by A. J. Macey
“That’s going to take getting used to,” I said after he answered my unspoken thoughts. “How many people are actually in The Syndicate?”
“One hundred, maybe one-fifty, give or take,” Granger answered. “There are three branches under Kane and his two lieutenants. Which I’m sure you figured out are Silas and Carson. Each branch has three tiers—the higher-ups who coordinate and plan, the middlemen who do a lot of the work, then a lot of the newer members and recruits at the bottom who tackle any kind of preparation or logistics. They’re the lackeys, basically. But the first branch, the one Harrison and I are in charge of, handles the heists. Below us are the men we take on our missions, and at the bottom are those who handle preparation. They don’t get a lot of actual information until we’ve made sure they’re vetted properly.
“The next is logistics. They handle moving all the merch, money, and basically, whatever Kane says throughout the city or within the hierarchy. They’re uninteresting in my not so humble opinion, but they’re pretty important, so I figured I’d mention them. Finally, we have the branch that is the public face of what we do. All the charity donors, like Kane being the CEO, those kinds of things.”
“Wow, that sounds complex,” I exclaimed. Granger shrugged, finishing his food as Harrison shoved his last roll in his mouth.
“Speaking of heists, we have some planning we have to work on, so we’ll see you around,” Granger stated, giving a smart ass finger salute as the pair got up, putting their garbage and dishes in the proper place before heading out together, officially leaving Silas and me alone. The silence was companionable, Silas willing to let me mull over everything I had learned.
“How long have you worked for Kane?” I questioned, curious about the man sitting across from me
“Since 2007.”
I was stunned silent. Silas had been around before everything had gone to hell, yet I knew nothing about him. I had never even heard of him. The stark ache of feeling like I didn’t know anything about Kane or Carson Renick shot through me, my food turning to lead in my stomach, so I dropped the fork back onto the plate and started to stand up.
“Evera,” Silas shot forward and grabbed my arm, so I couldn’t leave. “Kane didn’t want anyone to know about what we did here, especially not you or Rett. He didn’t think it was safe, but if you really want to know, ask him about his tattoo, and he’ll tell you his story.”
Hearing Silas talk about Rett as if he knew him was like a punch to the gut, but despite trying, I couldn’t make my feet move. Sensing my dilemma, Silas got up and rounded the table, straddling the bench on the space next to me.
“Come here, Sweetheart,” he murmured, directing me to sit between his legs, his arms going around my shoulders in a soft embrace. The scent of fresh linen surrounded me as I collapsed into his waiting arms, exhaustion and heavy emotions weighing down on me as I pressed my face into his soft shirt. “I got you, Evera. We got you.”
I hoped so because I didn’t think I could take another heartbreak.
11
October 15th
Tuesday Early Morning
Carson
My gaze scanned the room, but Evera's head of blonde hair wasn't in the space. I hadn't seen her since the day before when she was working with Acer. I only found Silas, who was ‘questioning’ our new guest, as he liked to put it. Leaving the room, I started toward my uncle's office. If anyone would know where she was, it would be him.
“Uncle,” I knocked, entering without hesitation. “Have you seen Ev?”
“She's in her room. Silas said she wanted time alone for the night,” he explained, writing something on a piece of paper without looking up. His voice wasn't closed off or cold, but there was a hint of something I couldn't put my finger on, and it immediately had me on edge.
“Did something happen to make her want to be alone?” I asked, watching my uncle closely. He continued to write out whatever he was working on, but his lips twitched ever so slightly, telling me, in fact, something had happened. Now, to try to get him to tell me what it was. “Did you yell at her?”
“Why would you think it was my fault?” he exclaimed, his gaze finding mine, and as soon as he looked at me, I knew. I could see it in his eyes, the utter hopelessness that you feel after having Evera, knowing there's not another woman you’ll want as bad as her, the craving only growing after the first time.
“You had sex with her,” I breathed in surprise. “What the fuck happened to keeping it in your pants!” I shouted. A thread of jealousy wormed its way into my chest, but surprisingly, the only thing that really fueled me right now was that he’d told me I had to wait.
