Covetous

by Natalie Bennett

  "Does it fit okay?" Pierce asked. There was no way to detect how he was feeling. Still transfixed by the rock on my finger, I nodded.

  "Do you like it?"

  "Well, it wasn't the proposal of my dreams, but the ring is gorgeous."

  "Make sure you reflect on how much you like it when we see your father."

  His tone was matter of fact, as if this was no big deal, like it was not something that I should have been warned about days in advance.

  "My...father?" I had to have misheard him. He could not seriously be taking me to the home of the man he stole me from.

  "Yes, your father."

  "We can't go to my dad's house, Pierce! Are you insane? Did you forget how you got me here?"

  "I fucked you, choked you, and then kidnapped you," he responded without an ounce of sorrow or shame.

  I gave him a completely unimpressed look. The man truly didn’t give a shit how crude or offensive he was. "So, you have a plan, right? I mean, we can’t just walk in hand in hand like we’re a happy couple getting back from a vacation.”

  "For starters, this isn't at your father's house. It's at an acquaintance of ours. Secondly, don't insult my intelligence. There's always a plan."

  I was torn between launching myself at him or jumping out of the car. He had to have been plotting this for quite some time.

  "And then what? You think he'll just sit and clap his hands for us? Throw some confetti?"

  "Oh, he'll be angry. He’ll probably want to kill me. He's nothing but a fly that can be easily swatted. Why would you defend him after what he did to your sister?”

  I looked out the window, unable to answer him. A range of emotions warred in my chest. I didn't believe Seth had killed Cassie. However, I did believe she had been screwing both of them. My junkie sister was ruining my life from her grave. It was wrong to think of her that way, but we didn't really have a bunch of happy memories together.

  Her mistakes constantly reminded me of what I was: a game piece placed on a warped, twisted board. There were no wrong moves to be made when the man at my side knew exactly where to place me.

  It was the consolidation prize that remained a mystery.

  Whoever's house we had just arrived at was, of course, loaded. There were cars parked in a line wrapping around the circular drive. Pierce came around to get my door for me, holding a hand out to help me from the car. I stood and hastily tugged down the dress, keeping my gaze trained on his shoes.

  I had never really been self-conscious about the scars that marked my flesh but being around him made me view them with a level of loathing that was stronger than ever before. Pierce lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him.

  As if he had read my mind, he repeated his words from earlier with a little more force. “You’re perfect.”

  I searched his eyes, hoping to gain some kind of hint about what he was feeling or thinking. As per usual, I got nothing, knowing his steel wall would always keep a barrier between us. I couldn't figure him out. Sometimes—like now—he was unbelievably sweet. Usually the man was cold, cruel, and hateful. Especially towards me.

  "Let's go." He dropped his hand and stepped back, his demeanor changing before my eyes.

  Men were moving about in suits, touching earpieces and speaking quietly.

  I was used to seeing things like this. My father had a similar setup.

  Shit, my father.

  I’d momentarily forgotten what the hell was going on. I didn't know how to pull off whatever I was supposed to be doing. Fuck, Pierce hadn’t even told me what I was supposed to be doing. I faltered, drawing the attention of the men guarding the front doors.

  Pierce gripped my lower elbow, pulling me against him and turning so his back was blocking me from their view.

  "You need to keep your shit together,” he hissed.

  "I'm nervous; don't snap at me," I hissed right back.

  He wrapped his arms around my waist. Do you want me to fuck you in the backseat before we go in? Maybe then you'll relax." His voice was low, taunting.

  "What if I did?" I stared into his eyes, challenging him.

  "We would never make it to the car. I'd fuck you in the middle of the driveway."

  "Liar. You would never let the guards see me." I smiled, and he smirked. God, we were dysfunctional.

  "You're right. Because this," he grabbed my ass and squeezed, "is mine and exclusive for my eyes." Before I could register his words, he pivoted, grabbing my hand and moving forward.

