Heart Recaptured

by Tillie Cole

Chapter Thirteen

  Ky

  “How’s your woman doing?”

  Hush and Cowboy took a seat beside me on the bench, and I passed them each a beer from my six-pack.

  I shrugged and stared out at the rest of the brothers drinking and fucking around with sluts. That used to be me. But my mind, and my dick, seemed only to have time for one bitch nowadays.

  “She’s bruised, scared shitless. Won’t leave her room again… We’re right back to square one. Yeah, she’s fuckin’ terrified.”

  Hush sighed and Cowboy slapped me on my back. “She’s one good bitch, Ky. I gotta lotta time for that woman.”

  I fixed my attention on Cowboy and snarled, my upper lip curling as jealous possession made me lose control. Cowboy smirked and removed his hand from my back. “Don’t sweat it, brother. I ain’t gonna be a threat to your girl.”

  I frowned at the brother, just making him squirm.

  “Ky?” Hush said, but I held up my hand in dismissal. I didn’t want to hear any defense of his friend.

  “Calm down, Hush, I ain’t gonna hurt your boyfriend,” I said, taking another sip of my beer.

  Hush clenched his fist and he laid a solid punch on my arm. I smirked, and he shook his head. “Fuck you, asshole,” he spat. “I just thought you’d want to know that your bitch just stepped through the back door like she’d just walked through the doors to hell.”

  Head rapidly turning in the direction of the exit, my heart exploded out of my chest when I saw Lilah standing very nervously at the back door. Her long blond hair was down, hiding her bruised cheek and split lip as she swayed on her feet.

  Hell. She’d taken off her headdress in public. Did that mean something big? Was it some kind of pilgrim breakthrough? I didn’t fucking know.

  Jumping off the bench, I pushed through the brothers to get to my girl, throwing anyone in my way to the ground. Hearing the commotion of my plowing through behind him, Viking turned, and I smacked right into his chest. Gritting my teeth at his barricade, I moved right, then left, and all the time he shadowed my steps.

  “We fuckin’ dancing?” he asked, frowning.

  “Move!” I shouted, craning my head over his shoulder to keep watch on my bitch.

  Vike’s blown-up ‘roided chest pressed against mine, forcing me to look up at his smirking ugly face. He laid a fuckin’ sloppy kiss on my lips, pulled back, and said, “Fuck that, pretty boy. You got me here to prom, I bought a frilly dress, and I fuckin’ wanna dance before I put out for your tight ass in the back of your truck!”

  Vike wrapped his huge arms around me, lifted me off the ground, and spun me around. Laughter and jeers broke out around us, but my piss was boiling at the cuntbag. Aiming just right, I drew my head back and butted him right in the nose, feeling good when I heard bone cracking.

  “Ky, what the fuck?” Viking shouted as he dropped me to the asphalt. I ignored his grumbling as he bent over clutching his nose, and I closed in on Lilah, catching Vike shout, “You ain’t gettin’ my virgin pussy now!”

  Breathe. One, two, three, four…

  Lilah’s eyes were darting everywhere, her hands reaching behind her for the doorknob. She was gonna run again.

  No one had really noticed she was out here, too busy laughing their asses off at Vike bleeding all over the yard.

  When only a few feet away, Lilah’s scared gaze met mine, and the relief in her expression near floored me.

  Standing close, I brushed her long hair from her face and cupped her cheek. “Baby, you good? You come out here to see me?”

  She nodded and bowed her head. I lifted it back up with my hand still on her chin. “Don’t. Don’t fuckin’ hide from me. Show me those sweet beautiful blues.”

  Tears filled her eyes and her bottom lip quivered. “I… I am so embarrassed. My face… I should never have left the room… I—”

  Bending down to stop her rambling, I pressed my lips to her good cheek, hearing a quick inhale of breath. Next, I moved to her forehead, tasting her sweet vanilla skin. Dragging my lips down her face, feeling her trembling beneath my touch, I ran my tongue along the unharmed side of her lips, lingering there for a moment too long to breathe her in. I fought back a groan as my cock filled with blood. Lilah let out a quiet whimper as I found myself pushing her back against the door. Her hands gripped my waist.

