Isle of Sin: A Standalone Dark Romance
Isle of Sin: Chapter 31

I hadn’t told Kane everything, but I’d told him enough.

Mostly because I didn’t want to drag him into the heart of this Sin Cave fuckery, something he’d seemed to understand as we’d gone through all the parameters for the meeting.

We’d spent the last two days preparing, with Adalyn providing key details regarding how the Elite functioned and Bryant corroborating her facts with experiences of his own.

Some of the things she’d told us had caused my stomach to churn with rage. I wanted to murder every fucking man who had ever touched her and taught her how to master a slave-like status beneath them.

But I understood that was the role she had to play today.

Which was the only reason I allowed her to stand beside me in a gauzy white dress. It’d come from her own lingerie collection. It was meant to be worn with nothing beneath it, but I’d forced her to wear a white lace thong.

Something I regretted now because it just made her that much sexier beneath the sunlight.

I could see her rosy nipples through the thin fabric, the visual enticing and maddening at the same time. “I hate this,” I muttered. “I hate doing this to you.”

She glanced up at me questioningly. “Doing what?”

“Putting you on display like this.” I wrapped my palm around the back of her neck and pulled her to me. “I don’t want to share you, Adalyn.”

“This isn’t about sharing, Sir. This is about a scene. You’re showing me off but also saying they can’t touch me.” Her lips curled a little. “And I don’t mind being on display. You can touch me, if you like. The proof of it is between my thighs.”

I arched a brow. “Are you playing with me, little one?” Because it certainly felt like she’d taken on the role of seductress, and she’d done it flawlessly.

“Playing or not, this feels real between us,” she told me honestly. “And…” She stole a deep breath, her midnight irises glittering in the sunlight. “And I trust you, Asher.”

There were those words again, the ones that made me feel like the biggest man in the room yet layered weights on my shoulders at the same time.

But I didn’t mind the weights. I would carry the world on my back if it meant protecting her.

I tugged her toward me into a kiss, my mouth claiming hers openly as the passengers of the jet on the tarmac began disembarking. Bryant stood beside me, and Clive flanked Adalyn’s right. Which left us cocooned by people I trusted and allowed me to devour her openly in front of our guests.

Let them see how much I adored her.

Let them see how serious I was about keeping her.

I didn’t give a fuck. This woman was mine whether they wanted to agree or not.

When I finished, I pressed my lips to her ear. “Remember your safeword, Adalyn,” I whispered, giving her nape a squeeze.

This wouldn’t be a traditional scene by any stretch of the imagination. But I wanted her to feel safe. If she said dreams, I would do whatever I had to do to help her.

“Yes, Sir,” she breathed, arching into me in clear invitation.

I chuckled and pulled away. “Such a little tease,” I accused her, loud enough for the others to hear.

“Sounds familiar,” a deep voice replied dryly.

Julian Jovanni.

He moved toward us with the grace of his birthright, his suit perfectly pressed despite the long flight here. The woman beside him appeared just as elegant in a black summer dress and strappy heels. She carried herself with a confidence that reminded me a bit of Adalyn, as did the subtle bow of her head.

Definitely a trained submissive.

And the hand at her back marked Julian as her Dom.

However, I knew he was more than that. They were married, and according to Bryant, they had a healthy relationship.

Of course, it hadn’t started out that way.

I didn’t know the details, but I suspected her being an arranged bride had something to do with it.

“Brianna, you’re as beautiful as ever,” Bryant greeted, using her full name rather than the nickname I’d learned during one of our calls. “You’re welcome to tease me anytime, love.”

Julian shook his head, his cheekbones even more pronounced as he clenched his jaw. “Here all of five seconds and I already want to kill you. That has to be some sort of record, Bryant.”

The head of my security grinned. “I aim to please.” He followed that up with a waggle of eyebrows toward Brianna.

Adalyn slid a little closer to me in response, perhaps uncomfortable with the concept of sharing. However, Brianna merely smiled. Her eyes were hidden beneath a pair of dark shades, making it hard to read her emotions. But her grin seemed genuine.

Julian ignored Bryant and focused on me, extending his free hand to clasp mine. I moved away from Adalyn, purely to put myself between them, and accepted the gesture. “Mr. Jovanni.”

“Mr. Sinner,” he returned. “However, I think we can dispense with the formalities. The others are not far behind, and it would be best to provide a friendly front when they land.”

I released his hand and nodded. “Julian, then,” I said, using his first name as my form of agreement.

“Asher,” he replied, glancing around me. “And this must be the beautiful Adalyn Rose.”

I took a step back, allowing him to see her.

“Mr. Jovanni.” She curtsied, going low to the ground in a manner that had me both aroused and irritated again. She was practically supplicating on the tarmac. Which should not be turning me on.

