Chapter 9

Nine

MAXIMILLIAN

“What the fuck, Livia?” My rage turns on my supposed partner.

“It’s a deal, Strauss. He’ll do it.”

“Like hell I will.”

Strauss’s face lights up like a kid as he laughs. “I don’t want her for trade, Freidenberg. I need to produce an heir. It’s time I settled down before I reach forty. And what a better one to marry than the beautiful, young Freidenberg princess.”

“He’ll allow it.”

“No, I won’t.” Snapping my head at her, I ask through clenched teeth, “What the fuck are you saying?”

“Can we have a minute?”

Despite keeping my eyes steady on Livia’s face, I see Strauss stand and walk into the adjoined conservatory out of my periphery. Once he shuts the doors, the notes of the song he was belting when we stepped in the room haunt the air again. I want to fucking kill him. I could, very easily.

“What. The. Fuck. I am not giving up my sister to a monster.”

“Hush. Max, please, please listen and trust me. Strauss loves her⁠—”

“Strauss loves nothing. You’re crazy.” Giving her my back, I face the fireplace, but she latches a hand on my shoulder, and I let her turn me around.

“Listen! Strauss truly wants her. I read it on his face. It’s our in with him—” I try to interrupt, but she continues. “Stop. It’s our leverage, but there is no way in hell I will let him touch her. I wouldn’t do that to anyone, let alone your sister, Max.”

My eyes narrow. She’s being clever. I don’t know what her aim is, but I don’t trust her. The Von Dovishes are snakes, and I would be stupid to trust anyone here. She’s talking as if she cares about me, about my family, but she could just be playing me. Holding my hand in the car like she wanted me. After a careful moment, I say, “You sound like you have a plan.”

“I do. We need the weapons. He wants Arianna. We’ll get what we need and promise his marriage to your sister.” An involuntary growl almost erupts from my chest, but she continues. “Shh, stop. We will promise it, but she won’t be able to marry him.”

“Why is that?”

“Because…” She bites her lip, then swallows. “Because Max? She will be already married to someone else.”

“What?! No way!” My baby sister married already? I know she’s twenty-four, but she’s much younger than that emotionally. There’s no one I can even consider who would be good enough for her. No one I wouldn’t want to kill for touching her.

“Shh! He’ll hear us arguing. Not that I mind much, so he thinks he’s getting what he wants.”

“Who is she supposed to marry?”

She has someone in mind. The thought is practically written on her forehead. She pauses for a long while, then tells me, “Ace.”

“No, no. No way. Nuh-uh. Nope. Not happening.” Ace Donovan? Serial womanizer, gambler, all around asshole? No.

“Would you rather he take her?” She points to the door of the conservatory.

She’s right. Strauss wasn’t asking for my sister’s hand; he’s just going to claim it. He steals women; it’s what he does. He may at least want to marry Arianna, but he’d torture her all the same. I can’t let that happen. Arianna must marry into a family. Ace Donovan would protect her better than Calum Von Dovish would. Maybe I could work something out with Ace, some type of arrangement. He could use a turkey baster, and she could give him an heir without him ever having to touch her.

But it’s fucking Ace Donovan. The boy used to eat caterpillars. He owns casinos and strip clubs. And probably fucks his workers.

“No.”

Her face falls. “Max, for the good of everyone. You know that would mean at least some level of senate control… You’re not willing to play this game?”

“Not with my sister. No.” And I don’t trust you. But I don’t tell her that. She just sucked me off when she really didn’t have to. Fuck, my cock twitches just thinking about it again.

Livia’s shoulders slump. “So, no weapons?”

“We’ll try to garner some with your contacts before I go down the route of promising my flesh and blood to Strauss. I’ll increase her protection.”

“What good will protection be if the man has flamethrowers?”

“We use your contacts,” I say, jutting out my chin. I’m not backing down.

