by G N Wright
“Evening, wifey. You left me quite a mess to clean up. I’d be pissed if I weren’t so impressed. If this is your idea of foreplay, I can’t wait to go another round with you.” His arrogant and psychotic tone purrs down the line making my skin crawl
I can’t control my temper, “The only foreplay you're going to enjoy is my gun down your fucking throat.” I snap.
Like the true psychopath I’m sure he is, my words don’t deter him. “Ahh Mr. Riviera. Sorry I didn't realize I was in the presence of Royalty.” He drawls sarcastically, “how is the delightful South Side of town these days?
I have no time for his bullshit games. “Listen here you sick fuck, you lost, you are gonna keep losing and you would do best if you crept back into the demonic hole you were birthed from and fucking rotted there. We are done playing your games.”
“But you know how much I love to play, especially when it comes to our girl.
The way he says our girl makes me want to fucking reach down the phone and gut him where he stands. A stark contrast to how I felt just a few minutes ago when his brother said it. “Keep fucking playing asshole, the last thing you are ever going to see is me slitting your fucking throat.”
He laughs wildly like he is genuinely enjoying himself. “We’ll see about that. Give my fiancée my regards. Bye for now.
The phone disconnecting is the last thing I hear and all I can think is, this is far from over.
Chapter 22
ELLE
Iwake up to the best sight I could ever wish for. Asher is facing me with his arms curled around Cassie, both of them flat out and snoring softly. They look peaceful, happy, safe. It takes everything in me not to burst into tears again. We got her back, she’s here, with her family, exactly like she should be. Safe and completely protected.
I try my hardest not to think about the nights she has spent away from us. Did she cry? Did she have nightmares? Did she wonder why we weren’t there? Fuck just thinking about it makes me want to rip her from Ash’s arms and pull her into my own and never let go again. What would have happened if the guys didn’t get her back? If I walked right into the den of lions that awaited me and gave myself over to them? I was fucking stupid, no, I was fucking desperate. I would have done anything.
I don’t know how long I lie here in the dark staring at them, could be minutes, could be hours. It doesn’t matter, I just want to be lost in the feeling of having them here, alive, and just with me. I think about how close we came to losing her, how bad, no, how fucking awful this whole thing could have been. Even a bond as strong as ours wouldn’t have been able to save us from the tragedy of losing her.
It’s not easy pulling myself away from them, but my bladder has other plans. I roll out of the bed as silently as possible and move to the en-suite off to the side of the room. Once I’m done, I come back into the room and note the time from the clock on the bedtime table: 4am. I thought with everything that has happened I'd be able to sleep a lot longer, but I guess my little drug induced nap hindered me. I stretch out my limbs which feel kinda stiff and I know it's probably the effects of whatever Ash pricked me with yesterday. I know I won’t be able to go back to sleep, I’m still too on edge and reeling from all that’s happened.
I take one last look at Cass and Ash and smile. I’ll just go grab some coffee and come back. I leave the room as silently as possible, but when I close the door behind me, I find Marcus sitting on the floor against the wall opposite with his head down. When the door clicks shut, he looks up at me.
“Hey,” I whisper, unsure of what else to say at this point. It’s not like I avoided him earlier, but I truly didn’t know what to say to him. It was like the day I came back to town and set eyes on him for the first time since I left. So much between us, yet I left it behind, just like I did three years ago. But he has to understand how much I am willing to risk to protect my daughter. She’s everything.
“Hey,” he offers me a soft smile and then stands up and gestures for me to follow him.
I know we really need to talk and there is no escaping it now, so I move down the hall to follow him. We reach what I presume is his room and he steps inside, and as soon as I’m in he shuts the door behind me.
His grip finds my throat faster than I can comprehend as he slams me into the door and pushes his body against mine kissing me with everything he's got. Totally not what I was expecting. This kiss is unlike any we’ve ever shared. It's rough, urgent, animalistic. Like he is living for every breath he can steal from me. Like I am his only lifeline and without me he will perish.
His mouth leaves mine as he trails kisses across my jaw and down my neck, nipping me slightly as he grunts, “You forgot.”
“Forgot what,” I say breathlessly as his teeth sink into the curve of my neck, causing a moan to rip from my lips.
He pulls back, tightening his grip slightly, “that you’re mine, that I’m yours, that we are in this fucking together.” He grits before kissing me again, forcing his tongue against my lips until I open my mouth and let it tangle with mine.
Everything is just teeth, tongue, and hands as he drags his grip over my body. I need to see him, feel him. I drag his top up and over his torso revealing the Kevlar vest he’s still wearing. While he rips off my own black top and discards it on the floor. I make quick work of dragging the zip down his vest and pushing it off his broad shoulders before he reaches round and rips my bra from my chest.
He palms my breasts roughly, squeezing until my nipples harden into tight points. Then he leans down and sucks one into his mouth, lapping at it with his hot tongue then pulling at it with his teeth. It’s so sensitive I feel I could come from this alone. His gaze locks with mine as he continues to suck them into his mouth before dropping to his knees in front of me. He drags my pants down and I lift each of my legs to help him get them off and my thong quickly follows.
His mouth reaches my pussy without pause, and I can’t contain my moans as my back arches. I push against his tongue as it finds its way to my center. He laps at me like a starving man devouring his last meal, sucking my clit into his mouth, and sliding a finger inside me, reaching that delicious spot.
“You were going to sacrifice yourself to him.” He grits, finger fucking me at a torturous pace.
“I had no choice,” I manage to gasp out as he curls his finger and brushes it against my g spot. My orgasm starts to climb, and I would give anything to reach it.
