Wild Lions Part 3

Five Hours Before

Deirdre leaned back against his seat as he smoothed down his suit. His blue eyes flickered about as he watched the other men. He had long decided which ones could be useful and which ones were trash. One of them he had decided to take his business out from under him. There was one women within the bunch, which had caught his attention as she spoke about partnerships against their common foes. Because their kingdom was ruled by the underground, the other four kingdoms did whatever they could to prevent their condemnation. Little did they know, Deirdre had long penetrated them. The Kingdom of Fire was under the thumb of his Nickalos White, which meant Deirdre too had a hold in it. Despite this all, he tried to keep it under wraps just how far his hold went.

This was why, he could not stop the slight smirk that slithered its way onto his lips. The women who had been speaking turned to him and frowned. Her black hair tangled around her face from the movement, and quickly she combed it back to show dull brown eyes. It was so unlike Aidan's. Aidan's hair was raven black, smooth like silk, and it made him wish to brush his fingers in it all day. Her eyes were bright... full of life and beautiful. He had long been captured by them, but they also held a fire that he wished to control... to conquer. This women though, simply held his interest in the concept of business. "Do you have anything to add Mr. McGunner?"

The voice brought him from his thoughts as he folded his hands together. Resting them on the old wooden table, he leaned forward slowly. The chair followed him forward while all eyes turned to the male... one of the most powerful in the room. Most of them were older... well in their 40's and 50's while only two held a ripe age of their 20's like Deirdre. The women, he guessed, was one of them. "I think you are speaking nonsense." He stated smoothly while ice cold eyes stared up at her. Her eyes widened slightly at that statement before she parted her lips to speak again. Deirdre did not give her the chance. "You are speaking on the situation as if it's a problem. If something is in your way, simply remove it."

"That is what we are talking about or were you not listening?" The women snapped at him in a huff.

"I think what he is trying to say is we are making the situation too complex." Deirdre's blue eyes wondered to another in the room. The coldness in them almost made the man shut up, but that did not stop the smile on his lips.

"Alexia." Deirdre greeted. He twitched at the sour name slipping from his tongue as the gold haired man folded his hands onto his lap. He had been silent this whole time, but now he seemed happy to be involved. That did not sit well for this lion. The two had history, but still he had not been able to destroy the man. He held almost as much power as he, but the difference was Alexia did his work with words instead of actions. It was easy for him to get others to do his dirty work, while Deirdre preferred to dirty his hands instead.

Smiling, Alexia continued his words. "We keep this civil between our business because we all have a mutual understanding if we didn't, everything would fall apart." He stated. "However, some of us own more than others, and soon we will have to expand further otherwise we will have territory wars. So, why not start by working on the Kingdoms that already have a seed of us already there?" The male waved his hand towards Deirdre for input.

"I agree." Although, he chose to not add it further. Of everyone here, it was about gaining power and territory, but soon it would run into a clash. That was the problem Deirdre had overseen when he took the territory over. Alexia did not wait for an answer though as he stood. Smiling, he turned to the others. "Think on it." Turning, the male opened the door and left the room.

Glancing to the others again, Deirdre leaned back and closed his eyes. "Well, Mr. McGunner?"

"It sounds like none of you have any confidence in your business. Money talks." He stated simply, but their responses he did not hear. His mind was elsewhere. Alexia was not speaking on the conversation, and anyone that thought so were not listening. Alexia had said it directly to him... directly regarding a 'seed' he had planted, which made him wonder what his next move was. Alexia had always been a slippery one, and he did not like it at all. Frowning at that, he peeked his eyes open and let the others begin their talks about business and trades. This was no more than an attempt at gaining power and money. If only they knew just how far his territory actually went.

---

The meeting lasted longer than he thought. It was a nice feeling to be free of the chair, but he was displeased with the ending. It was a waste of time besides for the confirmation of who he should target next. His goal was a simple one. It was to dominate the underground, but there was a reason behind that too. Clenching his jaw slightly, the male came to stand in the hallway as he reached in to pull out his phone. It had been blowing up in the room, and now that he was free from it... Glancing at the screen, he raised an eyebrow at the slight. He had several messengers and e-mails. Several were from Mr. Clove, another from Alexia, and a few from his higher ups. The first he chose though was Alexia's. Deirdre's eyes narrowed at the sight. The male stood there unable to decide what emotion came over him. He felt a burning that shredded through him... his blood boiled, and his heart begun to pound.

The male's breathing increased and for a moment he imagined what it would be like to use a chainsaw to cut Alexia in half. The very idea of the male begging... screaming and crying for mercy was enough to calm Dierdre's anger. The idea of the blade working slowly first on his legs.... then his arms as he begged for mercy. The sight of the blood as it turned his red suit darker, stained his hair, and covered his pale skin. The side of his organs as they covered the ground before finally stopping just before he could make a killing blow. No, Dierdre would cut his tongue and allow him to choke on it while blood filled his windpipe. It was that sight that calmed the beast. He breathed through his nose, once... twice... and finally a third time as the screen to his phone turned black.

"Bastard." Deirdre mumbled as he stood there for a moment. He stared down the hall for a few seconds before pressing turning the phone on again. Placing it to his ear, he waited for a moment. He did not even let the other person speak before he was barking commands. "I want everything there is to know about Alexia on my desk by 10am sharp tomorrow." Without a response, he ended the call before starting down the walkway again. There will be hell to pay. Alexia just declared war, and he would find himself regretting that choice.