  “Lilah,” I murmured against her mouth, pressing a long, lazy kiss to her full lips, before nipping down her chin until I got to her neck, nuzzling at the soft skin.

  Someone smashed a bottle behind me. Lilah jumped at the sound, causing me to pull back. Her eyelashes fluttered as she met my stare, and I pressed my forehead to hers.

  “You’re fuckin’ beautiful, sweet cheeks. Ain’t one bit of bruisin’ gonna ruin that. I’m fuckin’ gone for you, and ask any fucker here, that’s a goddamn miracle. You got some kind of pussy magic in you. I’m under your fuckin’ spell.”

  Lilah flinched and her mouth tightened, eyes dropping down to stare at her feet. Fuck, I’d pushed her too far, said too much, and scared the shit out of her. Lifting her chin again, I asked, “You ready to attend your first cookout? Prospect’s grilling barbeque.”

  “You will not leave me, will you?” Her blue eyes widened as she looked at the people in the yard. “There are so many men. I do not like being around so many men. Maybe I should retire… leave you alone.”

  Gritting my teeth at her shyness, I hooked my arm around her shoulders and tucked her in close to my side, a wave of protectiveness taking hold of my body. “You know I’ll never leave you. No one would dare touch you. And if you don’t wanna talk to them, you just let me know and I’ll tell them to fuck off or they risk my fist in their face.”

  Lilah nodded her head and looked up at me with a thankful smile. I felt her small hand lie gently on my chest. It was shaking and she gripped the edge of my cut as we began to move.

  The brothers suddenly quieted, all eyes drawn to Lilah. My grip on her tightened, and I could feel her warm breath blow against my side where she’d turned in to avoid their heavy stares.

  Straightening and holding my head high, I guided us to the bench where Hush and Cowboy were sitting. Death stares of warning were flashed to anyone whose gaze lingered on us too long. Lilah liked Cowboy and Hush; she felt comfortable in their presence.

  Hush and Cowboy saw our approach and moved to the side to make room for my girl. Hush stood. “Hey, Blondie. What’s happening?”

  Lilah peeked her head around my waist and blushed. I nudged her with a squeeze of my arm to reply. “I… I felt like some fresh air. It has been a while since I dared venture outside.”

  Cowboy tapped the bench and tipped his Stetson. “Sit that purdy ass down, darlin’.”

  Lilah gripped onto me tighter, still freaking out, so I turned, picked her up, sat down, and held her in my lap, ignoring her body stiffening at the action. I turned to Cowboy. “Now you got my purdy ass beside you. That fuckin’ okay, darlin’?”

  Cowboy laughed and raised his beer, taking a sip. “Fuckin’ peachy!”

  Lilah sighed and her head tilted up to look at the apartment window. I caught her smile and, when I looked up, Maddie was in the window smiling back down at her, her hand flat against the glass like she wanted to be down here too.

  Poor fucking bitch.

  “Lilah?”

  Lilah dropped her head at the same time as me at the call of her name. Mae came rushing through the gawking brothers with tears in her eyes. Her and Styx must have just got back from their trip.

  “Lilah!” she yelled and threw her arms around her neck. “You are outside! I cannot believe it!”

  Lilah hugged Mae in return, while I was busy getting crushed underneath.

  Mae pulled back but refused to release Lilah’s hand, holding it tightly in hers. Mae tried to see Lilah’s face, but Lilah kept her head firmly down. I saw the flash of panic run across Mae’s face.

  “Are you well, sister?”

  Lilah nodded meekly. “Yes…
I am well.”

  Mae kneeled on the ground when Lilah failed to raise her head again. “Lilah, please… look at me. Why do you not look into my eyes? Have I wronged you? Are you displeased with me for leaving?”

  I rubbed at Lilah’s back, and she turned to me, her long hair still blocking Mae from seeing her face. I stared into her eyes and nodded for her to show herself. I caught Mae’s frown behind Lilah and the shitty look she cast at me as her eyes narrowed and her full lips pursed. Honestly, I didn’t give a fuck. Mae didn’t know how it was between Lilah and me now.

  “Look at your girl, sweet cheeks,” I said and, taking a deep breath, confessed, “She’s gonna find out sooner or later.”

  Lilah too took a deep breath and looked at her sister.

