Rogues

Eleven

Sloane:

Having a mate is the coolest thing ever. I have someone to do all the simple things I usually did alone with. It's the best feeling in the world. I don't find him annoying, I can stand the sound of him chewing his food, he doesn't snore, and he looks amazing without a shirt on. The best part is his voice. I can listen to him all day. He made me promise to stay in today. He said he and Hyde had something to do today. And I Quote:

"We can't run around and get in trouble with you today, Trouble,"

That had been this morning. I had a good work out and caught up on some reading. I never had time like this for myself back home. I was always taking care of someone else. It never bothered me until now. How had I lived that way? Why had I limited myself like that? Those are the same thoughts that make me feel the guiltiest. I had done it for my pack. I had done it to honor my dad.

The music played in my room as I filled the tub with water. I wanted to go swimming but it's too cold for me to be out there right now. I wouldn't get sick but I'd be uncomfortable in my skin for days. So a bath should do. Heather had recommended bath bombs. Which are not what I had expected them to be. I had wondered why she would recommend something that exploded in the bath until I found them. I bought six strawberry scented ones. I stripped down to my underwear placing my gun on top of the pile of towels on the floor.

I took the plastic off the bath bombs after stripping down completely. The reaction they had in the water made me smile. The water turned a pink milky color and foamed a bit. The smell is delightful. I have to thank Heather for this and tell Sofia about it. If she would answer my damn calls and texts. I heard them walk in. They were both arguing about me being here. I looked at the water and decided it was colored enough to cover my bits.

"Sloane," I heard him call out. Hyde had stayed downstairs.

"I'm right here," I said sinking more into the warm water. I love when his eyes get dark the way they did just now. A low rumble vibrated out of his chest.

"You seem very..." he cleared his throat. "Relaxed,"

"I am," I said with a smile.

"Why do you do this to me?" he asked making me laugh.

"I'm not doing anything to you. I think that's what your problem is," I said looking down at the water.

"My problem? What's my problem?" he asked crossing his arms.

"You want me to do something to you," I said scooping some water up in my hand and watching it drain out.

"You should get something on. Formal, we're going out,"

"Formal like ballroom formal or casual formal like we're going to dinner with people who matter formal?"

"The second one you little troublemaker," I laughed. He stood there like he's waiting for something.

"Are you going to stand there?" I asked.

He looked at me confused. I pushed myself up and he panicked. He turned around hesitantly before he walked out. I love this. I pulled the drain plug and grabbed my towel. I smiled to myself when My Chemical Romance came on. I moved to the beat of Vampire Money as dried off and put some underwear on and some stockings. I was fixing the straps when he walked back in. I smirked to myself knowing he was looking for this on purpose.

"Really?" he asked pointing at my phone dock where the music was coming from.

"What? A girl can't listen to crazy s**t without someone pointing it out?"

I asked walking over to the dress I had laid out on my bed. He froze his eyes once again giving in to the desire he denied us both. I picked up the dark blue dress and slid my legs into it pulling up over my shoulders. I zipped it up and went over to the mirror to fix the black collar. He didn't say a word as I pulled my hair up into a high messy bun. I clipped a black bow to the bottom and placed a few pins in place to make sure it didn't come undone.

I put my dark gray pearl set on. Earrings, a double necklace, and three bracelets. I walked back to the closet and picked out my black suede ankle boots. A little blush, highlighter, and lipstick and I'm done. It took me about ten minutes to get ready. I pulled my black coat out and slipped my gun into a thigh belt. He took it from me before I was able to slip it under my dress.

"Not tonight, trouble. We have guards and we'll be searched where we're going. So anything else you're packing please remove it," I sighed a little disappointed and removed the Japanese daggers from the inside of my coat and the small handgun. He smiled.

"That's it?" he asked with a smirk.

"I'm wearing heels," I said.

"I see that," he said confused. I smiled at him.

"Have you ever been stabbed by one of these?" I asked raising my foot up behind me. "I've killed a few men with them. Not these obviously. I just got them,"

"You look amazing," he said looking me over. "Blue is your color. You clean up so well,"

"Thank you," I said fixing his scarf. "As do you,"

I walked over to the phone dock and pulled my phone off of it. I turned it off and followed him out. Hyde smiled at me as we came down.

"Wow. Who the hell are you and where are you hiding the killer rogue?" I smiled.

"You look nice as always," I said and smirked.

"I got something for you, trouble," Alexie said grabbing something off the coffee table.

