Chapter Seven - Agreements

I don't know where I am.

To recap the last few hours, nobody mentioned where we were going once we got on the jet. We were driven straight to the plane's door and checked by security before boarding. The captain didn't do his usual announcement and all window blinds were shut until we were up in the air. I was blindfolded before we landed and all throughout the journey to the safe house.

I sit on a queen-size bed in the middle of a dreary looking room. Staring out the window at absolutely nothing but land for miles and miles I fall back with a frustrated groan. Dad and Cameron are going to kill me, I think to myself. I never provided an update as usual so they probably know that something is wrong. But then again I'm easily replaceable so I shouldn't have high hopes for my father being worried, I think to myself bitterly. A knock on the door however makes me sit up and tell whoever is outside to come in.

Reece holds the door half open as she surveys the room before her eyes settle on me. "Griffin's calling a meeting and he wants you there."

"Alright." I nod before following her with a barely audible sigh.

I immediately notice that Judah's not present when I walk into the spare room they've setup as an office. Realizing that this will be more of an interrogation I school my features into one of boredom as I take a seat at the table. Griffin narrows his eyes at me and I arch a brow challengingly in response. He grunts before looking down at the papers and I roll my eyes. It's clear as day that we're not fans of each other.

"Since you're not the heir to the Quintana empire we'd like to offer you a deal." He starts and I cross my arms as I relax in the chair.

"And what happens if I don't take it?"

"We kill you and send you back to your dad in a body bag." He replies gruffly.

"Wouldn't be the best of moves since you have a client to protect." I smirk before I curl my index finger as a gesture for him to slide the contract over.

Of course, Griffin ignores my comment. "We'll be letting you go but you'll be providing us with intel so we can take down Quintana and keep Judah safe at the same time."

I don't find any red flags or loopholes in the contract so I set it down on the table. "I'll sign on one condition."

"You're not in any position to be making demands." He crosses his arms with thinned lips.

"Fine. Go ahead and kill me, see where that gets you." The chair screeches back as I stand.

"Sit. Down." He grits out which I ignore and wave at him to continue. "What do you want?"

"My brother, Cameron, is not to be harmed in any way as well as the people who assist us with this plan. Even after the contract ends you don't bother me or him and that includes no eyes or ears on us. Is that understood?" I smirk when his jaw clenches knowing that I caught him out.

"Fine...you have a deal."

"Put it in the contract and then I'll sign. Don't try to pull shit on me either. I know how to spot loopholes." I retort before walking out.

I make my way back to my room and just as I've reached it Judah steps out of his. Turns out his room is opposite of mine which is quite stupid on the team's part. Our eyes lock and my cheeks colour with embarrassment when I instantly remember what his sinful mouth and fingers did to me not too long ago. His gaze roams my body with a heat so intense that it has me squirming.

I hesitate before quickly stepping inside my room but when I go to shut the door he forces himself in. My eyes widen as he closes the door softly before pushing me up against it. My hands instantly slam into his chest to shove him off me but he captures them in a tight grip and pins them above my head.

"You know...I never really got to be buried inside of you that night." He drawls and my breath hitches. He steps closer to the point where his body is pressing against mine deliciously. "Still up for it my little dove or too...sensitive?"

I jerk and shove him back with a squeal when he cups me between my legs with his free hand. He lets my hands go and grips the back of my neck to tilt it back. I let loose a breathy moan as his fingers stroke my core teasingly. He peppers kisses up the curve of my neck before they meet my jawline.

"J-Judah...stop." I whisper once I start coming back to my senses. "Get off."

"Your actions tell me a different tale love." He chuckles huskily and I shiver when he places a hot, open-mouthed kiss at the base of my neck. "Once I'm home inside you and your body has memorized me you won't be so sensitive anymore. I promise you that."

I yelp when his hand slips under my shirt before successfully pushing him off me. He grins lazily as we stand there staring at each other. I inhale deeply before opening the door and gesturing for him to leave. My expectant gaze transforms into a glare when he just laughs before taking a seat at the edge of my bed.

Slamming the door shut in annoyance I cross my arms. "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk Macy baby." He smiles innocently as he holds his hands up in a surrendering motion. "How's the leg?"

"Fine. How are your...wounds?" I wince and bite my lip as I look at the floor like it's the most interesting thing in the world.

"Could be way better." He chuckles and I shake my head in disbelief over how casual he is.

My shoulders slump as guilt creeps in again. I nod in response but don't look up like the coward I am. Sometimes I wonder how many kills it'll take for me to not feel remorseful. I hear him stand and walk over to me. He tilts my chin up so that I meet his eyes and yet again they soften when they meet mine.

"I'm sorry."

