"Is that so, kitten?"

  Her smile was quick. "That's so."

  "Fuck you are so sexy," I whispered brushing a curl out of her face. "But you've forgotten the cardinal rule. You're the first to come...and the last to come."

  She started to shake her head. "I don't think I can take anymore."

  “Shhh, let me show you.” I started at her neck, determined to give her just one more. Slowly I kissed my way down. Pausing at her nipples for a not-so-brief detour, finally landing between her legs again.

  "God, kitten, you look so pretty with my cum dripping out of you." She gave a small yelp then struggled and tried to close her legs once she realized what I intended to do, but I wasn't having that. I used my shoulders to keep her legs and pussy splayed open.

  "Drake, oh my God. What are you doing?"

  "I'm going to clean you up and make sure I observe the cardinal rule." Then I leaned forward and licked, certain I would never have my fill.

  All I heard after that were muttered curses and my name on her lips.

  34

  Daphne

  In the morning, Drake and I were huddled over the laptop, the smells of French toast, cinnamon, and coffee permeating the air with a strong and pleasant aroma when Reginald strolled in and turned on the kettle. "I see you two are still set on using Daphne as bait."

  "I appreciate the concern, Reginald, but we need Massimo gone,” I said. “He'll keep coming if we don't do something. And he's already interrupted enough of my life. I'd like to get back to living, so the sooner we can get rid of him the better. Drake thinks it’s best not to wait until the auction. Massimo knows I won’t miss Willow’s wedding, so he’ll come for me."

  Reginald pressed his full lips together, and I could tell he was not mollified in the least. "Drake?"

  Drake sat back and met the older man's gaze. "Right now, it's the most direct line to keeping her safe. I need to take him off the board now that I know what he wants in Daphne’s head. I know who he’s trying to target. The auction is a bad move. It will end poorly."

  Reginald narrowed his gaze. “I still don't like it."

  I reached for his hand and squeezed his strong calloused fingers. "I’ll be okay. And I want to see my sister."

  Outside the window, a lovely English countryside spread before Reginald’s old red barn. Inside the kitchen, multicolored stone and ceramic pots hung from above, and under the window a table was set with a cheery yellow and red tablecloth. The sight was such a contrast to what we were talking about. The colors were warm and inviting and made me happy. They made me think of a loud, boisterous family.

  Instead, we were headed into the lion’s den.

  Honestly, it felt like the beginning of a low-budget action flick. The only problem was that I had no clothes to wear to the wedding or the reception, thanks to my kidnapping adventure.

  "Drake, I have nothing to wear for the rehearsal dinner or the wedding reception. I had a look at what was left in Jasmine’s closet, but it’s all too big," I said, rolling my eyes. Like, could this whole situation be any more absurd?

  He looked me up and down, a mischievous grin on his face. "Well, we can't have that, can we?"

  Drake suggested getting something from a local store, but Reginald thought that would be too risky. He offered to drive into town and find something suitable, but Drake declined and said he'd take me himself.

  Before I knew it, we were zooming through the picturesque English countryside in his sleek, black sports car. Drake really had a thing for shiny toys, and I couldn't deny the thrill it gave me. Soon enough, we were somewhere near Covent Garden pulling up to a swank boutique. The kind of place with valet parking. The kind of place I'd only ever window-shopped before.

  "Drake, I can't afford anything in here."

  "Good thing you're not buying, then. I'm the reason you don't have clothes, and if I'm being honest, the reason you're in this situation in the first place. So I'm buying. Now come on."

  I followed him nervously, glaring down at my black jumper and leggings and trainers.

  I needn't have worried though. As we entered, a saleswoman greeted us with the warmth of a long-lost friend. "Welcome to La Rêverie," she said, ushering us in. "May I offer you some tea or champagne?"

  "Champagne, please," I replied, not missing a beat. I was already living my best life, so why not indulge?

  Drake and I sipped champagne as the saleswoman brought out dress after dress for me to try on. Each one seemed more fabulous than the last, but they just weren't hitting the mark. I could tell Drake was getting a little impatient, but he didn't say a word, just sipped his champagne and waited for the fashion show to continue.

  Finally, the saleswoman brought out a stunning red dress. It had a deep V neckline and bell sleeves, and it cinched at the waist before falling to the floor in a graceful cascade. The soft jersey fabric was luxurious to the touch.

  As I stepped out of the dressing room, Drake's eyes lit up, and I could see the approval in his gaze. I gave him a little twirl, and he raised an eyebrow. "That's the one."

  I grinned, feeling like a million bucks. "I thought you'd like it. It’ll be perfect for the reception."

  I felt like something was missing. Drake just continued sipping his champagne and watched with an amused expression on his face.

  Finally, the saleswoman brought out a beautiful fuchsia-colored dress, and as soon as I put it on, I knew that it was the one. It fit perfectly in all the right places, hugging my curves without being too tight or too loose.

  Drake let out a low whistle when he saw me in it. "You look beautiful," he said softly, and there was something in his eyes that made me blush.

  As I modeled the dress, I couldn't help but notice the way Drake's eyes seemed to devour me. "You look like you want to eat me whole," I teased.

