Page 55 of Savage Captor (Deadly Devotion #1)

Greyson

I n the morning, Scarlett’s quiet. I keep true to my word and make my way around the apartment, taking each camera from its hiding place and letting her watch as I disable them.

She was right when she said there’s not much she could do to hurt me.

I’m not worried about her going unsupervised; I don’t think she’ll try to pull anything.

She knows better by now. And even if she does try something, that’ll only give me an excuse to tie her up and punish the hell out of her.

Watch her writhe, moan, and cry so sweetly for me while I play with her pussy to my heart’s content.

Over breakfast, she announces that she has another request. She’s getting bolder, and I find I actually like that she’s speaking up, even if my natural setting around her is mild suspicion.

It seems like she’s starting to settle, or at least trying to, but I know Scarlett’s a tricky one.

Just two mornings ago, she attacked me like a feral animal when I forced her to admit that her brother’s the one who’s been supporting her.

That’s something I still need to look into; Luther having a son is a variable that needs to be considered, but not right now. Not until Boyce is dead, his loyalists are exterminated, and we’re ready to move onto taking down Luther.

“What is it?” I ask Scarlett. If her request is reasonable, I’ll grant it.

“I need to see the doctor,” she replies.

I frown. “Why? What’s wrong—are you getting sick again?” I press the back of my hand to her forehead. She seemed fine when I fucked her awake this morning, but I wasn’t exactly paying attention to her health.

“No, it’s about birth control,” she says.

“I don’t know how long I’ve been here, I’m guessing between one and two months, and my IUD is expiring soon—maybe it’s already expired.

I need to talk to the doctor about birth control, and probably also get some bloodwork done to check if my IUD is still working—that is, if you have the facilities for that. ”

“Why the hell do you have an IUD?” It’s not the first question I should have, but the fact that she has a birth control implant indicates that she might’ve intended to sleep with another man. The thought is enough to turn my mood pitch-black.

“To regulate bad periods,” she says. “And I haven’t had one since getting here, which tells me that something’s off in my system. If you’re really going to keep me here forever, I’m sorry to inform you that it comes with responsibilities—unless you want me to slowly deteriorate away.”

I take a few moments to process this. I’ve been so caught up with the upcoming mutiny and taming Scarlett, I haven’t even considered the implications of unprotected sex, or the fact that Scarlett hasn’t had her period yet—and she’s been here for close to two months.

That could be a result of the physical and mental strain she’s been under, but she’s right.

She should get checked out in the medical wing, where the doctor has all the necessary equipment to look at her .

The problem with that is I don’t want to take Scarlett out of my room. Not when she can run into the other Nighthawks, or god forbid, Boyce. Nobody would fuck with her while she’s with me… aside from Boyce. But, thankfully for us, he should be up in his personal quarters.

I could make Scarlett wait until after the mutiny to meet with the doctor, but I have no idea what kind of damage will be done to headquarters or who will get caught in the crossfire. It’s best to get her checked up today, before the chaos ensues.

“I know it comes with responsibilities,” I respond, my gaze dropping to her stomach.

I gave her a crop top and sweatpants to wear today, since I plan to be cooped up in my office all day.

I gaze at her stretch of midriff, feeling something strange simmer in my veins.

A need, a desire… to see her belly start to round out.

My thoughts are so startling, I sharply look away from her and refocus on my breakfast. I’m being preposterous. Now isn’t the time to bring a baby into this world. I never even considered having children before… but in the future, after Cain’s taken over and I’ve become his second…

I can picture it. Scarlett and I will claim a bigger apartment, one with multiple guest rooms, and some of those rooms can go to our children.

I can see little girls that take after her, little boys taking after me.

If it were anyone else in Scarlett’s position, I wouldn’t even give a second’s thought to the idea of children, but with her… I can’t help myself.

Eventually . Not now, not when I have so many things to take care of, but eventually, the right time will come—and I’ll plant my baby deep inside Scarlett. For now, though, neither of us are ready. She’s still healing and recovering, and I am not prepared for fatherhood .

“We’ll go after breakfast.” I tip my chin at her plate. “You’ve barely had a single bite. Eat .” Maybe I should go back to hand-feeding her every meal, because she certainly doesn’t seem adept at properly feeding herself.

“If you guys have the tools for a blood workup, I shouldn’t eat beforehand,” she says. “I’ll eat after.”

“Yes, you will,” I agree. I finish up while sending a text to the doc so he has everything set up. It’s still early in the morning, so most of the guys should still be asleep.

“Can I make one more request?” Scarlett asks quietly.

I fix my gaze on her, waiting.

“Could you… could you please take me outside?”

“No.” I don’t trust her outside yet. I don’t trust her to not just make a run for it, even though she won’t get very far.

She nods, accepting this, but her features fall. “Alright.”

I don’t like the dejection on her face. “Soon,” I say impulsively. It’s hard for me not to give her whatever she wants, not to spoil her in every way. I will eventually, but not yet—she still has a long way to go before she’s truly settled.

I finish up eating quickly, then take her hand in mine and lead her to the door.

“If we run into anyone, don’t say anything.

Keep in mind that very few people know that the claiming tradition is being reinstated—only me, Max, and Cain.

Everyone else assumes you’re my toy, and I’m using and abusing you to taunt your father—which Boyce ordered me to do.

If I see other Nighthawks and they ask questions, I’m going to make it sound like I’m following Boyce’s orders to a letter. I expect you to play along. Got it?”

She nods. “Got it.”

“Good girl. Behave, and I’ll get you more plants this weekend.

” If everything goes well tomorrow . If not…

I’ve already spoken to Max. I kn ow that I’ll be in the line of fire.

