Chapter 3

three

. . .

Walker

Ten years earlier

I snagged a glass of champagne off a nearby server's tray, wincing as I gulped it down, eyes locked on the pretty blonde who'd stolen my heart. River stood near the patio doors, all smiles as she celebrated her birthday. Her mama adjusted the skirt of River's dress, then cupped her cheek, smiling with unmistakable pride as she pulled my ladybug in for an embrace. I'd be lying if I said a lick of jealousy didn't go through me at the sight. I missed my mama. So damn much.

Elsie was one of the kindest souls I'd ever known, and watching the two of them together right now, it was clear where River got her heart. Elsie murmured something in River's ear, and she nodded before breaking away and heading toward Dad's office. I couldn't help but watch her go. And apparently, neither could my brother.

Cross was leaning against the banister at the base of the stairs, half-listening to Jackson with a full bottle of whiskey in his hand. He stared after her with a strange intensity in his eyes I'd never noticed before. I'd seen that hunger often enough in hers, usually when she was lusting after him. But never the other way around. Until tonight. When she was legally old enough for him to ruin her.

Fuck.

Tonight had not gone to plan. Not at all.

I was supposed to be balls deep in Daisy Stewart, fucking my way out of love with my best friend. Instead, I caught one look at River in that white party dress, and my dick forgot how to function for anyone else. Truth be told, that had been the case since I realized I was head over heels for her.

Goddammit. All I wanted was to move on from this tortured heart character I felt like I'd been typecast as. Whoever was writing my storyline really needed to give me a damn break. Weren't you supposed to be the main character in your own life? So why was I stuck playing second fiddle to my older brother?

Because everyone knows Cross is the better one. He's smarter, more shrewd, better looking. You're the one they throw away.

My inner voice knew just where to land the blows.

Leaving the empty glass on the first available surface, I took a fortifying breath. If I couldn't fall for another girl, maybe I could distract myself with other things. Like diving headfirst into the family business rather than what I had been doing, dipping my toe in here and there. I could prove my worth to Senior. Make him see I was just as useful as Cross, show him he could be proud I had his name.

Because all your prior attempts were so successful.

I groaned, wishing I could beat the shit out of my inner saboteur. Sometimes those intrusive thoughts got so loud I forgot they weren't real. That it was my insecurity and a lifetime of feeling like I was destined to be second-best coming back to haunt me.

Maybe tonight would be a good night to try and clear the air with my dad. Let him know I was ready for more responsibility. That I was all in, more than just a Cross boy in name. Perhaps he'd just been waiting for me to take a little initiative all this time. Sounded like something he'd do. Set me up to disappoint him.

Not this time.

Daisy sidled up next to me, offering a fresh drink and a sweet smile as she did. I barely noticed her, going through the motions as she talked at me. I nodded at the right times, made agreeable noises, drank, and smiled. But I wasn't really present in the moment.

The cacophony of this party swirled around me—chatter, music, laughter, the clink of glasses, and, of course, River's presence. She owned so much of me it was ridiculous.

Speaking of, I noticed her the second she returned to the party. She was beelining her way through the foyer, stopping only long enough to grab a glass of champagne from the same server as I had. She finished it quickly, then glanced around, her eyes never straying far enough to spot me, before she made her escape out the front. I couldn't tell if she was searching for someone or hiding from them. I'd have to go ask her just as soon as I talked to my father.

"Excuse me, darlin'," I said, interrupting Daisy mid-sentence.

I didn't bother waiting for a reply. It wasn't like I was interested in anything she had to say to me anyway. That train left the station the second I came to terms with the fact my heart would always belong to another woman. And Daisy deserved better than a guy who was pining for someone else.

I strode down the hall toward my father's office, knowing he'd be holding court there. He was rarely anywhere else during these sorts of events. They were usually just excuses to lubricate potential business partners before making them an offer they couldn't refuse. Senior didn't have much of a stomach for social events after my mother died. From what Cross had told me, she was the one who shined in those situations; everyone else had been drawn into her orbit. My father included.

Raising my hand to knock, I stopped at the sound of voices coming from the cracked door. Casey and Dad were deep in conversation, and I almost turned around until I heard River's name.

