“I just meant that there’s always a hidden agenda with the recruits.” Ben runs a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean he shouldn’t have picked you. Anyone would be happy to have you as their bride. Hell, most of them don’t deserve you.”

“Being a bride isn’t a privilege. It’s a prison.”

He goes taut beside me. “I’m going to get you out of it. You’ll see.”

“I hope so.”

“Until then, it’s better that you’re with X.”

I make a face at Ben. “He’s a fuckhole.”

“A what?” My foster brother laughs, the tension dissipating from his body. “You come up with the weirdest shit. Like I was saying, yes, Xavier’s an asshole, but he won’t physically hurt you.” Ben pauses, his gaze gleaming with emotion. “If he does, I’ll kill him.”

I bump his shoulder with mine. “Thanks for looking out for me.”

“Always. You’d do the same for me.”

“Always,” I say.

“Now that we’re done with the mushy shit, how about I beat your ass in this video game?”

I glare up at him with a grin. “Bring it on, bitch nuts.”

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Chapter 43XAVIER

Declan: You might want to hurry the fuck up and get back here.

Xavier: Is Delilah hurt?

Declan: No, but she’s in trouble.

Xavier: What kind of trouble?

Declan: The kind that’ll have you killing someone.

Xavier: Why didn’t you stop her?

Declan: Have you met her? That woman is a pain in the ass. You should’ve disclosed that crucial bit of information before you dumped her on me.

Xavier: Watch your fucking mouth when you talk about her.

Declan: My bad. Maybe if you give me permission to hogtie her, I can get her to behave. Even then, it might be too late.

Xavier: Wherever she is, get her the fuck out of there.

Declan: Dude, Ben is the face of a tech empire and his system security is top-notch. How in the fuck am I supposed to get her out of his room? You know it’s basically a vault.

Xavier: I’m taking this really fucking personally. I trusted you to look after my bride, and you didn’t. Now, you’re interrupting me in the middle of my summons to tell me that the reason you texted me can’t be resolved?

Declan: Yeah, pretty much.

Xavier: You know those organs you traffic? Well, you might want to check your supply because I’m going to fucking shoot you when I get back.

Declan: Love you too.

Ishove my phone in my pocket and pick up my plastic gloves, covered in blood. The Broker whimpers when he sees me put them back on, his eyes bulging from his skull.

“Here’s the thing,” I say. “My girl is back home, getting into all sorts of trouble. Which means I need to speed up this interrogation so I can get back to her.”

I grab the angle grinder and turn it on. The blade whirls, a high-pitched sound that blends in with the man’s cries. He jerks back, rattling the chains keeping him suspended in the air. The hook in his back digs deeper, and he screams.

“The faster you talk, the faster I’ll put you out of your misery,” I say. “A merciful death is something Edward Donovan would never offer you. Trust me, I think he’s a bigger dick than you do.”

“Then why are you doing this?” he sobs.

“Because my loyalty is to a woman, one that’s driving me fucking crazy. And if you don’t tell me what I need to know, you’ll be keeping me from her. Trust me, you don’t want to do that.”

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Chapter 44DELILAH

Xavier: When I get home, you and I are going to have a chat about obedience, little raptor.

Delilah: I haven’t done anything wrong. How did you have a chance to program your info into my phone?

Xavier: I’ve done far worse.

Delilah: Why does that not surprise me?

Xavier: Who are you with?

Delilah: None of your business.

Xavier: Answer the fucking question.

Xavier: Delilah Scott, I asked you a question.

Delilah: I’m with Ben.

Xavier: Where are you?

Delilah: In his room at the fraternity.

Xavier: Fucking Christ.

Delilah: We’re just hanging out. I already told you it’s not like that.

Xavier: And I already told you, Benjamin wants to fuck you. If he touches you, I’ll kill him, and it’ll be your fault.

Delilah: Are you serious?

Xavier: Does it sound like I’m fucking around?

Delilah: I swear if you do anything to him...

Xavier: You’ll what, Delilah?

Delilah: 🖕😑🖕

Xavier: I'll give you a moment to enjoy that, but when I get back, you’re going to learn exactly what happens when you don’t listen to me.

Delilah: Can’t fucking wait.

Alcohol is my new best friend.

My blood hums merrily underneath my skin as Ben walks me back to Xavier’s room. I cling to his arm after nearly tripping, and my foster brother exhales.

“You’re worse than a lightweight, Lilah.”

My hazy vision makes everything slightly off-kilter, like I’m in a hall of mirrors where every image is distorted. But it’s amusing, not disconcerting. I think I like being drunk.

Ben scoffs. “You might like the way you feel right now, but in the morning, you’re going to hate yourself. And me.”

I blink up at him. “Are you a mind reader now?”

“No, you’re mumbling to yourself.”

“Ohhh. That makes sense.”

“You’re going straight to bed,” he says.

“Why can’t I stay with you?”

Ben shakes his head emphatically, the movement making my head spin. “X would fucking kill me if you slept in my room,” he says. “I already know he’s going to be pissed when he finds out that you’re drunk, but I’m not stupid enough to push him off the edge.”

“He doesn’t care about me. Not really.” I wave a hand. “He just sees me as his property.”

“It seems that way, but I saw him watching you like⁠—”

At Ben’s abrupt silence, I look up at him and tap his arm. “Like what?”

My foster brother inhales deeply before blowing it back out. “He looks at you like he’ll die without you.”

I burst out laughing, the sound bouncing off the walls. The alcohol swirling in my veins only adds to my hilarity and my disbelief.

“That’s ridiculous,” I say. “Have you met Xavier? He has no fucks to give and doesn’t need anyone. Maybe you’re the one who’s drunk.”

When Ben doesn’t laugh, or even crack a smile, my amusement dies. Instead, his expression hardens, seriousness etched into his features.