“Carson,” he tried to chastise me. I cut him off with a wave of my hand and a half-crazed chuckle.
“Oh, I'm so not fucking waiting anymore.” Determination steeled me, my sole focus on Evera. Striding out of my uncle's office, I chose to ignore his sigh and walked straight to Ev's room.
Time to get my baby back.
Evera
“Good morning, Evera,” Silas's honeyed voice filtered through the opening between the door frame and the slightly ajar door to his bathroom. While he was at breakfast, I’d invaded. I hummed, my mouth full of a toothbrush and toothpaste. “What was that?” he laughed, poking his head in. “Oh, I see.”
“Mornin',” I mumbled around the brush, bending to spit into his sink. “How are you?” I asked as soon as my mouth was clean.
“Not bad, just got back from breakfast. You have anything yet?” I shook my head, stepping forward to allow him enough space to step up behind me. Leaning over, he reached into the shower to turn the knob. After last night, I was a bit more at ease around Silas, but with the close proximity, I couldn’t stop my heart pitter-pattering in my chest with the feeling of his warm torso brushing against my back, but I pushed the tingling away, focusing on brushing my hair.
“I'll get out of your way,” I murmured, shocked when I looked in the mirror and saw Silas taking off his shirt. His pale skin was unmarked, and his lean muscles shifted as he pulled his arms back down.
“Suit yourself, Sweetheart,” he smirked, shifting his gray sweats lower on his hips. I could feel my face burning, my body flaring with the urge to trace down the dips in his abs to what I knew lay beneath the fabric. I didn't because, for whatever reason, I practically ran away like a scared woodland creature.
Hopefully, he wasn't listening in. My blush crept down my neck and chest in a flare of heat. The ghost of a chuckle came from the direction of his room, and the warmth deepened. Well, that answers that. Fuck, I need to learn how to shield my thoughts. Thinking back to what the guys had done to him before, I tried a different tactic with my own twist, hoping I’d thought it quickly enough, he hadn’t had time to be warned and tune out.
Closing my eyes, I thought of the way Kane had pounded into me in his office, how the tie had pulled tight around my neck just enough to make my breath catch. Instead of a chuckle, this time, I heard a groan and a muffled, “Oh, fuck.” Take that, Silas. Never know what you’re gonna get when you eavesdrop. Enjoy the cold shower, buddy. Shaking myself mentally, I focused on where I was walking, so I wouldn't end up lost on my way back to my room. I really should ask Kane for a map of the place.
I had just stepped into my room and shucked the shorts I’d slept in when the door opened, startling me. When I saw it was Carson, I opened my mouth to snap at him, but the look on his face had my breath hitching.
Delicious fire danced in his charcoal eyes, and a sinful smile curled his lips as he strode over to me confidently. Before I could react, he fisted the front of my shirt and kissed me fiercely. The way he grabbed me—filled with need and purpose yet lacking the finesse I was sure he’d grown into—brought back memories of our moments stolen together years ago. Breathless in the backseat of his uncle’s car, waiting for someone to find us and realize we’d stolen away for a reason decidedly not so innocent. Fumbling with zippers and clasps, no real urgency to take our time and appreciate
each other.
Although I had known, all those years ago, that Carson held an irrevocable piece of my heart, I think my body had also known better, had known we should have waited. As his lips pressed to mine, and my pulse raced with adrenaline and building electricity, it was as if my body recognized this moment was what it had been truly waiting for. I tried to convince myself I shouldn’t, that I should stop because I’d just been with Kane less than two days ago, but I couldn’t. Carson wasn’t hesitant, his fingers slipping under my shirt to caress my stomach before brushing the undersides of my thin bra.
His kisses shifted across my jaw to nibble on my ear, my eyes rolling back at the sharp nip. A soft moan left my lips as he worked his way down my neck. His shoulders were solid under my fingers as I clutched desperately to keep myself upright. Shifting my shirt, he slid it up over my head and arms before quickly unhooking my bra. As soon as I was bare, his kisses trailed down my chest until he could swirl his tongue around my pebbled nipple.
