Chapter Eighty-Three

Safiya

F or the second time, Grayson kissed me.

Consuming, possessive, he sank his heat inside my mouth, and he stole my breath like he had stolen my heart—without mercy.

As fast as he had taken my lips like he owned them, he pulled back.

Then, without any hesitation or sign that he had been devouring me a mere second ago, he put the SUV back into Drive, lowered his window, and entered a code on a keypad.

The large gate in front of us opened, and he drove through without comment.

But then he held his hand out to me, palm up.

I laced my fingers with his, and he brought our hands to his mouth.

Anticipation hummed and went straight to my core, but this time, he did not bite my overly sensitized skin.

With a gentle brush of his lips that was in direct contrast to how he had kissed me, he left a sweet caress that was featherlight. "You okay?"

I did not know what I was. "Yes."

"Last opportunity to ask. Do you have any more questions about Venezuela?"

I had not even known it was Venezuela to begin with, but it did not matter. My answer was the same. "No, thank you."

He nodded once and released my hand as he pulled up to an expansive estate that was similar to the beach house. Putting the Mercedes in Park before turning off the engine, he gave me his usual warning. "Wait."

Reaching behind my seat, he grabbed his sister's purse, then he got out of the car.

I inhaled.

Filling my lungs with a breath of hope as desire hummed through my nerves like liquid intoxication, I quickly smoothed my hair and brushed my hands across my tearstained cheeks.

Grayson opened my door, and his gaze cut straight to mine. "You're beautiful."

I felt the heat of the flush on my face, and I could not imagine an existence with this man where I would ever get used to hearing him say those words to me. "Thank you."

He held out his hand, and I took it, but he did not immediately help me down. "Fair warning, Helios, and probably Ares, will be here."

Oh. "All right." Did I acknowledge them?

As if hearing my internal thought, Grayson answered. "When you're with me, if we see Feralyn, Helios, or Ares, there are no restrictions except for any discussion of the events I already mentioned."

"I understand."

With a quick squeeze of my hand, he helped me out of the SUV, then led us to the front door before releasing me and knocking.

A muffled male voice yelled on the other side of the door, then another male voice responded.

I glanced at Grayson, but he was staring straight ahead with the same locked expression he had had when I first met him.

A moment later, the large door opened, and Feralyn stood between her two stepbrothers.

Not looking at all like he had been severely injured mere days ago, Helios reached toward Feralyn's purse. "Hand it over."

Grayson held firm. "You're flanking her when she opens the door now?"

"Fuck off," Helios clipped.

"Helios," Ares warned before looking at me. "Hey, Safiya."

"Hello."

Helios rolled his eyes. "Fucking Christ. Hand Feralyn's shit over, and we can cut the bullshit pretense of a family reunion."

Ares addressed me. "Ignore him."

I looked to Grayson, but he was focused on his sister. "You all right?"

She barely nodded before dropping her head but not her gaze. "I'm sorry you had to come out here."

"I'm not." Grayson held the purse out to her. "It gives me an opportunity to let you know that it's over. You're safe now."

Feralyn froze midreach, and all three of them went alarmingly still.

Then Ares glanced over Feralyn's head at Helios, but Helios was glaring at Grayson.

"Nice fucking job, asshole ," Helios bit out, grabbing the purse from Grayson, then wrapping an arm around his stepsister's shoulders. "We're done here." He started to step back with Feralyn tucked protectively under him.

But the frightened blonde spoke up. "Stop."

As if the current had been cut off from his movements, Helios stilled.

Feralyn looked at Grayson. "Helios told me. Thank you."

Grayson tipped his chin.

Feralyn glanced up at Helios.

Helios looked down at her, stared, then narrowed one eye. A moment later, as if they had shared an entire silent conversation, he cursed. " Fuck ." He shook his head and sighed. "Go ahead," he ordered with no little resignation.

Feralyn looked back at Grayson. "Helios told me you called him and what you wanted?" She said the last part as if it were a question.

Grayson answered it. "Raine's always had a soft spot for you. She'll listen to you if you tell her it's a good idea."

Feralyn frowned. "I can't tell her to move if she doesn't want to. That house is her home."

"Home or not, it has structural issues, and you can tell her the new place will be closer to you," Grayson countered. "You can also tell her you won't have to make that drive twice a month to see her."

Feralyn looked up at Helios.

Helios shook his head. "Don't get me involved in this. You know what I'll fucking say."

Ares smirked. "Yeah, that Ghost should buy you a new plane instead."

"Exactly." Helios glared at Grayson again.

Feralyn glanced at her half brother, then dropped her head. "I will try."

"Appreciated. Thank you," Grayson replied.

Feralyn nodded.

"We're done here." Helios stepped back with Feralyn still tucked under his arm, then he kicked the door shut, narrowly missing Ares in the process.

Not reacting to any of it, Grayson placed his hand at the small of my back and led me to the SUV. He was helping me up when the front door opened and Ares stepped out.

"Wait up." Ares scanned the driveway and yard as he jogged over to us.

Grayson took up a protective stance between me and his stepbrother, but he didn't speak.

Ares glanced at me before looking at Grayson. "Question?"

"Go," Grayson replied.

"The crash. Is it off the radar?"

"Affirmative," Grayson replied.

"Copy." Ares glanced at me. "Nice to see you again." Then he was jogging back inside.

Grayson drew my seat belt out and buckled me in. "You good?"

"Are you?" I had never seen such hostility in a family before.

Grayson winked at me, then shut the door.

A minute later, we were back on the road, and my hand was secure in his.