  I mentally berated myself for the thousandth time. I hated that I wanted him in the most animalistic way. He'd kidnapped me, had a thing for my dead sister, killed his father, and now wanted to kill mine.

  Yet, despite all the fucked-up shit he'd done, his filthy mouth still had my body at his command. I was a failure at this women’s equality shit.

  Then again, most women never had a Pierce Serban.

  Instead of walking through the front door, at the last second, he took a hard left. It took two minutes to walk the length of the house before we went around another corner. I was just about to ask what we were doing when he stopped at a side door and knocked twice. Immediately, a man I recognized from guarding his house pulled the door open and we entered a long private hall that had a set of white double doors at the end.

  "Everything ready?" Pierce asked.

  "Yes, sir."

  Seemingly satisfied with that response, Pierce looked over at me and began giving instructions. "I want you to wait here. In a few minutes, you're going to come through those doors."

  "How long is a few minutes?"

  "You'll know when.” He pressed a light kiss to my forehead and went back out the door we'd just come through, slamming it shut behind him.

  Fucking asshole.

  I wasn't aware I’d growled aloud until the man at my side started to laugh.

  "So, what's your name?" I asked him after a moment of awkward silence.

  "Tito." He gave me a toothy smile I couldn't help but return. The name fit him. He was a little taller than Pierce, and a healthy robust. His light brown eyes stood out against his smooth mocha skin. He radiated a vibe of friendliness—something I knew could change with just a few words from his boss.

  "Nice to meet you, Tito."

  "Same, little lady."

  What sounded like a microphone pinging had whatever I was going to ask him next fading away.

  He went back into guard mode and nodded towards the double doors.

  "As you know, we are all gathered here to celebrate a union of our own," someone began saying.

  What the hell was going on?

  "Care to give me a heads-up?" I looked to Tito for an answer. He looked torn about whether to tell me what awaited me beyond the doors or listen to whatever Pierce had said to do.

  "Your engagement party," he answered quietly.

  “I’m sorry. My what?”

  Before he could reply, my name was said.

  "Willow, why don't you come out now?" I stood cemented in place, unable to walk through the doors. The decision was taken from me when someone on the other side pulled them open.

  I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. I was used to being stared at when in a room, but not because I purposely made myself the center of attention. There were so many faces, some new, some unfamiliar. My nerves frayed like a splitting rope.

  They were all dressed in formal evening wear while I was in a simple slutty dress. If Pierce were in front of me, I'd have punched him in the throat. My anger and Tito's soft coaxing were the only things that urged me forward. I walked through the doors, taking in the high ceilings, cream-colored floor, and the people standing semi-circle all staring at me.

  A man in a suit stood beside Pierce, holding the microphone in his wrinkled hand. Pierce moved away from him to stand beside me, studying my face and taking my hand before turning back around. An invisible spotlight shone down on us, making this moment so much worse.

  I instinctively tightened my hand in his. He su
rprised me by giving it a gentle squeeze back.

  "I just wanted to congratulate you both formally. I never thought I'd see the day your stubborn ass got hitched."

  I cloaked my surprised before it could itself known. Pierce had been telling the truth. He and Cassie’s relationship had never been announced. No one knew he’d planned to marry.

  When the man older man smiled, and I realized I’d seen him before. He used to do business with my father. If he was in on whatever was happening…

  Some people shouted out, agreeing with what he’d just said, a few others laughed. I knew they were all judging me, probably wondering how the hell this had happened, and when. They knew I was supposed to be missing but was now standing next to one of the most powerful men in the room.

  Pierce apparently didn't give a shit about tearing apart my already skewed reputation.

  The old man said a few more words, but I wasn't listening. It took everything in me not to drop my gaze to the floor when I found my father in the crowd.

  His jaw was clenched, and he was staring at me with a murderous look in his dark eyes. People were eyeing him, their mouths moving and whispering about me, no doubt.

