Sovereign (Acquisition #3) Read online

  Sovereign

  Acquisition Series, Book 3

  Celia Aaron

  Sovereign

  Acquisition Series, Book 3

  Celia Aaron

  Copyright © 2015 Celia Aaron

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book only. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Celia Aaron. Please do not participate in piracy of books or other creative works.

  This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  WARNING: This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Please store your files wisely, away from under-aged readers. This book is a dark romance. If dark romance bothers you, this book isn’t for you. If dark, twisty, suspenseful, and sexy—or any combination of those words—interest you, then enjoy.

  Cover art by L.J. at mayhemcovercreations.com

  Editing by J. Brooks

  Sexy Shorts by Celia Aaron

  F*ck of the Irish

  The Hard and Dirty Holidays

  A Stepbrother for Christmas

  The Hard and Dirty Holidays

  Bad Boy Valentine

  The Hard and Dirty Holidays

  Bad Boy Valentine Wedding

  The Hard and Dirty Holidays

  ***

  Forced by the Kingpin

  Forced Series, Book 1

  Forced by the Professor

  Forced Series, Book 2

  Forced by the Hitmen

  Forced Series, Book 3

  Forced by the Stepbrother

  Forced Series, Book 4

  Forced by the Quarterback

  Forced Series, Book 5

  Forced Series Box Set

  ***

  Zeus

  Taken by Olympus, Book 1

  AaronErotica.com

  Twitter: @aaronerotica

  Celia Aaron on Facebook

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  STELLA

  Chapter Two

  STELLA

  Chapter Three

  STELLA

  Chapter Four

  SINCLAIR

  Chapter Five

  STELLA

  Chapter Six

  STELLA

  Chapter Seven

  SINCLAIR

  Chapter Eight

  STELLA

  Chapter Nine

  STELLA

  Chapter Ten

  STELLA

  Chapter Eleven

  SINCLAIR

  Chapter Twelve

  STELLA

  Chapter Thirteen

  SINCLAIR

  Chapter Fourteen

  STELLA

  Chapter Fifteen

  STELLA

  Chapter Sixteen

  STELLA

  Chapter Seventeen

  SINCLAIR

  Chapter Eighteen

  STELLA

  Chapter Nineteen

  STELLA

  Chapter Twenty

  STELLA

  Chapter Twenty-One

  SINCLAIR

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  STELLA

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  STELLA

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  STELLA

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  STELLA

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  SINCLAIR

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  STELLA

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  STELLA

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  STELLA

  Chapter Thirty

  SINCLAIR

  Chapter Thirty-One

  STELLA

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  STELLA

  Epilogue

  STELLA

  CHAPTER ONE

  STELLA

  THE GROUND RUSHED UP to meet my face, but I turned my head just in time to avoid a busted nose. I wheezed as all the air was crushed from my lungs by the impact. Rolling to the side, I barely missed a large boot that stomped the grass where my torso had been.

  I got to my feet and backed away toward the house, trying to catch my breath and ignoring the pain in my ribs. Sweat stung my eyes, and the warm sun peeked from a behind a cloud.

  I focused on the massive man who rushed me, his arms spread wide and ready to capture me in what I already knew would be a painful bear hug. Ducking under his right arm, I turned, giving him a hard kick in the ass.

  He grunted and took a lunging forward step to avoid falling.

  “That’s a point for me.” I bounced on the balls of my feet.

  “No Krasivaya. I no fall.” Dmitri pointed to the grass and squared up with me again, the tapestry of tattoos on his bare torso rippling as he moved.

  “You will.” I grinned and ran at him, jumping at the last moment and landing a vicious elbow to his chest.

  He grabbed for me and managed to get one of his bear paws around my ponytail. I landed on my feet and tried to back away, but he whipped my head around and placed his other hand at my throat. He squeezed, attempting to force my submission.

  I brought my knee up and slammed my heel down onto his foot with all my strength. He yowled, but didn’t let me go. The air in my lungs was trapped there, and Dimitri made sure I couldn’t get any more oxygen. I struggled—kicking, punching, and clawing. I wouldn’t submit. I’d fight until he choked me out rather than tap out.

  Lucius clapped. “All right. She’s had enough.”

  Dmitri released me and slapped me hard on the back as I bent over and took in huge gulps of air.

  “Sorry, Krasivaya.” Dmitri had made clear ever since we started training that he took no joy in hurting me. All the same, the past two months had left me bruised, strained, and exhausted. But I was better, faster. I could escape him, though I wasn’t able to take him down. Not yet.

  “It’s your hair.” Lucius ignored my sputtering and walked up behind me. “You may have actually had a chance this time if he wasn’t able to grab hold of you so easily.” He yanked my ponytail.

  I whipped around and threw my leg out, swiping his feet out from under him so he landed on his ass.

  “Ow, fuck.” He looked up at me with his light blue eyes, irritation and amusement mixing in the quirk of his lips. “Uncalled for.”

