Page 5 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. Two (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #2)

Wren

Oliver wakes me up with cuddles and kisses. It’s hard to keep my eyes open, but the promise of coffee and more kisses gets me out of bed after a minute.

It’s not until I’m brushing my teeth that I’m awake enough to realize how nervous Oliver looks. He’s pacing his bedroom, wringing his hands while he mutters to himself.

Once I’m done, I hover at the threshold between the bathroom and the bedroom.

“Oliver? Are you okay?”

“Hmm?”

He looks up, stopping in the middle of the room.

“Yeah, yeah. Just gotta… talk to everyone. Something came up.”

“Came up?”

“I’m not sure if it’s a problem or not. We may have to approach things differently.”

When he notices my concerned look, he grabs my hand and squeezes.

“We’ll be okay. The sunglasses were always a good idea, but now I think they’re definitely our safest bet.”

“Safest bet?”

“I’ll explain over breakfast. C’mon.”

He tugs me out of the room and downstairs.

Elliot and Rhett are already sipping coffee at the kitchen table, and I smile at the sight of them. I’m not sure what’ll happen after this week. It feels too soon to move in permanently, but I never want to miss a morning with them. My only issue is that it feels too fast. I need to maintain some sense of individuality, otherwise I’ll end up repeating all the same mistakes I made with Adam.

“Morning.”

As Elliot says it, he leans back in his chair and watches us. He looks much more relaxed than he did last night.

“Morning,”

Oliver says, pulling out a chair and pushing me into it. Then he blurts, “We have a problem. When we got back from Wyoming, I went to Evolve to talk to Ludo.”

“What?”

Rhett spits out, turning in his chair to stare at Oliver.

“Why the hell would you do that?”

“Because of the way Ludo was looking at Wren when we took her to Evolve.”

Now I’m the one turning in my chair.

“Looking at me? What are you talking about?”

Elliot stands and immediately starts pacing. All of the tension that bled out of him overnight is back.

“What did he say?”

Oliver doesn’t answer my question, only gives me an apologetic glance.

“She’s his type, we all know it. I figured Ludo was keeping tabs on her. With the way he couldn’t keep his eyes off her, it was at least a decent hunch. He claimed he wasn’t and that he didn’t know where she was, but I’m not sure I believe him.”

I shiver. At Evolve, I was so focused on Oliver and on having fun that I didn’t even notice Ludo was watching me. It leaves me with a vulnerable and icky feeling, like I need to take a shower and scrub my skin clean.

Elliot stops behind Rhett’s chair, gripping the back of it.

“Tell me everything Ludo said. Word for word if you remember.”

Oliver does, going into as much detail as he can. Apparently Ludo is the one who gave Oliver the idea of getting himself kidnapped. As Oliver explains, I start putting together a timeline. My stomach drops to the floor as everything falls into place.

If Oliver went to Ludo the afternoon he got kidnapped, that means Ludo had already stopped by Jordan’s house and seen me. Ludo knew exactly where I was, and he chose to keep that piece of information to himself.

Why? Why would he do that?

I need to tell the guys.

“I’m going to kill him,”

Rhett growls.

“How dare he suggest something so—”

“Let’s not dwell on it,”

Elliot cuts in, resting a hand on Rhett’s shoulder.

“He’ll get what’s coming to him.”

Rhett clamps his mouth shut, but the deadly anger in his eyes only grows. It has me biting my tongue. The last thing we need is Rhett snapping and acting on his emotions. If he knows Ludo could’ve helped me, he’ll flip his shit. I can’t be the reason their revenge plans go awry.

I’ll tell them. Just not right now.

“One thing is sticking out to me,”

Elliot says.

“He said that he likes having us as allies, right?”

Oliver nods.

“Ludo doesn’t extend that kind of grace very often. One sign of disloyalty is usually enough for him to cut someone out entirely, yet he did the opposite. He hired us.”

Elliot is staring at me, but he’s not really seeing me. He’s deep in his mind, working on some grand, invisible puzzle.

“That’s bad, right?” I ask.

