“Fuck! I’m not going to wait any longer to get what’s rightfully mine. Do you understand me?” He didn’t even look at Baltimore, because he didn’t want an answer from him.#p#分页标题#e#
After a moment the idiot spoke anyway. “Maybe now is the time to call in some favors.”
Abel turned his head and narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about now?”
“There are several people still in the palace who will do whatever you ask of them, for fear that you’ll make good on your prior threats if they don’t.”
Taking a few breaths, he contemplated Baltimore’s words and had to admit that occasionally his personal guard did come up with possible solutions, though he wouldn’t praise him for it right now. In his eyes Baltimore didn’t deserve any praise for having screwed up part of his plan by getting himself banned from the palace.
“I’ll think about it,” Abel said instead and turned the key in the ignition. “Make yourself useful and relieve your men from their watch over John’s lover. Stay with her until I contact you, and send the two guards back to the palace. I may need them.”
Baltimore nodded dutifully and reached for the door handle.
“And another thing.”
“Yes, Abel?”
“Have you spoken to the Mississippi clan?”
Baltimore’s mouth twisted into a grin. “They were surprised to get your invitation, but they’re happy to come and talk peace.”
Abel chuckled. “Excellent. Have one of your men contact them anonymously to tell them that Cain is harboring two of their traitors.”
Baltimore’s forehead furrowed. “To what purpose?”
“I hired you for your muscles, not your brain, so leave the thinking to me. Now go. Don’t contact me unless something goes wrong. I can’t have Cain find out that I’m still communicating with you. Is that clear?”
Baltimore grunted his acquiescence and got out of the car. When the door shut, Abel jammed the car into reverse and raced out of the alley, then sped away as he hit the main road.
Only a few more days, and everything would fall into place.
And at the end of it, Abel would be king. Finally.
29
Faye snuck into the secret walkway, not wanting to be seen by Cain’s guards. She’d made sure that Blake was recovering and left him in the care of the witch, Wesley. Having rid herself of the clothes that had gotten dirty in the bayou, she was dressed in only a robe.
Without making a sound, she opened the secret door leading into Cain’s suite and eased it shut behind her. The sound of running water came from the bathroom, the door of which was ajar. On bare feet she approached and pushed it open farther.
Cain stood in the shower with his back to her. Water ran down his muscled back and sculpted ass. His strong thighs and calves were dusted with dark hair, his feet planted wide as he let the spray of the shower run over his head, his hands braced against the tiles.
She couldn’t get enough of looking at his gorgeous naked body. When he’d fought the alligator a short while earlier, she’d watched in fascination how he’d battled the strong animal and defeated it with his bare hands. He’d looked ferocious, like a true warrior, and had reminded her of the night when he’d rescued her.
Seeing him fighting to save his friends had made the longing for him grow. She needed him, wanted him more than anything else in her life. She sighed.
Cain whirled around, his hands instantly forming into claws, but the moment his eyes landed on her, he visibly relaxed. A smile formed on his lips.
“You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that.” He stepped sideways, out of the spray of the shower.
Her gaze wandered over his nearly hairless chest. He was ripped, sporting a true six-pack. Farther down, a nest of dark hair surrounded his shaft. Long and thick, it hung there in a relaxed state. She licked her lips.
“If you don’t want me in here, I can leave,” Faye suggested, but made no motion to turn away. Instead she opened the belt of her robe and let it fall open in the front.
“Well, since you’re here already,” he hedged, “maybe you’d like to join me.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” She pushed the robe off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor with a soft whoosh.
When she raised her eyes to his face, she noticed the hungry look with which his eyes devoured her. Lower, another reaction caught her attention. His cock was rising.
Slowly, without taking her eyes off him, she stepped into the glass enclosed shower and laid her hands on his chest. “When you were fighting that alligator earlier, I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
His arms came around her, pulling her against his body. “Why’s that?”