  “Good.” Dmitri patted me on the back one more time, his palm slapping on the exposed skin above my sports bra. “But he is correct. Your hair. It is weakness.”

  “I’ll tie it up in a bun. Hell, I’ll cut it.” I didn’t care. Winning was more important than my vanity.

  “No way.” Lucius got to his feet and brushed the grass off. “Cal loves redheads. It’s an asset. Trust me. Besides, I wouldn’t like it if you cut it.”

  “Thanks for your input.” I arched an eyebrow at him.

  The sun bore down on the back of my neck like a warm weight. Or maybe the vines tattooed there were growing, getting bigger and thornier every day I spent as an Acquisition. “Your approval of my looks is really key for figuring out how to win this fight.”

  He shook his head. “I think I liked you better when you were scared.”

  “I think I never liked you.” I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down.

  He smirked. “A woman not liking me? Impossible.” He stepped closer, almost within my reach. “Besides, I think it’s pretty obvious you like me quite a bit.”

  D
mitri put his hands on his hips. “Leave her alone.”

  “Fuck off, Russian.” Lucius flipped him off without even looking in his direction.

  “This isn’t helping.” I brushed past Lucius and walked to the little water cooler set up under the oak tree. Pouring myself a cup, I sank down onto one of the collapsible chairs and replayed the fight over in my mind. Where had I gone wrong, other than my hairstyle?

  “I could take you.” Lucius pointed at Dmitri.

  “You always say this. You always lose.” Dmitri cracked his knuckles.

  “Depends on your definition of losing.”

  “You flat on back like good little bitch.”

  They circled each other and then tangled, wrestling before separating and doing it again. Like animals butting heads, both too stubborn to back off and call a truce.

  It was the same dance the three of us had been doing for the past two months. I trained. Dmitri taught. Lucius played. Sin… I didn’t know what Sin did. After the night of his mother’s revelations, he spent all his time in town, not even visiting on the one weekend when Teddy came home from school.

  Though he maintained his distance, I knew he kept tabs on me. I could feel it whenever Lucius took a phone call and glanced my way before leaving the room.

  It was Sin. Skirting around my periphery, always watching. He’d chased me, caught me, and trapped me in his web. Once I was snared, he ran.

  The last time I’d seen him was stuck on repeat in my mind. That night. I shook my head. The last night before he’d left the house for good. I rubbed my upper arms, a chill rushing through me despite the warm breeze.

  He was gone, but I haunted his room, sitting on his bed and staring at my paintings. He’d seen every bit of me, all of my weaknesses, my dreams, and my thoughts. Each piece of whatever made up Stella Rousseau was spattered across his walls like blood at a crime scene. I’d seen him too. Knowing there was a splinter of a good man left beneath all his darkness had done me no favors. All was revealed, the masks gone. He still shut me out.

  There were no secrets anymore, not from me. I roamed the house as if I belonged in it, as if it were mine. When Lucius was gone on business, which was often, I had the run of the entire estate. A prisoner with the keys to the castle.

  The only place I didn’t set foot was the third floor. I’d had enough of its occupant for a lifetime. Sin’s mother’s revelations were freeing, but they were also a cage, one Sin had been living in since being chosen for the Acquisition. Now I could see the bars clearly, examine each one for a weakness.

  After the initial shock of what she’d told me, I’d become focused. Sin would win the Acquisition. Teddy would live. I would do everything in my power to protect him. Endure what I had to do and survive. My sacrifice for my father had been made through deceit. The one I’d make for Teddy was of my own choosing. I would fight for it. I would see him live a long, happy life. Then I would set my sights higher. Dismantling the Acquisition was no longer a wish; it was my true goal. The reason I still drew breath.

  Dmitri flung his arm out in a vicious jab, catching Lucius in the mouth.

  “Fuck.” Lucius darted back and spit a wad of blood into the grass. “That’s cunt shit.”

  “Come closer. We see who is cunt.” Dmitri lumbered toward Lucius, the men unevenly matched in almost every way possible.

  “Hang on.” Lucius held up a hand. “It’s hot out here.”

  Dmitri stopped and waited. “I tire of hitting this clown. You ready for another round, Krasivaya?”

  “Almost.” I sipped the cold water as Lucius unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off one arm. He began to pull it from his other arm then rushed Dmitri when he was halfway through the motion.

  Lucius’ trick worked, and Dimitri groaned as the smaller man’s fist collided with his ribs.

  “Blyad! Little prick.” Dmitri whirled and thundered after a retreating Lucius.

  Lucius tried to spring back, but it was too late, Dmitri tackled him. They fell with a thud and Dmitri pinned him.

  “Who is bitch now, eh?” Dmitri grinned and slapped Lucius playfully before squeezing his cheeks.

  “Get the fuck off! You’re crushing my nuts.”

  The Russian sat back and got up before offering Lucius his hand.

  He took it and stood. “You need to lay off the fucking protein.” Lucius craned his head and tried to wipe the stray grass off his naked back.

  “Protein make man strong. You too skinny.”

