Dead Drop (The Guild, #2)

by Tate James

I ran a hand over my face in horror. Not at the situation, though it was unbelievable at best, but at my own shocking choice in men. Seriously? First Kai who was honey trapping me right back, and now Leon who apparently harbored secret murder tendencies? Fuck me, I needed professional help. Or a better vibrator.

Because she would leave. Sooner or later, she’d go. But I would follow her, and I think she understood that now. She was mine.

She hadn’t written it in her own blood, she’d used mine. And somehow managed to cut me without ever waking me up. Oh yeah. I was coming for her… No way in hell was I walking away from a woman who was clearly my soul mate. We were fucking fated.

Somehow, waking up with him moments away from slitting my throat had increased his appeal tenfold. He’d gone from hot hacker who I had a fuzzy crush on to scorching hot executioner with psychopathic tendencies. The fact that he also had a pierced dick and seemed to get off on me getting off? Like a wet dream come to life. Add to that the uncertainty that he might change his mind and kill me at any moment? Yeah, whatever, I had damage.

“No one,” he whispered against my lips, his fingers resting so gently around my injured throat, “I mean no one”—his fingers tightened fractionally, making me gasp in anticipation—“lays his hands on this throat, DeLuna. No one.”

“As for this?” He fucked into my pussy with ferocity. “This is definitely mine. Don’t even think about pulling out that battery-operated dick again without my permission, beautiful.”

I swallowed hard. I wanted to know everything about Stanley. I wanted him dead. How dare he elicit such loyalty and adoration from my DeLuna? He had to go. She was mine and I would not share.

“You, DeLuna.” I brought my hand to the back of her head, my fingers tangling in the soft weight of her hair. “The love I thought I had for Layla pales in comparison to the raw obsession I feel for you. You utterly consume my thoughts, day and night. Do you have any idea how dangerous that makes you?”

Stay safe, mon cœur. I’ll come back to you soon.

“I think we both know you only called Moana so you could see me. So here I am, ika ātaahua.” I’d be willing to bet she was irritated not to know what I’d just called her.

Maybe the rest was bullshit, Danielle, but that? No, you didn’t fake any of that. I might not know you, but I sure as fuck know your body.”

“You wanna know what’s a hard concept to grasp, ātaahua? That you can’t feel this electric connection between us. That you didn’t fall in love, even a little bit, for real. That’s what I’m having a hard fucking time wrapping my head around, because I sure as fuck did.”

“I’m going wherever my siren goes,” he told me with utter conviction. “She’s never getting out of my sight again.” Mo and I exchanged a look, and she barked a sharp laugh. “Good luck with that one, champ.”

No man owned me. I was my own woman, and that’d never change, no matter how hot I found the charade.

I had to remind myself that she was no mere mortal. She was the Danny DeLuna, with a jaw-droppingly impressive kill list under her name. She was entirely capable of protecting herself,

But that wasn’t the fucking point. I wanted to handle it for her. I wanted to swoop in and save her when the adrenaline was high and her death flashed across her eyes. Goddamn if I didn’t fantasize about torturing and killing anyone who hurt her, while she watched with hungry excitement. Or maybe she would want to help.

I yawned and stretched, then snuggled into the hard warmth at my back. A strong arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer until my ass bumped against some impressive morning wood. “Mmm,” I sighed sleepily as soft lips brushed over my bruised neck. “Leon…” Kai froze,

“Where you’re concerned, Siren,” he murmured as I drove down the long driveway, “I have no issues coming. Every. Damn. Time.”

Kai’s hand whipped up, his fingers tangling in my hair and jerking my head back at a sharp angle. “Keep teasing, ātaahua, and I’ll give you something to beg for.” His other hand stroked my exposed throat, his warm thumb caressing my bruises with reverence… and threat. I couldn’t help myself; my breath hitched and a small moan escaped. His pupils blew up at that sound, and I knew I was fucked.

