Ensnared (Brutes of Bristlebrook, #1)(82)

“Jaykob is right, though. Something about this isn’t right. I’d feel better knowing we have people here watching the house. It could—”

“Ah.” The surprised exhale from Jasper stops me short. His dark gaze has snared on a much smaller screen, set up on his laptop. He turns it. “It appears we have company.”

There’s a touch of humor in the tilt of his mouth.

My eyes drop to the screen, and I freeze, rage licking at my insides. The girl has the nerve to— “Did you leave the bookcase open?” I demand of Beau.

His chin drops, face hardening. “Of course not.”

She worked it out. The hidden latch that would open the hidden door in the bookcase. She crept down the short corridor, lightly enough that we couldn’t hear her, and is now standing outside the door, studying the keypad panel with a small frown.

We watch as she appears to give up on that and presses her ear to the door.

Jaykob, of all people, snorts in amusement.

Anger spikes, but I hold it in check. Let it burrow deep into my bones, leak into my marrow. She’s trying to spy on us?

We’ve given the spoiled brat everything—every single thing she could ask for—protected her against everything, and she does this? Useless, dangerous girl.

“Dom,” Beau says warningly.

I shake my head once, stalking to the door. I yank it open and grab her by the arm, ignoring her breathless gasp, and draw her into the room.

“Get on your knees,” I tell her coldly.

Eden’s eyes widen until they almost eclipse her glasses. There’s tension in the air, snapping through it like electric currents.

The others are shifting, hesitating. When she doesn’t move, I step forward and lower my voice.

“On. Your. Knees.”

I expect her to look to the others, to turn those big, pretty eyes on them and beg for help. But her wary gaze stays on me, tracking my movements the way a gazelle side-eyes an approaching lion.

But there’s nowhere for her to run.

Interestingly, beside her nervousness lurks a touch of her own anger that she doesn’t bother to hide. It intrigues me—just a little—but I push that feeling away.

Swallowing, she lowers herself gracefully, like she’s done it a thousand times. Like the movement is a memory, preserved in her flesh.

As she does, Jasper releases a long sigh, the way people do when sipping spectacular wine or watching a breath-catching sunrise.

Her breathing settles as she sits back on her heels, hands folded neatly in her lap. Mine settles too, until we’re breathing in the same rhythm.

It’s always been like this for me. The more control I take, the more controlled I feel. The more they submit, the more the awful, discordant tunes of the world begin to bleed into something pleasing. It doesn’t stop the fury—it’s buried too deep now —but it takes the edge off.

I walk around her, enjoying the way she tenses, how her head turns, just a tilt, trying to keep me in view.

“What were you hoping to achieve by breaking into our private rooms and sneaking outside our door?”

“Answers.” Then she lifts her chin and adds, “Obviously.”

Lucky sucks in a breath and, behind her, Jayk sticks his tongue in his cheek, seeming to hold back a smirk.

My eyes narrow on the girl. That tone . . . She should be gagged for that alone. Gently, I brush my fingers over her hair, down to her jaw. Her whole body goes motionless.

Crouching beside her, I study the side of her face. Then wrap my hand around her throat in warning, arching her head back slightly so she has to look at me out the corner of her eye.

“You spoiled brat. Must be hard sitting here in safety while we take risks to protect you.”

Her pulse thunders under my fingertips and there’s no helping how hard I’m getting. It would happen to anyone like me, holding her like this. Nothing to do with her, not really.

“I can help,” she pants.

As if she’d know how.

I feel the urge to tighten my grip, watch the nervousness grow in her eyes. I want to swallow her fear.

If Beau and I head off tomorrow, we’ll miss my night with her as well, I realize. Not that it matters. I have no intention of touching her—it’d only encourage Beau’s fantasy, and I’d rather spend the time fixing our shit than setting us both up for failure again.

I’ve failed more than enough already since the strikes.

I release her.

Don’t push me, I warn her with my eyes.

She should pay attention. It’s the only warning she’ll get.

“We’re going tomorrow morning. There’s a small problem we need to deal with. Beau and I will be back in two or three days,” I tell her, the picture of calm control.

The others watch me closely. I wonder if they’d leap to her defense if I pushed her now.

Or if they’d help me hold her down.

My words catch Eden’s attention though, and her head whips around to look at Beau. Surprise and no small amount of disappointment tightens her expressive features.

“Oh. But—” Her teeth tug at her bottom lip, a hint of color pinkening her cheeks.

As if his earlier distance with me was a mirage, Beau’s smile for her is slow and warm. That peach-sweet, cowboy smile has been melting hearts since we were seventeen. Biting back my scowl, I move in front of the girl, between her and Beau so she can’t see that damned stupid grin.