While I don’t think the mutiny will be terribly complex, especially considering Boyce’s recent behavior—and the fact that most of the Nighthawks are fed up with his bullshit—I’m well aware that things can go wrong in dozens of ways.

Scarlett perks up at the mention of plants, eyes brightening. “Oh, could you please get me a rose bush? I—” she cuts off mid sentence, sealing her lips. Probably because she realized she’s planning a future here. With me.

“I’ll see what I can do about roses. Any other requests?”

She shakes her head mutely, brows furrowing, drawing inward.

I’ll keep working on her resistance. For now, I twine our fingers together.

I tell her to look away from the keypad as I type in the combo to unlock the door, and like the good girl she’s been today, she does.

We make it down the hallway and to the elevator without bumping into anyone, but when the elevator arrives with a ding, our fortune comes to an end.

Cain stands in the elevator, hands folded into the pockets of his slacks.

His gaze fixes on me, then slowly drifts to Scarlett.

I glance at Scarlett, trying to gauge her reaction.

Anger flares to life in her eyes and she glares at Cain.

I squeeze her hand in warning, and that’s enough to get her to lower her eyes to the floor. Good girl .

“Going on a fieldtrip?” Cain asks me mildly as I lead Scarlett into the elevator, keeping her close.

She continues glaring at the floor, cheeks beginning to flush with anger.

If there’s one person in this world she despises more than me, it’s Cain—and she doesn’t even know that he hurt her while knowing she was innocent.

I’m not exactly happy with him right now, either.

“To the doctor,” I respond tersely. Cain might still have my loyalty, but he no longer has my friendship.

“Problem?” he inquires as I hit the button for the second floor.

“Bloodwork. Feminine problems. Nothing to worry about. ”

He nods, then turns his attention to Scarlett. “How are you enjoying your time with your new master?”

That gets her back up. She locks her glare on him and parts her lips, no doubt to hurl insults.

I squeeze her hand again, silently warning her.

I haven’t yet explained to her just how dangerous it would be for her to cross Cain, the consequences she’d have to face.

Scarlett seals her mouth, teeth clicking together, and swallows hard.

Finally, she grits out, “Fine.”

“Good to hear,” Cain responds. “I see you’re starting to acclimate.” He nods at me. “And that you’re doing your job training her. Good on both of you.”

I can almost hear the words Scarlett traps behind her clenched teeth; insults and curse words, but she manages to keep them to herself. I’m definitely going to reward her for that later.

“I’ll accompany the two of you to medical,” Cain says when the elevator doors open. “Greyson, we have some business to discuss.”

I can’t refuse him or put him off. He’s already my boss, and soon, he’ll have total control of the compound. He probably has legitimate business matters to talk over, but his choice to do so now is deliberate. He’s testing me and Scarlett in the same breath, antagonizing both of us.

“Can this wait?” I ask.

“No,” Cain replies. “I’m sure your property will be perfectly safe with the good doctor. We’ll be just outside the medical wing, chatting in the hallway.”

Scarlett goes still as a statue at Cain referring to her as my property.

She is technically my property, everyone standing here knows as much, but hearing it put in such crude terms by Cain is off-putting even to me.

If I had the standing to, I’d tell him to fuck off, but I don’t. So, I grit my teeth and nod .

I lead Scarlett down the hallway, to the medical quarters, right into an examination room.

Glass cabinets lining the walls are filled with pill bottles and vials; there’s a classic examination bed on the far wall; a fluorescent overhead light shines brightly from above.

In the corner of the room is a door that leads deeper into the medical wing.

The doctor walks in not a moment after I do, wheeling in an ultrasound machine.

“Please take a seat on the table,” the doc instructs Scarlett. “I’ll just set this up, and then we’ll begin.”

“What’s it for?” I ask.

“To check on her IUD, of course,” the doctor says. “Also, to search for any potential injuries that could be contributing to the issues you mentioned. A missed menstrual cycle can have common causes like stress, or it can indicate far more nefarious underlying issues. Better safe than sorry.”

“Of course,” I nod.

“Grey, let the doctor work. We have business to discuss,” Cain says.

I lock eyes with Scarlett. “Be good.”

She thins her lips, casting a final glare at Cain, but nods and averts her gaze. I follow Cain into the hallway and shut the door, grateful to have him away from Scarlett. He seems intent on antagonizing her, and she rightfully despises him. Right now, I’m not far off.

“A few things to finalize,” Cain says. “Four men need to be taken care of—Sanchez, Robins, White, and Smith. They’re all on the third floor.

They are all out of the loop, obviously.

Max put out feelers, and it’s clear they will support Boyce to the grave.

” He gives a short, sharp laugh. “So that’s precisely what they’ll do.

While I take care of Boyce, you and three of Eric’s candidates for Nighthawks will take out our targets. ”

I know the men he’s talking about. I don’t particularly like any of them—they’re all older, and their morals are questionable even by an assassin’s standards—but it nevertheless feels wrong to be taking out men who I’ve spent years living with.

Still, the old have to be ushered out for the regime to change, and Boyce needs to go.

It’s unfortunate that I won’t get to kill him myself.

I’d fight Cain on it if I thought he’d let me have Boyce, but Cain needs to be the one to kill Boyce.

It’ll make a statement of strength and power.

“A few more housekeeping things while we have time,” Cain says. I glance up and down the hall, ensuring there are no prying ears or eyes. Nighthawks usually leave this part of headquarters alone, but it pays to be safe.

“Do we need to have this conversation now?” I ask. I’d rather be in the examination room with Scarlett. The doc is too afraid of me to hurt her, but I don’t like leaving her alone, especially outside of my apartment.

“Yes,” Cain says. “Your chosen will be fine. Focus up. We’ve got less than twenty-four hours, Greyson, and I need to know your head’s in the fucking game.”