  When the man sat the mic back on the stand, the crowd began to disperse. Some went towards buffet style tables, while others moved on to speak with someone else.

  Men began to make their way over to us, greeting Pierce jovially. I heard more than a few congratulations. Already, I could see the phony plastic smiles, the fake affection in everyone's eyes, and the men having dick measuring competitions. Women looked at me with envy and clear disdain, and for once, I couldn’t call them out on it.

  With a slight turn of my head, my eyes met my father's once more. His face was now blank, but his dark hues told me everything.

  He was enraged and he had a right to be, but what about what he’d done with my sister? Or what he may have done to her? I had every reason to be just as upset. My father had just as many secrets as Pierce, if not more. That fact was depressing. If I couldn't trust the people closest to me, who could I trust?

  "Should we go say hello?" Pierce asked, keeping his hand intertwined with mine.

  Not waiting for me to answer, he politely excused us from the conversation he'd been having and led me towards Seth.

  The closer we got, the more nervous I became. He may have been angry with me, but when he looked at Pierce, the respect he’d once had for him was replaced with pure hatred.

  You didn't betray someone and not suffer the consequences. Pierce had to know that, which meant he still had something up his sleeve.

  Tito moved silently behind us. A blonde-haired man just as intimidating had joined him. My father watched us approach. His eyes flickered between us, dropping to my hand, sizing up my ring.

  "Willow." He greeted me with cold indifference, like I was a stranger. His hands remained clasped in front of him, resting against his slacks. "Pierce," he addressed with an edge to his tone.

  "Seth, I figured you'd have a more open arms approach to seeing your missing daughter," Pierce goaded him with a smile on his face.

  I bit my tongue to stop myself from demanding he tell me what was going on. I'd have to wait until we were alone. I couldn't make a scene in a room full of people.

  "Well, it seems to me she wasn't missing at all. It looks like she was playing house. I'm guessing you have Abigail as well?"

  "Actually, Jax has Abigail. They couldn't be here this evening."

  I glanced at Pierce from the corner of my eye. His actions were mind-boggling to say the least. Seth was not a powerless man. How could he stand in front of him and so openly confess to all he’d done?

  They eyed one another and it was suddenly obvious to see the cauldron of secrets and deceit bubbling between them. It wasn’t until that very moment that I was struck with the severity of my situation. Standing with the two men I adored, pieces of my heart slowly chipped away.

  This could only end in blood. Whichever way things panned out, I would lose one and then the other because of my actions. But whose side did I take? Who did I choose if‑when‑it came down to the wire?

  A decision that should have been a no brainer suddenly seemed as terrifying as climbing Mt. Everest.

  As if he could sense the turmoil churning inside my head, Pierce leaned in and said, "I'll give you two a moment alone," kissed my cheek in a false show of affection and walked off. He was just full of surprises this evening. Why would he leave me alone with Seth? It's not like we were going to hug it out and go grab drinks.

  "That's where you've been this whole time? Do you know how many men I’ve killed? How much time I’ve spent trying to find you? And you’re happily fucking my business partner?" He spoke low but I heard the malice in his tone. His words didn't hurt me as much as his reaction to seeing me again.

  He had every right to be angry.

  I couldn’t begin to imagine what things were like in his shoes right now, the humiliation he must be feeling.

  Pierce Serban had always been forbidden. The seductive villain in all my dirty fantasies.

  I was never supposed to want him the way I did. I’d ignored the warnings and let him have me knowing all of this. Now, I was here, and he still hadn’t asked if I was okay. He didn’t ask if this is what I truly wanted. I wondered why he couldn’t see what was right in front of him. Why was it always so easy to believe the bad about someone before accepting the good?

  As we faced off, I knew defending myself would be a moot point, like beating a dead horse. His mind was already made up. It pissed me off. I had a plethora of reasons to be just as angry as him.