I missed the crackle of electricity when she was close enough to touch with a brush, so I grabbed the edge of her chair and pulled her as close as possible, without sitting her in my lap. She flicked me an irritated glance but didn’t move away. I called that a win.

“I hate the way you smile when you think about him, Siren. It makes me want to burn the whole fucking world down just to wipe him off the face of it. That smile is mine, and mine alone. It’s about fucking time you understood what that means.”

He flipped his camera back to his face and smiled. “I’ll call you when my flight lands, regardless of whether I have a lead. I’m addicted to the sound of your voice.” “Among other things,” I chuckled. “Stay safe, Bunny.” “De beaux rêves, mon amour.”

All you proved tonight was how incredible you are, Danny DeLuna. My Siren. All you achieved was to make me fall harder than I ever thought possible.”

“When you were fucking yourself earlier? He thought it was all for him, but I bet you were thinking about me too.”

“Siren, I’d follow you straight into the depths of Hell, and you damn well know it.”

It was harder than I’d have liked, not to think about my dirty shower with Kai just a day earlier… or my one with Leon back in London, both of which had involved me washing blood off my hands. Wow, maybe I really did have a type.

“Don’t be a coward, DeLuna,” Leon taunted, “you’re tougher than that. Accept.” Bastard. “Fuck you,” I muttered, angrily stabbing the button to swap to video chat. “Happy?” A cold smile curved his lips, and his green eyes studied my face. “Yeah, beautiful. I am.

butt cheek, and I gave a small squeak of surprise. “Back the fuck off,” my new companion snarled at the bartender, who disappeared so quickly it was like magic. “You… are fucking begging for trouble, mon cœur.”

“Don’t make me regret it,” I murmured, giving him a tiny nod. “Or I’ll cut your balls off and make you eat them while you bleed out.” His grin split his face, delight making his eyes dance. “Fuck, I love you.”

“It’s called having manners, meathead.” He slid his index finger inside me, and I moaned, pushing forward into his hand. “Honestly, mon cœur, say the word and I’ll kill him.” I moaned again, rocking my hips as he pushed another finger into my cunt. Blowing them both already had me so worked up I was already right on the edge of an orgasm. “No,” I groaned, grabbing a handful of Leon’s short hair as he knelt in front of me. “You can’t kill him.” My eyes locked with Kai’s. “I like him.” Leon gave a grunt of disagreement. “Questionable taste, DeLuna,”

Now, when he tried to open the door on his side, the handle would just fall out. And if he knew how to pick locks, he wouldn’t get far with all the putty gumming it up. “Sucker,” I chuckled under my breath, then sauntered back toward the master suite with a bounce in my step. Maybe I couldn’t kill him, but I could mess with him.

fury, I reached my hand underneath Danny’s pillow, my fingers closing around the hilt of the knife she kept there. Her eyelids snapped open the moment I tried to slide the knife out, her gaze locking with mine. Don’t, she mouthed at me, her glare hard with warning. I scowled back, shooting a death glare at the slumbering giant wrapped around her back.

“Thanks, Bunny.” He murmured a quiet you’re welcome back, but his attention flicked to Kai in a glance so quick I almost missed it. But I didn’t. Acting on instinct, I reached over and smacked Kai’s coffee out of his hand before it reached his lips. The brown liquid splashed all over the island, and the glass smashed, but Leon just smirked. “What the hell?” Kai asked, bewildered. I just placed my own coffee down and gave Leon a hard accusing glare. He rolled his eyes, going back to his mopping. “It wouldn’t have killed him,” he muttered under his breath, and I stifled an internal groan.

“Kai, I swear to fuck, if you stop me from coming, I’ll staple your balls to your butthole.” I panted a laugh, my hands resting on her hips as she started to bounce. “Understood, ma’am.” “Good,” she breathed. “Now for fuck’s sake, choke me.”

“Fucking dead drop,” I whispered,

He slid under the covers, shuffling down until his head rested on my pillow, then wrapped an arm around me as I snuggled into his side. We might both be the product of violence and greed, but he made me feel so safe. Like I wasn’t really alone anymore.