“I don’t think so,”

Elliot replies. His hand is still on Rhett’s shoulder, and he’s tapping his fingers absentmindedly.

“No, I think that’s a good thing.”

“How?” I ask.

“It means he needs us.”

As Elliot says it, his gaze finally sharpens on me. A hint of worry fills his eyes, but it’s pushed to the side by a hard determination.

“And we need to figure out why.”

“It also means this could be a test,”

Rhett says. Gently, he removes Elliot’s hand from his shoulder, and I wonder what’s happening in his head.

“And while a test doesn’t mean active malice, we need to proceed with caution.”

“Exactly,”

Elliot replies, shoving his hands in his pockets.

I slouch in my chair. All of this is so complicated. We can’t read Ludo’s mind, but we need to know what he’s thinking.

“I really hope these sunglasses work.”

“Me too, princess,”

Oliver mumbles.

Tension is high as we get ready to go. My stomach is too queasy, so I skip breakfast, even though the guys try to get me to eat something. It’s sweet of them, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep food down right now.

Once we’ve boarded the plane, Elliot leads us to a sitting area. There are two leather seats that are close together, and then two more that are facing them. I immediately claim one of the ones next to a window. It feels as nice as it looks. Really, the whole thing is much fancier than I expected. I’ve only been on a plane once, and it definitely wasn’t a private one.

I spend the entire flight staring out the window, watching as cars turn into tiny dots and then disappear entirely. It’s probably childish, looking out the window the whole time, but I can’t stop myself. It’s fascinating.

Oliver is seated next to me.

“Have you never been on a plane before, princess?”

“Once,”

I reply without looking at him.

“I didn’t get the window seat though.”

He hums.

“If you’d like, you can always have it when you fly with me.”

That finally gets me to pull my focus away from the world below. I bristle when I realize all three men are watching me. “What?”

Rhett averts his gaze immediately. Elliot doesn’t answer—just smiles.

After kissing my cheek, Oliver says, “Nothing. It’s just nice to see you happy.”

I don’t realize I was expecting them to make fun of me until they don’t. A warm feeling creeps through my body. It’s like eating a chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven, or like coming home and cuddling in front of a crackling fire. Except, somehow, it’s more.

“You make me happy,”

I say softly, looking between the three of them.

When Rhett looks up again, I make sure to lock eyes with him. He doesn’t smile, doesn’t say anything, but that’s okay. I know it means something to him.

Oliver tips my chin toward him and kisses me. He tastes like the orange juice the flight attendant got him and smells of vanilla, and it makes me want to crawl into his lap and kiss him for the rest of the flight.

“Fuck, princess,”

he murmurs into my mouth. It’s almost like he can read my mind, because he slips his hands under me, grabs my ass, and pulls me until I’m sitting sideways in his lap.

I have to turn my torso to keep kissing him, and when I do so, he grips my waist. My hands cradle his face as he leans back in his seat, taking me with him. With my body pressed against his, I feel his cock harden underneath my thigh.

“Not to be a downer,”

Elliot says as Oliver slips a hand under my shirt, “but we’re going to be landing soon.”

With a groan, Oliver breaks off our kiss. His hand slides down my back until it rests on the curve of my ass.

“Poor timing on my part. You’re just too pretty not to kiss.”

I seal my lips to Oliver’s once more before he sets me back in my seat. His hands linger on my body as he buckles my seatbelt. He pulls it tight, burying his face into my hair and inhaling deeply.

“So sweet,”

he whispers.

“And too damn sexy.”

Landing is possibly the most anxiety-inducing part of the flight for me. When the wheels hit the ground, we’re still going so fast, and it feels like we’ll spin out of control at any second.

“Hey,”

Oliver says, “we’re okay.”

It’s not until he says it that I realize I have a death grip on his arm. Releasing him, I say, “Sorry.”

Grabbing my hand, he squeezes gently.

“I don’t mind.”

The plane starts slowing down so quickly I can’t help but tense up again. But in under a minute, we’re rolling along in a much more controlled manner. Breathing out a sigh of relief, I slump into my seat.

