Prologue
Nicodemus
The façade of the exclusive home perched on stilts overlooking the south Pacific Ocean hid unspeakable horrors. A soft, salty breeze fluttered through the open doors leading into the sun-drenched room, but it didn’t hide the scent of putrefaction or the coppery odor of blood that had seeped into the gleaming wooden floors over time.
In the far corner of the room, where the sun didn’t reach, chained to a wall crouched a naked boy with dark matted hair and pale blue eyes. Blood oozed from multiple cuts across his torso. Head down, he shivered in the warmth, his lips clamped together to keep the cries of distress inside. A replica of a boy lost—stolen from the huge alpha who sat at his desk. He wore an intimidating black scowl that could slice the skin from bone, his disturbing gray eyes hard as flint.
The beauty surrounding him went unnoticed. Those eyes were hooked on the newspaper spread out with unsteady hands on the large, elaborate table in front of him, everything else immaterial. When a familiar fluttering started low in his gut, his eyes narrowed on a face he’d long since thought lost to him. A face that had dogged his every waking moment when he let it.
Anger had turned to white hot fury over the last fifteen years with each failure to find what was taken from him. An ominous sound he was unaware he’d made caused a terrified whimper from the boy.
His gaze never moved, his focus on the paper. His blood pumped hotly, his fingers gripping the newspaper as if it would attempt to escape him. The truth sank in, and his pulse thrummed with an excitement that had been sadly lacking with each new boy who had failed to meet the expectations created by his gem.
He stroked a finger down a face, recalling every delicate line. A scent of sickening arousal came at what he’d searched for staring up at him from the front page. He paid little to no attention to the other men in the picture, standing shoulder to shoulder with his gem. A wall of intimidation, he supposed. Not to him. Never to him.
A chilling laugh filled the silence in the decadent room at such a ridiculous thought that anyone was a threat to him. Those alphas would be nothing more than an annoyance to be swatted aside if they attempted to get in his way.
It did, however, beg the question, was this family linked to the events that occurred the night his gem disappeared? His men had done extensive searches for information on the men who’d come and caused havoc and then simply disappeared into thin air—seemingly without a trace.
His eyes skimmed the article, his lips moving into an ugly sneer many would run from, at the other divergents in the ‘family’.
Do-fucking-gooder!
Starling Enterprises. He had heard the name, had met Derick and Lane Starling once at a function some sixteen years earlier. Even then, the two men were a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world. The meeting was only memorable for how the alpha’s divergent omega had hung off him, acting all fucking superior when he was nothing but divergent scum. The asshole had bragged about his children as if they were the most precious things in the world. Six boys who, to Nicodemus, were commodities to be used, nothing more.
The sniffling little wimp had spent the evening acting like the universe revolved around him, infuriating Nicodemus as he’d watched from the sideline. If he’d left his husband’s side for a moment, Nicodemus would have shown him how easily it didn’t. At the time, Nicodemus had keenly felt the temptation to teach the divergent a lesson he would wear forever. He had contemplated whether it was worth the effort of taking the older divergent and having ‘fun’ with him, then selling him. Except the market for older divergents was not what it had once been. Weighing everything up, he’d let it be.
Had he made a mistake?
Miscalculated?
He couldn’t say for sure, and that infuriated him. His nostrils flared, his eyes flashing like a lightning strike, ready to burn someone alive.
How had Jupiter come to be adopted by them? He scanned the article, paying it more attention, and found it heavily slanted towards a divergent, Taylin Starling, and his relationship with a shifter, Hollis Adice.
He snarled with displeasure. He wasn’t used to making a misstep. Had he made one that night when he’d met Derick? Jupiter had been brought in through a side entrance while staff and patrons were busy with the event in the hotel. He had booked out a full floor to maintain privacy. Did some interfering fucker notice his gem?
At the time, he traveled extensively and chose not to be without his boys for those moments he needed to release tension—which was often through the day. He had only attended the gala to meet a senator who was a recurrent client. If Nicodemus’ memory served him correctly, and it always did when it came to business, the senator had broken yet another of his toys and urgently required a replacement. The sadistic senator was now behind bars because the night Jupiter was taken, the men who’d infiltrated Nicodemus’ home had taken all his computers and his back up paper files.
