What Alex Wants The Complete Duet (What Alex Wants #1-2)

by E. M. Gayle

  “Getting things prepared for the party tonight,” I answered, hoping I didn’t sound as weird as I felt. Although based on the wide-eyed look Zia was throwing me, I think I’d failed.

  “Still wanting to go through with it, huh?” He stalked forward, his eyes locked on the various trays we had partially prepared.

  “Of course, I am. Why wouldn’t I?”

  He stopped and turned his gaze back to me. “Because I know he’s going to hate every minute of it.”

  I frowned. This wasn’t the first time that Jeremy had warned me that my plan would backfire. “Ye of little faith.”

  He laughed. “What can I say? I tend to lean a little on the pessimistic side. Plus, his mother isn’t exactly what I would call fun. In fact, I think most would call her a bitch. We could definitely have a lot more fun tonight if this wasn’t a family thing.” He waggled his eyebrows and I immediately felt the blush crawling up my neck.

  “Stop trying to freak out my girl with your flirty hotness and tell us something good. Is Alex’s fancy jet on schedule? He did offer it for my trip tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to that.”

  His face grew hard at the question and my high hopes deflated. I also saw tonight’s big event going up in smoke.

  “About that…”

  Alex

  Alex stood on the balcony of his hotel room and looked out over the city of Singapore. The bright lights flashed, the constant noise of the busy streets below filled his ears and the unmistakable scent of a hot, crowded city enveloped him.

  If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine he was back home in New York. But not in his high-rise penthouse overlooking the best of what the city offered. No, this city evoked a different time altogether. He might have always had more money in the bank than he could possibly want, but he didn’t always live like that. Not right after his father died.

  At the time he wasn’t quite sure how to handle the loss or his mother, so he’d walked away from his parent’s palatial home in search of something else. He’d taken a small apartment in a low-rise building in the heart of Greenwich Village and gotten lost for a few months as he drank himself from one bar to the next while soaking up the local music scene.

  That little indulgence had backfired and given Constantine Kavanaugh the opening he’d needed to move in on his family. Something he never saw coming. By the time he sobered up and returned to the fold, Constantine and his son Ronin were deeply entrenched. He tried to help his mother see the problem with getting involved with a Kavanaugh, but she refused to listen.

  Thus began his unquenchable need to sabotage both Constantine and Ronin every chance he got. And over the years there had been plenty. Business deals stolen, events ruined and family get-togethers that more often than not ended in fights. All for what?

  The danger remained. That much was clear.

  Now that he had Harper in his life there were facets of his world that would touch her as well. Of course she argued that she could take care of herself and she might be right. But he didn’t take risks that involved other’s lives. Unlike Ronin.

  “With the way your hands look like they’re about to rip that railing off, I’d bet that you were thinking of me.”

  Alex didn’t turn. He didn’t have to. He’d been waiting for two solid days for this moment as he prepared his trap for Viktor Sokolov.

  “I’m surprised it took you this long to show up.”

  Ronin laughed. “True. You haven’t exactly been subtle.”

  He turned and faced his stepbrother. “Bullshit. Viktor has no idea I’m here or what I have planned for him.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  He was and he didn’t need Ronin playing games to get inside his head. “The only trail I left was for you, dearest stepbrother. I needed to confirm you were alive.”

  “I know. And I really wanted to make you sweat a little longer. Constantine has been trying to reach me for weeks and his patience has run out. So this plan of yours had better work because otherwise I’m going to kill Viktor and get this over with.”

  “Harper asked me not to and I reluctantly agreed. Besides, a quick bullet doesn’t feel like punishment enough for what Viktor has done. The torture he will endure in a Singapore prison however, now that feels appropriate.”

  The rough bark of laughter that erupted from Ronin scraped against his spine.

  “You and Constantine and your attachments to pussy. What the fuck, man? Am I the only one left in the family with some balls?”

  “Look, if we’re going to make this work we need to pay attention to the plan. Picking at each other isn’t going to get the situation with Viktor resolved.”

  Ronin rolled his eyes and shoved his hands in his pocket. “My part of the plan is already set. I made sure everything was in place like you said in your message. The Singapore police are already raiding the shipyard as we speak. However, that bastard’s new yacht is still sitting offshore in international waters. Are you sure he is going to come in?”

  “Oh, he’ll be here. That man has vices just like the rest of us. It so happens he has more than most and I’m going to nail his ass to the wall with one of them.”

  “Which one?”

  Alex laughed, a dark sound that carried no real humor. “Which ever one he chooses. I’ve prepared a smorgasbord for him. Care to wager which one he falls for first?”

  Ronin took a stand next to him on the balcony. “If this doesn’t work, we’re doing it my way. I don’t care what you say. One way or another he is not leaving Singapore.”

  He didn’t respond to his stepbrother’s ominous words. What would he say? No, let him go? Fuck that. Ronin was right. Viktor wasn’t leaving alive. Had Viktor not set that bomb on his yacht that could have killed Harper if they hadn’t gotten there in time, he might have given leniency. As it was he felt nothing but pure hatred when it came to Viktor Sokolov.