  Mae gasped and tears formed in her eyes. “Lilah…” she whispered.

  Lilah released her hand and cupped Mae’s cheek.

  “I am fine, sister. It is no worse than what I—what we both—have suffered before.”

  “Who did this to you?” she asked, getting real pissed.

  “Tiff and Jules. They were jealous and angry at my spending time with Ky. They wanted to join with me… tried to force their attentions on me…” Mae sucked in a breath and had to look away. “Ky… I mean, Letti… punished them under club rules. It is resolved now. We can discuss it at a later time. But we both know why they did it…” Lilah trailed off.

  Now that made me sit up straight.

  I had no idea what she was fuckin’ talking about. What the fuck kinda thing was she thinking that would make it understandable why Tiff and Jules wanted to suck on her tits and get all up in her pussy?

  Mae’s face saddened and she pressed kisses to Lilah’s palm. “You know I do not believe that, sister.”

  Lilah just shrugged.

  Mae leaned back and stood up; Styx automatically moved behind her and wrapped an arm around her chest. His eyes were tight, his mouth hard. With one look, I knew what he was saying to himself. What the fuck went down at my club when I was away, and why the fuck am I just hearing about it now? I held up my hand to signal I’d tell him about it later. He clenched his jaw and took a long swig of Beam.

  Styx leaned down to Mae and whispered something into her ear. Mae’s gaze snapped back and she shook her head in refusal at whatever he was saying. Styx’s gaze hardened further and he looked to me, clicking his fingers.

  “Translate,” he signed. Mae chewed nervously on her thumb, her worried gaze always on Lilah.

  Styx released Mae to turn to face the brothers and whistled through his fingers until everybody looked our way. Styx looked back and waved me over to stand beside him, bringing Mae to stand in front of him.

  Brushing my lips past Lilah’s ear, I said, “Be back in a minute, sweet cheeks. Sit beside Hush and Cowboy while I translate for prez.”

  Lifting Lilah, I placed her on the bench, and she smiled shyly at my brothers. My chest fuckin’ expanded. She was gradually coming out of her shell. I prayed nothing else happened to send her back to what she was like before. Tiff and Jules, the cunts, had nearly ruined everything. At least now they were burning in hell. Letti had slit their throats and sent them to the boatman—no coins on their eyes. Lilah didn’t know that piece of information, and never ever would.

  “You ready?” I asked Styx. He freed his hands from Mae.

  “We’re gonna make this quick,” Styx signed, and I verbalized his words. The brother’s arms went over Mae’s shoulders, his hands still free as he signed, “I asked my woman to marry me. She said yes. Thought y’all should know there’s gonna be a Hangmen wedding.”

  I translated without really taking in the words, too busy watching Lilah. But when the place erupted into howls and smashing bottles… I cast a double take in Styx’s direction.

  He was already looking at me, waiting for my reaction, and he shrugged, signing, “It was always the bitch with the wolf eyes from behind the fence. Now I’m making it legit.”

  Genuinely happy and beaming a fuckin’ huge smile at my brother, I pulled him to my chest. “Another one bites the dust, hey, fucker?”

  Styx jabbed me in the stomach, then looked questioningly at Lilah still sitting on the bench, seeming shell-shocked, and then looked back at me with a raised brow. My stony face clearly told him not to push whatever he was implying, and he walked away to pull Mae away from Beauty and Letti who were interrogating his woman to fuck.

  Turning, I looked down to Lilah, who was as white as a damn ghost; she was sitting awkwardly between Cowboy, Hush, and now AK, her chest jerking and her hand rubbing at her sternum. Kneeling, I took Lilah’s clasped hands between mine and flicked my head at my brothers to scram.

  Doing as I ordered, Lilah and I were left alone. She was chewing on her lip, her eyes staring off into nowhere, bright with panic.

  “What’s going on in that head, sweet cheeks?”

  Taking in a ragged breath, Lilah shook her head, her eyes now focused on Mae and Styx as they were congratulated by the brothers and old ladies of the Hangmen. Tears filled her eyes. I glanced down to our joined hands. Hers were shaking.

  Tugging her closer, I asked, “Lilah, what the fuck’s going on? Why the fuck are you shaking? Talk to me,” I pushed quietly, not wanting to draw the attention of anyone else in the yard.