I looked at the wrapped box in his hand and felt a little uncomfortable. I'm not used to getting presents. I come from a place where I had to earn what I wanted or needed and I'd always gone out and gotten whatever that was. The first time was fine. We were entertaining his family but this is a little too much.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't need a reason to buy my mate anything," he said stepping closer to me. He motioned me to grab the box. I looked at Hyde who encouraged me to take it. I sighed and took the box from him. It's sturdy. "Open it, Sloane,"

"Okay," I said softly. I went over to my armchair and sat down taking the wrapper off. I smiled at the soft pink color of the box and the glittery texture. I took the lid off. I looked up at him. "You got me a laptop?"

"I heard you tell my brother you wanted a laptop to get some video time with Sofia," he said. The laptop is the same color and texture as the box he had put it in. "Do you not like it?"

"No, I love it. I... Um. Thank you. This is very considerate of you," I said. How do you react to gifts like this? Am I doing it wrong? I placed it on the coffee table and face him. "I don't know what to say,"

"Thank you was fine," he said. I can hear the disappointment in his voice. I looked at Hyde and motioned him to get lost. He walked out.

"I've ruined the gesture haven't I?" I asked.

"No, I get it," he said without looking at me. I reached for his hand.

"No one has ever given me anything like this. That is a very expensive and extravagant gift..." I swallowed feeling a lump forming in my throat. "It's beautiful,"

"You don't have to try and make me feel better, Trouble. I crossed a line you obviously weren't ready for me to cross. If you aren't comfortable with it I understand,"

"It's not that I'm not comfortable it's just this is the first time. I don't how you would like me to react or what to say," he tilted my head up to look at him.

"Thank you was perfect. Just tell me you liked it and that it's the right shade of pink," I laughed.

"I love it and it's the perfect shade of pink and glitter," he smiled.

"Alright. That's all there is to it,"

"Okay," I said.

"If I kiss you that's not going to stick on me is it?"

"No. I didn't pay eighty dollars for this to stain everything," he smiled leaning into me. He pressed his lips to mine cautiously anyway. "Nothing,"

"Good,"

"Can I asked where we're going?" he nodded. "Are you going to tell me?"

"No," I rolled my eyes picking up my phone and walking out to meet Hyde. He laughed opening the back door to an SUV.

"What did you do?" he asked Alexie.

"I didn't tell her where we're going," he said. The amusement in his voice annoyed me further.

He climbed in next to me and took my hand. He didn't let me take it back. He held it, both our hands entwined and resting on his lap. It would be so easy to freak him out and get the answer I wanted out of him but for once. I let it be. I hate surprises. Waiting for something is the worst thing ever.

After a while, Hyde stopped the car. A man opened the door and let us out. I hadn't noticed because the physical contact had completely distracted me. There are two smaller cars with his men in them. Six guys in total, not including Hyde. I followed him out. He refused to let me take my hand back. He waved his hand and the guys dispersed. Hyde followed behind us until the usher greeted him and asked us to follow.

This place is beautiful. An elegant disarray of gold and red. A Victorian-themed restaurant. We walked towards the back where the more private booths were and stopped at a table with a woman seated in the center of the booth. It was the eyes. Her eyes held the same fire that came with being a Victor. The signature blonde hair shaped into perfect dramatic classic waves. The black and gold fitted dress complimented her in the same way I feel leather compliments me. It doesn't fit the theme of this place. She's a clash of Jane Eyre and the Great Gatsby.

"Alexie," she smiled standing up. "Hyde,"

They both embraced her in a hug before she turned to look at me. I met the challenge of her gaze with a smile on my lips. The way she walks is no different from them, from me. She has known war. Raz Victor. The only daughter in the Victor Rogue family. She has a hell of a reputation. Sofia has a collector's figure and I have to tell her that the doll does the real thing no justice.

"You must be Sloane Vanderbilt," she said looking me over.

"Raziel Victor," I said giving her an equal glance over. "I thought you'd be taller,"

"I get that a lot. You, not what I expected. A princess with a flair of chaos," I smiled.

"Chaos recognizes chaos," I said making her smile.

"That's for damn sure," she said. "Welcome to Shore. I've heard stories. Not the recent one but the packs have big mouths,"

"Especially when they're wounded," she laughed motioning us to sit down.

"Hell, yeah. Wounded alpha dogs are the biggest bitches in the world," I laughed. She's not wrong. "You're quite the heartbreaker,"

"So the rumor goes," I said sliding into the booth before Alexie. He pulled me to him when he was seated.

"Protective this one. We don't get along but god forbid something happening to either of us,"

"I've been told," I said remembering our conversation last night.

Alexie hadn't brought me here so he could talk to his sister. She must have asked to meet me because they aren't kidding. They don't get along. Her demeanor towards him is just as cold and indifferent as his. What a particular relationship. My brother is one of my closest confidants aside from Sofia. I couldn't imagine acting like this towards him. It would destroy us both. Yet it worked perfectly well for the two of them.

