ROYAL ROCK(138)

“That shit just makes me even more hungry for you.”

I nuzzled myself against him and we fell silent, breathing deeply together and enjoying the post-orgasm buzz. Absently, I began to trace a little image that had been stuck in my mind for the last two days, though I wasn’t sure why. The only thing I was really thinking about was how badly I wanted my stepbrother, and how fucked up that was.

After a minute of making the same image over and over, he grabbed my hand.

“What are you doing?” he asked suddenly.

I looked at him, surprised. “Uh, nothing. Sorry. I can stop if you don’t like that.”

His face softened. “No, that’s not it. What are you drawing?”

I shrugged. “Just some image. A tattoo I saw on one of the guys Dad invited out on his boat.”

He stared at me for a second, something confusing rolling across his face.

“What?” I asked.

“Hold on.”

He climbed out of bed, still completely naked. It was like watching a panther climb down from a tree. He left the room as silent as a shadow, and I felt his absence palpably in the bed. But he was back moments later, holding a piece of paper.

“Was this it?” he asked, showing it to me.

Drawn on the paper was the exact tattoo I had seen on Joshua’s arm, the same tattoo I had been tracing on Nate’s skin.

“Yes, that’s it.”

I looked at him, totally confused.

His expression turned dark. “Do you remember their names?”

I nodded. “The one was Joshua, the one I was talking to. The other one was just called Al.”

“Joshua,” he grunted, looking away.

I sat up, slipping my shirt back on. “What’s going on, Nate?”

He was dressing, too, and a second later his perfect body was covered up by his jeans and his T-shirt.

“Sorry, babe. I got to go.”

“Where are you going? What does that tattoo mean?”

He looked at me with a frown. “Shit, I can’t leave you here alone.”

“Nate,” I said forcefully. “What’s going on?”

He stared at me again for another minute. That was his way; he seemed to always think about something before he said it. Sometimes that meant he was slow to respond, but he seemed to always say exactly what he wanted and what he meant. I envied that quality.

I didn’t think he was going to speak again, and then finally he opened his mouth.

“That tattoo is the symbol of the Broken Hearts, the gang that’s been targeting you.”

I stared at him. “How do you know?”

“Pirates both had it. Guys that attacked earlier probably had it, too, but I didn’t check. The other night I asked some locals about it, and one of them told me about the gang.”

“But Joshua was so nice to me.” I frowned. “I think he was even flirting.”

Nate sat down on the bed and sighed. “He probably was. Frankly, they probably only agreed to go on the trip to get close to you. I’d be willing to bet that he or the other guy took pictures of you so that the other men could easily find you.”

“That’s crazy. What do they want with me?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll talk to your father about it in the morning.”

“He’s not here, remember? He’s in the city.”

“Then I’ll call him.”

“I just don’t understand. Why come after me?”

“Leverage.”

“They think my dad will give them what they want if they have me.”

Fear jolted through me as I realized that I was just a pawn to these people. They didn’t care about me and would probably do anything just to get what they wanted.

“Exactly. And frankly, I’m sure that he would. He seems to really care about you.”

I nodded, thinking it over.

“So now we know who they are,” I said slowly. “What happens next?”

“First, I need to talk to your dad.” He paused, and suddenly an intensity I’d never seen before took over his expression. It surprised me and almost made me physically recoil. “Then, I’m going to hunt the fuckers down and murder them one by one.”

I gaped at him. “Nathan . . .”

He shook his head. “No more neutral observer bullshit, Claire. I’m deep in this thing now. And the best way to finish it is to take the fight right to them.”

“What if I left? Ran away?”

“No. You’re safest here with me.”

I nodded, looking at him for a long time. “Let’s get some rest,” I said softly. “We can’t get in touch with my dad until the morning, anyway.”

He sighed and nodded. “I hate fucking waiting around, but you’re right.”