Their Kitten: Chapter 4

It’s always hard to see Tristan worked up like this.

I watch him from my desk as he angrily moves things around, his footsteps heavier than usual. I can understand his anger. There’s a lot weighing on knowing this woman’s identity, and I know he’ll blame himself if things go south. Seeing how worked up he is only increases my concerns. If what we did gets out, there’s no way we’ll be able to explain why we purchased a woman’s virginity without sounding like sexual deviants or some kind of predators.

Things would be different if it were just our names on the line, but it’s Dad’s name, too. Tristan and I both saw how hard he worked to build Steele Realty to the multi-dollar business that it is. It would crush him to know his sons are running around being reckless, as if we don’t have an empire to protect. I can already see his disappointed expression, and it’s one I want to avoid at all costs. Our dad is our idol, and I’ll never be able to forgive myself if all his hard work goes down the drain over Tristan and me getting our dicks wet in virgin pussy.

I try to focus on my work, but I can’t concentrate on anything but the woman who could potentially ruin our lives. The look she gave us when Tristan said my name…

I shake my head. There was something in her gaze that was familiar, as if we know her too… yet she still feels like a stranger. It’s obviously not anyone that we work with, as the hair color and body type don’t match anyone in the office. But the fact she knows my nickname—one that only really close friends or family use—means she knows us on a much more personal level than we realize.

Yeah, we definitely have to figure out who the fuck she is.

“Why aren’t the contracts on my desk if they were delivered an hour ago?” I hear Tristan bellow. I look up to see him inches away from the cowering intern, who looks to be on the verge of tears. “If you’re going to be a goddamn idiot, then there’s no place for you here.”

I push to my feet with a deep sigh as I make my way out of my office. His heated eyes fall on me, and the intern scurries away in the opposite direction. I watch her retreat before redirecting my hard gaze back to my brother.

“Could you be any more obvious?” I hiss under my breath. “We’re supposed to be acting normal, as if nothing’s wrong. You acting like a goddamn basket case is going to raise more red flags than we need right now.”

“I don’t see how you can be so fucking calm,” he snaps back, but at least he’s smart enough not to scream again.

“It’s not like there’s anything else to do but stay calm.” I fold my arms across my chest. “All we can do is wait and see what Lucian says. Yelling at an intern is not going to get you closer to finding out the information you want.”

Tristan’s gaze moves around the open space of the lobby, noticing multiple pairs of uneasy eyes on him. He exhales deeply and moves past me to head toward our offices. I follow behind him, closing the door once we’re both inside.

“I can’t stop thinking about her.” Tristan plops down on a chair across from my desk and puts his face in his hands. “That look in her eyes is literally haunting me. It’s like I know her and don’t know her at the same time, and it’s pissing me off that I can’t think of her name.”

I nod empathetically.

“Same.” I sit behind my desk and spin around in the chair for a few moments as I think. “I know this is serious and all, but you’re gonna have to keep a level head. The last thing we need is for it to get back to Dad that you’re making interns cry and working up the staff. He doesn’t have his sights on us, so let’s keep it that way.”

“I can’t rest until I know who she is,” he states, his voice firm.

“And we’ll find that out soon enough, but you need to fucking relax.” I give him a pointed look. “Seriously.”

He stares at me for a long moment before huffing in frustration.

“Whatever. I just know Lucian better have news soon, or I’m going to go up there and extract the information from him by any means necessary.”

I chuckle. “Violence is never the answer, Tristan. It’s just going to get you banned from the club.”

“That’s the last of my concerns.” He stands to his feet. “If news gets out about us being tied to a sex club and paying to sleep with virgins, we’ll be banned from inheriting our birthright—this company. Or did you forget that?”

“Of course I didn’t forget,” I say, rolling my eyes. I swear he can be so fucking dramatic. “But you don’t need to go creating new problems when we already have a big enough one to deal with. Just give it time. He’ll get back to us soon en⁠—”

Our conversation grinds to a halt when my phone rings on my desk, Lucian’s name appearing on the screen. I don’t even have time to pick it up before Tristan snatches it up and barks an answer, putting the call on speaker.

“What did she say?”

“Oh good, you’re both together,” he says. “I tried calling you first, Tristan, but it went straight to voicemail.”

“Get to the point, Lucian,” Tristan orders.

“Will you relax?” I say under my breath, taking my phone from his hand. “Have you talked to her yet, Lucian?”

“I have, yes,” he says. “It took a hell of a lot of convincing, but she says she agrees to your terms.”

