"Calm down, Damian," I said. "Maybe it's just a regular fight, like when you get drunk and start throwing punches. You're too damn nervous."
"Rhea, you have no idea how awful that Alex is." Damian was getting all worked up now. "He's a total bastard. He's the one pulling the strings behind this mess. I swear I'm gonna grab my gun and kill him right now."
"Go ahead," I said coolly. "I'll order you a coffin the moment you walk out. Don't worry, though no whiskey on the rocks inside. Just Ariella's cold body."
Of course, I didn't say that last part out loud. But I'll make it happen.
Advanced hunters don't rush their prey they stalk, they tease, they make them bleed before they strike the final blow. And that's exactly what I'm going to do now.
"Don't you get it?" I said. "The real issue here is the brawl. Both you and the Ravenscorts are terrified the Federation will find out. Each family's already scrambling to defend their own ass and twist the evidence their way. And if you keep going at each other's throats, guess who the Federation will blame?"
Damian started to calm down. Good.
The prey's coming closer.
"The Federation's decision could go either way. But don't forget there are other families who've been praying you two screw this up. This gas merger isn't just a deal ,it's war. And there's not one wolf circling you… there's a whole damn pack."
Damian's eyes wavered. "Alexander's not the type to back down easily."
"Why not?" I asked. "No one wants to be disqualified, Damian.
You need to talk to him."
"All right… but I want you to come with me," Damian's voice trailed off. "I haven't found the right assistant since Ethan died. You'll face everything with me… won't you?"
That tone. That face. That version of him always came out when he needed something. I'd seen it a thousand times. And still, I gave him an encouraging hug.
"Of course. I'm always here."
We went back to the bedroom. Neither of us said a word. We just lay there two bodies, one bed, back to back.
Silent. Cold. Married.
But I couldn't sleep. Not even for a second.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face. Alexander.
That arrogant, perfect face. Those goddamn eyes.
By the time I got into a steaming shower, my lust was already back stronger, hotter, more dangerous than ever.
Damn it.
One of my favorite cheeses dropped on the floor. I stood there hungry not just for food, but for something else.
Maybe it wasn't my stomach that was starving. Maybe it was my body.
That's when I heard Damian's phone vibrate.
He got out of bed instantly, trying to be quiet. I kept my eyes shut and pretended to be asleep. A minute later, I heard the soft click of the door.
I sat up.
It was late.
Where the hell is my husband going?
I opened the door carefully and stepped into the dim yellow hallway.
Then I saw it Damian's shadow disappearing into another room.
Ariella's room.
I crept forward, barefoot on the cold floor.
I heard her laugh.
Then moans.
Thick, muffled moans. The kind that make your skin crawl.
Then the sound of bodies colliding, slapping, desperate.
They were right up against the damn door.
I inched closer, saw the shadows through the crack.
My breath caught.
I tiptoed back to the bedroom before they heard me.
Shut the door behind me.
Sat on the bed, frozen.
I couldn't calm down.
I couldn't think.
They'd done it.
Here.
In my house.
In my bed just hours ago.
Damian… you hypocrite.
You had the audacity to touch me and crawl into her bed the same night?
I can't forgive them.
I won't.
She opened the drawer and found Damian's gun, nestled beside a box of bullets. Her fingers hovered over the sleek black pistol. Maybe she should just kill them right now.
But her phone vibrated. Unknown number.
Who would be calling her in the middle of the night?
She was about to let it ring out, but some unexplainable curiosity pulled her thumb to the screen.
"Hello?" she whispered.
A deep, familiar voice slid through the speaker.
"Hello, my dearest," the man said smoothly. "You forgot to save my number."
Her heart stopped.
Alexander.
"Your husband isn't with you, is he?" he continued, almost teasing. "Then I suppose he must be with another woman."
She let out a shaky breath. "He's in the house. But you're right… he's with another woman. He's having sex… with my sister."
There was no hesitation. No pride to protect.
For some reason, she told him everything.
"I guess you want to kill him now," Alex said, amused. "But don't be rash. I have a present for you. Maybe it'll ease your stress."
"A present?" she asked, her voice tight.
"It's waiting at your door. But don't hang up the phone."
Still holding the phone to her ear, she padded slowly to the door. Her heart was pounding. Sure enough, a box wrapped in gold paper sat on the floor.
He's insane, she thought.
How could he leave a gift like this right outside her bedroom?
She carried it back inside. The call remained open.
When she lifted the lid, her breath caught.
Inside was a pair of delicate, lacy briefs adorned with a string of opalescent pearls right where it mattered most.
"If I put these on…" she murmured. The pearls would press directly against her.
"You're playing with fire," she warned softly.
Alex chuckled, low and rough.
"Isn't it exciting?" he said. "I have more suggestions ,wanna hear them?"
She smirked. "Of course I do. I'm wet… but I'm not in a hurry. I have more important things to handle."
"I know about the fight," he said, shifting gears. "I've got a good suggestion… do you want to hear it?"
"Does our partnership still stand?" she asked, reminding him of the game they were playing. The alliance. The plan.
"You're the boss, darling."
"Good. I'll come to you tomorrow with Damian to negotiate. A settlement is the only smart move right now. But you can ask him for compensation if you like."
Alex was silent for a moment. Then he replied, voice full of heat.
"I don't want compensation. I want you."
She swallowed, trying not to let his words stir her again.
"Alexander… you'll do what I ask, won't you? Seriously. Please."
"You're the boss, darling."
His voice was genuine.
"Thank you," she whispered.
But then his tone darkened.
"Well, since I agreed to your request… it's only fair you return the favor."
She tensed. "What do you want?"
"Put on the underwear," he whispered. "And turn on the video."
She gasped.
Damian was still in the other room. He could return at any moment.
It was risky. Dangerous. Reckless.
But Alex didn't stop.
"Isn't it thrilling?" he murmured. "Your bastard husband is screwing your sister in the next room… while you're about to have video sex with his enemy."
He was the devil.
And yet, her body betrayed her.
The pearl-studded lingerie shimmered under the dim light. Her skin was already burning with lust.
Even without Alex, she was aching. Needing.
Screw it.
She'd go to the bathroom and finish what he started.