Mine to Have (Mine #5)(41)

“Bite me,” he ordered her. “Now.”

And instead of screaming, she found her cry muffled against his shoulder.

Then she felt him coming inside of her. Hot jets that told her—

“Saxon?” Her head lifted.

His eyes were a burning darkness. So complete and total. “Mine,” he whispered.

He kissed her once more.

***

It wasn’t the first time that Victor had been in a maximum security lockup. And he knew it wouldn’t be the last either.

He sat at the narrow table, his hands in front of him, no weapon at his side, and he waited for Luther Bates to make his grand entrance into the room. He knew the devil would want a deal. There was no way the guy would just smile and say, “Sure, buddy, I’ll call off the hit. The woman will be free and clear. No problem.”

Because shit like that just didn’t happen in Victor’s world.

There were only two good things in Victor’s world…those were his two friends. His only family. Jasmine and Saxon. He’d do anything for them.

And that’s why the hell I’m here. Saxon wants the hit taken off Elizabeth, so I’m going to make a deal with the devil.

The door opened. The prisoner shuffled in, moving very slowly because his hands and feet were shackled. The garish orange garb he wore made Luther Bates look even paler…or maybe that pallor was due to the fact that the guy was being kept in solitary confinement for twenty-three hours a day.

Luther had used a shiv on a guy one week before. Even in prison, he still had to be a bad ass.

“What the fuck do you want?” Luther demanded.

There was a guard at his side.

“A few minutes of your time,” Victor murmured, “and by the way, you’re welcome for the little break from solitaire.”

The guard pulled out a chair for Luther. The fellow didn’t shove the prisoner down. If anything, he was too solicitous as he seated Luther. A quick glance showed Victor that there was plenty of fear in the guy’s eyes. Right. The fellow would know that Luther’s reach went far beyond the prison walls.

“I don’t know you,” Luther said as his beady eyes swept over Victor. “And trust me, asshole, you don’t want me as an enemy.”

Victor pulled out his FBI identification and put it on the table.

Luther frowned then said, “Oh, so I guess you’re already my fucking enemy.” His face twisted with disgust. “Like I don’t have enough of you dumbasses breathing down my neck every single day—”

“Maryann Ward.” Deliberately, he threw out the name of Elizabeth’s mother.

Luther’s eyes narrowed. “Why are we talking about the dead?”

“Because you took out a hit on her.”

The guard shuffled back a few feet.

Luther glanced at the guard, then turned his suddenly sly stare back on Victor. “I think you’ve got some bad information, Mr. FBI Agent.”

It was Victor’s turn to look at the guard. “Leave us alone.”

“I-I’m not supposed to—”

“I’m an FBI Special Agent. The prisoner is shackled. You don’t have anything to worry about.” Victor pointed to the door. “Stay right on the other side, if that makes you feel better.”

The guard was sweating. And wavering.

“Go,” Luther growled.

The guard scrambled to obey. When the door clanged shut behind the man, Luther sighed. “We’re lucky the kid didn’t just shit his pants.”

“He’s terrified of you.”

Luther grunted. “Yeah, cause he’s smart. He should be scared.” Luther paused and his green stare swept over Victor. “And you should be scared, too.” He leaned forward and looked at the ID that was still on the table. “Agent Monroe.”

“I don’t scare easily.”

Luther cocked his head as he studied Victor. “How long you been with the FBI?”

“Long enough.” Victor wasn’t in the mood to be interrogated. “Maryann Ward,” he said again.

“That woman was a lying bitch. Made me think she wanted me, gave me some bull about finally leaving her husband and running away with me.” Anger flashed on his face. “I trusted her with all my secrets, and she betrayed me.” His shackles rattled. “I don’t take any betrayal, not from anybody.”

“Is that why you put out the hit on Maryann and her family? To pay them back for the betrayal?”

Luther smiled, and it was a chilling sight, “I don’t know anything about a hit.”

Yes, he did. “That hit is still in place,” Victor said, using all his self-control to keep his voice flat and emotionless as he leaned forward. “A kill order went out on Maryann Ward, on Stan Ward, and on their daughter, Elizabeth.”

Because he was watching Luther so closely, Victor saw the guy’s eyelids flicker, just a bit.

“Even after all this time,” Victor muttered. “You still want your pound of flesh. You still want Elizabeth Ward to die.”

Luther stared straight at him.

“I need you to call off the hit,” Victor said.

And Luther Bates did just what he’d expected…the guy laughed in Victor’s face.

So Victor jumped up, grabbed the back of the Luther’s head, and slammed the guy’s face into the table.