  Death however, felt like the easy way out. He wanted Viktor to suffer for a very long time. Then whatever Ronin decided to do after that was up to him. Either way, after today’s events went down, his enemies, both known and potential, would all understand the severe consequences of messing with his family and his zero tolerance policy.

  “So before I take your bet, what are my choices? What do you think is going to lure Victor off of his yacht?”

  A tight smiled formed across his face. “There were a few things I debated on, but when a certain musical event in Singapore popped onto my radar, I knew this country would be our best shot.”

  Ronin wrinkled his forehead. “You think he’s going to risk a public appearance for music? That sounds asinine.”

  “Ahh, but this is not just any event. This is a huge showcase for one Lina Dupa, the twenty-three year old internet video sensation turned superstar that Viktor is currently obsessed with. An association that took a little digging, but proved extremely fruitful.” He crossed back into his room and picked up the file folder on his research before walking over to Ronin and handing it over. “See for yourself.”

  He went back to his spot against the railing and pointed to a large building not far from the hotel. “That venue there is where she will be performing tonight.”

  A low whistle sounded from Ronin and Alex guessed that he’d found the pictures. They were both erotic and obscene, but it was painfully clear to him that Viktor wouldn’t pass up a chance to see Ms. Dupa again.

  “That Russian bastard is one kinky fucker. Likes them young too.”

  “My sources also report they haven’t met up in over six months. I think Viktor will make sure he sees her.”

  Ronin closed the file and handed it back. “Doesn’t mean he has to get off that boat to do it. He could make her come to him.”

  Alex raised a brow. They both knew from those pictures that Viktor would not be the one making demands. Nonetheless, he’d already accounted for that possibility just in case.

  “That’s why there is a second lure. One I think even you will appreciate as i
t’s quite barbaric. Philip Chang has arranged a no limits, high stakes to the death adventure hunt in downtown Singapore tonight.”

  Ronin’s eyes grew wide. “Wow, brother. You certainly do surprise me. I never would have thought you would support a Philip Chang event. You do know that people die at these events, right?”

  He lifted his shoulders. “Desperate times and Philip has assured me that all the players in tonight’s hunt are voluntary participants. Most are death row inmates or terminally ill looking to earn some money to leave their families. I’ve made a generous donation to the players’ proceeds. Besides, we both know this party was going to happen with or without me, I simply got the date arranged to suit our needs. As for the rest, the accompanying party is scheduled to begin in one hour on the penthouse floor of this hotel. Everything has been arranged.”

  “And the prize for this blood thirsty event?”

  “One of Chang Industries latest biotech weapons valued at over sixty million dollars.”

  “Damn. You really are taking this seriously. I should have never doubted you.”

  Alex’s jaw hardened a fraction before he answered. “No, you shouldn’t have. I’m tired of playing games, Ronin. We need to end this tonight and then we all have to move on. I’m going home to my woman tomorrow and I don’t want to keep looking over my shoulder for your next move. This thing between us has to end here. It will end here. Are we clear?”

  Ronin studied him with his eyes narrowed and his facial features hard. While he was younger than Alex by several years, he had no doubt his stepbrother was smart enough not to push him on this. They had toyed with each other for years and yes, maybe Viktor hadn’t been entirely wrong about it being a game between them. But the time for their games was over.

  The stakes were too high now.

  Harper wanted to start a family and it still shocked him how appealing that sounded to him too. The idea of seeing her belly round with his child did something visceral to him that he couldn’t explain. But the more time they spent apart the longer it would take to make her dreams come true and that he found unacceptable.

  “Seriously, Ronin—”

  “Goddamn it, Alex. I know. I just needed some time to let it sink in. You know I like Harper. Hell, I thought she was my dream girl, not yours. However, she has chosen you and I chose to respect that. As for the other…” He lifted his shoulders. “Whatever. If you’ve decided to spend more of your time playing house then so be it. I want no part of that. I prefer to fuck and go anyway. Keeps life a lot less complicated.”

  Alex smiled. Ronin’s apparent distaste for a long-term relationship sounded eerily familiar. “Don’t knock it before you try it.” He clapped his hand on Ronin’s shoulder. “When you meet the right girl she’s going to plant the idea of a baby in your head that you won’t be able to get out. You’ll be walking around all day with a fucking hard-on dreaming about your—”

  “Just stop,” Ronin groaned. “I don’t think I can take any more details without losing my lunch. Jesus, Alex. No one wants to hear about your dick issues. Get a grip, man.” He handed the folder back that contained the pictures of Viktor and Lina. “I’m out of here.”

  Alex bit back a smile. He still had a very serious situation to get through. “Wait. You didn’t choose your poison in this bet. Which one will it be? The woman or the hunt?”

  “I’m going with the hunt,” Ronin answered. “At this point it won’t surprise me any more if Viktor chooses the pussy, but at least this way I will get to enjoy the game Philip has planned and probably win a new toy.”

  Alex shook his head. His stepbrother’s constant fascination with death and violence did not go down easy. It probably never would. He needed a new focus and soon. But that wasn’t his problem—not tonight.

