A Necessary Sin (4 page)

I
recline
in my desk chair and study the photograph I took from Bleu’s flat. It seems fairly current since her appearance is relatively the same, with the exception of her hair length. It’s a few inches shorter in the picture. I’m guessing this was likely taken several months ago.

She’s standing by a business front and the writing on the glass reads Bleu Mac’s Photography. I do an Internet search for her business and its demographics, quickly finding her website and all the social media she uses. By all appearances, she seems to have a thriving business, so it seems unlikely that she’d go along with being plucked from her livelihood to come here and pose as an impostor for any of our rivals.

Unlikely, but not impossible—if they’re paying her enough.

If she was selected by our adversary to invade the brotherhood, they chose poorly. They should’ve gone with a woman willing to go to bed with the brothers. This one doesn’t budge an inch. She has respect for herself and body and expects those around her to as well.

Bleu’s story holds water with me for now. I’ll allow her to continue working at the whisky bar unless she gives me reason to suspect she’s anything other than what she claims to be. I’ll personally monitor her and won’t hesitate to immediately extract the lass if I suspect a problem.

I place a call to Seamus so I can make good on the promise I made to Bleu. “Aye, boss?”

“There’s a new lass working at Leith’s. An American.”

“I know the one you’re talking about.” I’m not surprised he’s already aware of her presence. I would expect my men to talk about a fit lass like Miss MacAllister.

“No one’s to touch her. Anyone who does risks losing his hand.” My men know I don’t put out warnings unless I mean them.

“Got it, boss. Will that be all?”

The further the girls allow the men to go, the better their gratuity is at the end of the evening. I know how these things go. It’s not as though I haven’t seen the girls getting fucked against the building in the back alley to ensure a good tip at the end of the night. “Make sure the brothers understand that she’s hands off but that doesn’t decrease her tips. Encourage them to be … generous.”

“Aye, sir.”

I end the call and examine the photograph of Bleu. I’m not sure why I took it. It has no place in this office, yet I don’t want to put it in the drawer. I want to be able to see it.

I place it on the corner of my desk. It looks strange and feels out of place. I’ve never had a photo of a woman within the four walls of my office—not even one of my own mother—but I admit it’s a beautiful first. I could get used to looking at her.

I
don’t have
to weigh my options of home versus Duncan’s when I leave the firm. I want to see how work is going for the bar’s new wench since my orders to the brothers to keep their hands off.

I sit at the table everyone knows belongs to the trifecta—me, Leith, and Jamie. Lorna notices me and immediately comes over, ready to take my drink order. “What’s it going to be this evening?”

“I want the American to be my barmaid.”

She looks at the station where Bleu loads a tray with drinks. “She already has a full load.”

“It’s not a fucking request, Lorna. But since you were stupid enough to argue instead of doing as I say, you can take all her tables and yours while she only serves me.”

I look at Lorna, daring her to do anything but agree. “As you wish.”

“Damn right. And she still gets her tips. All of them.”

“Of course, Sin. Anything you say.”

Bleu comes to my table after she’s relieved of the tray of drinks. “Lorna says I’m your personal server and she’s going to take all my tables.”

“That’s right.”

“Why?” Her expression is confused. She has no idea I can make anyone in this place do whatever I demand, whenever I like.

“Because it’s what I want.”

She looks around, worried. “Is Leith going to be okay with this? I’m here to serve customers—plural, not singular. I don’t want to make him angry and end up fired. I’m earning good money here.”

“The tips have been generous?”

“Yes, remarkably so.”

Good. The brotherhood listened. I’d expect no less. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“What can I get for you?”

“Whatever you’re having.”

I can see I’ve bewildered her further. And I thoroughly enjoy it. “I can’t have anything. I’m on the clock.”

“I want to buy you a drink, so choose what you’d like and I’ll have the same.”

She smirks. “Whatever you say.”

A few minutes later she returns with two girlie drinks and pushes one my way. “What the hell is that supposed to be?”

She’s grinning. “It’s sex on the beach.”

“You brought me a drink with a slice of pineapple and a fucking flower in it?”

