“How’s Vanessa?” Crewe asked, probably to make conversation while we waited.
Crow’s good mood immediately disappeared. He didn’t turn angry, just dark and inhospitable. His green eyes looked darker, and his body stiffened noticeably with unease. Like a wild animal that had been provoked, his nostrils flared. “You know I’m in the middle of a war. And she’s the leverage.”
“What does that mean?” Crewe asked quietly.
I listened intently, knowing whatever Crow had to say was important.
“Bones took her. I’ve offered every asset I possess, and he still won’t return her.” He stared at the wall without blinking, his thoughts elsewhere. His body was absolutely still because he wasn’t breathing. “I’ll get her back…somehow.”
I bowed my head so I could hide my face. I knew exactly who Bones was. I’d seen him in the flesh, seen the despicable look in his eyes. He was pure evil, disgusting and satanic. I tried not to shiver at the thought of what my life could have been. Whoever Vanessa was, she had the fate that I was almost destined for.
“I’m sorry.” Crewe never apologized, and he seemed to mean it.
I wondered who Vanessa was. Was it Crow’s wife? A girlfriend?
“Your sister doesn’t deserve that.” Crewe answered my unspoken question.
His sister? That was terrible.
Crow ran his hands through his hair, cringing like he was trying not to think about it. “It’s been rough on both of us…can’t sleep.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the floor.
I felt bad for being there, like I was intruding on something very personal.
I wondered if Crewe was going to mention that he’d recently seen Bones. It didn’t seem like Crewe and Bones were friends, but they obviously had a working relationship. It made me wonder if Bones took Vanessa because he couldn’t have me.
Was I directly responsible for this?
“Have you seen Bones lately?” Crow asked the question without warning, his eyes moving up to meet Crewe’s gaze.
I wondered what Crewe would say.
“A few months ago.”
Crow continued to stare at him with a poker face. “Were you doing business with him?”
“Sorta,” Crewe answered before he glanced at me. “I was going to sell London to him…until I changed my mind.”
Crow’s eyes shifted to mine. “You’re a lucky girl.”
Sadly, I actually did feel lucky. I would much rather be Crewe’s prisoner than anyone else’s in the world. He was honest and transparent. He didn’t get off on strangling me or cutting me. Plus, he was handsome and charming. The more I got to know him, the more I understood his personality. He’d been betrayed more than once—so he was cold. I wasn’t justifying his actions. I just understood them.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Crewe asked.
“I’m having a hard time tracking him down, getting him with his guard down,” Crow answered. “When he leaves his premises, he rarely takes Vanessa with him. I’d have to get the two of them alone somewhere.”
“What are you asking me?” Crewe asked.
“Is there a way you could get him somewhere alone with Vanessa?” Crow asked. “I’d be eternally grateful. Your purchase would be on the house, as a thank you.”
I wasn’t sure if Crewe would go for it. He wasn’t the most charitable person in the world. “I don’t want to get on his bad side. He’s a good business partner and ally.”
Crow nodded. “I’ve been feuding with him my whole life. He’s not an enemy you want to have.”
“Though, I’m willing to try something to make this work for you,” Crewe said. “But I can’t look guilty.”
Crow nodded. “I understand.”
“I’m celebrating the grand opening of my new distillery in Scotland. I can invite him. It wouldn’t be suspicious.” Crewe stood with his hands in his pockets, standing the same height as Crow. Both men were dark and mysterious, dangerously handsome.
I didn’t want to be in the same room as that man—ever again. He made my blood turn cold and freeze over. Even though I belonged to Crewe, I didn’t want to breathe the same air as that fiend, Bones. Knowing what he was doing to that innocent woman made me want to bash a goblet over his head.
“That could work,” Crow said. “But I’m not sure if he’ll bring her.”
“I could suggest he bring a date,” Crewe said. “But that’s the most I can do.”
Crow considered it before he nodded. “I’ll take it. Thank you.” He extended his hand. “Truly.”
Crewe took it. “I had nothing to do with this, alright?”
Crow nodded. “Understood. Your weapons are on the house.”
“That’s not necessary,” Crewe said. “If everything goes to plan, you can reimburse me. I can’t guarantee he’ll even go.”
“That’s true,” Crow said. “We’ll see what happens.”
I didn’t say anything on the drive home because I was at a loss for words. I had complained about my captivity with Crewe, but it could have been much worse. Whether he had a change of heart or truly thought keeping me with him was a better revenge, I was lucky I ended up in the passenger seat of his car.
Poor Vanessa.
Crewe broke the silence after a few minutes. “You alright?”
“No.” I rested my hands in my lap and looked out the window.
“What’s on your mind?”
“You already know.” Ariel didn’t care that I was a prisoner, but I cared that Vanessa had taken my place. No woman should be subjected to that kind of torture. My imprisonment wasn’t fair either, but I could handle it.
“It’s unfortunate.” That was all he said about it, and he didn’t seem to care.
“That was nice of you to help Crow.” Maybe Crewe had a heart inside that tin chest after all.
“I’m sympathetic when it comes to family matters.”
I guessed that shouldn’t have been surprising after what happened to his own family. He was the last member of his line. Until he grew his own family, he would be alone.
“You’re still putting your neck on the line. I respect you for it.” Respect was something I hardly gave him, not when he manipulated me by threatening my brother. But his offer of help gave me hope that he was a good man after all, if he forgot about all his bitterness.
He kept his eyes on the road, his hand on the wheel.
I shouldn’t have respected a response from that, but I got my hopes up anyway. “If Bones had taken me, do you think Vanessa would have been left alone?”
“I have no idea. He took her out of vengeance, so having you may not have made a difference. He could have gotten bored of you right away and killed you. Who knows?” He said it nonchalantly like my murder had no significance.
“Wow…he really is evil.”
“They call him Bones for a reason.”
I didn’t want to know why, so I didn’t ask. I looked out the window again. “When is this party?”
“Two weeks from Saturday.”
I hoped he wasn’t going to take me as his date. He took me the Holyrood thing, which was pretty high-profile. But maybe he would take his French diplomat or whatever. The idea of him taking someone else bothered me, but I refused to admit it—especially to myself. “In Scotland?”