps—are following me. The two men don’t sound alarmed, so I don’t think they spotted me. But they will if I don’t get the hell out of here.

I take off, running through the mansion at as fast of a pace as I can manage in these damn heels. It puts some distance in between me and Ludo’s men. Unfortunately, my current path is only bringing me closer to Ludo’s office—the worst spot in the house to get caught. How the hell am I supposed to claim I got lost when I’m heading toward the other side of the mansion now?

Shit, shit, shit. How am I supposed to get out of this?

I rack my brain, thinking of another way to get back to where I need to go. But all I can think of is the second staircase that leads downstairs. It’ll put me in the wrong section of the first floor, but it won’t be as suspicious.

Thanks to Aubrey’s request to keep security light, I shouldn’t run into any more of Ludo’s men up here. As long as I can stay far enough ahead of the two guys behind me until I get to the staircase, I should be golden.

Okay. Second staircase it is.

It’s pretty much a straight shot from here. All I have to do is run for a minute or two. As long as I can make it before Ludo’s men turn down this hallway, I’ll be golden.

When I come up on the staircase, I almost cry with relief. The hallway opens up to a large balcony on my right with the steps after that. Below, there’s a large foyer with a pair of French doors that lead into the greenhouse I remember seeing in the blueprints.

In the foyer, there’s a man nervously pacing. I’m about to find a place to hide, but he turns, and our eyes lock.

Rhett. Oh, thank god.

“What are you doing on this side of the mansion?”

he hisses.

“Get down here.”

I step toward the stairs, but then I freeze. Someone is whistling. The tune is familiar, and I recognize it instantly as the same one I heard Ludo whistling when he left me in the pool that night in Florida.

It’s him. He’s going to catch me near his office, out of breath, with absolutely no reason to be over here. Oh no no no no no.

The whistling is getting closer. There’s definitely not enough time for me to get down the stairs before Ludo sees me.

Quickly, Rhett moves so he’s below the balcony. “Jump.”

“W-what?”

“Jump, Wren,”

he whisper-shouts. “Now.”

My heart is beating wildly as I gather up the skirt of my dress.

“You’ll catch me?”

“Always, sweetheart.”

The fall is barely even a full story, but it’s still intimidating. As I climb over the banister, I keep my focus on Rhett. He won’t let me get hurt. I know he won’t.

I take a shuddering breath before I let go.

For a split second, I’m falling, and then I’m in the safe hold of Rhett’s arms. He barely even grunts before steadying himself and setting me down. Somehow, I’m able to gain balance quickly, which is a miracle considering these heels.

Ludo’s whistling is much closer now—too close. There’s nowhere to hide. Getting caught in this area of his mansion isn’t as suspicious as getting caught upstairs, but we’re right by the steps, and—

“Just follow my lead,”

Rhett murmurs, cradling my face with one hand and pulling me close with the other. His arm locks around my waist, and I don’t realize what he’s doing until his lips meet mine.

I let out a surprised squeak before almost dropping the makeup bag. Then I grab onto his suit jacket, stumbling when he walks me backward and into a wall.

“Rhett,”

I gasp. He shoves my legs apart with his knee until his thigh is pressed tightly in between mine. The skirt of my dress pulls tight as I moan into his mouth.

His kiss is heated and greedy, and it’s almost enough to make me forget that it’s just a performance. One of his hands grips my waist as his tongue dances with mine. I let myself get lost in the kiss, in the way the scent of cedar and sage envelops me and his body shields me from view.

Ludo’s footsteps sound close, and then his whistling stops. There’s an unsurprised chuckle before he says, “Can’t keep your hands off each other for a single night, I see.”

I jump, but Rhett barely moves back at Ludo’s words. His eyes hold a warning for me: play it cool. Problem is, my nerves are so frayed, I don’t know if I can.

“Saw her walk by and had to steal her away for a minute.”

Rhett manages a cool smile before turning to face Ludo.

“Suppose I should let you go, though.”

“Yeah, Aubrey needs me. Makeup stuff.”

I gesture with the hand holding the bag.

“I should get back to her.”

With an almost bashful look, Rhett leans in and kisses me on the cheek.

“Sorry for distracting you. Couldn’t help myself.”

“Oh, I’m sure Aubrey understands,”

Ludo says, and I hate the way his eyes track me as I step away.

As I move toward the ballroom, I stare at the ground, too afraid my facial expressions will give something away. Even once I’m out of sight, I don’t look up. Rhett kissing me like that left my brain all fuzzy, and Ludo catching us only threw me off more. I have to find a way to calm myself down before I get back to the ballroom.

My lack of awareness is probably what leads me to walk directly into a large man. As I stumble backward from the impact, I meet Axel’s hard glare. My stomach drops.

“What the hell are you doing over here?”

His eyes narrow with suspicion as he takes me in.

“You’re a little far from the party, aren’t you?”

“I was just grabbing Aubrey’s makeup bag.”

The words roll off my tongue with ease, and I mentally thank myself for practicing so many times.

“And then I got… distracted.”

“Sure,”

he says dryly, and then he snatches the bag from my hands.

Shit.

