Claiming His Bride

by MINK

  Maudie, a feisty octogenarian, will likely fall for his charm while I break and enter through the back.

  I ease around the house, the homes on either side blocked by snowy trees. We can get in and out without much trouble. As sure as I know the sun rises in the east, I know that Kent Kingston is a coward. He takes pleasure in terrorizing women, in terrorizing my woman. I won’t let him do it any longer. Not to Aurora or anyone else.

  When I reach the back door, I find it unlocked. Entering the kitchen, I catch a whiff of something buttery simmering on the stove. It reminds me of Aurora. I’ll be with her again soon, both of us cuddling in my bed as another winter storm creates a wonderland around us.

  I make my way through the back hall and to the servants’ stairs. Tiernan’s voice wafts to me.

  “Just thinking a beautiful woman like you and a guy like me could, you know, be friends.”

  “Excuse me, young man? I think I must’ve misheard, because I don’t accept any salty talk. Not even from handsome young men like yourself.”

  He clears his throat. “Err, I mean, I’m interested in staying a night or two.”

  “Sorry, young man. But the place is booked.”

  I stop on the second step.

  “Booked?” Tiernan asks.

  “Yes. Some fancy star is staying here, and he’s brought a small army with him. Men in all the rooms.”

  “Is that so?”

  I can hear the smile in Tiernan’s voice. With renewed stealth, I creep up the back stairs. Once I reach the second floor, I find all the bedroom doors closed, but the hall bathroom is open.

  Creeping along, I ease into the bathroom and listen to the doors on either side. Voices, low and gruff, in the one to my left. On the right, it’s quiet until I hear a higher male voice. “I said I wanted Daphne. Not some second-rate reporter who doesn’t have any contacts. This story is big, huge! Aurora’s been kidnapped by some Frankenstein asshole who’s holding her captive in a cabin in the woods. She’s—” He goes silent for only a moment. “No! Of course she’s not there of her own accord. This guy’s a monster. My intel says he’s scarred and hideous. It’s nightmare shit. I need real coverage when I sweep in there and save her. Send me Daphne or I’m calling TMZ!” The call ends.

  My teeth are grinding together so hard they might crack. I was going to kill him and get it over with. Now I want to make it slow. Something whispers in the back of my mind, “Maybe he’s right. Maybe she thinks you’re a monster. Maybe she wants to leave.” No. That’s bullshit. She gave herself to me. Just me. No one else.

  Something inside the room shatters. “That fucking bitch.” He stomps around like a spoiled little brat. “That fucking bitch! My property. Mine! If she’s given her cherry to some fucking inbred mountain piece of shit, I’ll—”

  “Calm. We’re almost ready to strike. The roads should be navigable before nightfall.”

  “I want her now. She’s mine.”

  “We’ll have her soon.” His companion seems tired of the little bitch’s shit.

  “You better. I’m paying the Brotherhood good money for this and—”

  “I said we’ll have her.”

  I reach behind me and pull out my knife. Cutting Kingston will be a particular pleasure. But more importantly, I’ll have to take out the Brotherhood assassin first. Shit just got more complicated. It always does. But the plan stays the same.

  Reaching for the door handle, I grip it and start to turn.

  A phone rings inside the room.

  I pause.

  “What?” Kingston barks. The pause is short. “Wait, you’ve got her?”

  I freeze.

  “Her and Daphne?” He laughs wildly. “You can’t be serious.”

  Another pause as my blood goes cold.

  “Bring her here. Now. I want them both.” He giggles. “What the fuck did I pay the Brotherhood for when the Scorpions got the job done?”

  “How?” The assassin keeps his tone level.

  “They just rode into town in a big red Jeep. Aurora and Daphne. Out in the open. Scorpions stopped them and are bringing them here.” He laughs again. “I’ll have them both. Daphne can get the story, then she can get the fuck out. But Aurora? She’s never getting away from me again.”

  I release the door handle and back away. Tiernan’s in the hallway as I back out, his eyebrows lifted in question.