A shudder wracked my body as he rolled the other stiff peak, his teeth grazing the one that was sucked into his mouth. Reaching down between us, I cupped his hard cock, stroking over the rough denim in time with his swirling tongue. The groan that rumbled through his chest made my blood surge. Fuck, I always loved the sounds he makes. Nothing sets me on fire more than a moan or a whisper from him.
Dying to see how much Carson had changed in ten years, I shoved his shirt up until his cut tawny torso was exposed. My mouth went dry at the defined muscles—the six-pack, well-sculpted chest, and thick, corded muscles of his arms—holding all of my attention.
“Glad I can still leave you speechless, Baby Blue,” Carson murmured, his lower lip tucking in between his teeth as he unbuttoned his jeans to reveal even more of the defined V at his hips. “Want to see what else I have going on?”
“Do you even have to ask, Bruiser?” I whispered, coming to stand in front of him, slipping my fingers below the waistband of his jeans and boxers. His hardened length stood at attention for me, a wink of silver catching my eye. “Oooh, Prince Albert piercing, huh?”
He didn’t answer my question, smashing his lips to mine as soon as his jeans were pushed down his thighs. Kicking them off, he walked us back to my bed. Our tongues tangled together as I stroked him, my core flooding, imagining how the metal would feel inside me. As soon as I was laid back against the sheets, Carson worked his way down my body in a trail of pecks and nibbles, stopping to shower both of my breasts before continuing to the edge of my underwear.
My fingers tangled in the bedding, my eyes fluttering shut as he teased me with the softest kiss over my panties. He didn’t waste any time before hooking his fingers under, pushing them aside, exposing my pussy. Being the tease he was, he waited before moving in. Whimpering, I felt his breath against my slick entrance, a tiny chuckle filling the room at my impatience. Finally, I couldn’t take anymore, grabbing his head and pulled him forward, his tongue immediately lapping and swirling.
I shattered, my orgasm slamming down on me with no warning as my moans shifted to cries. Hearing me come only fueled Carson, his fingers working their way in as he sucked my throbbing clit. I never had time to come down, my body too sensitive as aftershocks rocked me. As soon as Carson’s fingers thrust inside of me rhythmically, I was thrown into the blissful pool of release.
As my body continued to shake from the intensity of my release, he pulled my underwear off quickly before situating himself over me. His deep charcoal eyes held mine, his hands on either side of my head as he pushed in. My body ignited, fire burning my veins while I was dizzy with need, feeling the cold, hard steel piercing rubbing me in the perfect spot as Carson buried deeper.
“Fuck, Baby, you feel just as amazing as I remember,” he groaned, his lips capturing mine. He slid out excruciatingly slowly, and I whimpered, his chuckle the only noise in the room until he slammed home, ripping a strangled scream from me. Carson didn’t tease anymore, pistoning in and out of me to bring me closer to another release. The crackling of my sparks dancing across my skin was nearly inaudible under the sound of us moving together, our groans and moans filling the space until I was drowning in painful tingles and pleasure.
A few more pumps of his hips was all it took until I came completely apart under him. I shivered, and a wave of goosebumps spread across my skin as he pulled away from me, a draft moving in where his heated body had been. Gripping my hips with a possessive grasp, he flipped me over, hiking my ass in the air before slamming into me. The sheets barely muffled my pleasured cries as he fucked me roughly. This time, there was no intense build up, his piercing and thick cock sending me flying into another toe-curling orgasm, my fingers clawing at the bed as I squeezed around him.
Tangling a hand in my hair, Carson pulled my face out of the bed. The tugging had my eyes rolling back, the sting only serving to fuel the fire I felt searing me. His other hand left my hip, his thumb circling the tight ring of muscles of my ass. I bit my lip in anticipation, and thankfully, he didn’t make me wait before slipping the tip of his finger in.
