Fender sat on the couch beside Melanie and handed her the water bottle.
“Thank you.” She twisted off the cap and took a drink.
His large hand moved to her thigh, gripping the tight material of her jeans. “It’s time for the men to talk, beautiful.” He nodded to the next room. “Wait for me.”
She slowly placed the cap back on the bottle before she obediently did as she was told.
I stared at my brother and watched him drink his scotch. “I’m surprised you brought her here.”
“She wants to see her sister.”
“And you’ll allow it?”
He swirled his glass even though there was no ice. “Haven’t decided.” He took another drink then held the glass between his thighs.
The guilt started to crush me. I should tell him that Melanie’s affection wasn’t genuine. But I also knew he would want her, regardless, and I wasn’t entirely sure if my initial assumption was correct anymore. Melanie wasn’t brave like her sister. Would she really make a sacrifice like that if it were truly so horrible? Unlikely.
“Operations are going well.”
“Yes.”
“What did Renata say about an increase in shipments?”
I shook my head. “Not possible by plane. But we’re considering delivery by cargo ship. They dock in Spain and drive through the Alps to meet us here. It’s just far riskier.”
“We’re untouchable—so I don’t see the risk.”
“There’s no risk of the police or the governments. But our competitors…there’s always a risk there.” We monopolized the industry, but once secrets got out, that would change. If anyone knew this camp was here, they would burn it to the ground and kill us all. “Don’t let arrogance turn to complacency.”
“It’s not arrogance—greed.” He took another drink then set it on the table. “And you know how greedy I am.”
There was never enough money for Fender. He wanted more money, more power, but he’d already reached the top of the hierarchy. “Trying to figure out how to make it work. But if it’s too risky, we’ll have to accept what we have.”
He gave a slight nod. “When you leave in a few days, take care of it.”
Now that this conversation was happening in real-time, I realized there was no way I could ask Fender if I could stay at the camp indefinitely. He would lose all respect for me because the request was absolutely ridiculous. I was an essential part of the operations of the camp, but I had responsibilities outside the facility. To abandon those duties for a woman was ludicrous.
His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked into my gaze, as if he noticed my subtle hesitation. “What is it?”
I could say nothing and leave Raven here. But if I did…I knew what would happen to her. She’d be raped by every guard here. Alix would be ruthless every time, bringing her into such darkness, I wouldn’t be surprised if she gave up and took her own life. That was an outcome I couldn’t accept. I would never sleep well again. I would never be able to get the acid out of my throat. It would be a different kind of agony, a mental pain that would never heal. “I’ve taken Raven as my own.” I had to word this correctly, to make him understand, to make him allow it.
His eyes immediately narrowed.
“I want to take her with me.”
Slowly, his features tightened and changed, as if he couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. His eyebrows furrowed in anger. His nostrils flared even though he hadn’t taken a breath. “What the fuck is it with this cunt?” He raised his voice, maniacal instantly.
“I’m not asking for her freedom. I’m asking for her to be bound to me—the way Melanie is bound to you.”
Once I mentioned the woman who’d claimed his heart, his anger simmered down.
“When I leave, she comes with me. When I return, she’s back to work with the other prisoners.” I could never tell him I was doing this to protect her from the guards. He would stick a knife in my heart for my weakness. “I want her to be mine. That’s all.”
He studied me for a long time, his hostile gaze burning holes in my face. “I don’t understand your fascination. What about Stasia? She’s far more beautiful. What about all the women in Paris? You can have any woman you want, and this is who you choose?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head slightly.
“But it’s not monogamous. It’s not affectionate. She betrayed me, so I want her at my beck and call whenever I wish. She’s mine to use. She will make up for what she did to me. That’s all.” I refused to sacrifice my personal life to put up false pretenses. I’d bed the women I wanted because I wouldn’t bed her. I just needed to take her with me to keep her safe. She could never earn my forgiveness. She could never earn my affection.
My brother studied me, his anger slipping away further. “She’s your plaything?”
I nodded.
He bowed his head slightly as he considered the request, his eyes on his glass on the table.
If he said no, I’d have no choice but to leave her here.
He lifted his gaze again. “If she escapes…I’ll cut off the rest of you and watch you bleed out.”
If Raven betrayed me again, I’d be dead. I shouldn’t risk anything for her, but it was the lesser of two evils—because I couldn’t abandon her. I couldn’t trust her, but I also couldn’t live with myself knowing what happened to her every single time I left. It would kill me. “I understand.”
“It doesn’t matter if you let her go or she betrays you. If she’s out, it’s your head.”
I nodded again. “I know.”
He clenched his jaw slightly and shook his head. “I’ll never understand it, but I’m not going to try anymore. If this is what you’re into…so be it. I grant your request.” He grabbed the glass, finished the scotch, and then slammed it down again before he rose to his feet.
I couldn’t believe I’d done it.
I saved her.
“Beautiful.” He raised his voice slightly, with a hint of affection.
The door opened, and she came back in, her eyes on him like there was no one else in the room. Her petite frame had an hourglass shape, a flat stomach with large breasts. She had long, slender legs. She wasn’t the type of woman I usually saw my brother with. He generally detested American women. But there was something different about this one.
Just as there was something different about Raven.
His arm circled her waist as he brought her close. “We’ll have dinner then go to bed. I have a lot of things to do tomorrow.”
“Can I see her?” The words flew out of her mouth like she’d been holding them back since they got there. “Please.” Her arms circled his neck, and she brought her face close to his, using his obsession to get what she wanted. “I just want to see my sister…please.” She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips.
His hands squeezed her ass before he stepped away. “Take her to the cunt’s cabin. Give them five minutes. Nothing more.”
“Thank you, amoureux…” She called him her lover, then moved in to kiss him again.
He gave her a final embrace before he walked out of the cabin.