5. Soren

Merrick's tongue traces the shell of my ear before he nips at it lightly. "I told you I'd come with you," he growls quietly into my neck. "You shouldn't be out here in the cold alone."

I turn to face him, our eyes locking in an intense gaze. The moonlight casts long shadows on his face, turning him mysterious and almost sinister. "There's no reason for both of us to freeze our asses off."

I return my attention to the cottage, noticing movement inside. Fiora really should close her curtains. Is her front door ever locked? Dangerous men could be outside watching—like right now—and she'd have no idea.

Merrick wraps his arms around me, pulling me close as he sits down and settles in next to me. I feel the warmth radiating off his body, a stark contrast to the icy air around us. His scent envelops me, a comforting and familiar smell that normally would have me burying my cock deep within his ass.

But tonight we have a job to do.

"Braken wanted to go to Seattle to follow up on some disturbing news he received in regards to Fiora. He called me and asked if I could come sit outside and keep watch earlier than we planned," I murmur, my eyes never leaving the movement inside the cottage.

"I don't know," Merrick begins. "I think we're playing with fire here. You used to work for the Godwin family. You know how dangerous they can be. And if this girl is one of them, and we got her involved with?—"

"We told Braken we'd keep watch over her, and that's what we'll do," I say.

He's right, however. The Godwins are a powerful, unforgiving family, notorious for their ruthless tactics and vengeful nature. I advanced my way up the ranks and made a shit load of money working for their company Poseidon. I then used that money to go into partnership with Locke, Merrick, and Braken with The Vault. I rarely cross paths with the Godwins now, and I prefer it that way. Washing blood off my hands is a distant memory—one that may forever haunt me, but still in the past.

But Fiora had captured Braken's attention for some out-of-character reason, and he is determined to help her, despite the risks. He may be trying to play it cool when it came to Fiora, but I sensed something the minute he wanted to fuck her one more time without Merrick and me getting involved.

We have never been territorial over a woman before.

"So explain to me how Braken got to fuck her, Locke gets to go off on a romantic vacation with Storee, and you and I get the fucked job of having to babysit in the woods during one of the coldest nights this fall," Merrick grumbles, pushing his body closer to mine as if searching for heat that had long left mine.

I chuckle. "Low men in the pecking order, I suppose."

Merrick sighs, his warm breath tickling my neck. "All right, but we're not taking any unnecessary risks. We'll keep our distance and only intervene if necessary."

I nod in agreement, my eyes still fixed on the cottage like a goddamn stalker. The curtains remain open, revealing Fiora's silhouette as she moves around inside. She seems oblivious to our presence outside, engrossed in whatever she is doing.

Merrick pulls the collar of his coat up and around his neck. "Jesus it's cold out here. I think we've lost our minds sitting in the forest like two creepers. How long are we going to stay?"

"Just until the sun rises. Braken hired a man to keep tabs on her today, and the first chance we get, we're going into her place and installing hidden cameras. That will eliminate the freezing stalking from outside."

The ground is hard and cold beneath us, but I don't mind. I have endured much worse conditions before. Growing up homeless most of my life hardened the flesh. Cold can't penetrate me like it does with others. Whether I'm wealthy now or not, that shield of hardship has never gone away.

"What if we're walking into a trap?" Merrick asks. "We don't know what Fiora's involved in. Or who she's involved with other than the little that Braken has told us."

I sigh, rubbing my hands together for warmth. "We'll have to play it by ear, but I trust Braken. If he thinks this is something we should handle, then it is."

Merrick is quiet for a moment, then he asks, "What do you think Braken sees in her? He's hunted her multiple times now."

I noticed that as well. Braken has never fucked the same girl more than once. He doesn't like attachments.

I turn to face Merrick, my eyes meeting his in the dim light. "I don't know."

Merrick nods, his expression serious. "I just don't want to see any of us get fucked, we have a lot to lose."

He's right. We have come a long way from our humble beginnings, and we have worked hard to build The Vault into the successful business it is today. We can't afford to let anything jeopardize that. And that is assuming the Godwins won't murder one of us before that.

As the hours pass, and the cold seeps into my bones, my thoughts drift to darker places. To the days before I met Merrick and the others. I wasn't a good man… hell, I'm not exactly a man of model behavior now. But back when I worked for the Godwins…

I know them. I know exactly what they do to those they believe have wronged them. Whatever reason Fiora fled to Heathens Hollow and hid still remains a mystery, but I know enough about the Godwins. Don't get involved with them. Stay the fuck away.

And yet… where am I now? Idiot.

Merrick and I sit huddled together, our breath forming clouds in the frosty atmosphere, and I feel guilty for putting him in this position. Merrick hasn't come from crime. He has come from money and a shitty family. His parents cut him off completely, no longer willing to tolerate his behavior. Without money or support, Merrick has had to fend for himself. He truly became self-made without illegal activity. Yes, his business partners aren't so squeaky clean, but Merrick is. I hate whenever my dark shadows neared him.

"This is complete bullshit," he finally says. "We aren't going to freeze our balls off for anyone." He stands up and reaches for my hand. "The sun will be up soon, and frankly, if Fiora's not located by a Godwin yet, or an enemy, or whatever else she is running from, a couple hours aren't going to hurt her." He glances back at the cottage. "That fucking shack isn't going to keep her safe anyway. We need to come up with a better idea of keeping watch and protecting her than stalking her as she sleeps."

"We promised?—"

"Fuck that. We'll regroup and come up with a better plan than this," Merrick says, attempting to pull me from the place where I sit.

Merrick isn't one to be the aggressor. He rarely plays the part of dominant in our relationship, but when I see the look in his eye, I can tell I'd be wise to follow his lead.

"All right," I cave, rising beside him. "We'll go home and figure out what our next steps are once Braken returns."