Nicodemus himself had barely escaped detection and his back molars ground together ominously as he recalled the frantic escape through the underground passageways normally used to bring in merchandise undetected. Brutus, his head of security, had insisted he leave when they couldn’t ascertain what level the threat was. It had driven him out and away from Jupiter. Forced him into hiding on his private island in Fiji, Laucala Island, which was remote enough to easily remain undetected.
While he’d avoided detection by the authorities, his careful world had collapsed around him. He’d managed to salvage his business as there was never a shortage of men with money to buy premium slave divergents. And he had handpicked new alpha soldiers to do his bidding in his absence.
It wasn’t the same.
Was it time to come out of hiding?
The newspaper crumpled under the fury he held contained for the day when he discovered who had sold him out. Failure was not an option in his world. No matter how many years passed, he had not stopped looking for answers on who had ultimately been responsible for dismantling his world. His business.
Money wasn’t the objective any longer—he had more than enough for six lifetimes—it was knowledge which gave him power and control. This was what interested him. Because the more knowledge he had, the closer he got to his traitor.
All the brothers have returned home to Hazardville and will be based at Starling Enterprises’ main offices.
As he read, he reached for the phone on his desk and dialed one, his pulse strumming with renewed vigor as his mind worked through details on how to achieve his objective: Jupiter’s return.
“Sir,” his secretary answered meekly.
“Get Brutus.” He clicked off saying nothing more, unconcerned about rudeness.
His gaze wandered back to Jupiter; the black and white grainy shot didn’t do justice to the man Jupiter had become.
Originally, he had no intention of keeping Jupiter, just a commodity like many others, until he’d seen him. One look at those, large, terrified eyes had left him wanting in a way he’d never experienced with one of his boys before. Obsession. He understood the emotion. He’d been blindsided by how much of one Jupiter had quickly become with the way he reacted during their special time together.
Over the years, Nicodemus had relived those memories so many times he could recite every reaction Jupiter had under his blade. How each slice marked the boy as his.
Those memories made it difficult to breathe when he felt the craving for the sounds Jupiter made for him. A whimpering came from the corner, but he was so lost in his thoughts, Nicodemus never noticed.
This time, he would not be so unprepared for someone wanting to take what belonged to him. He would discover who had taken Jupiter and make them pay the ultimate price. He would see to it personally, after he’d reclaimed his gem and got him to talk.
An evil light appeared in his eyes at the anticipation already buzzing through him.
“Jupiter,” he murmured in a chilling voice, “Jupiter, I have missed your sweet cries.”
Mediterranean blue eyes had lured him in like a siren. The innocence he wanted to corrupt and claim as his own was a sweet reward. How would the man moan for him now?
A blunt fingertip traced over the outline of his gem’s face. He’d left it untouched. A shiver of thrill ran through him knowing without doubt that Jupiter would return to him. He traced the plump lips, his linen trousers not hiding his reaction at how he would use that heavenly mouth once more. Jupiter was older, no longer the scrawny boy he had once been, and had matured into a stunning beauty.
How many lovers had he had while he’d been free? Had he let them fuck that tight hole?
Fury replaced excitement, snapping at the air like an electrical whip with his violent mood swing. Nicodemus scowled threateningly at the newspaper, murder on his mind at thoughts of anyone touching what rightfully belonged to him.
He wanted back every one of those years that were stolen from him. He would exact those years off the hide of those that had stolen them from him. He swore it.
At a penetrating knock, he released a ragged breath, working to haul back his fury. He didn’t like to chain it, but it was a necessity—for now.
“Enter, Brutus.”
An alpha dressed all in black strode in. As tall as he was wide, he was as intimidating as Nicodemus. Jet black hair and eyes the color of coal, sat in a face many looked away from. He had a slashing scar that traveled from his hairline down the left side of his face, barely missing his eye, that was tugged up with puckering skin. The scar reached as far as his chin. A ruthless father had taught Brutus life was not a gift but an obstacle course that had to be navigated with caution if one were to survive.
They had met in a bar where Brutus had worked security. A bar fight with four other alphas who thought they could rob Nicodemus resulted in Brutus stepping in to protect his back when a fifth alpha had broken a glass bottle and went to stab him in the back of the neck.
Never one to miss an opportunity when loyalty was scarce without cause, he’d offered Brutus a job working for him as his personal security. Over three decades later, he was now in charge of all Nicodemus’ security requirements and his most trusted confidant.