"She won't understand when she finds out," Casey said.

"Her safety is worth her anger, don't you think?"

"And Cross?"

"He understands it's a business arrangement. He's on board."

"You told him?"

"Not in so many words, but he's a good boy, and he trusts me. He'll do what he's told."

I couldn't quite see them, but Casey's sigh was long and heavy. "I just hope we're doing the right thing."

"A merger like this sets her up for life. She won't ever want for anything. Besides... you know what's on the line."

"You're right." Another drawn-out sigh. "This is the only way to protect my family."

"Debts are a deadly business, Casey. A man must always ensure his ledger is clear."

There was a rustling sound, like papers moving around. "Thank you, D. I'll never be able to repay you." Something about the tone of Casey's voice made me think this was far more than a simple business transaction.

"You already did. No need to speak of it ever again. Just make sure this gets to Volkov, and maybe next time you get the urge to play poker, we fly to Vegas instead."

Casey laughed, but it was a hollow sound. "I think my gambling days are over."

"Even better. Now let's get out there and enjoy your daughter's party. I've got a couple of cigars with our names on them."

Adrenaline spiked in my veins. I shouldn't have fucking been there. I'd heard way more than enough to know that. Before the two of them caught me eavesdropping, I turned on my heel and walked away as fast as I could.

I'd talk to my father later.

Tomorrow, maybe.

Yeah, tomorrow was good.

Present day

The memory faded, leaving me speechless on the couch beside my brother. "It makes so much sense now," I murmured.

"What does?" Cross asked, expression stormy, voice hollow.

"It wasn't Dad. It was Casey."

That seemed to get his attention. Cross blinked, his gaze sharpening on me. "Explain."

"Casey was in trouble with the Russians. Gambling debt, I think. I don't have all the details, but if I had to bet, Dad helped him pay it off."

"How do you fucking know that?"

"I overheard them the night of the party. It was buried so far in my memories I'd forgotten until you mentioned it. Casey was talking about keeping her safe and thanking Dad for helping him. I thought they were talking about a business merger, but I think... Jesus, I think they were talking about your marriage. If Volkov wanted to get his hands on River, maybe as payment for Casey's debt, then this is way more personal than we thought. If they have her, Cross, there's no telling what they're gonna do."

Chills erupted across my body, a cold, clammy sweat starting at the base of my spine and creeping along my skin. Panic followed, clutching my lungs and making it hard to breathe. I didn't want to remember what they did to me, but knowing Volkov likely had River, I couldn't keep those thoughts from intruding. Then another detail swam up, pulling me back to the present.

"Wait, but that was ten years ago. Luca was still running things back then. Why would he care about River at all? There was no reason for her to even be on his radar."

Cross's expression was grave as his eyes bore into mine. "There was only one thing Luca cared about more than his money, and that was his nephew. He was his heir, after all."

It all clicked into place, and my stomach rolled. "The sonofabitch wanted her for him."

Cross nodded. "Which is why Dom's got his sights set on her now. Fucker's probably convinced she belongs to him. Fuck!" he shouted, banging his hand down on the coffee table and making the empty glasses rattle from the force. "That's what that asshole meant when he asked if I was sure she was mine."

"We have to find her, Cross. The things they did..." I couldn't get the rest out. He'd seen the truth with his own eyes when those assholes dumped me at the gate. Every inch of the destruction they'd done to my body. No one but him and the doctor knew how close I'd been to dying. And maybe Bishop. He knew a lot more about what had happened to me than anyone else, seeing as how he'd suffered the same.

"I'm not fucking resting until she's back here where she belongs. She's ours, Walker. No one steals from us and gets away with it."

It was the first time since she'd been taken he'd referred to her as ours, and I believed him. Piece by piece, I'd been watching him fall into himself, likely trying to convince himself to play the martyr. To let her go, give her an out because he felt guilty he'd gotten her into this.

But now he knew that it wasn't his fault at all. It was her father's.

And that gave him an excuse to fight.

Good. I needed my brother all in. I needed the man that made grown men piss themselves in fear when he walked into a room.

I had a feeling it was the only way we'd ever get her back.