  "That's because that's exactly what I'm thinking about," he shot back, his voice low and sultry.

  We shared a moment, our eyes locked in a smoldering stare, and I knew this was more than just a shopping trip. This was a game of cat and mouse, and I was more than happy to play.

  I changed back into my regular clothes, and as the saleswoman rang up our purchases, I felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. We were about to pull off a dangerous scheme, and I would be dressed to kill. Literally.

  The sun was setting as we left the boutique, the sky awash in shades of pink and gold. Drake held the door for me, his face betraying nothing of the charged moment we'd shared earlier. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was made of stone.

  As we cruised back to the house, my mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming evening. What if our plan didn't work? What if Massimo saw through our ruse? And what would happen between Drake and me once this was all over?

  “Daphne, listen," he began, his voice strained. "About your mother being at this wedding. What do you need from me? How can I help? I know your relationship is strained."

  My heart squeezed. In the midst of danger, he still wanted to take care of my heart. "Drake," I said, my voice soft, "You don't have to get involved in that. It's between my mother and me. I’ll just avoid her."

  He shook his head. "No, it isn't. We’re doing this together. And dangerous or not," he said, gripping my chin between his forefinger and thumb, “you’re not alone.”

  I had never asked Drake for help before, but now I realized that I needed him more than ever. He was strong and brave, and he had already proven his loyalty time and time again. With a deep breath, I finally nodded in agreement.

  "Okay."

  Drake's expression softened and he stroked my cheek tenderly with his thumb. "I'll do whatever you need me to do," he whispered, and there was an intensity in his eyes that made me shiver with anticipation.

  Drake reached over, taking my hand in his. "I promise you, Daphne, you'll be safe with me. I won't let her hurt you."

  His words brought me a strange sense of comfort, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest. Somehow, I knew he meant it.

  "Thank you, Drake," I murmured, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

  He smiled, his grip tightening around mine. "You don't need to thank me. We're in this together."

  As we sat in the car, hands intertwined, I couldn't help but think about how far we'd come. From strangers thrown together by circumstance to partners, plotting to take down a dangerous man and navigating the treacherous waters of my family dynamics. It was a wild ride, but there was no one else I'd rather have by my side.

  The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the countryside.

  But as we walked toward the house, Drake's phone rang, and the tension level instantly spiked. He glanced at the screen, his face turning ashen.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  He swallowed hard and shook his head. “Nothing. It’s not important.”

  “Don't do that. I thought we weren't keeping secrets. Tell me.”

  With a sigh he turned his phone around. It showed a photo of my sister and Travis. “Massimo wants me to know he’s got eyes on your family.”

  My head spun and I listed to the side, but Drake caught me before I hit the ground. “I need to call my sister.”

  Drake

  Daphne was upstairs on the phone with her sister, so I took the opportunity to call in reinforcements.

  As I paced the length of the kitchen, I knew I couldn't execute this plan alone. I needed backup. I dialed Gabe.

  It rang only once before he answered. “I know. You miss me already. One of these days we're going to have to tell Tabatha about us.”

  “Cut the shit, Gabe. I need a favor," I said, cutting straight to the chase.

  Gabe's voice turned serious. “What have you got?”

  I explained the situation to Gabe, and he let out a tired sigh. " Christ, Drake, shit has gotten out of hand. I hate to ask this, but my last mission taught me to ask all the questions. Are you sure you can trust this woman?”

  "Yes," I said without hesitation. "She's been a pawn in this. I need some backup. We're trying to lure Massimo out at a wedding rehearsal dinner, and I could use a team of four," I said, trying to sound casual.

  There was a long pause, and I could practically hear Gabe's disapproval radiating through the phone. "You're using Daphne as bait, aren't you?"

  I hesitated for a moment, torn. "Yes, but it's the only way we can guarantee he'll show up."

  Gabe sighed. "Drake, I don't like this. I don't like it one bit, but I understand why you're doing it. I'll assemble a team of four. But be careful. We don't want anything happening to Daphne."

  "Thanks, Gabe. I owe you one," I said, relieved.

  As I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. I didn't like using Daphne as bait either, but I couldn't see any other way to bring Massimo out into the open. And the fact that Gabe had agreed to help me put me slightly more at ease. Now the only thing standing in our way was time.

  With the Rogues on our side, I felt a bit more confident that we could pull off this plan and finally stop Massimo from hurting anyone else again.

  I hung up the phone and went to find Daphne, who had just finished her conversation with her sister. She turned to me with a questioning look on her face as if she knew something was up.

  "Everything all right?" she asked cautiously, eyeing me warily.

  "Yes," I replied confidently. "We have backup to help us out."

  "Do you really think that’s necessary?" she asked hesitantly. "Can we trust them?"

  "Yes," I said firmly. "Massimo isn't going away unless we fight back. I trust Gabe with my life. He's as solid as they come. Besides, I can’t control the room, protect you, and grab Massimo all at the same time. It's a numbers game. We need the extra hands.

  She ran her hands through her curls. "God, I wish none of this was necessary."