Soulless eyes scanned the room, a tension radiating from him suggesting he was on high alert when his gaze landed on the newspaper.
He knew!
“What is it?” he asked when his gaze came to rest on Nicodemus.
Nicodemus sat back in his leather seat, making it rock under his impressive weight, and templed his fingers under his chin, eyes probing the other man, not missing the tic at the side of his left eye where the skin tugged, revealing anxiety. It was warranted. Brutus had endured his anger after they’d escaped the fall out.
“The newspaper.” He inclined his head towards it. “Why didn’t you mention Jupiter was on the front page?”
In his customary attire, his T-shirt stretched around his massive biceps when he crossed his arms in a defensive move, looking anything but relaxed. He towered over six foot eight and had hands the size of shovels that could do a lot of damage when they struck with or without his bear claws. “Wasn’t hundred percent sure it was him.” Powerful shoulders shrugged. “Didn’t wanna jump to any assumptions.”
“It’s him,” Nicodemus stated in a volume that remained low but was no less impactful.
Brutus winced. “I’ll get a team organized for retrieval. We’ll need to do recon first. Figure out the best location to grab him with minimal fuss and attention. When we have him, where do you want him delivered?”
Straight to the point. That was what Nicodemus admired most. “This time, here, where no one will know where to find him.”
Another wince at how Brutus had failed, came with a nod. The house was buried under several dummy corporations and remained safe from discovery. When the authorities worked to dismantle his business and take all his holdings, this place had kept him safe. It would keep his gem safe, too.
“We’ll need a holding place first.”
Brutus was right, they’d need a safe place to do the transfer to his private jet. Airports were out of the question because he was recognizable. Still on the most wanted list of the FBI.
“The house we bought several years back in Kane Creek for parties. It’s close to Hazardville, if memory serves me correctly.” At the nod, Nicodemus continued. “Get a cleaning crew and security team to prepare the house.”
“Full team?”
“Yes… no, add in an extra ten alphas. Hold Jupiter there, and no one is to touch him. No one, understood? Not until I arrive.”
Brutus grunted, eyes flashing his bear. “They won’t, I’ll make sure of it.”
Assured, Nicodemus studied Brutus, his mind buzzing. “Once you have alerted me you have him safe, I’ll fly in. I want to be the one to bring him home.”
Brutus’s lips parted, but with one hard stare they clamped shut. He got the risk he was taking leaving the island, except this was Jupiter and he had waited long enough.
“Check if the strip of land at the back of the property is cleared and able to take my personal jet.” His eyes narrowed to mere slits in warning. “I don’t want any fuck ups. Warn the men, if anyone causes a problem, then I’ll personally cut their balls off and feed them to the pack.” Icicles dripped from his voice at the threat. Chains rattled in the corner, and he ignored them for now.
Brutus showed no sign of emotion. “Understood. I’ll hand pick the teams.”
“Good. I also want a full background check on this Starling family. I want to know everything.”
“I’ll have Gael do a deep dive.” His brows tugged together. “Do you think they are linked to what happened?”
“I don’t know. Derick Starling is a powerful alpha, a wolf shifter.” He sneered. “Created a world empire in the fashion business. I’m sure he’s cutthroat in business, but an alpha who lets a fucking divergent swing him about by his balls ain’t a threat. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t have someone doing his dirty work for him.” Was he fucking Jupiter? Was that why he adopted the boy? Nicodemus’ teeth ground together at the wayward thought, heat building in his chest and rising. His eyes lit with jealousy.
“I’ll get Gael to check out his associates, too.”
“Fine.” He waved a dismissive hand. “You’re dismissed.”
Brutus hesitated, his arms uncrossing to swing at his sides, his eyes betraying nothing.
“What?”
“I need time, scout everything out. Manage the risk,” he replied without infliction.
Brutus knew him far better than anyone. Patience was not a virtue he had—though he could argue he’d waited fifteen years for this—but he did understand the need for caution. “Understood. I won’t hound you, but I will expect daily updates.”
“I expect nothing less,” Brutus growled, then nodded and spun on his heel, striding out of the room, his back rigid, his movements no longer fluid.
He’d pissed him off. Nicodemus wasn’t worried, Brutus would get over it. His gaze went to the newspaper, and he picked it up.
A wide, feral grin spread over meaty lips. “I’ll be seeing you soon, my pretty. Me and my knife have missed you.”