by KC Kean
“I’m Luna Steele, and I’m here for The Games.”
His eyes startle in surprise as he quickly looks to his clipboard, before glancing back at me.
“I do apologize, Miss Steele. Please take the main road, it’ll lead you to the estate.” He splutters, but I don’t offer a response. Instead, Parker puts the SUV in drive as the gates open and I shut my window.
It takes another twenty minutes before we find ourselves in front of the estate, neither of us saying much. My training tells me to assess my surroundings, but my mind can’t see past anything except getting to my Aceholes. Our hands are joined on the arm rest between us, offering strength to each other.
He puts the SUV in park as we stare up at the mega mansion in front of us. At least five stories high with pillars creating a grand Mediterranean entrance. Large arched windows fill the ground floor, with balconies coming off the above floors. This place is ridiculously big.
“Are you ready, angel?” Parker asks, stroking his thumb across my knuckles.
“As I’ll ever be,” I murmur with a soft smile.
I can see his brain working overtime and I can feel what he wants to say in my soul, but I refuse to let him say it now under these circumstances.
“Don’t you dare, Parker. You can tell me on the other side of this, and I can say it too. The chance of death will not be the reason, do you understand?” My heart pounds against my chest as it wants me to screw my logic and scream it at him, but I refuse to not believe in tomorrow.
He nods in understanding, but in complete silence he points to his eye, to his heart and to me. My heart melts, my hands shake and tears well in my eyes as I do it in return.
“Fuck you, Parker Parker, for making me feel,” I murmur pressing my lips against his, as he gently lifts his hand to stroke my cheek.
Finally pulling apart we both step out of the SUV and Parker drags Veronica out of the back. He doesn’t give her a chance to fight as he quickly unlocks the handcuffs and tightens them behind her back. Tearing the binding on her legs, we head up the stairs to the entrance. Veronica struggles to move her feet to keep up, but Parker just drags her along beside us.
No one is around, but the noise coming from the door straight ahead tells us where people are. More specifically Roman, Oscar and Kai. I can hear the shouts and I know it’s because they don’t know where we are.
Picking up speed I run for the double wooden doors, my feet pounding against the ground, deafening me. I push the doors open with a bang as they bounce off the walls on either side. The room comes to a halt with the noise, echoing throughout the room. The guys whirl around to see what interrupted them.
The instant their eyes connect with us, the fury on their faces melts away as they take us in. Making sure we’re okay, their eyes trail to Veronica, whimpering in Parker’s hold.
“Princess, why are you covered in blood? Parker?” Roman whispers, anger taking over his features, but before I can respond, Rico shouts from across the room.
“What the fuck is going on?” He snarls and I force myself to step around my guys, pulling Parker with me and Veronica trips over her own feet as he drops her in front of us. I refuse to let him hide in his father's presence any longer and Veronica can go to hell.
Getting a look at the room we’ve walked into I see every member of The Ring sitting at a table set up on a small platform. My Grandmother is on her feet, hands planted on the table, along with Juliana as they sneer at Rico. The room is massive, and smaller tables dot the main floor with families sitting around them. Thick red rope forms a partition between us and them, as if creating a walkway to where we stand.
Spotting Rafe in the crowd, I can see a mixture of emotions take over his face, relief that I’m here, but confusion over what’s happened. Finding my voice, I take another step towards The Ring members, Parker’s hand in mine and my other Aceholes behind us.
“Please, Rico. Do tell me where you thought we would be?” I question, raising my eyebrow at him as he continues to stare us down. “It wouldn’t happen to be knocked out cold in the back of an SUV with Veronica, would it? On our merry way to see Totem?”
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” Rafe growls as he stands, trying to control his breathing before he passes out with anger.
“It’s okay, Dad. We’re here now,” I say softly, but loud enough for him to hear me. I watch as his hands clench at his sides, but eventually he nods in agreement. The room is silent around us as they look between Rico and us. “Still no response, Rico? I’m disappointed. I’m waiting for you to ask how we still made it here, and Barb where’s she? I’m sure she would love to know too.”
I don’t say a word as I look around the room for her in exaggeration. Parker squeezes my hand in his, a way of offering his support right now as everyone watches Rico. Bored with waiting and watching him snarl as he leans over the table at us, I decide to move this along.
“Okay, well you’ll be glad to know the SUV is parked outside in one piece. Unfortunately, the other passengers are dead.” Rico grins down at me, and looks at Veronica handcuffed at my feet.
“Not everyone, little girl,” he sneers.
Perfect, I was waiting for him to goad me, and he’s so predictable he doesn’t disappoint.
“Hey, Veronica,” I call and she whips her head around to me, fear in her eyes as she frantically tries to get out of the situation she finds herself in. Mascara streaks down her face as tears continue to gather in her eyes. Dried blood stains her nose and cheeks, as she sobs against the duct tape. She knows what’s coming, and that makes it even easier. Shaking her head frantically in protest she tries to back away.
Now that I’ve got her attention, and not the back of her head, I raise the gun as I continue to stare into her eyes and pull the trigger.
The room goes silent as they watch her lifeless body drop to the floor.