“Aubrey needs that,”

I snap. When I try to grab it back, Axel holds it over my head. “Hey!”

“Axel,”

Ludo says from behind me. He’s walking briskly with Rhett by his side.

“What’re you doing?”

“I saw that these two were missing.”

Axel gestures between the two of us.

“There’s something off here, boss.”

“You’re focusing on the wrong people.”

Ludo plucks the bag from Axel’s hands.

“I just caught them making out by the stairs. That’s all.”

“Then check the bag,”

Axel grits out.

“If it’s full of makeup, then it’ll only prove their innocence.”

“All you’re proving,”

Ludo says menacingly, “is that I made a mistake in making you my most trusted employee. Are you really doubting my judgment?”

“You only tested the men.”

Axel levels me with a glare that has goosebumps covering my skin.

“I still stand by my idea that she could be working separately from them.”

“What?”

I ask, and I barely have to feign confusion.

“Working separately from them how? I’m only grabbing Aubrey’s bag like she asked me to.”

“What’s he accusing us of, Ludo?”

Rhett steps close enough that my fingers brush against his thigh. It doesn’t put him between me and Axel, but the move is still clear. To get to me, he’ll have to go through Rhett first.

“A problem that resolved itself.”

Shoving the bag into my hands, Ludo walks back the way we came.

“Axel, come with me. Wren, go see my wife.”

He pauses and turns to Rhett.

“No more distractions.”

Without another word, I grab Rhett’s hand and pull him toward the ballroom. That was close. Way too close. Like, Elliot-is-going-to-freak-out-and-lock-me-in-a-safe-room kind of close. But at the same time, this whole situation is so ironically comical that I’m close to laughing.

“Wren.”

Rhett tugs on my hand once we’ve put enough distance between us and Ludo. He turns me toward him and frames my face between his hands.

“Are you all right?”

I keep my voice as low as I can considering I’m on the verge of… something. Whether it’s tears or laughter, I don’t know.

“Did Ludo just hand me the very thing that’s going to destroy him?”

The corners of Rhett’s lips tip up.

“Yeah. Fuck, he did, didn’t he?”

“And we… did we just almost die?”

“Most definitely.”

He lifts my face with a bent knuckle under my chin.

“But we didn’t. At least for right now, focus on that.”

I can do that—not that I have much of a choice.

His lips meet mine in a chaste kiss before he whispers, “Go. This isn’t over yet.”

I rush back to the ballroom and spot Oliver and Elliot caught in conversation with Mr. Stallard. They both seem perfectly relaxed, but I don’t miss the relief on their faces when they see me. I blow them a kiss before heading back to the bridal table.

Aubrey is right where I left her, talking to a couple of her parents’ friends. When she laughs, it’s in a much more restrained way than she does when she doesn’t have to worry about her family’s reputation.

When I hover close by, she wishes them a lovely evening before we slip into the room where we got ready. Aubrey doesn’t let down her perfectly-happy-and-in-love persona until she’s double checked that we’re alone.

Letting out a large sigh, she collapses onto the sofa.

“Oh. my. god. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to punch someone in the face more.”

“What did they say?”

“What? Oh! No, the Larsons are fine. A little dull, but that’s on brand for my parents’ taste in friends.”

She rolls her eyes.

“No, I mean Ludo. I’ve had to introduce him to every single one of my parents’ friends that he deemed worthy of a connection. Did you know he researched every person on the guest list? And made a couple requests. Fucking asshole.”

“It’ll all be worth it,”

I remind her.

“For your parents.”

With a sigh, she nods.

“They haven’t been as worried lately, and I think it’s because they feel safer. I hope I’m not about to add on to their stress.”

I sit next to her so we can speak as quietly as possible.

“When are you going to contact them?”

“Hopefully tomorrow night. I have a long flight tonight to get to California, and then Sparrow will help me settle in at my new place. She normally doesn’t take her clients that far, but considering who I’m running from, she wants to make sure everything goes perfectly.”

“You nervous?”

“Nah. I trust Sparrow. She has everything worked out. I can only contact my parents in specific ways so nothing can be traced, but once I’m out, I should be perfectly safe. And quite happy.”

Taking her hand and squeezing, I say, “And you’ll have nothing to worry about here. The guys are already working on aligning themselves with your parents, so once…”

I glance around.

“Once everything is taken care of, they’ll make sure nothing happens to them. No matter what.”

“Thank you,”

she says softly.

“Really. I wouldn’t’ve been able to do this unless I found a way to protect them.”

“Thank you.”

I nod to the makeup bag, which is sitting in my lap.

“With this, I think we’ll be able to end things quickly.”

With a tilt of her head, she asks, “And then?”

“And then… and then we live happily ever after, I suppose.”

Aubrey laughs.

“You know, I used to think that was bullshit. Life is so stressful. But watching the four of you, everything started to make more sense. You guys have found a sort of happily ever after in the midst of so much pain. I’ve never seen a love so deep.”

“I used to think something similar. My mom and her husband never truly seemed happy, you know? And I never felt it in any past relationships. But now, with these three… everything just clicks.”

“They love you so much it confused me at first,”

she says.