She looks at the carpet, disappointed her plan didn’t work. I still don’t trust her. Does she truly care for us? Unlikely. She’s a fox and Von Dovish blood runs through her veins. “Okay, Max. We’ll try with my contacts first, but if⁠—”

“If it doesn’t work, we’ll resort to your plan.” Pinching under her chin, I lift her face to mine. “And, hey. I’m sorry about…” I nod my head to her knees. Strauss was trying to suffocate her with my cock, and I don’t like that I loved it as much as I did. I’d just rather have used my own hands, though.

“So sorry that you’ll try my plan now?”

“No. Not that sorry.”

She shrugs. “Thought I’d try one last time. I don’t know what kind of trouble we’ll get into in the other cities.”

My eyes lift as we meet gazes, holding them in some unspoken, serious exchange. “I’d say a lot.”

The lilting melody ends and the piano bench scrapes against the floor before the double doors are thrown open. Strauss’s solid frame is lit from behind by the candles in the rounded room, casting a long shadow. The blackness crawls across the carpet as he strolls toward us.

“All finished? It got quiet in here. I was thoroughly enjoying the bear fox fight.”

“I’m not doing it, Strauss. It’s a no,” I say with hardness in my voice. He may have a gun, but my weapons are always with me. Instinctively, my fingers curl into fists.

Strauss looks bored. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear you say that.” I see it then, what Livia was talking about. It’s not boredom; he’s sad and trying not to show it. This fucker wants my sister. If I were a bear, my haunches would be prickly right now. “If you change your mind…”

“I understand the deal. My sister for your weapons.” His light blue eyes dance in the firelight as he raises them to my face. “But Strauss? She’s worth more than that. She’s worth more than you.”

He turns into a statue. I believe him to be dead, with his gaunt cheeks, pale skin, and vacant gray eyes, but the despair that radiates off him is palpable. After a small eternity, he breathes, then smiles, flashing his bright white teeth. “Alright then. One last thing, Mr. Freidenberg. I expect your businesses to stay clean. Gnarled Pine Hollow does not condone an underground weapons trade, and if you’re rejecting my weapons, then I don’t see any reason for East Side to carry them. It seems your clan has forgotten those rules in the past, but I have a feeling you’ll obey.” Despite his eyes remaining flat, his lips curl upwards into a cat-like smile. His face is unholy.

Vlad claps his hands twice, and another woman appears. This one is tall, brunette, beautiful, and wearing an expensive dress. She’s not wearing a collar, nor an air of defeat, but there’s a thick layer of pearls surrounding her neck.

“Dilan, show my guests to the door, then come back and take care of me.”

“Yes, darling.”

She lifts a slender arm, and bracelets that look like emeralds sparkle on her wrist. “This way, please.”

Livia turns, and I protectively place a hand to her back as she walks in front of me. Once we reach the door, Dilan bids us well, then leaves as we depart. The guards are still on the porch and only give us a cursory glance, as they continue to gossip in another language and puff out cigarette smoke in our direction. My car sits ready for us on the drive, and I open the passenger door for Livia, but before she gets in, I put my hand over hers to stop her.

“We need to talk strategy.”

She pauses after looking at our hands and stares up at me. “Okay, Max.”

The overwhelming urge to kiss her returns, but I know she’ll just shirk me off again. Letting her smooth hand slide out from under mine, I release her and she gets inside. Once I’m behind the wheel, I point us toward the Von Dovish estate.

“I have a contact, but I’ll call tomorrow. It may be hard to get a meeting with him, but it’s all I know to start with.”

I nod.

“But Max? He’ll want something from us. I don’t know what.”

“As long as it’s not Arianna, I’m okay.”

“How is she, by the way? I haven’t seen her since she was just a tiny child.”

“You should come over. Meet her again.”

Livia gets quiet and looks out her window. It makes me rage. If I can’t kiss her, the burning violence is going to escape. I have to know why before I destroy something. “Why can’t I kiss you?”

Her neck twists as she snaps her eyes to mine. “What?”

“You won’t let me kiss you.” I eye her soberly. “I want to know why.”