“You told me to choose something for myself and you’d have the same. This is what I wanted.”

“I expected you to have a whisky.”

“I wanted to have sex on the beach. I thought you’d enjoy it as well.” She’s grinning bigger, probably feeling quite clever.

I sample the drink and discover it’s exactly as I expect—sickeningly sweet. It’s definitely a cocktail for a lass, so I push it back in her direction. “You don’t like sex on the beach?”

“I like the actual thing very much, but not this drink.”

“Would something tall, dark, and neat be more preferable?”

“Aye.”

“You’re going to put your trust in me again?” she asks.

“Allow me to be clear about one thing, Bleu.” I motion for her to lean forward and I do the same until we’re nearly nose to nose. “I trust no one until they’ve proven themselves to be trustworthy.”

“I get the distinct feeling we’re no longer talking about choosing a brand of whisky.” If I didn’t know better, I’d think that was a challenge.

She’s a smart one, this lass, so I don’t wish to get into a battle of wits. “I’m the only customer you’re serving. I shouldn’t be thirsty.”

Bleu goes to fetch my drink and Leith slips into one of the chairs next to me. “Lorna told me what you ordered her to do. Why the hell are you claiming Bleu as your own personal barmaid while Lorna takes a double load?”

“Someone has to validate this lass’s motives since you were too careless to do so.”

“You’re going to tell me that monopolizing her as your own is a way of investigating her purpose for being here?”

“Having her one-on-one so we can talk does a far better job than your hands running up and down her arse every time she walks by.”

“Don’t worry, Sin. No one’s putting their hands on her now.”

He acts as though he’s a toddler and I’ve taken away his favorite toy. “She didn’t like the way she was being manhandled.”

“And you know this how?”

“She told me.”

“When?” he asks.

“Last night.”

Leith looks pissed off, which means he’s putting the pieces together. “Then I guess it’s safe to assume you didn’t have this conversation at the bar?”

“No.” As his superior, I don’t owe him any explanation. “I needed to do a sweep, to be sure Bleu is who she claims to be. I was going through her things when she came home and found me inside, so I had to act as though I was there to talk.”

“How very convenient.” He’s right. I could’ve sent my people to do the search but I wanted her to come home and find me there.

“What’s your verdict?” he asks.

She’s clean as far as I can tell. For now. “I believe she’s telling the truth.”

He slaps his hand on the table. “I fucking knew it.”

“You didn’t know shit, Leith. Like always, I’m the one out doing the dirty work.”

“Sure. Keep telling yourself that being alone with Bleu at her flat is dirty work and maybe you’ll eventually believe it.” He’s calling bullshit, and we both know he’s right. I wanted to spend time with her.

Bleu returns with a glass of something much more preferable and Leith leaves without another word. “Something wrong with him?”

“He has business to tend to.”

She places the drink in front of me. “Johnnie Walker. Black Label.”

“Seems you are capable of making good choices.”

“See? I can be trusted.” That still remains to be seen but we’re off to a good start.

“Are you having a better day?”

“Absolutely.” She’s beaming. “Almost all the ass grabbing has stopped.”

Almost? “There’s still men in this bar putting their hands on you?”

“Yeah. There’s one guy who won’t leave me alone.”

I put out an order to not touch Bleu and one of the brothers isn’t heeding my word. That’s outright defiance, something I don’t tolerate. “Lorna looks overwhelmed. Maybe you should take your customers back.”

“Sure.”

I stop her before she gets up from the table. “Do you remember when you told me you wanted to break grabby hands and I told you it wasn’t a good idea?”

“Yeah.” She laughs.

“I’ve changed my mind. Do as you please if he touches you again. Bring him to his knees if you like.”

Bleu returns to work and I stay put to see which brother will reveal himself as her harasser. I don’t have to wait long before a young member, Duff, reaches out to run his hand up the back of her thigh. He’s forearm-deep up her skirt so there’s no way he’s not touching her knickers. Plus some.

She’s bent over serving drinks at the neighboring table when his hand assaults her from behind. Mother. Fucker.