Rico slams the table in front of him growling as rage builds inside of him, but he doesn’t move from his spot, forcing himself to remain in place. Movement to my right catches my attention and it’s Barbette Dietrichson trying to sneak off through another door to the right.
“Barbette,” I call pointing a hand in her direction. “Please, do stay.” Forcing a megawatt smile on my face, I probably look manic holding the gun, especially with the blood splatter all over me. She stands frozen in place like a deer caught in the headlights, but I refuse to take the heat off her.
“That’s enough, little girl,” Rico growls, finally breaking his silence. “Parker, come here son. Standing beside her does not help you earn your bloodline from me.”
Fuck this asshole. I don’t say anything, this is for Parker to do, to stand his ground. I don’t panic as the silence stretches as he tries to find his words, but the grip on my hand tells me he’s here, pushing through his usual barriers.
“I’m good where I am, thank you, Rico,” he finally says, full of strength and determination. I could cry with joy.
“If you continue to stand there with her, you lose any right to my bloodline, and I don’t need to remind you what happens in Featherstone to people who lose their bloodline,” he threatens, and the grin on his face shows everyone how much he thinks he has this, but he motherfucking doesn’t.
I look to Parker, who smiles down at me softly. I squeeze his hand tight before releasing it to stand in front of him.
“I don’t need your bloodline to survive, Rico,” he says crystal clear as everyone stares openly at the show we’re putting on right now.
“Have it your way, you just signed your death wish,” Rico throws back with a laugh, an actual laugh at the threat of his son's life.
“Nah, I don’t think he did,” I say with a smile of my own, as Parker unfastens the clasp of my necklace around my neck and places it in my hand. “You see, he doesn’t need to be a Manetti,” I say, looking at Parker to continue as I casually drop the bomb that we know his shitty fucking bloodline.
The ring from my necklace drops into my hand as Par
ker looks around the room. He dips down his jeans a little at the front to show off the full Steele family emblem. Diana the goddess of the hunt, an upside down crescent moon with three arrows pointing out of the top. While I wiggle my fingers like a sassy bitch for all to see my ring.
Offering that sexy smile of his to everyone, Parker’s words flow from his mouth. My heart pounds with every syllable.
“Hi, my name is Parker Steele and this is my wife, Luna.”
EPILOGUE
(Parker)
My wife.
Luna Steele is my wife.
I’ve wanted to scream those words from the rooftop since our day out and afternoon lunch with Maria.
This girl continues to save my life over and over again.
She is my everything, our everything.
The guys knew what was going to happen that day, and I think it’s Oscar who has stared at that ring the most.
I’ll make sure it represents all of us. I refuse to let it change what we already share all together.
Til death do we part, we both said, and I refuse for that to be in The Games.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
AFTERWORD
What the actual F just happened .. Book Two that’s what!!
Are you going to go back and see the little holes I left?
Are you screaming for answers?
If you threw your reading device I take no responsibility LOL.
I can’t believe we are already here, and I could cry that you are here too.
Seriously, thank you! Thank you, for seeing something in this series to willingly pick it up and give it a try.
I’m so excited to continue Luna’s story with her Aceholes that Book Three has already begun. It makes me sad mad that we are getting closer to the end.
I hope you love these Aceholes as much as I do!
Here’s to a hot and steamy future people!
Much Love <3
THANK YOU
I have to start by saying the biggest thank you to my Handsome <3 No not Kai, my real Handsome <3 For telling me how proud you are of me everyday. For never holding me back and always wanting the best for me. You are my biggest fan, without even reading the books.
My b-e-a-utiful children! Thank you for putting up with me, and I don’t mean when I hide out in the book cave while Daddy entertains you. I mean when I turn everything into a song and drive you cray cray, yet you somehow still love me!
High-five scuba-dive babies <3
Val the Alpha Queen.
You are by far the only person who could put up with me constantly everyday!
Your support is off the scale and my books would have no details without you LOL
Thank you for being a soundboard for all of this creativity, and loving Luna and the Aceholes just as much as me <3 and for just not being a tabby cat!
Thank you for making Roman cray-cray, Rico more than just a snake and Oscar cheesier than ever LOL
Now I know it’s your birthday this month, and I’m feeling extra cheesy, so …
**CLEARS THROAT**
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Valerie, Happy Birthday to you <3
Thank you to Hope, Katy, Emma, Kristin and Monica for being my BETA babes <3
You all have mega eyesight that puts me to shame LOL
You all offer such support and words of encouragement, I don’t know how I’d get through this stage without your love for the story.
Without you everybody would be getting simulation instead of stimulation, awkward sentences, british meanings and a magic fucking door haha!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Extra special shout outs to my BAE’s Noreah, Michelle, Rachel, Samantha, Nicola, Kathryn, Kelly, Caitlyn, Kyndal and Liv.
You guys are the bestest ever babysitters for these book babies LOL
Thank you for not getting sick of me yet!!
About The Author
KC Kean
KC Kean is the sassy half of a match made in heaven. Mummy to two beautiful children, Pokemon Master and Apex Legend world saving gamer.
Starting her adventure in the RH romance world after falling in love with it as a reader, who knows where this crazy train is heading. As long as there is plenty of steam she’ll be there.
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/kckeanauthor
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