“You’ll get used to it eventually,”

Elliot says.

“Took me a while too,”

Rhett adds in.

“First time I flew, I puked.”

With a chuckle, Oliver says, “And I had a panic attack my first time.”

“Both of those happened simultaneously, by the way,”

Elliot chimes in.

“God, that was chaotic.”

I’d laugh if I didn’t feel so nauseated.

“I think I might’ve hurled if I’d eaten breakfast.”

“Which reminds me,”

Elliot says, glancing at his phone.

“The first thing we’re doing after we check in at the resort is getting you some food. Assuming you’re up for it?”

“Um. Let’s see how I feel once this thing isn’t moving anymore.”

The corners of his mouth lift up.

“Of course, love.”

Turns out, the resort isn’t terribly far from the airport. My stomach settles pretty quickly, and by the time we’re piling out of our rental, I’m finally ready to eat something.

We head right past the elevators, which confuses me until we turn down a hallway to another area. Here, there are only a few elevators, and they’re labeled for the higher-up suites and penthouses. Elliot has to swipe our room’s key card to use it.

As we step into it, I can’t help but smile to myself. Of course they didn’t book a normal room. Why am I even surprised?

We head up to the highest floor, which opens up into a large hallway with huge windows at either end. There are two doors aside from the elevators, each across from each other.

“Two different suites?”

“Two different penthouses, love.”

Elliot swipes a keycard in front of one of the doors, and we hear the telltale click of it unlocking before he pushes it open.

My jaw drops. Never in my life did I think I’d ever step foot into a penthouse. And from the peek I’m getting through the open door, it’s a really, really, really nice one.

“Let’s go, sweetheart.”

Rhett’s hand comes to rest on the small of my back, pressing gently.

“Oh, sweet,”

Oliver exclaims as he walks inside.

“You booked one with a piano.”

“Figured you’d appreciate that,”

Elliot says, following him.

Rhett catches the door before it closes, pushing me forward until I’m inside.

“It’s just an apartment, Wren. It won’t bite.”

The place is luxurious. Like, tall ceilings, huge windows, sparkling surfaces, billionaire’s-home-away-from-home type luxurious.

There’s a balcony. No, scratch that, two. Or maybe it’s just one big one. There’s also a hot tub outside, a magnificent view of the ocean, a sprawling living area, and a TV that’s as big as the grand piano that’s in front of the windows.

“Um,”

I squeak out.

“How much money does being a hitman pay, exactly?”

“Depends on the hitman,”

Rhett replies, adjusting my bag over his shoulder.

“And the target,”

Elliot adds.

“And who’s hiring,”

Oliver says, flopping onto one of the pristine white couches.

“Okay, but…”

I wave my hand around, still trying to take in the space.

“This much money?”

“Ah, no,”

Elliot says.

“The money we make helps, of course, but most of this came from my trust fund and managing it well. My parents are loaded.”

“It meant Rhett and I got to go on the sweetest vacations in high school,”

Oliver says, looking up from where he’s been admiring the piano.

“Took some convincing, but eventually his parents said yes.”

“A lot of convincing,”

Rhett mutters, his tone tinged with bitterness. Before I can dwell on it, he’s glancing at his watch and saying, “We need to get moving. We have a lot of ground to cover today, and it’s already noon.”

“Shit, right.”

Elliot turns to me.

“And we need to get you food.”

“I’ve got it handled,”

Rhett says.

“Why don’t you and O start exploring, and the two of us can check out the first-floor restaurant?”

“Works for me,”

Oliver says with a sly smile.

“I get to help?” I ask.

“You get to learn,”

Rhett tells me.

“Now come with me.”

The penthouse has two bedrooms, and we take the one that’s decorated in silver and light blue. It’s a cooler color scheme than I would’ve picked for a bedroom, but the balcony—the third balcony, so far—makes up for it.

“Wow,”

I breathe, moving to the sliding glass door.

“That’s a beautiful view.”