She opens her mouth to reply, then shakes her head, rethinking things as she looks out the window again.

With my eyes back on the road, I mumble, “I’ll take it sometime.”

She doesn’t respond, so we ride in silence.

When I reach the Von Dovish gatehouse, her man opens it with a smile and a wave. As I approach her front door, I let my back tires drift on the small stones, throwing up dust. It clouds her side of the car. Livia whips her face to me and scrunches her brow, letting a disgusted sneer tug at her upper lip. “Ugh!”

She gets out, and before she can slam the door, I yell, “Call me!” Her shoulders rise to her ears for a moment, then drop as she spins and runs inside. I chuckle to myself.

I don’t hear from her for a few days.

Derichs is feeling well enough to start his own physical therapy, utilizing my gym I’ve set up in the old dungeons beneath the house. It’s makeshift and doesn’t have all the equipment I want just yet, but it will do for now.

The workers have been less restless since my meeting with Strauss. Most have moved from the manor to fixing up the old car wash, motorcycle shop, and body shops on the east side of Gnarled Pines. No one has hinted that there’s no money. Only Markus and I are very aware of that fact. I need those guns.

“Hit me.”

“I’m not hitting you,” I say, circling Derichs. “I’ll tap.”

“Fuck you, hit me. I can take it.”

I punch his bad shoulder lightly, and he groans, taking a step back, doubling over at the waist.

“You told me to hit you.”

He laughs. “I did. Fuck. Okay, maybe I’m not ready.”

“You will be. Here.” I grab a paper cup of water from the cooler in the corner and hand it to him. He wipes his face with a towel and sits on the rickety wooden bench, his normally curly brown hair flattened with sweat.

“I just need some cardio, I think.”

“Mr. Freidenberg? There’s a lady here to see you.” Quieter, the butler adds, “A Miss Von Dovish, sir.”

I smile. So maybe she did come through. Still didn’t call, though.

“Send her down.”

Derichs chuckles under his breath.

“What?”

“You. You’ve got it bad for this bitch. I don’t blame you. She’s definitely… Well, she’s not hard on the eyes.” He finishes his cup of water, and I watch the stairs to see if she’s coming down. “But Max?” He waits until my eyes turn to meet his cocked eyebrow. “She’s a Von Dovish, a sly fox. Just keep that in mind.”

I nod. I know. I don’t trust her. I can’t. I just want to get inside her. To kiss her, fuck her until she’s addicted. Until she’s such a fiend for my dick, she’ll do anything I tell her. Until she submits. My cock twitches at the thought.

And the stupid part of my brain wants her for more. But that’s the part I try not to pay any attention to.

Her footsteps resound on the stone steps. As she enters, my dick thickens. There she is again, showcasing her perfect ass in tight leggings. Our eyes meet, and I stop breathing for a moment, but notice her chest doesn’t move, either.

“Hey,” she says.

“Hey.” Derichs starts to stand, but I stop him. “No, you relax. Drink your water.”

“How’s the invalid?”

“I’m doing okay. Thanks to your healer.” He smiles shyly. “And you. Thanks to you, too.”

“Of course.” She nods, turning her face back to mine. “Um, I have the meeting info.” She darts her eyes to Derichs.

“Yeah? Tell me.” I want my tank to know what’s going on.

“Friday. In Appleton City. He obviously wants us to come alone. Just you and me.”

“And he is?”

“Lavinio Merli. They call him ‘The Ear.’ I think he likes to take them as souvenirs.”

“Well, that’s promising.” I inhale deeply, not liking the sound of this at all. “Okay. Just you and me. My man’s not in top shape yet anyway. What do you think The Ear wants in return?”

“I don’t know. But I know he likes handguns. And supposedly has a lot.”

“Would we be running them for him or for ourselves?”

“I guess that’s what the meeting will determine.” She looks around the room. “You sparring?”

“Yeah. You wanna have a go?”