The tension that tightened Tristan’s body to a statue moments ago seems to melt from him instantly. His shoulders sag with relief. His eyes are no longer hard and angry, but filled with determination and mischief. He grins at me and sits back in his seat, satisfied that he got what he wanted.

Honestly? I’m surprised she agreed so quickly.

After the way she freaked out on us, I was sure she wouldn’t come anywhere near us, especially if we took her down to Hell. I guess Tristan was right.

Desperation will make anyone do anything if the reward is enticing enough.

“Okay, great,” I say.

“She’s still here at the club. If you’re going to do this, it needs to be now,” he says. He doesn’t have to tell Tristan twice, as he’s already on his feet and walking out of my office. I keep my eyes on him until he disappears into his office before returning to my conversation.

“We’re on our way. Thanks, Lucian,” I say.

I hang up and shut down my computers for the day, leaving a note with my assistant who’s out to lunch. Excited energy hums through my blood as I grab my phone and keys before meeting Tristan in the lobby. It’s like we can’t get to the club fast enough, my curiosity threatening to suffocate me.

I can’t wait to see the vixen that’s hiding behind the mask.

I grin as I approach Tristan. He’s vibrating with energy too, unable to stay still as he paces back and forth in the open space. “Somebody’s excited,” I tease, only to be met with a grin.

“Told you she’d agree,” he replies. “If she’s desperate enough to sell her virginity to two strangers, then she’ll do anything to recoup the money. It’s not like she can get her virginity back.”

“You’re right,” I agree with a nod. “Well, we’d better head⁠—”

“Ah! Just the two I wanted to see!” a familiar, joyful voice exclaims. Our dad walks in with a huge smile on his face. Tristan and I exchange a glance before focusing back on our father.

“Dad! What are you doing here?” Tristan asks with a raised brow.

“What, is it a crime to visit my sons from time to time?” Dad puts his arms around both of our shoulders. “I tell ya, I’m retired for all of five seconds and my sons want to kick me out of the company I built!”

I smile. “You know we’re always happy to see you, Dad. Just surprised, is all.”

He notices the keys in Tristan’s hand and frowns. “You boys leaving?”

Tristan and I exchange a look before I nod. “Oh yeah,” I start. “We have a meeting with a land developer about a condo site. Trying to get there before Jordan & Sons Realty tries to sink their claws into the listing.”

Dad scoffs. “Those pricks. I swear Malachi and his asshole sons are all snakes.” He waves us off. “Well, go on. I don’t want to hold you up. I only wanted to stop by and say hi to everyone.”

“We’ll let you know how it goes,” Tristan says as he grabs my arm and pulls me toward the door before Dad can say anything else. Once we’re in the parking lot, he lets go of me and pushes out a stream of breath. “Nice save.”

“You know how he feels about the Jordan Family,” I say with a chuckle. “Anything regarding one-upping them, he’s all for it.”

“And I’m ready to one-up this bitch at the club,” Tristan says, pivoting the conversation back to the real topic at hand.

We both get into his car, and Tristan wastes no time getting us on the road to our destination. His entire mood has changed from tense to excited, and I’m too stressed to ask what the hell is bouncing around in his mind right now.

“So what are we doing?” I ask him. “We’re just getting her to take her mask off?”

He looks at me as if I’ve grown another head. “You think I’m paying her nearly a half million just to see her face?” He laughs, but the sound isn’t warm or friendly. It’s cold, menacing, and evil. “We’re going to find out who she is and then we’re going to get our money’s worth.”

The smile he gives me chills me to the bone. If I’m being honest, it actually makes me a little nervous for the woman.

“And I’m going to make sure she knows how to keep her mouth shut when our two hours with her are up.”

I shift nervously in my seat. “We’re not killing her, are we?” I ask with a raised brow.

I’ve only been in Hell a handful of times with Tristan, and it’s like he’s a different person down there. There’s always been a kind of darkness that lurks within him, one that knows no bounds or rules when he’s in the most ruthless part of the club. I was already a little uneasy when he mentioned wanting to take the stranger to Hell, because I’m not willing to kill a woman just to figure out who the hell she is.

“Kill the bitch? Nah.” His tone isn’t very convincing. “But I’m definitely going to get four hundred thousand dollars’ worth of use out of her.” A sinister smile settles on his lips as his hand grips the steering wheel tighter. “Today’s a great day to go to Hell.”

While it will be a victory for us, I can’t begin to think of the torture Tristan will put the woman through. I settle in my seat and try to relax. I can only hope the lady is a praying woman, because she’s going to need to call on whatever God she worships to survive what Tristan has in store.

Not even the devil can tame Tristan once he’s in Hell.