And yet, I couldn’t help the stirring of interest in my groin at seeing her lowered before us so beautifully.

I held out my palm for her. She slid her hand into mine almost instinctively, allowing me to help her up into a standing position again. I kissed her wrist, rewarding her for her acceptance, and wrapped my arm around her waist.

“I can see why you want to keep her,” Julian said softly, his gaze on her face. He didn’t appear to mean it in a sexual manner, more of a possessive one. Something he confirmed as he glanced at his wife with a hint of claim in his dark gaze.

She looked back at him, raising a brow.

“You don’t curtsy for me like that anymore,” he told her.

Her lips curled. “Would you like me to, Mr. Jovanni?” There was some underlying meaning there when she spoke his name. Something that seemed to amuse him.

He considered her for a moment. “Perhaps later.” His dark eyes met mine once more, his expression instantly all business. “As per our agreement, I have three security personnel on board. Bryant is familiar with all of them.”

I nodded. I didn’t typically allow private security on my island, but this wasn’t a normal situation. And Bryant had convinced me it would be a show of good faith to allow Julian his usual bodyguards.

However, I’d ensured Julian understood that this was a concession on my part.

I’d also stated that Bryant would be in charge of their briefing upon arrival.

So I looked at my head of security now and asked, “Want to go greet your old friends?”

“I’d much rather play with Brianna,” he murmured, eliciting another look from Julian. “But yeah, I’ll go greet them.”

“One of these days, I’m going to let them shoot you,” Julian informed him softly.

“No, you won’t,” Bryant returned. “That would piss off Brianna.”

“It would,” she agreed. “Very much so.”

“See?” Bryant winked at her again and slapped Julian on the back as he moved to his side. “You would also shoot me yourself rather than delegate the kill.”

Julian smirked. “True.” Then he grabbed Brianna and kissed her in a manner similar to how I’d kissed Adalyn several times this week—all passionate possession and clear claim.

Bryant chuckled at the display and shook his head. “We all know she’s yours, Jules.” Rather than wait around for a reply, he strolled toward the jet to handle the security team.

Clive didn’t join him. He was in constant communication with Kane via an earpiece, thus allowing my brother to keep tabs on this conversation and the two arrivals.

We were only expecting two jets—Julian’s and the Roses’.

“Stop flirting,” Julian said, his voice underlined with a threat.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Brianna replied, her tone all bratty sub.

He narrowed his gaze.

And she stared back at him, her expression giving nothing away. Her glasses also made it impossible to see her eyes, but I suspected Julian knew exactly what look she was giving him.

He gripped her chin, the gesture one I recognized. Just as I recognized the subtle hint of defiance in her posture.

At least their playing appeared to be consensual, unlike the display between Nathan and Adalyn.

I allowed them their little game while I drew a line down Adalyn’s spine with my index finger. She shivered in response, her hands flexing at her sides. I continued my path down to her ass, then across to her hip, before pressing my palm to hers.

She leaned into me, an action I rewarded by kissing the top of her head. Julian glanced at me, his expression knowing.

“We’re expecting ten members to attend today’s conference call,” he informed me, his formal facade at the forefront again even while continuing to grasp Brianna’s chin. “As you know, I wouldn’t typically handle something like this personally. The fact that I am has several of the Elite intrigued and interested. This is also a unique situation. There will be a vote.”

“And if it goes negatively?” I asked.

“It won’t,” Julian promised. “However, if it does, you’ll still have my support. Which means a great deal in our world.”

While I should be grateful for that information, I couldn’t help inquiring, “How can I rely on your support? I realize you are friends with Bryant, and while I appreciate all you’ve done in my favor, I still hardly know you.”

“Yes, that’s true. However, I’ve been showing my value and support for nearly two weeks. That should award me some favor.”

“It does. That’s why Bryant is currently briefing your security detail,” I said, gesturing to the four men at the bottom of the jet stairs. “I don’t allow private protection on this island, as it belittles my own security. I made an exception for you.”

“As you’ve said,” he replied. “It’s an exception I appreciate. I imagine you did not make that exception for Mr. Rose?”

“I did not provide him with the same courtesy, no.” I’d barely even allowed his jet clearance to land. But I sort of needed him here to finish all this bullshit. “Mr. Rose hasn’t gained my respect. You have.”

“Then that should answer your question in regard to relying on my support. I’m not in the business of making friendships just to end them without cause, Asher.” He released Brianna’s chin as the security team approached. “Bryant, I’m trusting you to handle my female with care. Just remember that she’s mine.”

“She’s a diamond, Julian. So don’t worry. I know how to handle precious stones.” Bryant held out a hand.

Brianna gave him a humored look as she accepted the gesture, and she disappeared into the building with him and Julian’s security detail.

The moment the door closed, Julian’s shoulders tensed. It was a small tell, but one that confirmed my instincts about him and Brianna—he cared a great deal about her. And he did not like being separated from her.

