They’re both tall, broad, with one man looking toward the house to reveal a face resembling Luther so closely it’s clear he must be the son.
My hatred is instantaneous.
No introduction is necessary to determine he’s the scum of the earth. Not when I’ve already heard enough whispers to know this confident man lazily strolling for the mansion doors is yet another monster.
“Go get Lilly.” I glance over my shoulder and meet Nina’s gaze. “Reassure her everything will be fine.”
She nods and quickly leaves the room, Abi and Chloe following behind her while I release the curtain to fall back into place.
The front door opens in the distance. Tobias greets them with words I can’t decipher before he rushes back down the hall in the opposite direction. Heavy footsteps approach, accompanied by murmurs from men without souls.
I toe off my shoes and creep across the room, listening, eavesdropping, and plaster myself to the wall beside the doorway. I hear disjointed conversation as they approach, none of which makes any sense. Then I spy a glimpse of Luther and Chris as they pass the living room and continue toward the back of the house.
Their guests walk by a few seconds later, and I stiffen at the malevolence ebbing from them. I can feel their malicious intent.
I wait for the footsteps to move farther along the hall before I attempt a peek around the doorway. The Luther lookalike is focused, eyes straight ahead, while his companion carries his menacing frame with confidence. He’s strong, his suit-covered frame hiding what I assume is a lethal body beneath.
I need to see his face, though. To stare into those soulless eyes and determine what I’m up against. But it’s too risky now. I won’t bring unnecessary attention to myself by greeting these assholes before I’m summoned.
Below the radar is where I fly.
I silently inch back into the living room, prepared to remain in hiding until I can make an escape to find my sisters, when the face-less man glances over his shoulder.
I pause.
Freeze.
I hold my breath as his face comes into view. The deep scowl. The tight-pressed lips. The aura of a brutal man filled with darkness. And as his intense eyes narrow precisely on mine, his harsh attention fills me with dread.
2
Penny
I hold his gaze as his brows pull deeper, the slight flare of his nostrils increasing my fear.
He’s angered at the sight of me. Furious.
I fight all the instincts screaming at me to run and begin to breathe again when he turns away, continuing around the corner, the door to the outside entertaining area closing moments later.
“Oh, God.” I collapse against the wall, sucking in gulps of air.
Each blink brings back a memory of hard eyes and an even harder scowl. Like every other man to walk through the front doors, Cole’s companion didn’t have an ounce of pity for my situation.
There was no surprise. No concern.
But there wasn’t a taunting smirk either. His expression didn’t hold the conniving prelude I’ve witnessed from the vilest of Luther’s guests.
The patter of small feet rushes down the hall, forcing me to put my game face on right before Tobias runs into the room and skitters to a stop before me. His eyes are big as saucers, his inhales rampant.
“He’s here… my brother.” He waves a hand for me to hurry. “You need to come meet him.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
“No.” He shakes his head as Abi, Nina, and Chloe come to stand in the doorway behind him. “Dad wants to see you now.”
“Toby, I said I’ll be there in a minute. I just need to do something first.” I have to claim a moment to gain my composure. I can’t face a pack of wolves unless I’m in control.
He frowns, his annoyance beyond clear. “But Penny—”
“I need to put on my shoes. Is that okay?”
His stern expression remains in place, yet those innocent eyes lose their anger. He’s torn. Nothing is more important than pleasing his father, but he hates upsetting me, too.
“Hurry.” He turns on his heel to walk between Abi and Nina. “Don’t take too long.”
“I won’t.”
My sisters look at me, their expressions questioning.
“Play it safe,” I whisper. “Nod and agree with everything they say. Don’t retaliate to anything. Don’t smile. Don’t talk unless spoken to.”
Abi and Nina nod.
“Did you see him?” Chloe asks. “What does he look like?”
“It doesn’t matter. Be smart and you’ll be okay.”
“Hurry up,” Tobias calls from down the hall.
I sigh. “You heard the little Nazi. Go. Get the introduction over and done with. I’ll be out there soon.”
They follow my instruction, leaving me alone to suck in deep lungfuls of air, the oxygen taking long moments to settle me into some semblance of control.
I tiptoe into the hall, clinging to my shoes as I measure a calm stride past the rooms with an armed guard. I run once I’m out of sight until I reach the other side of the house, closing in on the window closest to the outdoor dining setting.
The male voices are almost decipherable from here, the chitchat easily heard over the soft whir of the mist fan.
I want to know what they’re here for. If their taste in perversion is more sinister than we’re used to I need to prepare myself and everyone else, too.
I inch aside the curtain, chancing another peek.
Luther, Cole, and the man with the harsh stare all sit on the expensive furniture. I can’t clearly see their faces, only the back of Luther’s head and two stony profiles. But the heir to this lawless empire is still unmistakable.
Cole sits with the same confidence as his father—his shoulders strong, the tilt of his chin arrogantly high. The other man is more laid-back, his demeanor now entirely casual as he talks to Luther about the necessity for regular servicing of sex slaves.
His words chill my veins.
I was right. This man is heartless. Soulless.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Chris growls.
I drop the curtain and swing around to face him entering the dining room. “I was checking to see how many guests we have.” I straighten to my full height and pretend I’m not one wrong answer away from punishment. “I assume Luther wants me to organize refreshments.”
He eyes me with predatory intent as his lips kick into a smirk. “You’re right. He does.” He strolls forward, skirting the dining table, not stopping until he’s a foot away. “But that doesn’t mean you weren’t snooping.” He reaches out, slowly gliding a hand around my waist, then farther to grab the flesh of my ass.
I tense, every muscle pulled taut through the degradation.
He won’t hurt me, though. He wouldn’t dare.
As far as he’s concerned, I’m off-limits. Nobody gets to defile Luther’s precious Penny. But that doesn’t mean he can’t play games and get me in trouble.
“What would Luther think if he found out you were spying?” he murmurs. “What do you think he would do to you?”
“I wasn’t spying. I only wanted to know how many guests there are.”