"Finally!" He smirks as he twirls a piece of my hair around his finger. "I was starting to think you'd never apologize for so ruthlessly shooting an already injured man!"

"I didn't know you were injured!" I glare at him but a smile quirks the corners of my lips.

"Alright I won't blame you. You were drooling all over me to notice that day to be honest." He shrugs and I narrow my eyes at him playfully.

"Where did you get shot anyway? It's not visible to me at least."

"My chest. Just a little bit away from my heart." He shrugs and as if he can't help himself, his hands take hold of my hips to pull me closer.

"Did...did my dad –"

"No." He smiles boyishly and I sigh in relief. "It was one of Santos' men who was also my sister-in-law's ex."

"What happened? Why did you get shot?"

His eyes dance with amusement before he places a quick kiss to my cheek. "Curious are we?"

"Sorry, you don't have to tell me. I haven't exactly been the most honest either." I blush instantly, both from the kiss and embarrassment, and look away. "In fact, I don't know why you're being so nice to me. I literally tried to kill you. How can you be so casual about it?"

"We're stuck together for a while. Might as well be friends right?"

"It's been quite evident that you don't want to be just friends." I smirk and he throws his head back as he laughs.

"Touché. I think I'd lose my mind if you didn't want to be more than that."

"What if I don't?"

"Do you want me to demonstrate to you that you're lying? It would be my pleasure so I don't mind –"

"I'm alright, thanks!" I shut him up with a grin.

"Have you eaten yet?" He asks and I shake my head in response. "Then how about I make you dinner and tell you all about the day I was a hero?"

That makes me laugh softly and I nod. "Sure, I'd like that."

And so, he makes us some food before we sit in the conservatory with the safety of tinted windows hiding us from the world. I listen as he recalls the day he flew to Mexico to help his sister-in-law, Charlotte, escape from her ex.

"She didn't need my help until the end." He smiles wryly as he twirls the pasta around his fork. "I knew I was going to get shot. I knew Charlie was going to get out of the car and Liam's attention would be back on her so I took the opportunity to keep it on me...the meddling piece in the puzzle."

"You...you willingly almost got killed for her?" I breathe in surprise.

"I'd do it again."

"Why?"

"She gets me." He smiles genuinely and his eyes light up. "Also, because my brother finally found the one and I wasn't going to let anything happen to her. My sisters-in-law are like the sisters I never had. I'd take a bullet for any of them."

"That's really sweet." I grin before taking a sip of my drink. "Do you only have one brother?"

"Six. Four of my older brothers are married. I'm the fifth child and after me is Noah." He explains and my eyes widen before I laugh softly.

"Lucky! I only have my older brother Cameron. It's just been the two of us."

"Marcella." We turn to see Griffin enter with a stack of paper in his hands. "Here's the amended contract."

I take it before reading it carefully to spot anything suspicious. When I find nothing I sign my name before handing it back to him. He checks before telling me to meet him tomorrow morning to discuss my father's various operations.

"Is that the agreement to help us?"

"Yeah, I'll be giving you guys the intel on my dad so he's taken down and you stay safe." I explain as I finish up my pasta.

"So, the night at the strip club –" He pauses to smirk knowingly when I blush. "Loved the lingerie by the way and it looked even better on the floor."

"Oh, shut up!" I mutter as I cover my face.

He laughs while I shake my head at him exasperatedly. "I noticed your tattoos too. They're quite interesting."

Out of instinct I stiffen but immediately try to relax myself. "Interesting? How?"

"They're a mix of cute and deadly." He smiles and moves closer to inspect the face of a witch on my arm with a third eye. "Makes you hard to figure out. Do they have any meanings behind them?"

"No." I murmur softly and we lock gazes momentarily. "Yours are really nice too. Any meaning behind them?"

"Most of them are just random and for fun." He chuckles as my gaze roams over his arms. "So, were you on an assignment that night?"

I nod with a deep sigh. "I took out Jason Andrews."

"Bloody hell!" He breathes as he finishes his food before leaning back in his seat. "He was a prick anyways. Corrupt as hell."

"Aren't they all." I roll my eyes with a scoff.

"Touché." He chuckles as he sits back in his chair and crosses his arms behind his head. "Why rat your dad out? Because he forced you into his world?"

"Exactly. I...me and Cameron never wanted any part of this. We want to live...not drown in guilt and shame every single day." I reply softly as I look out at the fields of long grass.

"Where would you go once this is all over?" He looks at me from the corner of his eyes as he traces the rim of his glass.

I meet his curious gaze and smile contently. We spend the rest of the evening talking about anything and everything under the setting sun. I can't help but feel a tiny spark of hope that I might just get everything I want in life and more.

Update schedule is: once a week whenever I find time!

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