Chapter 31

THIRTY-ONE

MATEO

W e returned to the Westchester estate in the early hours of the morning. It had been a night of orchestrated chaos, and I reveled in the thrill of it all.

Cole, Lennox, and I stepped into the living room to find Remington and Cohen already there, glasses of scotch in hand. The flickering fire cast dancing light across the room as we joined them, sinking into the plush sofas with contented sighs.

"Looks like we missed the party," I remarked with a grin, nodding toward their drinks.

Remington chuckled, raising his glass in acknowledgment. "You could say that," he replied, taking a sip of his scotch while petting Loki next to him.

Cohen nodded in agreement, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "We thought we better celebrate," he admitted with quiet pride.

We settled into a comfortable silence, each lost in our own thoughts as we reflected on the night's events. The successful heist, the adrenaline-fueled chase—with just a bit more blood, it would have been glorious.

"So, what's the plan now?" Lennox spoke up, his voice calm.

Cole leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he addressed the group. "We've got all of Massimo's cash tucked away where he will never find it," he explained, his expression serious. "Now we can start working our way down that list in his little black book."

Cohen nodded, his gaze focused and intense. "The girls started on that as soon as your teams were successful," he added.

"Speaking of my sister," Remington interjected, his voice carrying his amusement, "Mateo told me that you lot have made plans to be in some sort of harem with her."

Cole shot me a pointed look, a silent reminder that we hadn't yet discussed our intentions with Salem.

"A reverse harem, it's apparently called," Cole admitted, swirling his drink thoughtfully. "But we haven't talked to Salem about it yet."

I waved off his concern with a confident nod. "Leave it to me," I assured them, a smirk tugging at my lips. "I've got a plan."

Cohen let out a scoff, his skepticism evident. "Oh, here we go," he muttered, earning a chuckle from the rest of us.

Lennox leaned forward, his brows furrowing in thought. "Shouldn't it be a group discussion?" he interrupted, voicing his concern.

But Cole waved a dismissive hand, his expression resolute. "If Mateo thinks he can convince her, then I say go for it," he declared, delight evident in his voice. "As long as we have Salem, I don't care who delivers the message."

"Brilliant! So, with that decided, where is my little murderess?" I voiced the question that had been lingering in my mind. The room fell silent as everyone exchanged glances, a hint of vulnerability in their eyes. They weren't sure if our dark-haired beauty would agree, but I didn't intend to give her much of a choice.

Cohen cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "The girls went to bed about half an hour ago," he replied.

"Perfect," I muttered, a torrent of excitement coursing through me. Without another word, I pushed myself up from the couch and stalked off toward Salem's bedroom.

As I made my way down the tiled hallway, my mind whirled with all the downright filthy ways I would reward her as soon as she agreed to be ours. Ears would bleed with the sound of her screams.

I reached her bedroom door and paused, my hand hovering over the doorknob. A small sliver of doubt crept into my mind, but I quickly dismissed that pesky thought and opened the door to step inside.

The room was bathed in soft moonlight, casting shadows across the walls. Salem lay asleep on the bed, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. She looked peaceful, her features relaxed in slumber, with her beautiful scar shining in the moonlight.

A surge of affection washed over me as I watched her sleep. A warmth spread through my chest as I moved closer, drawn to her like a magnet.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and reached out to gently brush a lock of hair away from her face. She stirred slightly at my touch, her eyelids fluttering open.

"Hi, little wolf" I whispered softly, my voice barely more than a breath. Salem blinked up at me, confusion flickering in her eyes before recognition dawned.

"Hey," she replied, her voice soft and sleep laden. "You're all back?"

I nodded, calm washing over me as I took in her serene demeanor. "Yeah, they're all having a drink in celebration," I confirmed, a faint smile playing on my lips.

Salem chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Why aren't you out there? Did you miss me?".

I shrugged nonchalantly, trying to tease her. "Maybe a little," I admitted, unable to hide the obsession in my voice.

Her smile widened. She then shifted, making room for me beside her. "Come on," she said, patting the space next to her on the bed. ″Join me?"

I nodded, peace settling over me as I crawled under the covers. Salem pulled the blankets up over us, and in that moment, there was nowhere else I'd rather be.

We lay in silence, the only sound the soft rustle of sheets as Salem shifted beside me.

"I'm sorry for waking you," I finally spoke up. "I just needed to see you."

Salem shook her head. "It's okay," she replied, squeezing my hand gently. "I'm glad you're here."

I smiled as I reached out to pull her into my arms. "You know," I whispered into her ear as I held her close, "I think we need to buy you a bigger bed."

Salem pulled back slightly, confusion furrowing her brow. "Why?" she asked.

I grinned at her. "Because we won't all fit in this one." Salem's lips quirked up in a smile as she shook her head in amusement.

"What are you talking about?" she teased with laughter in her voice.

My gaze locked with hers. This beautiful creature of darkness was my perfect match. "You've captured my black soul, Salem. With you, I am complete," I said earnestly and emotionally.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "I love you, Salem. And I think you love me?" I asked tentatively.

Salem's cheeks flushed pink, and she turned her face away, embarrassed. I gently turned her chin to face me, wanting to see her reaction. When our eyes met, she nodded hesitantly, her voice barely a whisper. "I tried not to, but yes."

Relief flooded over me, and I pulled her close, holding her tightly against me. "You know you're mine, right?" I asked, needing to hear her answer.

Salem's gaze searched mine. Then, with a small nod, she whispered, "Yes."

"And you're theirs too?" I continued, smiling wide as I waited for her response.

"Yes,"

"Good," I said, relieved. "We're all on the same page then."

With that, I pulled Salem close once more and fucked her until the sky turned light.