  Lucius may not have had the larger build of Sin or the hulking Dmitri, but he wasn’t a small man by any means.

  “Skinny huh? I’ll still kick your commie ass. Come on. Let’s do this.” He put his fists up, his abs and chest glistening with a light sheen of sweat.

  “Again, then?” Dmitri shook his head but squared his shoulders.

  “Okay, that’s enough of a pissing contest.” I stood and stretched, my muscles aching. “I need to get back to training.”

  “She just doesn’t want you to get hurt, comrade.” Lucius dropped his fists and walked past me, plopping in the chair I’d just vacated.

  I pulled the elastic from my hair and wrapped the strands around in a tight ball before re-tightening the band. Once satisfied it wouldn’t serve as an easy grip, I walked back out into the sun to take position.

  I bent my knees and pulled my hands up. I was too small to win a straight-up brawl, but Dmitri had taught me to grapple and strike just enough to get my enemy into a submission move. Get them to tap out. But first, I had to get close enough. So far, I’d only gotten close enough to Dmitri to get my ass kicked. Bruises colored my legs, and no amount of warm baths and massages could erase the tenderness in my muscles from day after day of training. It was worth it. I had something to fight for. Something I would fight until my last breath to keep safe, as well as something to destroy.

  “Ready, Krasivaya?”

  “Bring it.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  STELLA

  TEDDY DIES. THE WORDS lingered as I woke in a sweat. Like I did most mornings. Another dream—blood on my hands and screams in my ears. I rose from the bed, not content to stay where my fears manifested in my subconscious. Stripping, I walked to the bathroom and climbed into the shower.

  The warm water rushed down my body, waking my senses and washing away the terror of the dream. It was always Teddy. His innocent brown eyes staring at me, lifeless. His blood coating my hands, seeping into my white dress from the last trial. I swore I could even taste it, coppery and hot.

  I leaned my head against the cool shower tiles, willing the feelings away. Instead of fear, I put resolve in its place. I had a month. One more month of training. One more month before the spring trial. What would it be? I wasn’t sure. All I had to go on was Renee’s memories about her year—a physical competition of strength and stamina. She never told me how it ended, only that I needed to be stronger and faster than she had been.

  And so I trained. Weights, swimming, running, and sparring. I couldn’t guess what Cal had cooked up for this year, but I knew it would be worse than what happened to Renee. Cal always made it worse. I could see why Rebecca had chosen him to reign. He was the perfect Sovereign, cruel and calculating. The system needed a firm hand to rule it, and Cal didn’t hesitate to crush anyone who stood in his way.

  I finished showering and dressed in what had become my uniform—a sports bra, t-shirt, and gym shorts. Snagging my tennis shoes, I pounded down the stairs to the breakfast room.

  Laura served my usual fare of eggs, smoothie, and a flax seed waffle. Dmitri was already seated and powering through an immense pile of sausage. He’d stopped shaving his head since he’d moved in, and his dark hair was finally laying flat. It made him look younger and a little less intimidating. But it didn’t matter. I already knew he was a big softy, with or without hair.

  Lucius strolled down the hall, his voice carrying as he talked business. “No, I don’t give two shits what the distributor charges, the price of sugar doe
sn’t change based on some dipshit middleman. I’ll handle it.”

  He walked into the sunny breakfast room dressed for travel in a navy suit, light blue shirt, and dark tie. His medium brown hair was cut neatly and smoothed back. Professional and suave, he fit perfectly as the business head of the family. Sin was wilder—something in his eyes, or maybe his bearing, gave him away as a threat.

  Like water circling a drain, my thoughts always found their way back to Sin.

  I shook my head slightly, as if that could erase memory of him, and took a drink of my banana, strawberry, and protein smoothie. “Where you headed?”

  “New Orleans for the next few days.” He sat across from me and flipped his tie over his shoulder as Laura served him. “Contracts and lawyers and shit. Nothing interesting.”

  I pointed at him with my fork. “Don’t forget Saturday.”

  “I won’t. I’ll be back with bells on.”

  “Bells?” Dmitri stopped mid-chew and drew his thick brows together.

  “Just an expression. He means he’ll be sure to be here for Teddy’s birthday.” I reached behind me and felt along my left shoulder, the tenderness bothering me more than when I woke.

  “Why don’t you go easy today?” Lucius texted with one hand and ate with the other.

  I stopped rubbing my shoulder. “Because I can’t.”

  “You haven’t had a break since…” He stopped texting and looked up. Since Sin left. “You need a break.”

  “No, I don’t. I need to keep getting better. I’m still not strong enough. What if I have to climb, what if I have to swim for hours, what if—”

  “Stella.” Lucius glanced to Dmitri and went back to texting.

  We’d told Dmitri I was training for a triathlon and wanted to throw in some self-defense just to help with coordination. He went along with it, though I often felt he suspected there was more to it, especially when he ran his hands over the scars along my back.

  “Just think about it, okay? You can’t keep going like this. You’re a rubber band that’s about to break.”