A corner of her thick lips lift, and her cheeks flush. It’s probably the closest to a genuine smile that I’ve seen from her. “You think you can take me?”

I snort. “Foxy, I’ve been doing this for a long time. Went to prison for it, too.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“I saw you fight.”

My mouth hangs open. “You saw me?”

“Let’s go, lion.”

“No wait. I want to hear more about you watching me fight.”

“Are you going to spar or talk?”

“Both.” I go to grab her, but she shirks and darts to the side. That has her lips curling up into a grin. There’s a sparkle in her eyes, and I know my expression matches hers. “So, tell me, little fox. When did you see me?”

I squat into my stance, then go for her wrist, but she slides away again and giggles.

“Oh, a few years back.”

“Were you in the audience?” We circle each other, waiting for the other to make a move. She slips between my legs and wraps an ankle between her thighs to flip me down on the mat. I catch myself, gripping her waist as I do, then roll us until she’s in guard.

Panting, she says, “Maybe.” Her black mohawk hangs over a shoulder.

“And did you like what you saw?” I buck my hips into her with my rigid cock.

She narrows her eyes and smirks, then grinds hard against me. Fuck. I want to rip off her leggings. Peeling my fingers from her waist, she pins my arms above my head. Her lips are so close to mine, the warmth of her lavender-scented breaths hit my mouth.

“Maybe,” she whispers. We’re frozen there for a moment until the tiny muscles in her fingers begin to relax, but I can’t let her go. With my superior training, I flip her hands around until they are held in mine. Gripping her middle with my thighs, I flip us until I’m on top. Holding her arms in one hand, I use the other to feel her neck, letting her know she’s done. She should tap out. She squirms a little, which only makes my erection throb with anticipation.

Leaning closer, I almost let my lips nibble on hers. Prepared to tell her I warned her that I was going to take it, she strains her neck up and tries to slide out from under me, but she doesn’t have the strength. She’s overpowered completely. Just like I want her.

“Please,” she whispers, the air of her words coating my skin, causing me to become desperate for her.

“Please, what?” I ask.

“Please, don’t, Max.” Her eyes are suddenly watery. Like the fox may cry.

I hesitate. Beneath me is everything my blood is telling me to take. I haven’t felt this way since that time in the alley. It’s at my mercy. I could steal it. But then I’d be no better than Strauss.

Sitting back on my haunches, I let her sit up. I offer her a hand and pull her to a stand as I do.

“That was the worst porn I’ve ever seen,” Derichs says from the bench. I had forgotten he was there, and Livia must have because she jumps at the intrusion. “Didn’t even get a money shot.” He laughs when I turn to look at him with ire. Livia’s cheeks flame maroon, and my dick grows to full capacity.

I clear my throat, reaching down without any decency to tuck my erection into the waistband of my sweats. “So, Friday?”

“Well, Appleton City is hours away, so I thought…” Her eyes move quickly to Derichs’s and back. “I thought we should go on Thursday. Spend the night and scope out the place.”

“Very smart. I agree.”

I feel Derichs smile.

“Okay, well. Um. See ya.” Livia starts toward the alcove entrance, but I stop her.

“Wait, Livia.” Walking to my sweatshirt lying on the ground next to the water cooler, I dig out my Glock. “Here. Do you know how to use this?”

One sarcastic chuckle erupts from her mouth. “Do I know how to shoot? Yes, Max. Despite not being able to get hold of many guns, I do know how to use it.”

“Effectively?”

Her nostrils flare. “Yes. Should I demonstrate now?”

“Ha, no. But here, take mine. I’ll use a different one.”

She takes the firearm but has nowhere to put it other than her hand. She points it at the ground. Giving me a nod, she starts up the stairs.

“Oh. And, little fox? I’m driving!”

“No, you’re not!” She sprints up the rest of the stairs before I can argue with her, and I laugh, like full on belly laugh.

When I turn around, Derichs has his eyebrows raised.

“What?”

“Man, you’re in so much fucking trouble.”