  I don’t have time to explain, but I motion him back down the hall. I’ve almost caught up to him when a door swings open and three mercenaries step out.

  “Fuck.” I ready my knife and hope Aurora stays far away from what’s about to go down.

  Tiernan jumps forward, his knife already cutting a deadly arc as we both go to work.

  15

  Aurora

  “Please don’t do this,” I plead with the man and woman that Daphne tried to run over. I’d closed my eyes when she floored the Jeep. I screamed when it felt like we’d plowed through them. When I opened my eyes again, a woman was pulling me out of the Jeep. Daphne was pulled out, too, by one of the men.

  I glance around when I get my footing. I’m still not sure what the heck happened. My mouth falls open when I see exactly what Daphne had hit. It was the other man. It didn’t look like he was getting up anytime soon. The two that have us don’t seem upset about their friend being dead. All of their attention is focused on us.

  “Oh, I’m definitely doing this. This means retirement for me,” the woman says. She already has me by the arm and is pulling me along with her. I probably should be more worried than I am, but I know Diego would never let anything bad happen to me. The only problem is that he has no clue I came into town.

  “I’ll pay you more,” Daphne throws out there. She looks cool as a cucumber as we’re dragged into the hotel. The front desk is empty. The guy that’s watching Daphne doesn't have her by the arm. He makes her walk in front of him. She keeps going as if we aren’t being held against our will or being led to who knows what. A chill runs down my spine as I get a mental image of Kent’s face. I honestly hope he’s dead already.

  “You know I’m good for it,” Daphne continues. “In fact, I’ll pay whatever Kingston was going to pay you, and then I’ll pay you to kill Kingston. Actually, there are a few more dickheads I’d like to take out while you’re at it. This sounds way easier than trying to expose them. I could just have them killed, and then they would never be able to hurt anyone again. It’s a pretty brilliant plan if you ask me.” She nods her head, making her red hair bounce in its ponytail.

  Now Daphne sounds excited. I bet she has a burn list of men in Hollywood who abuse their power. I kind of really dig her idea. I’d once been asked to do a small part in a movie. They told me I pretty much had the role. The only stipulation was that I had to meet up with the director beforehand.

  I didn't want to act, but the part was small, and my agent pushed me to do it. She said that it would be good for me to dip my toes in the water when it came to acting. That it would be more publicity. So I agreed to do it.

  Then I’d gotten word that the director planned the meet-up in a hotel. When I’d asked around, some people said it was normal. Bells was a hard fuck no about it, though. She said I could go but only if she went, too. When I’d gotten to the hotel room and knocked on the door, the director Jason answered the door almost naked.

  When his eyes landed on Bells, he tried to backtrack, saying he’d just gotten done taking a quick shower. We’d left immediately. But that hadn’t deterred him. He was a persistent asshole. He again went to my agent about another meetup, telling her that I should come alone this time. Not a chance.

  “I never knew how to get in contact with professionals to have someone killed. Now that I know, it’ll make things much easier going forward.”

  Both the man and the woman stop walking for a second to look at Daphne.

  “You have that kind of money?” the woman asks, not sure if she believes her or not.

  Daphne lets out a small laugh. I know
she has that kind of money. Her name carries weight. The woman’s grip on my arm tightens. It’s almost painful.

  “Yes, I’m a trust fund baby, the real deal, not like Kingston. He’s a pauper compared to me. I'm an Ellison.”

  “I’ve seen the name, but I didn't think she was an Ellison, Ellison.” Thankfully, as the woman says that, her hold on my arm loosens. The man and the woman exchange looks, having a conversation without words.

  What Daphne said is true. In the States, she’s pretty much royalty. Before anyone agrees to anything, we all look up when we hear the loud groan that comes from above us. Then there’s thundering footfalls and yelling. It sounds as if there’s a war going on above our heads.

  “Diego.” I take off so fast the woman holding my arm must be surprised, because I break her hold as I run up the stairs. Everyone follows. When I get to the next floor, I pull on the door. My eyes go round when I see all the bloody bodies lying on the ground. I’m filled with relief when I see Diego and Tiernan are still standing. Diego is fighting someone.