  He may have been the one who took Cassie’s life, and I hadn’t just written him off without giving him a chance to explain.

  Keeping my emotions in check and my head held high, I asked him. "When were you going to tell me about Cassie?"

  His brows furrowed, dark eyes turned to slits, and he stepped closer. We were almost chest to chest; I could smell the pungent aroma of his alcoholic breath. "Whatever he told you, it's all lies. You think you can trust him? He's going to destroy you."

  "You didn't answer the question."

  Our voices began to draw the attention of a few people standing near us. We'd never had any real kind of confrontation before.

  "I don't have to answer any of your questions," he sneered. "I saved you from being fucked by your uncle. I fed you, protected you, gave you anything you wanted…and how do you repay me? By fucking a Serban.”

  He took a small step backward and shook his head. “When all this comes crashing down around you, I'll be waiting for you to come crawling back to me." Sweeping a hand through his dark silver hair, he turned away from me and disappeared in a small crowd of people.

  I stood rooted to the floor, processing what he’d just said in a moment of anger. Richard was my uncle? Did that mean he was his brother? Spinning around, I saw Pierce across the room with a blonde. She was talking to him, but his eyes were on me. He brushed past her like she was nothing, heading straight for me. As soon as he was close enough, I began my tirade.

  "You knew, didn't you? Why the fu—"

  His hands gripped either side of my face, bringing our mouths together. If I thought people were staring before, it was ten times worse now. I grabbed his wrists, pulled his bottom lip between my teeth and bit down.

  I wanted to hurt him. I wanted him to feel a fraction of what I did, not caring if it was physically, emotionally, or mentally.

  When he chuckled softly, letting his hands drop to my hips to pull me against him, I felt how much it didn't work.

  "I hate you."

  "Impossible.” He smiled against my mouth.

  "Why did you bring me here to do this? And why didn't you tell me about Richard?" I pulled away to look up at him.

  "I will never tell you the whole truth. Sometimes it's so I don't hurt you, and sometimes it’s simply because I'm selfish and want you to hurt."

  "Wow, nothing like being brutally
honest." I stepped back and shook my head at him, trying to hide my emotions, because he had hurt me. He hurt me repeatedly, and I felt like a damn doormat for not being able to do anything about it.

  If I hadn’t gone searching for him that night, none of this would have happened.

  "I need you to do what we came here to do." He changed the subject with ease, like he sensed where my head was at.

  "What we came here to do?"

  "You never fucking listen," he grumbled, wrapping his arms around me in what appeared to be a lovers’ embrace. He turned me so I was facing the room. I sent an icy glare towards a woman openly eyeing us, and she quickly diverted her gaze.

  "Top right upper balcony. He's in a navy dress shirt," he said softly in my ear. Following his directive, I spotted Jason Garter. He was talking to another man, smiling.

  "Jason?"

  "You know him?"

  "I know a lot of people. What do you want with him?"

  He placed his hand on my lower back and began guiding me around the room, talking just loud enough for me to hear, pausing when someone would approach us.

  "I need you to play an emotionally distraught girl and lure him into giving you a ride."

  "What the fuck? Lure him into giving me a ride? How? Why?"

  He sighed dramatically, like I was asking him to bring me the moon. "You say the word fuck almost every time you open your mouth. I have a solution for that we can talk about later.”

  “I’d rather not.”

  “He's going to come to an intersection at Bearcreek Road. Keep him there. At ten-forty-five, I want you to duck, and stay down until someone comes to get you.”

  I squeezed his arm as hard as I could without being obvious so he would shut up for a second. “Pierce. Why? How?”

  "I chose that dress for a reason," he explained nonchalantly.

  I glared at the side of his face. "You want me to screw him too?”

  "Don’t be ridiculous. Your pussy is mine and I don't share things that belong to me. If his dick gets anywhere near you, I'll cut it off and shove it down his throat. You use your charming wit to keep him with you until I get there. The why doesn't matter right now”.