  "I'm sorry this is happening. I know all you wanted to do was go home and enjoy watching your sister get married."

  Daphne sighed heavily and nodded her agreement. She trusted that I knew what I was doing, even if she wasn't sure what it would entail.

  We discussed the plan of attack over the course of the next hour, then made a few last-minute preparations.

  Later that day, Gabe called me back. He had assembled a team of highly skilled operatives to provide backup. As we went over the plan, I couldn't help but worry about one particular member of the team… Saffron. After what I’d done, I wasn't sure if she'd be able to put her anger aside to help me.

  "Are you sure Saffron's going to be okay with this? I don't want any problems," I said, voicing my concerns over the phone.

  Gabe's voice was steadfast. "You let me worry about Saffron. You'll have your team."

  Feeling somewhat reassured, we continued discussing the plan. We'd set up an ambush around the venue, ready to swoop in at the first sign of Massimo. And with Gabe and his team backing me up, I felt more confident than ever that we'd be able to bring him down.

  As the conversation wrapped up, I knew we had a solid plan in place. Despite my lingering guilt about using Daphne as bait, I was determined to protect her at all costs.

  With the plan solidified, I ended the call with Gabe and took a deep breath.

  I had a feeling things might get worse before they got better.

  35

  Daphne

  This was a mistake. Surely it couldn't be too late to turn back. I could walk away from this. Go back to my life. I didn't have to subject myself to seeing my mother after all this time. But it wasn’t like I could not show up for Willow. And Drake needed me here to draw out Igno.

  Remember, you agreed to help him so that he would pay for Gran.

  But that was before we shagged. Before we knew what Massimo wanted from me. Before I'd started to see Drake as more than the assassin he was.

  Yes, but does he see you as more?

  That was the million-dollar question that I had no answers for.

  I stood in front of the vanity mirror and stared at my reflection, my hands trembling. I had put on the dress Drake had chosen, the fuchsia one that I thought captured the spirit of the evening without being too ostentatious. It had a satin bodice that draped over my waist, and the skirt cascaded down in graceful pleats. When I tried the dress on, he’d hissed his approval. Just remembering the way his eyes drank me in was enough to make my skin flush even now.

  I wanted everything to be perfect for tonight, but even the dress couldn't hide my apprehension.

  Drake sat on the edge of the bed, watching me. "You look breathtaking, kitten," he said, his voice gentle and reassuring.

  I bit my lip, forcing down the wave of nervousness that seemed to take over my body. "Thank you," I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

  He stood up and walked over to me, his arm encircling my waist. "It's going to be all right," he said, looking into my eyes with an intensity that made my heart flutter. "You don't have to be scared. Everything will be fine."

  I turned to face him, feeling more vulnerable than I ever had before. Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to speak but failed. Drake pulled me into his arms and held me tight, his warmth radiating through me.

  "What if I can't do this?" I asked, my voice trembling. "I thought I could, but my mother…" I trailed off, not wanting to bring her up anymore.

  “You’re strong enough. I know you are.” He brushed a few strands of hair away from my face and gently kissed my forehead.

  "You don't know her," I said with conviction. "I've been scared my whole life of her, of what she could do when she was angry."

  “But you’re not that scared little girl anymore, Daphne.”

  His words brought a wave of understanding and acceptance over me, and for the first time all day I was able to feel something other than fear. I nodded as tears silently streamed down my cheeks.

  "I hate that I'm free of her and I'm still afraid," I whispered between sobs. Drake pulled me closer and held me until the tears stopped flowing and I felt strong enough again to stand on my own two feet.

  "You are brave," he said softly, wiping the remaining tears away with his thumb. "And tonight is the night you get to be the brave person you are." He smiled at me reassuringly before taking a step back and offering me his arm.

  But as soon as he wasn't touching me, the anxiety seemed to take over again. "I don't know if I can," I said, my voice shaking. I felt guilty for putting Drake in this position.

  "You don't have to do this," he said, looking at me with concern. "I can get Massimo another way."

  But I shook my head. "I need you tonight," I said. "And I need this to be over. When it is, I'd like to see if this could be something," I added, referring to our relationship.

  Drake's eyes softened and he pulled me closer to him. "I'm here for you," he said, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.

  I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. I could do this. For my sister and for myself. I looked up at Drake, feeling grateful for his support.

  "Let's go," I said, and we made our way out of the bedroom.

  As we walked down the hallway, I felt a sense of unease settle over me. What if something went wrong?

  Drake must have sensed my worry because he stopped and turned to face me. "I'll keep you safe," he said, his voice firm. "From anyone and everyone who tries to hurt you. Anyone who does will regret meeting me."

  Daphne

  The rehearsal dinner was held in a lavish ballroom, the walls covered in ornate tapestries and sparkly chandeliers. It was a grand affair, and I felt a bit out of place. Still, I felt a strange sense of comfort in the warmth and buzz of the room, the chatter and laughter of family, friends and strangers alike.

  I was determined to give Willow the best possible night. Surveying the room, I noted who was where, who was absent and needed to be checked on. I made sure the bar had everything they needed. But mostly, I just watched my sister smile.