Which confirmed that not all brides in the program were treated as harshly as Adalyn had been—something she’d told me, but it was nice to see proof of it.

My wrist buzzed with an incoming notice from my traffic controller. “Looks like the Rose jet will be landing within the next three minutes,” I said, hearing the confirmation of that arrival in the air.

Julian nodded. “I assume you have security on standby?”

“The airport is well staffed,” I confirmed. But as usual, my team was doing a good job of not being seen. My brother included.

He’d called in a few of his own employees as well, stationing them throughout key points on the island and near the airfield.

We were prepared for a multitude of scenarios.

Fortunately, the largest threat—the arrival of the infamous Red Prince—had gone without issue.

We hadn’t known if Julian would actually bring Brianna with him. The fact that he did served as a show of friendship because it meant he trusted me and my island enough for her to visit with him.

Given what I’d just observed of his possessiveness, that display of trust was actually quite substantial.

I really did need to ask Bryant to share his history with Julian and Brianna because clearly they were closer than he’d implied. A lot closer than just a former working relationship, anyway.

Julian moved to my side and pulled a pair of sunglasses from his pocket to cover his eyes as he watched the incoming jet. “This should be interesting,” he murmured.

“Indeed,” I agreed, releasing Adalyn’s hand to wrap my arm around her lower back. Clive still stood on her opposite side, placing all four of us in a line only ten or so feet away from the building behind us.

The wind picked up as the jet landed, causing Adalyn to shiver against me. It wasn’t a cool day—those really didn’t exist here—but we were in the shade of the building, which created a bit of a chill with the incoming arrival.

And her clothes didn’t provide her with much protection.

So I pulled her closer into my side, lending her some of my heat. Similar to Julian, I wore a suit, which wasn’t the most comfortable island attire, but it was needed today.

Because certain suit brands—like the one I wore now—represented wealth. And in this game, wealth was power.

The jet parked in an open slot on the tarmac. There were several guests on the island right now who kept their jets here in case they needed to leave without much notice. Others arranged drop-off times and pick-up times. It all varied. But my scheduler kept everything well organized, allowing for the best use of space.

I slid one hand into my pocket as the airport personnel did their jobs.

The paperwork exchange went by quickly, my airport authorities sending me notices on the incoming arrival and other details.

I checked through each message, noting that there was nothing out of the ordinary.

“I’ll handle introductions,” Julian said as the doors opened.

My chin dipped in agreement. I hadn’t actually spoken to Albert Rose yet on the phone. He’d emailed a few demands, but everything else had gone through Julian. So it made sense for him to manage the formalities here.

I ran my thumb along Adalyn’s side, offering her what little comfort I could as her parents appeared in the doorway.

She didn’t outwardly react, her posture confident while remaining submissive at the same time. It was an intoxicating presence that left me even more in awe of her.

Her father looked her over, completely unfazed by her attire.

I’d already hated him.

And now I hated him more.

Because a good father protected his child. But this man merely saw her as a commodity to be traded.

“Albert,” Julian greeted. “Thank you for flying all this way.”

“It wasn’t like I had a choice,” the dark-haired male replied flatly.

He was a decently good-looking man who had obviously aged well with his full head of hair and fit physique. But his wife was the spitting image of Adalyn, just an older version.

And far more broken.

I could see it in the way she carried herself. She wasn’t confident like her daughter. She was just… sad. No, not even that. She appeared to be lifeless, like a pretty doll without a soul.

The stark visual of what Adalyn’s future would have been had Nathan Spencer not chosen my island for her graduation from training.

“Yes, well, I believe we all have Mr. Spencer to thank for that,” Julian replied with an edge in his tone. “Mr. Sinner was not only kind enough to see to your daughter’s welfare, but he’s also offered us accommodations for this trip. We should be grateful to him for his hospitality after everything that’s happened.”

Such diplomatic words.

Yet they didn’t faze Albert at all. He merely stared at Julian for a beat before looking at me. “We won’t be needing accommodations. After all, my daughter has been taking advantage of your hospitality for long enough. We can be in the air in thirty minutes, and this problem will be solved.”

My eyebrows lifted, surprised by his audacity.

“We’ll be in a meeting in thirty minutes, Mr. Rose. A meeting that requires your presence,” Julian said before I could reply.

“There is no need for a meeting,” he replied, glancing back at his jet as a male stepped out onto the stair platform. “Mr. Huntington is here to personally thank Mr. Sinner for training Adalyn this week in Nathan’s absence.”

My body tensed.

However, Julian didn’t react at all. He merely stood beside me, his expression giving nothing away.

“Once the formality is over with, Mr. Huntington will be collecting his bride and taking her home with him for a private engagement party,” Albert continued. “And with that, this entire exercise will be finished.”