  Tonight, Viktor would pay for putting Harper in danger and tomorrow he would return to the woman who belonged to him as much as he belonged to her.

  Twenty-six long hours later Alex walked into his dark and eerily silent penthouse apartment. For a moment a prickle of unease worked over him. Although Gerard had already assured him that Harper was in their home waiting for him as he’d requested.

  His eyes adjusted to the darkness as he tossed his jacket across the back of the entry chair and dropped his travel case on the floor. He pulled at his tie as he walked through the empty rooms, anxious to find her. As he neared the living room he saw a faint glow coming from the space.

  “Harper?”

  He got no response.

  Maybe she was still mad at him for canceling her party. But not only was he unable to make it back in time, he absolutely wasn’t up to dealing with his mother and Constantine. He had a feeling it was only a temporary reprieve as he’d discovered that Harper could be quite tenacious when she wanted to be. However, until Ronin returned there would be too many questions from his stepfather that he had no intention of answering.

  If Ronin wanted to use his disappearance as a pawn in his never ending games, then he could finish that one on his own. He was done playing. From now on Harper and her happiness came first under all circumstances.

  He turned the corner to his living room and stopped short at what he found. Harper curled up on the couch, buried in a mountain of blankets, asleep and looking as peaceful as ever. The smile that stretched across his face could not be contained. With her dark hair spread across the pillow and the brown fur wrapped tightly to her chin, she looked like an angel. A fallen angel if he had anything to do with it.

  He snorted.

  She had a way of sparking his imagination that seemed to have no limits. Right now for example, as she slept innocently and blissfully unaware of his presence, he was already plotting the many wicked things he wanted to do to her in this room. Starting with—

  “You’re home.”

  Her sleepy voice pulled at him hard, but it was her smile that did him in. She’d been through a lot, they both had, but they were finally on the other side of it all.

  “I am. Finally,” he answered, reaching down and swiping the hair from her eyes before pressing a hard kiss to her mouth. The resulting sigh from her was precisely the thing he needed.

  With a tight grip on her hair, he tilted her head back and deepened the kiss until he couldn’t take it anymore.

  “I missed you,” he said, pressing his forehead to hers and not caring how rough with need his voice sounded. From now on he always wanted her to know how much he wanted her.

  “Mmmm,” she hummed. “What time is it? I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

  “Just before midnight.”

  Her head shot up and forced his grip loose from her hair. She swatted at the covers until her legs were free and then scrambled away from him.

  “It’s almost over.”

  The alarm in her voice caught him by surprise. “What’s almost over? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  “Your birthday!” She pointed to a small table off to the side where a large cake sat waiting for someone to light the candles and make a wish. He’d been so focused on her he hadn’t noticed it sitting there.

  The tension in his muscles fled as relief washed over him. He was half afraid she’d been about to spring the party on him despite his having canceled it.

  He took her place on the couch and reveled in the heat she’d left behind. He also breathed deep and let her sweet scent fill his head. The idea that he needed to experience her snuggled against him on this couch hit him with a force not to be denied.

  “Come here,” he commanded, deepening his voice in the way he knew she would respond to.

  She only hesitated for a second before she crossed back over to the couch and stood in front of him. She’d fallen asleep in one of his old t-shirts and he could see the faint outline of her bare nipples through the thin fabric. He reached up and pinched them through the shirt and tugged her forward.

  “Closer, kitten.”

  “You’re distracting me,” she whined as she took the steps necessary to put her tits in his
face.

  “No,” he said. “Just focusing you so I can have my way with you.”

  She smiled on a soft laugh. “You always get your way.”

  “Is that a bad thing?” he asked, moving his hands to grip her hips briefly before running his fingers along her soft curves all the way down to her ankles.

  “I’m not sure yet. I wasn’t exactly thrilled that you canceled the party I had planned. Zia and I worked all day on prep for it.”

  “I wasn’t ready, kitten.”

  “I think it’s time for me to get to know the family. You can’t hide me forever, Alex. Not if you really want me in your life.”

  “Are you trying to test me, Harper?” He drew his fingers up the inside of her legs, giving her panty covered pussy the barest touch before returning to her hips and sinking his fingers into her skin with a firm grip.

  “No,” she said, her voice coming out on a throaty rasp. “But it would be nice to see you worry a little less.” She reached up and touched the side of his face. “You deserve happiness as much as I do you know.”

  He turned to the side and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I am happier than you can know. Especially now that we won’t have to worry about Viktor disrupting our lives anymore.”

  “I know. I saw the news earlier. A Russian billionaire who got arrested in Singapore for drug trafficking is apparently big news AND big trouble. Singapore is beyond harsh on drug dealers. I read online they often hang them in public. Did you have something to do with that? Is that why it took you so long to come home?”

  He shrugged. “All that matters is that it’s over. Viktor only got what he deserved.” And the look on the man’s face when he spotted Alex in the crowd watching his arrest had been exactly what he needed to put this all behind them.

  She narrowed her eyes and he had to bite back a smile. That fire in her eyes that she barely held back turned him the fuck on. He hoped to God he never squelched that heat. He always wanted her submission, but only as long as she desired his dominance.