She whirls around and places her hand on top of his, the one reaching up her skirt. Without a moment’s hesitation, she hyperflexes his wrist, pushing his hand down toward his inner forearm. He immediately comes out of his chair onto his knees.

“Aww … fuck! Let go, bitch!” he yells.

Bleu is enraged when her eyes meet mine but she manages to maintain self-control. I can’t say I’d be able to do the same. Kudos to her for that, but I know what she wants to do to the little bastard. She’s questioning me with her expression, looking for my approval. But I can’t give it to her. My brothers will see that as choosing her over them. I’m already flirting with disaster by allowing her this sanction.

I get up from my chair and go to her in case Duff has it on his mind to attack when she releases him. “That’s enough.”

Bleu does as I tell her and steps away before I place my hand on her shoulder. “No one touches her again. No. One.” I announce it loud enough so everyone can hear and there’s no confusion.

I look at Leith across the bar and the fury flashing across his face can’t be mistaken. But he won’t question or defy me. I’m his superior.

“Penance was carried out by the wronged individual,” I announce. “Continue as you were.”

Drinking, talking, and laughing resumes. The escapade with Duff no longer captures the attention of the crowd so I lean over and whisper in Bleu’s ear. “I want you to come with me.”

I lead her to Leith’s office since I figure it would be in poor taste to take her to the room where she found me with Geneen on her knees only a couple of days earlier.

I shut the door and say nothing as I look at her. I’m trying to figure her out. “Did I do something wrong … or misunderstand your directions?”

“No, you were perfect.” I move closer and capture her face with my palms. “Tell me how it made you feel when you brought a man to his knees in pain after he wronged you.”

I feel her trembling beneath my hands. “Powerful.”

“Do you feel guilty about it?”

She shakes her head. “Should I?”

“No. Not at all.”

“How did you feel watching me do it?” she asks.

“I liked it. A whole-fucking-lot.” I step closer and graze my mouth along her jaw until my lips are next to her ear. “A total turn-on.” I lower my hands from her face and skim them down the sides of her body until I reach her perfect arse. I cup both cheeks with my hands and crash her body against mine as I suck her earlobe into my mouth.

“What happened to no one touching me?”

Does that mean she doesn’t want me to touch her?

I release her and straighten to look at her face. “Do you want that to apply to me as well?”

“I want things to be very clear so there’s no misunderstanding between us. I won’t give my body to someone who’d fuck me in a storage room or on a desk in the office of a bar. I want to enjoy the pleasure that goes along with great sex, so I will only sleep with a man who is eager to please me. I must be able to trust that you aren’t in it only for yourself. I’ll demand more of you than any other woman ever has, and for that, I’m completely unapologetic.”

“Allow me to be clear with you. I only do what pleases me and that, Bonny Bleu, is what you can trust.”

I’m still holding her so close, we’re nose to nose. “Then I believe we’ve come to an impasse that will bring neither of us any pleasure.”

There’s a loud knock at the door but our eyes remain locked. “Go the fuck away.”

“Sin,” Leith calls out from the other side of the door. “Your father is here to see you.”

The timing couldn’t be worse.

“Fuck!” I yell loudly. I release her and move away to adjust my cock. “We’ll finish this later.”

She whirls and starts for the door. “Not likely.”

I beg to differ. I don’t believe for a second that either of us will be satisfied with an impasse.

I
only get
a glimpse of my mother’s killer before he and Sinclair leave the bar. I have no recollection of seeing his face when he attacked me. I must have squeezed my eyes shut out of fear but I’ve seen countless surveillance photos of him. His face will be forever etched in my brain, yet I find he differs from the way I’ve visualized him. He appears … human, not at all the monster I’ve come to imagine.

It’s closing time and neither Thane nor Sin have returned. I’d hoped the pair would come back so he might introduce me to his father. I’m anxious to embark this ship of deception that will bring me into the Breckenridges’ inner circle.

I’m walking home when Sinclair’s black sedan eases alongside again. “Get in.”

He doesn’t get to give me orders like I’m one of his Fellowship members. “No.”

“I said get in.”