  A knife zips past my head. I turn back to see the big guy that was on Daphne now has a knife in the dead center of his forehead. His eyes are wide with surprise for a moment before he hits the floor.

  “You could have hit her,” Diego shouts at Tiernan as he snaps the neck of the man he’s fighting.

  Tiernan lets out a chuckle at Diego's comment. “I never miss.”

  Then Tiernan’s eyes lock on to Daphne for a moment. The woman with us wraps her arm around my neck, pulling me tight to her to shield herself with me. I’m not sure I make the best shield for her. She reminds me of Xena, the warrior princess. What I’m sure of by the look in Diego’s eyes is that she’s going to be a dead woman soon.

  The door at the end of the hallway files open. There stands Kingston with a gun in his hand and two more men behind him.

  “Fuck.” Diego spits and turns toward him as I hold my breath.

  “I love these odds.” Tiernan twirls two knives in his palms.

  Daphne makes a small, strangled noise at the sight of it.

  “There you are.” Kent’s sky blue eyes lock with mine. “Come here. Come to me.” He holds out his hand.

  The woman behind me loosens her grip.

  I swallow hard and look at Diego.

  He stares back at me with an intensity that shakes me to my core. I’m his world, and he’s mine.

  “Don’t be afraid of him.” Kent edges forward. “I’ll protect you. Come here.”

  When I look back at him, I want to cringe. He has that psychotic glow in his eyes, and it’s like he’s possessed. He’s always been this way when it comes to me. And not just me. Whichever woman he’s targeting. It’s horrible, unnerving.

  I take a deep breath, and instead of going to Kent, I dart to the right and mold myself to Diego’s side. His arm comes around me, and when I catch his familiar scent I bury my nose in his shirt.

  “What the fuck!” Kent’s voice rises an octave.

  “She’s made her choice.” Diego’s confidence rings through the air, and I snuggle closer as he grips me tight.

  “She’s mine. You’re a fucking monster.” Kent is blond, tall, handsome, unscarred. Perfect blue eyes and clothes that cost a fortune. Nothing like my Diego. Not strong, brave, or true. Not gorgeous inside and out.

  “You’re the monster.” I turn to him. “You shouldn’t have come here, Kent. You should’ve left me alone.”

  “You belong to me. Why would I ever let you go?” He glances at Diego. “Especially to this brute.”

  “I love him.” I smile when Diego squeezes me tighter. “I love everything about him, especially the part where he kills you.”

  Diego lets out a low laugh, and then all hell breaks loose.

  16

  Diego

  I drop the woman first. She’s been edging toward Daphne ever since Aurora came to my side.

  A knife in her chest sends her stumbling backwards as Kent screams, Daphne hits the ground, and Tiernan launches himself forward, slicing through the mercenaries like a fucking saw.

  I pull Aurora behind me. “Stay with me.”

  “Okay.” I can barely hear her reply as I reach out and grab Daphne from the floor. “With Aurora.”

  She falls in line behind us, my body blocking them from Tiernan’s frenzy and the errant bullets flying down the hall.

  Maudie isn’t going to be happy with us when this shit’s over.

  I keep moving forward, but an assassin comes swinging out of the bedroom just ahead of me. I shove a knife through his heart, then shove him back inside the room he exited. With a quick sweep, I find it’s clear.

  “You two stay here.”

  “Don’t leave!” Aurora wraps herself around me.

  “I’ll be back, and you don’t need to witness this.”

  Someone in the hallway screams as Tiernan laughs. “That’s some beautiful blood spatter. Thanks for sharing it with me.”

  I steal one quick kiss, then lower Aurora to the floor. Once she and Daphne are safe, I return to the hall and go to work.

  Two bullets hit me in the vest and almost knock me on my ass, but I power through and rush forward. The first assassin dodges me. But he’s not fast enough. I shove my fist out and crush his windpipe.