“Now it’s my goal to find someone—or multiple people, I suppose—who look at me the way you four look at each other.”

I grin.

“Just be careful. You might end up getting more than you bargained for.”

She snorts.

“No kidding. Look at you—a normal girl who somehow ended up with three revenge-bent hitmen.”

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself here,”

I say with a laugh.

“But I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Ugh!”

Aubrey flings her arms around me.

“I’m going to miss you so much. I promise I’ll write. Maybe we can even talk on the phone once in a while. But promise you’ll write me back?”

“I promise.”

There’s a knock on the door, and after Aubrey calls out, it swings open. Ludo steps through with his hands in his pockets and a scowl on his features.

“What are you doing in here?”

“Wren was fixing my makeup,”

Aubrey replies lightly.

“And then we got distracted. Girl talk and all that. Do you need something?”

“Yes,”

he says exasperatedly.

“I need to be seen with my wife. We should dance together.”

“We already danced.”

“Well, we should do it again.”

He steps closer so no one overhears his vexed tone.

“You and I both need this to work, but it won’t if we don’t act accordingly. Get up. We’re dancing.”

“No, we’re not.”

Aubrey stands and smooths her skirt.

“We can talk to people, drink champagne, laugh, and act like we’re head over heels. But I’m not dancing with you again. You’re horrible at it.”

Ludo jerks his head back like he’s been slapped. It looks like he’s about to fire back a retort, but there’s another knock on the door. One of the Stallard’s friends peeks in—a woman Ludo has been trying to kiss up to the most, I think. If I remember correctly, she’s an influential judge.

“Oh perfect, you’re both in here,”

she says as she steps inside. Her pale cheeks are flushed from a night of dancing, but her light brown hair is still pulled back in a sleek French twist.

“Am I interrupting something?”

“Bernadette,”

Aubrey says delightedly.

“Not at all. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“I am, yes. You planned a beautiful reception. And the colors you chose—such a lovely shade of pink, although I can’t say I’m surprised. You have the best taste.”

“That’s such a compliment coming from you.”

Aubrey presses a hand to her heart like she’s truly touched.

“Thank you. Oh—and where are my manners? Bernadette, this is Wren Taylor, one of my bridesmaids. She’s partners with a few men who regularly work for Ludo.”

“So lovely to meet you,”

Bernadette says with a practiced smile. She extends her hand, and we shake briefly.

“But unfortunately, I can’t stay. One of my kids got sick, so I have to get going. I just wanted to say goodbye first and congratulate you again. Aubrey, I wish you the best.”

“Oh, thank you so much for coming.”

Aubrey draws Bernadette into a hug.

“It means a lot.”

“Happy to be here. You’re a beautiful bride, Aubrey.”

After a peck on the cheek, Bernadette turns and gives Ludo a smile that’s barely warmer than chilling.

“It was nice meeting you,”

Ludo says, holding his arm out for a handshake.

“Yes,”

Bernadette says slowly, looking at his hand but not taking it.

“It was… something.”

Turning back to Aubrey, she beams.

“I hope you have a lovely honeymoon, dear. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it from your mother. Take lots of pictures, all right?”

“Oh, we’re actually doing a no-technology honeymoon,”

Aubrey says as she gives Ludo a dreamy smile. It’s startlingly convincing.

“No phones, no cameras, no anything. Just the two of us with each other for a whole week.”

“That sounds wonderful! I love that idea. Well, we’ll just have to get together some time so you can tell me all about it.”

She moves to leave, but at the door, Bernadette turns. Something like concern flickers in her eyes.

“Aubrey, dear. If there’s anything you ever need from me, I’m just a call away. You know that?”

“Thank you,”

Aubrey says.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Once she’s gone, Ludo works his jaw.

“She doesn’t like me.”

“She has an excellent bullshit detector.”

As Aubrey says it, she gives him a pointed stare.

“I need her to like me,”

he grits out.

“Try actually being likable, then,”

she replies sweetly as she links her arm with his.

“Now come along. We have people to impress.”

He doesn’t budge when Aubrey pulls him toward the door.

“You’re not hearing me, darling. If she doesn’t like me, I’ll have to resort to less-than-savory methods to get what I want. Trust me, you won’t like them.”

My stomach turns. Is he talking about Benny?

Rolling her eyes, Aubrey sighs out, “Fine. We’ll schedule a dinner with her sometime. Us, my parents, and her and her husband. But there’s nothing you can do about it tonight, so come on. Unless you’ve changed your mind about needing to be seen with me.”

After straightening his already-perfect tie, Ludo wipes the scowl off his face and replaces it with a charming smile.

“Nice try, but neither of us are getting out of this.”

Aubrey rolls her eyes at me as Ludo tugs her out of the room. As she turns away, I’m just able to catch her slipping on a mask of pure joy. She does it so naturally, and after meeting her parents and the people they associate with, I understand why. Aubrey doesn’t have a choice.

Not until she disappears, anyway.

Plopping back onto the couch, I run my fingers over the makeup bag. Aubrey upheld her end of the deal, and now it’s time for us to do the same. Everything is ready, so at this point, it’s just a waiting game. And then…

I gulp. And then it’s time to end this once and for all.