The resort overlooks the ocean, and the sky is so clear today that the water is a deep, vibrant blue. Relief washes over me when I realize it’s not causing me to panic. It must be far enough away.

“So I get to stay with you?”

“We’ll probably switch at some point, but Elliot and Oliver need some time together. And I—you…”

He clears his throat.

“Never mind.”

I’d pry, but based on the way he’s fiddling with the lilac strap of my bag, it’d just make him more uncomfortable.

“That’s thoughtful of you.”

He doesn’t seem to know what to do with the compliment. He shifts from foot to foot and awkwardly clears his throat.

“Uh, thanks.”

Rounding the bed, I take my bag from him.

“I just want to get changed before we eat. I’m not dressed for summer weather.”

Rhett nods.

“Right. That makes sense.”

After cleaning up in the bathroom, I slide a light and flowy dress on. It’s black with a sunflower print on it. The back and the straps are crocheted black lace that I fell in love with the moment I laid eyes on it.

I put my hair up so it’s off my neck and check in the mirror to make sure I look okay. The woman staring back at me makes me smile. I look like a main character in a sweet romance novel. Maybe even a romcom. Or maybe I look like the fun, supportive best friend. But hey, that’s okay too. I love a good side character.

Back in the bedroom, Rhett takes a long look at me. He’s changed into a black T-shirt, but he’s still wearing pants, and he has his hands in his pockets while he leans against the dresser. Slowly, almost lazily, his eyes travel up and down my body.

Okay, definitely a main character outfit.

“Ready to get food?”

He nods, but he doesn’t move. His gaze hasn’t left me, and it’s a really long stare. Like, really long.

Okay, maybe it’s not a main character outfit.

“Do you not like the dress?”

“What?”

“You haven’t stopped looking at me.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“And you’re automatically assuming it’s because I think you look bad?”

“I—well, no, but you’re not the easiest to read, and—”

All it takes is a couple long, sure strides, and he’s towering over me.

“Do you like it?”

That’s very much not the answer I was hoping for, so I sigh.

“I just want to know if you think it’s too girlish, or if you think I look silly, or anything like that.”

“Would you change if I told you I didn’t like it?”

“That’s not what I’m—it’s not—I…”

“I love the dress,”

he says.

“I was staring because it looks good.”

I relax.

“Thank you. That’s what I wanted to know. Okay, we can go get food—”

“Mm mm, no.”

He shakes his head.

“Would you have changed if I told you I didn’t like the dress?”

I can feel my whole body heating. My heart starts beating too fast, and I can’t hold Rhett’s gaze, so I look away.

“Answer me, sweetheart,”

he says gently.

“I probably would’ve changed,” I mumble.

“And do you, just possibly, find that a touch ironic?”

“Um…?”

I risk a glance at him, hoping his expression will hold some answers, but all I find is a hint of a smile.

God, why is he so damn attractive.

“Last night,”

he prods. “Oliver.”

“What? Oh. Oh.”

“What exactly did you tell him? Don’t ever feel like you have to hide yourself from me. Something like that.”

“You heard?”

I whisper.

His smile widens the tiniest bit.

“Yeah. And I think you need to apply what you said to him to yourself. We like you just the way you are, sweetheart.”

I squirm, twisting my fingers into the skirt of my dress.

“That’s easier said than done.”

“Yeah,”

he says with a shrug.

“Oliver’s been working on it since we were kids.”

“That’s a long time,” I mumble.

“The important thing is that you don’t have to change yourself to earn our affections. Got it?”

It’s a concept I’m not entirely familiar with, but I’m getting more used to it by the day. Honestly, I should be relieved. In this instance, the guys are the total opposites of Adam and my family. Instead of shaping me to be who they want me to be, they’re giving me room to be myself.

“Thank you.”

Rhett shakes his head.

“Never thank me for doing the bare minimum, sweetheart.”

I take his hand when he holds it out to me.

“I think you and I have different definitions of the bare minimum.”

“I agree,”

he says, and I can’t help but notice the darkness that tinges his tone.

“And I’m going to try my damndest to show you just how high your standards should be.”