  With a gurgle he drops. The other disappears into the bedroom at the end of the hall and slams the door. Kent Kingston’s room.

  “He’s in there.” Tiernan wipes his blades on his pants. “Alone. I had fun, but I kind of wish there were more.” He frowns at the bodies littering the floor.

  “Guard Aurora and Daphne.” I jerk my chin toward the bedroom where they’re stashed.

  “Can do.” He stalks past as I rear back and kick the door in.

  Bullets shatter the antique molding and splinter the wood as I hit the deck and roll forward. I reach Kent and kick my legs out, knocking him on his ass.

  He screams and scrambles for the gun he’s dropped, but I’m on him too quickly.

  When I wrap my hands around his throat, he tries to buck me, but I don’t give him any room.

  “You’re going to die right here, right now.” I stare down at him as I keep the unforgiving pressure on his throat. “You should’ve never touched my songbird, never come for her, never even looked at her.”

  He claws at my hands, but he gets nowhere.

  “She’s too good for men like us. But at least I’m going to do everything in my power to be worthy.” I give a harder squeeze. “You would’ve hurt her, eventually killed her. I can’t let that happen.”

  “Diego?” Aurora’s soft voice is behind me, and I feel her hand on my shoulder.

  I ease up, but I don’t release him. My songbird shouldn’t be here. She’s too sweet, too kind, too full of mercy. She’ll no doubt ask me to spare this asshole’s li—

  “Don’t stop.” She leans over and looks down at Kent. “You’ve hurt so many people. So many women. Not just me. I know what you’ve done. Forcing yourself on us. And when you can’t have us, you stage an overdose. Daphne told me she has a file an inch thick on the women you’ve hurt and killed.”

  Rage thumps through my veins. First that he tried to hurt my Aurora, and second for the other girls that didn’t have anyone to protect them.

  Her lips feather against my ear. “Do it for me, Diego.”

  “With pleasure.” I increase the pressure until I feel something crack and see the life leave Kent’s eyes.

  When it’s done, I rise and pull Aurora into my arms.

  “Thank you.” Her eyes water. “Thank you for saving me.”

  I kiss her and taste her salty tears and sweet lips. “I will always save you, songbird.” I hold her in my arms, safe and protected. “Always.”

  “I love you, Diego.” She smiles against my lips as I carry her out of the room, out of the house, and all the way back to the lodge. Home. Our home. Forever.

  17

  Aurora

  I snuggle more into Diego's side. He�
�s holding me close and keeps kissing the top of my head as we enter the lodge. We don’t stop to linger and talk to anyone. We pass by Clover on the way.

  She gives me a wink, but I’m sure her man Charles is pissed about Daphne and me giving him the slip. I’m not sure if we made the situation worse or better, to be honest. At least Kent is dead. I no longer have to worry about him.

  We barely make it into our room and Diego is on me. He lifts me into his arms, kissing me deeply. I give as good as I get while wrapping my body around him.

  “You are never to leave here without me,” he gets out before his mouth is back on mine again. I moan my agreement. Hopefully there won’t be any reason to have to sneak out. “You’re going to stay here,” he gets out before his mouth goes to my neck. I let out a moan. I never knew how good it felt to be kissed on the neck.

  “Yes,” I answer as I tilt my head to the side. There is no other place I want to be.

  “You’ll be my wife,” he adds in when he stops to pull my sweater off. My bra hits the floor a second later. My man's hands are skilled. He could easily kill with them to protect me but also caress me with them in the gentlest of ways. “Say it,” he demands.

  He cups my breast, his thumb grazing back and forth across my nipple. His other hand is now in my hair, grabbing a handful of it so he can tilt my head back to look up into his eyes. Even the pull on my hair is gentle.

  “I didn't think it required an answer.”

  “You’ll take my name.” Another order. I nod in agreement.

  “Aurora Langston has a nice ring to it.” I learned his name one night when we’d been playing the question game. We’d learned a lot of things about each other that night.

  “Damn right it does.” He goes for my pants next, pulling my boots off so I’m naked in front of him.