“And I said no.” It’s my job to teach him how to treat me early on.

“Please, Bleu. I’d really like to take you home.” He’s almost making this too easy.

I look at him for a moment, as if I’m considering his proposition, but I already know I’ll get in. “Okay, but only because you asked nicely.”

I wait for him to lead the conversation but he says nothing—so I don’t, either—during the two-minute drive to my flat. We’re angry at one another. Well, he’s mad and I’m pretending to be.

I’m the first to speak when Sterling parks in the usual spot. “Thanks for the lift.” Sinclair doesn’t reply as he opens his door to get out. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I sit in the car with folded arms like a juvenile. He opens my door and puts his hand inside to help me exit. “I’m coming in with you.”

I take his hand and allow him to help me out. “What makes you think that?”

“We were interrupted earlier, and I’d like to finish where we left off.” Yeah, I’m sure he would.

I stop him at the door, placing my hand on his chest to let him know it’s a no-go. “We want two different things, and I won’t settle for less than everything I deserve.”

“What if I told you I thought about it and changed my mind? What if I want to try it your way?” He’s coming around but not quite there. He needs more time to simmer so he can see things my way. Completely.

“Mmm … no.” I say it like a spoiled brat.

“What do you mean, no?” He sounds like a brat too. I think he’s truly shocked he isn’t getting his way.

“You don’t get to … try me out. That’s not how this works.”

“Then how would you like this to go?”

“You told me earlier that you only do what pleases you, so you’ll need to convince me that you want to make it good for me.”

“You want this to be all about your pleasure.” He laughs.

“Mmm … not completely. Just mostly.”

“My God, woman. You’ve enchanted me. Now I’m desperate to find out what being with you is like.”

Fucking perfect. “You’ll have to work for it. And after you do, I might not agree if I feel you didn’t work hard enough to suit me.” Wow. I sound like a total bitch. I may have taken it too far.

“All right. I agree to your terms.” I cannot believe he just agreed to those stipulations.

What have I gotten myself into? I knew there was a possibility I might have to get into bed with the enemy, but I had no idea I’d be this electrified about doing so.

It makes me feel dirty. But I like it. And I shouldn’t.

T
wo days have passed
since Sin’s been into the bar. Nor has he come by to give me a ride home. I’m afraid playing hard to get isn’t the way to go since it seems to be backfiring.

He’s accustomed to a quick fuck with a willing Fellowship groupie. He never takes anyone to his home or a hotel. I had hoped something fresh and different would catch and hold his attention. I thought a girl from the outside, untainted by the members of The Fellowship, would be the key. I guess I was wrong. Maybe I need to consider another approach.

It’s closing time and I go to the back to get my things. Upon opening my locker, I find a single red rose accompanying a folded note on top of my bag. I sniff the rose and read the message.

Oh, wow. He’s been at the bar and I didn’t even know. Maybe my plan isn’t dead in the water after all.

One problem. I’m supposed to work tomorrow night. Has he taken care of this with Leith?

I stop by the office on my way out. The door is open, Leith sitting at his desk working on the computer. “Hey, boss. You got a minute?”

“Sure.”

I feel sort of weird asking about a change in my schedule when we haven’t discussed it. “Am I still working tomorrow night?”

“No. Sin moved Greer to work in your place.”

“Hmm.” I’m not at all surprised by this, but I make an expression as though I am. “Then I guess you know he’s taking me out.”

“I suspected as much since he’s making changes to your shift.”

“I don’t want it to be a problem.”

“It’s not.” He returns to punching numbers into the computer. “I’m used to Sin getting whatever he wants and saying to hell with everyone else.”

Yup. He’s bitter. Probably best I don’t say anything else. “Umm … I guess I’ll see you Sunday, then.”

“Bleu, Sin is one of my best mates but he can be a son of a bitch. You’re a nice lass and I’d hate to see him hurt you.”

That’s not a possibility but I can’t tell him that. “Thanks, Leith. I’ll be careful.”

I’m not surprised when the black Mercedes creeps alongside me. “Good evening, Miss MacAllister. It would be an honor to take you home, but the real question is would it please you for me to do so?”