“Fuck,” I murmured, my vision darkening for a split second as fireworks exploded in front of my eyes, my body reaching yet another orgasm. This time, Carson followed me, pulling out right as I milked him of his release. Unable to stay on all fours, I collapsed on the bed, taking care to not land in the mess he’d just made on my sheets.
“You’re changing my sheets, Bruiser,” I mumbled into my pillow. His low laugh reached my ear, his movements shaking the bed slightly as he laid next to me.
“Worth it,” he added with a cocky note to his voice. If I had the energy, I would have rolled my eyes, but at that point, I wanted nothing more than to nap and forget real life existed for a long while. The sensation didn’t last. Carson’s finger traced the scars on my back, sending a shiver of painful memories through me at his exploration, the urge to dress propelling me out of the lusty fog I was still wading through. Reality slammed back down on me at the unwanted touch. All my insecurities and memories shoved aside as I turned my eyes back on what was at stake—the Legion Council was trying to hide something, and they had their Legionaries cleaning up after them. That we had a Phenom locked in a room who knew something about what was going on.
That my brother’s murderer is roaming free.
“Alright, that’s enough cuddling,” I huffed, shoving off the bed. “We have shit to do.” My stern tone nearly faltered when I looked back at Carson spread out on my sheets, the light sheen that coated his deep skin bringing even more attention to the cut muscles of his body, but my mind refused to let me be distracted. “Get out so I can get dressed.” I tilted my head toward the door. He smirked, unfazed by my gruff demands. I glared, and after a few moments of our staredown, he gave in and rolled off the bed, throwing his clothes on quickly.
“Fine then, Baby, but I’ll be by later to change your sheets. I want Acer to see exactly what we were doing here before I do,” he whispered, his lips caressing the curve of my ear with each word. Even if I’d wanted to, I couldn’t control the shiver that worked down my spine. “Don’t forget, you were mine first.” He moved away, a cocky smile plastered on his face as he headed out.
What in the hell have I gotten myself into?
An hour later, I once again found myself in the room with the other Phenoms in The Syndicate, Carson on my left and Acer on my right. Purposely ignoring their glares and possessive smirks at each other, I focused on Kane.
“Our searches didn’t find much of anything on the names of the people who tried to take you, Evera. Someone manually went in and wiped anything of use, so we’re going to try to see if we can find some other useful information,” he explained. “We can question Declan again, and Silas can see if there was anything else rattling up in his mind, but other than that, we don’t have too much to go on.”
“What about the irregularities Carlia found?” I asked. “Wouldn’t knowing what prompted the Council and subsequently, Legionary to go after her be u
seful?”
“I haven’t been able to find anything digital, so if there’s anything, it’ll more than likely be in their manual records,” Acer explained. “It’s at VCM’s main branch downtown.”
“And how do you suggest we get that?” Carson snarked. I sighed, giving him the side eye. “What! It’s a good question,” he defended himself.
“Fake a warrant,” Granger suggested. “Possibly impersonate an officer or federal agent.”
“Any and all warrants served in Vega City are reported to the Council when they’re served,” Silas explained, “so they’d easily be able to figure out we’re looking into it.”
“Breaking in?” Harrison shrugged, throwing another idea out into the group.
“VCM’s security is heavy duty, so I’m not sure we’d be able to get through it without getting caught,” Acer challenged, pulling up a blueprint of the bank building. “It’s up on the tenth floor and getting to that would require going through the lobby and tills on the main floor and the offices and storage on the other levels.”
“Unless we could go in from up top,” I mumbled. “I’m assuming there’s not much security on the roof?”
“Not much, but how do you suggest we get up there without being noticed? It’s not like it’s in the middle of nowhere where we can just parachute down onto it,” Acer pointed out. I couldn’t stop the curl of my lips.
“Oh God, she’s smiling,” Carson murmured. “She has a terrible idea.” I rolled my eyes at his dramatics.
“We have a Phenom with wings,”—I shrugged—“why not use him?”
“Oh, hell, no.”
“You want to use a stranger to break into a bank owned by an organization that’ll likely try to kill us?”