"What do think?" she asked looking out at the crowd. The booth we're sitting at is higher than the others. In a corner where no one can see it yet has a magnificent view of the entire vicinity.

"It's..." I said not really being able to put it into many words. "It's grand,"

"This was my father's first restaurant," she bragged. "It was a mini theater before he bought it,"

"I see it," I nodded looking around.

The chandeliers and the golden frame designs aren't to my liking. I'm more of a modernist. Open space. The only antiques I own are the two princess armchairs in my study room and they're actually not that old. They just remind me of the grand library in the pack house. A little piece of home.

"You aren't impressed," she said it wasn't a question. Alexie looked at me with a smirk.

"No, I am impressed. It's very beautiful. My taste in design is just a little different. That's not true. It's completely different. There's so much going on. I don't mean disrespect, it's just a little distracting. I wouldn't be able to be here constantly,"

"You're easily distracted?" she asked.

"Yes, it's a terrible habit I've never been able to break. It's the colors," I said looking back at her. She smiled.

"You're attracted to red,"

"Most bright colors but yeah. Red is one of my favorites," someone came over to her and whispered something into her ear.

"Are you hungry?" she asked. "I took the liberty to order ahead of time,"

"Sure," I said watching a man in a red suit walk down the center of the restaurant. Hyde laughed.

"You weren't kidding, trouble," he said. I smiled at him.

"What an odd color to make into such an elegant suit. I can see Ash wearing something like that," they all laughed.

"Yeah. Me too," both Alexie and Raz said.

They were also both bothered by the fact that hey had spoken out at the same time. I see it now. She's lived up to her big brother's expectation but he can't forgive her for being a girl and not a brother. He had wanted a little brother of his own and got a sister instead. Brenden had always wanted a little sister of his own. He and Sofia are the same age they challenged each other more than anything. For as long as I can remember most of what I did was in his image.

I know Alexie is itching to say some ass hole remark but was saved by the waitresses who began to bring out plates of food. I looked at him and let out a little laugh that he returned. He knows he was about to start an argument with her and had no shame in it.

"Sloane means fighter, does it not?" she asked. I looked up at her.

"Depends on who you ask," I answered.

"I'm asking you,"

"My father named me Sloane after my mother and her mother before her. It means warrior. The women in my family aren't born to sit behind a desk and tell people what to do. We were bred for war. So, if you're asking me if I'm a fighter. The answer is yes. I like to get my hands dirty and I'm really good at it too,"

"Holy s**t," Hyde laughed.

"Wow," Raziel scoffed.

"Your name means secrets of the lord," I said and she smiled.

"Yes, it does,"

"I think we were properly named," I said looking down at the food I was brought.

She laughed cutting into her steak. I pushed the plate away from me. The smell of cooked flesh is something I'm all too familiar with. This b***h has some nerve.

"Is it a little overcooked?" she asked.

"If your intention is to rile me up. Perhaps we should step outside. It would be disrespectful to those who are enjoying their night," she tossed her steak knife up gripping the tip of it before she launched it at me. I caught it by the blade before it hit me.

"What the f**k, Raz," Alexie growled.

"f**k," Hyde got up getting out of the way.

"I can give less f***s about anyone's night," she growled at me.

"Clearly," I said.

She picked up the knife from Hyde's placement. I pulled my knees up and kicked the table in her direction. Raz stumbled back dropping the knife. I climbed on the seat jumping over the table. My shoes broke through the porcelain plates and glass. I grabbed her arm and spun her around slamming her face first into the wall behind her.

"You think you're good enough for him?" she growled.

"Maybe not but that's not for you to decide. If you ever disrespect me or him like this again I'll feed you to the wolves. There are a lot of souls in this world who would love to see you dead and would pay a lot for me to deliver you alive," I pushed her into the wall a little harder. "It was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy whoever the f**k that is you cut up b***h,"

"Sloane," Alexie uttered my name placing his hand on my shoulder. I let her go. He pulled me to him before she was able to recover. "If you need anything from me again call Heather. She'll decide if it's worth my time,"

"You think you're the s**t because you're the Don now? Don't forget the only reason you're at the head of the family is because Lance left the throne for you,"

"Yeah, and he gave you a theater you drama b***h. Taxes are coming up next week. If you don't have my money by then expect to be treated like the rest of them," he growled at her before he took my hand and pulled me along with him. Hyde and I exchanged looks before we got in the car.

I've eaten wolves before but not because I wanted to. The wolf in me is a hunter. My breed is very aggressive and tends to overreact especially in wolf form. She really killed someone and had them cooked for me just to rattle me up. I have to give points for creativity. Leave it to the only female Victor to want to start a war over who's mated to her brother.