  Lilah’s big blues locked on mine and she began shaking her head back and forth, slow tears tumbling down her pale cheeks. “And the third-born Cursed temptress of The Order shall join in holy matrimony with the revealed prophet of the Lord. Her devil-tainted soul will be purified, rid of Eve’s sin, as will all of the fallen daughters of Eve. This sacred joining of the prophet’s wife shall signal the end of days, the triumph of light over darkness, of God’s strength over Satan.”

  Lilah’s hands squeezed mine with every line she spoke. I frowned, not understanding the shit spilling from her mouth.

  “Lilah, calm the fuck down,” I whispered harshly and glanced behind to make sure her crazy wasn’t being overheard. I immediately crashed gazes with Mae, whose eyes went to Lilah; fear and disappointment shined in their depths.

  Lilah began rocking, repeating those words over and over, her voice getting louder, starting to pull the focus of my brothers and their bitches.

  My attention back on Lilah, I cupped her cheeks, and her tortured eyes looked into mine, her voice assuming a panicked tone. Her body started to shake so badly she almost convulsed.

  Mae suddenly appeared at our side, and Lilah jumped from the bench to her feet when Mae reached out her hand. The mumbling stopped and Mae edged forward. “Lilah, please…”

  Lilah stumbled back, almost falling flat on her ass as Mae tried to reach for her. “No!” Lilah whispered, edging away to the center of the yard.

  “Mae, leave her the fuck alone!” I yelled and tried to get to Lilah. Her breathing had gone weird and she looked so white. But Styx appeared beside me, fisting the shoulder of my cut, holding me back when I tried to jump forward to stop Mae’s advance on my bitch.

  Fuck, what the hell was wrong with her?

  “Lilah, please, I love him!” Mae shouted, and Lilah shook her head repeatedly, her legs buckling like a fuckin’ baby deer struggling to walk.

  Mae stopped a few feet from Lilah, and Lilah finally looked at Mae, lips trembling. “You cannot marry Styx. You know the teachings. You will condemn us all! You know what must be done to save our damned souls!”

  Mae inched farther forward and held out her hand in our direction, clearly telling us not to approach. “Sister, there is no more Order. There is no more prophet, no scripture to control our destiny. We are free, sister. We are free to love whomsoever we wish.”

  “No!” Lilah cried. She gripped both sides of her head as though not to hear Mae’s words. “I still believe! And our people are the chosen ones, sister. The Lord will rebuild us. They will return for us and save us.”

  Mae sighed and gripped the bridge of her nose. “Lilah, nothing our people said is true! Everything they—Pro
phet David, the elders, the disciples—preached was false! Prophet David was a false prophet! The Bible warns of this. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves—Matthew 7:15. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:23-24. We were deceived, sister. We lived a lie. You are still living that lie!”

  “That is what is false! Look at us! What Prophet David and the elders said of us was true! Look at my face.” Lilah pointed to her beaten face and flinched as she pressed her finger against her bruised cheek. “It was done by women who could not resist me. I cannot keep living this way, Mae. I want to be free. I want to be saved! I seek salvation. I have seen too much evidence of our curse on men to know our prophet was indeed correct. I am not corrupted. I am inherently evil, as are you!”

  Mae clenched her jaw and said, “You trust scripture so much, sister. You trust Prophet David’s words so much that you are blind. Open your eyes and see their lies, break free from their controlling bonds… live! You are free!”

  Lilah panted with the exertion of her distress and shook her head. Mae glanced back at Styx, a painful expression on her face. Turning back to Lilah, Mae said, “And the Lord said to me: ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds…”

  Lilah froze, tears falling free, and looked at Mae. “No, you are wrong. You have to be wrong!” Lilah whispered, devastation obvious in her timid voice.

  “I will never go back to that life, Lilah. I have true freedom with Styx. I have a life with Styx!”

  Lilah began to sob.

  “Lilah…” Mae cried, but Lilah wiped away her tears and held up her hands. A weird calm coming over her.

  “Sometimes I do not even recognize you as a sister anymore.”

  Mae sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes filled with water. I could see Lilah’s anger immediately drop and, when Mae turned on her heel and began running to the entrance of the club, Lilah quickly followed.