This is going to be a fun game. “Your company would please me very much.”

We arrive at my place in a matter of minutes. “May I come in?”

I ponder what an invitation to come inside will mean to him after our last conversation. “Bleu, if I’m to earn the privilege of taking you to bed, I must be given the opportunity to perform your prerequisites for proving myself.”

He’s got me there. I can’t back out or I’ll lose my footing. “Yes. I’d love for you to come in.”

Once inside, I kick off my shoes by the door. “God, that feels so much better.” I pull the tie out of my hair and shake it until it flows freely, my scalp sore from wearing my hair up all day. “I’m gonna change into something more comfortable. Help yourself to a drink. You know where the whisky is.”

I opt for tight black yoga pants and a fitted white T-shirt. It’s one of those outfits that isn’t intentionally sexy, yet it is.

I return to the living room and find that Sin has poured JW for two. Tall and neat, waiting for me on the end table.

I sit in the spot he’s chosen for me since I figure there’s motive, but he completely surprises me when he moves to the floor at my feet. “Hard day, Bonny Bleu?”

It seems I have a nickname. It’s sweet. Score: one, Sinclair.

“It was rough but it’s much improved since you did whatever you did to make the grabby hands leave me alone.”

“No one’s bothering you?” He reaches for my right foot and rubs.

Shit, that feels good. I think I may orgasm.

I shake my head. “Not anymore.”

“I could do a better job if I had lotion or oil. Do you have any?”

“Umm … yeah. I think it’s on the bathroom counter.”

He disappears down the hall, then reappears with my favorite body lotion and sits at my feet again. He squeezes a generous amount into his hand and begins his sweet seduction of gliding his palms over my feet. “You were telling me about your day.”

I can barely concentrate enough to put a coherent sentence together. “It was okay.”

“Just okay?” He sounds a little disappointed.

“It got better once I found a beautiful red rose and invitation for a date tomorrow night. Thank you, by the way. It was a lovely surprise.”

“Is that an affirmative?”

Really? He’s asking after he rearranged my work schedule? “I don’t recall there being a question anywhere on the note. Only instructions to be ready at seven.”

“Please, bear with me, Bleu.” He stops massaging, so I open my eyes. “This is new to me.”

He looks so sweet sitting on the floor … serving me. “I can see that and I also know you’re trying. Please know it doesn’t go unnoticed. I appreciate your effort.”

“Let me try this again because I want to get it right.” He clears his throat. “Will you please join me for dinner tomorrow night and perhaps dancing afterward?”

How in the world can I say no to that? “Yes. I’d be happy to.”

He applies more lotion to his hands and works his way up my calves.

“You haven’t been to the bar in a couple of days.”

“I’ve been working on a really important case.”

“Oh.” I’m glad to know his reason for not coming wasn’t his choice.

“Did you think I wasn’t showing up because I wasn’t interested in seeing you?”

“Maybe.”

“Were you disappointed?”

I think I should throw him a bone. “Maybe.”

“Damn, you don’t give much away.”

He’s right. I have to make myself more vulnerable. “Most men don’t appreciate hearing the word no when it comes to sex, so I thought you were skipping out on me.” I shrug. “I must confess it was a huge letdown to not see you for two days. I wondered if my demands might have been too much for you to handle or maybe I was a turnoff.”

“It’s the opposite for me. I’ve never been more turned on.”

“I’m calling bullshit.” As much as I hate to admit it, that damn Geneen was stunning—until I broke her nose. “I’ve seen the women at the bar. Some are gorgeous and have bodies to die for. There’s no way I’m the biggest turn-on you’ve ever had.”

“Bleu. Those women are beautiful until you know them and understand their motives for being at Duncan’s. Every last one of them wants to be claimed, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Claimed. I remember reading about this in one of the files. The Fellowship has this bizarre practice of laying claim on women they aren’t married to. “I don’t understand what you mean by claimed.”

“You don’t understand because you aren’t like them. And I like that very much.”

“I want you to tell me what it means. Is it a Scottish thing?”

“Another time, Bonny Bleu.”