Steal the Night (Thieves #5)(128)

Rose had taken a step back and she put her little hand in mine to try to pull me with her.

Louis gripped Chad by the nape of his neck like a dog. Louis’s claws were out and they dug into Chad’s skin, drawing blood. “You will not speak to her like that. I have worked very hard to not frighten her and you come in spouting nonsense. Go.”

Chad seemed to deflate, that violent rage going as quickly as it came. “I’m sorry,” he said, seemingly surprised at himself. “I came in to tell you that you have a visitor in your suite.”

Louis nodded. “Good, then all is ready. Go and do what I need you to do. You may go too, Rose. You’ll find I’ve left money with Robert. He’ll take you shopping. Zoey needs clothes.”

Rose nodded but there was a little spark in her eyes as she left the room. Chad followed and I was happy he was gone, even if it left me alone to deal with Louis. At least I had some sort of a handle on how to deal with him. I took a deep breath and let myself look very vulnerable. Chad had given me the chance to be afraid of Louis again. Big hands cupped my shoulders.

“I left you a dress on the bed,” Louis said quietly, his eyes filled with desire as he looked at me in the mirror. “I want you to wear it and come with me to my apartments.”

I was very interested in the latter part of that statement. I wanted to get into his office.

“I will,” I said quietly, turning my head to look up at him. His eyes were on my neck. “Are you hungry?”

Fangs shot out with a little snap. “I am. I am always hungry for you. Get up.”

He sat me on the sink and with a flick of his fingers, my towel came undone. I forced myself not to cover my body. I felt his eyes trying to pull me in and gave over because there was nothing else to do.





An hour later I found myself dressed in an all-white silky sheath. It was tasteful but sexy. The bra he’d left for me was decadently lovely and just a tiny bit small. It shoved my breasts together but I didn’t complain. I was barefoot because the sneakers I had come in didn’t really go with the dress. Louis promised to rectify the situation as soon as possible. He’d dressed me himself, his fingers smoothing the silk over my skin, and then clasping a diamond collar around my neck. It was a gorgeous piece of jewelry that was far too much like a slave collar for my liking. The vampire had enjoyed dressing me and playing with my naked skin. He’d especially liked my navel ring but wanted a large diamond in the place of my emerald and sapphire. I don’t know if he understood I’d chosen the stones to match Dev and Daniel’s eyes, but he wanted the belly button ring to complement his collar.

I tried not to think about the fact that I couldn’t say I’d only slept with my husbands now. Even though I wanted to cry and rage at the situation, I’d managed to get through it without throwing up on him.

I just wanted to see Dev again. I wanted him to hold me, to promise me he still loved me.

We stood outside the door to Louis’s suite and he held my hand in his. “Zoey, you will remain quiet unless I give you permission to speak. Is that understood?”

I was a trophy and nothing more. I was all right with that. It would give me the opportunity to get the lay of the land.

“You will sit at my side and do everything I ask of you,” he continued as he opened the door.

I followed him. His rooms were elegantly decorated. The first room was a sitting area with darkly paneled walls and tasteful art. I thought I recognized some of the painters, but I hadn’t seen the paintings before. One resembled a Picasso but it wasn’t one I was familiar with. It occurred to me it wouldn’t be hard for a man like Louis to convince a painter to create a work just for him. He probably hadn’t even paid for it.

“He’s here,” Niles said in his upper-crust British accent. He appeared slightly haggard, like his rest had been interrupted. I wondered what fresh trouble Danny was causing. Niles caught sight of me and he stared. “God, she’s so f*cking bright.”

“Get used to her,” Niko said from his place on the sofa. He wasn’t haggard at all. The tall Greek was downright calm compared to Niles and the Norwegian Elof. “She’s Louis’s new pet. I think he’ll keep her close to his side. Donovan is on the prowl. Louis wouldn’t want to lose her.”

“I have no intention of losing anything to that f*cker,” Louis growled.

“You mean anything else, don’t you?” Elof asked. “He’s already hit us where we’ll feel it for decades. I can’t get into any of my accounts and he blew up my safe house last night. I got word this evening.”

“He’s a busy man,” Niles said. “My London home was raided by MI5. They found some very suspicious materials. Bomb-making materials. I can’t bloody well go home but Louis is far too busy f*cking Donovan’s queen to take care of Donovan.”

“How the hell is he everywhere at once?” Louis asked, his voice a low growl. He sank into a leather chair. I stood beside him because there wasn’t room for me. “Zoey, sit.”

Louis pointed at his feet. I thought of Dev in his cell and our babies in my womb and gracefully sank to the floor at his feet. His hand came out and nudged my head onto his lap. It forced me to hold onto his legs.

“There is only one group who has that kind of power and any interest at all in the supernatural underworld,” I heard Elof say as my eyes wandered as much as my position allowed.