Coming to the deck, blue eyes flickered as they searched for his puppy. It took a few moments, but he found her there. Alexia stood speaking to her, and the image flickered in his thoughts once more. The sight of Aidan in that picture... looking off into the distance... the sight of the water reflecting the light, and the wind making love to her hair had his heart skipping a beat. She seemed to relax in that picture, but the idea that another person had seen it ate at the man's nerves. It bothered him. Dierdre could not understand his anger and bitterness in knowledge another man had looked at her. The knowledge that another man had taken a picture of her, but more so it bothered him that he was watching Aidan's smile. Deirdre felt his body begin to boil again, and his hand ripped through silver hair to put it back neatly against his skull.

For a moment, he debated how to approach. Instead though, he leaned against the metal wall of the hallway he had exited that gave him the perfect view of them both. To show the male had gotten under his skin was something he did not think was wise. Mr. McGunner could have no weakness. That was his first teaching... days, weeks, months, and years of a whip had taught him that much. The sight of friends and loved ones killed before his eyes had burned out his attachments. Yet, she drew him in, and that for one made her a liability. However, he let her stay and guarded her. It was not logical.

"Tsk." The angry huff came from him as he reached up to play with the necklace around his throat, only to instead fix the collar of his shirt. He unbuttoned one... then two to allow a bit of fresh air against his skin. He felt confined suddenly. Another thing he did not like, but that did not remain. That was when Alexia leaned down towards Aidan.

Before the Deirdre even knew what had happened he was standing above Alexia. Deirdre blinked away the fog and for a second, he glanced between Aidan and Alexia in pure confusion. He had one moment been standing against a wall, next he was standing over Alexia. "You fucking hit me." Alexia spat in utter amazement. Deirdre did not get violent over women. He did not hit people in public, and he certainly did not do it with such emotion.

Alexia had saw Deirdre from the corner of his eye. The instant he bent to seal his lips against the softness of Aidan's, the male had moved. He had turned sharply, straightened up, and glared with murderous intent. It took only a few seconds for the male to cross the threshold, and with rage burning in his eyes he slammed his fist straight into Alexia's cheek. Never before had emotion showed on McGunner's face, and that was what shocked the male the most.

At the moment though, it mattered little before Deirdre had backed up. Aidan's body had taken a step back as she stared with saucer sized eyes at the lion. Her whole entire body trembled as tension and rage rolled from the silver haired male. The world around them had darkened, stilled, and yet it felt as if the energy cracked between them like lightening. For a second, Aidan feared for her life. "Touch her again, and you will lose your tongue." Deirdre finally responded before turning his back. Once more, the image of Alexia choking on his own tongue came to mind.

For the first time in awhile though, he placed another being first. Thus, he slowly leaned down to Aidan and gently moved to brush his lips on hers. "Did he hurt you?" The women stayed frozen against his lips as she stared up at him. He slightly smile at the sight of her terrified doe eyes. A women so strong was terrified of him. She had never seen him get violent, yet something told him once she processed what happened he could get an ear full. For now, he wanted to know if she was hurt. Finally, she shook her head. "Good."

Thus, Deirdre crashed his lips to hers. Aidan yelped in surprise while a hand gripped onto her hip. He yanked her close with so much power, she collided against him. His other hand tangled in her hair, gripping and tugging as he tasted her. She tasted divine.. like a forbidden treat and without waiting for her permission he forced his tongue against hers. He heard the tiny whimper, and it only made him groan with want for more. He wanted more of that taste... of those hands on him, which were slowly coming to rest against his stomach. Yet she remained still... unmoving, and he wanted her moving. Deirdre wanted her to respond, but not just for him... Rather to prove to Alexia exactly who she belonged to. She was his... only his, and that idea had him snarling low in his throat.

His tongue, crafty and an expert brushed along her bottom lip before he nipped it gently with her teeth. That had Aidan gasping and whimpering as she begun to soften against him. Thus, he found his lips on hers again... kissing and tasting her while he grinded against her core. She moaned, which only encouraged him to do it again. Aidan gripped his shirt, tore at him. Her mind had become long lost in the kiss. Both of them had begun lost in it. His hand had begun to slowly creep from its hold to brush a thumb along her stomach.. seeking a hem that was not there. He wanted to feel her skin... had to, thus he reached down and pulled a leg up against his hip. "D-Deirdre."

A low growl left him at the sound of his name on her lips. He moved to brush his lips slowly along her chin, her neck and then her shoulder. All the while his hand had slipped under her dress and moved to scratch his way along her thigh. It was then his thumb brushed her inner thigh.. so close that it made her whimper and jerk against him. Her face buried against his throat as he chuckled against her neck. He nipped there before brushing his tongue slowly to cool the pain. With that, his thumb slowly slipped past the barrier and moved to brush against her slit. She jerked at his touch while his lips closed on her throat. Gently his teeth played with her skin... suckling and licking.

It was then he felt a jerk. Snarling loudly, he snapped his head around to find Alexia standing there behind him. His eyes were narrowed, teeth clenched and his hands formed into fists. "You made your point, now stop making a show of her." Deirdre glanced over to Aidan. His eyes widened in realization she was crying... her tears were staining his shirt as she trembled. Her hands, which he had thought were clenching his shirt were now pushing against him. Her words only came out in whimpers though.

Growling again, Deirdre removed his hand from her dress and allowed her leg to fall. Quickly though, he caught her and pulled her bridal style into his arms. Her face buried against his chest where her hands clenched against the fabric. She was to embarrassed to even look up. Glancing at Alexia, he spoke. "She is mine, remember that." Without another word, Deirdre turned to leave with a promise to put Alexia into the ground.