He grunts, “wrong answer, little King.” His finger begins to fuck me furiously and at the same time he bites down on my clit hard, not letting up until I am on the very edge of my orgasm and then he pulls back.
“Fuck!” I snap as my back slumps against the wall in anger and desperation and he smiles.
“You did something very bad, and you need to be punished for it, baby.” He doesn’t give me time to digest his words before he grips both of my thighs and throws them over his shoulder so he can feast on me again. His tongue circling my clit over and over and I can’t help but ride his face. He drags it down until he can fuck me with it, and I claw at his hair, pulling it tight, desperate to come. Marcus doesn't stop, just continues to dip his tongue in and out of my hole and when my moans turn to cries all River does is drag his mouth down to my other hole, licking at the tight bud of my ass. It sends me over the edge, and I come with a silent scream, my legs shaking, clamped tight around his face.
He pulls back while I try to catch my breath and wipes his face against my thigh before he bites his way back up my body. Licking, sucking, nibbling anywhere he can touch. He kisses me again and I taste myself on his tongue as it swirls with mine, then he pulls back, “time to show you who you belong to.”
He drags me from the door and pushes me down on top of the dresser next to it, knocking a lamp to the floor in the process. He drags my hips down until my ass hangs over the edge slightly before stepping between my thighs and dragging his cock up and down my wetness until it’s covered in me. I don’t even get a second to think before he
slams into me and I cry out. Fuck, I barely catch my breath before he pulls out and does it again. Pounding into me as hard as he can, hitting my clit with every thrust and I can already feel the chase of another orgasm beginning.
I reach up and curl my arms around his neck and hold on tight as he continues to fuck me with deep, long strokes. My nails digging into his back as I bite back my moans. He must feel me start to clench as my orgasm builds.
“Yesssss, that’s it, baby,” he hisses. “Fucking give it to me, Ells. I want you fucking dripping on my cock, I’m not stopping until you’ve fucking drenched me, baby.” He grits his words out through clenched teeth as he slams into me over and over, hitting that perfect spot until I can’t hold back. I come hard, throwing my head back, as his hand smothers my mouth in a tight grip, muffling my screams of pleasure.
I’m panting hard as I come down from another mind-blowing orgasm, but he doesn’t relent. Instead, he pulls out of me and drags me down, flipping me, before bending me over and pushing my face against the dresser. “Lift those hips for me, baby,” he purrs, grabbing me and lifting them towards him before I can even move.
He drags his cock between my folds and up across my ass, coating me in my own juices. “You’re fucking mine, Ells.” He grunts desperately, his hand joining his cock as he strokes himself. His fingers sliding through my dripping pussy before he sinks his dick back inside me. He starts to fuck me slowly from behind as one of his wet fingers presses against my other hole. Fuck the intrusion shouldn’t feel so tempting, but it does, and when I gasp in pleasure, I feel him swell inside of me. He wants this. I want this.
I start to push back against him, meeting his thrusts, as Marcus slowly slides a finger inside my ass, I instinctively clench around it. Holy fuck, it burns yet feels fucking deliciously sinful at the same time. My eyes roll into the back of my head as he fucks both my holes, feeling him hot and hard inside of me. I can barely catch my breath and my vision blurs to the point where I can barely see, as I come close to yet another orgasm.
“Baby, you’re so tight back here. I can feel my own cock sliding inside of you.” His words are raw and dirty, they push me close to the edge as I clench again. He groans, “Ells, keep doing that for me,” I do it again and he moans louder. “Fuck Ells, you like me fucking both your holes?”
“Yes, God yes” I pant out and he picks up the pace. “Fuck Marcus, don’t stop, I’m so close. More, please.” I beg fumbling over the words in my pleasure induced haze. He doesn’t make me ask again, and as he slowly adds another finger into my ass, I almost pass out in a mix of pleasure and pain. It hurts, yet I want it, want the pain, want the pleasure, want it all and I want it from him. Want to feel everything he’s got to give me.
“Who does this pussy belong to?” He asks, but I can’t form any more words, I just moan, but that isn’t good enough for him. He begins to thrust his fingers harder into my ass as he fucks me even harder, “who’s are you, Ells?”
He thrusts his fingers one last time before dragging them out and I come hard with a loud cry, “yours!” I shout as he moans loudly, and I can tell he almost came himself. He grabs both my arms and pulls them behind my back, holding them in place with one of his hands, as he pulls my torso towards his chest. His other hand comes around to grip my throat as he delivers fucking punishing hard thrusts into me as he chases his own release.
“Don’t. Ever. Fucking. Leave. Me. Again.” He speaks each word with a brutal thrust before he spills inside of me.
Another weight lifts off my chest as we both fall forward onto the dresser, panting and breathless and perfectly satisfied. I honestly didn’t know if I would ever get to have this again. Not just the sex, but feeling him, holding him and just being with him. It’s all I want, time with him, time with Cassie, time with my family. Yet I can’t help thinking that, as long as Elliot and Greg are still out there, we are living on borrowed time.
How do you live when so many still need to die?
Chapter 23
ELLE
When I wake up again, I am back in bed spooning Cassie. Marcus is curled around me, and Asher is sitting on the other side of Cass, with his laptop open, tapping away. I feel even more settled than I did when I woke up earlier. Three of the most important people in my life are all within touching distance and I feel happier than I thought I could, especially given everything that’s gone on. I sigh in contentment and Ash's eyes immediately find mine.
“Hey,” he whispers with the same sad tortured expression I have become accustomed to back on his face. It doesn’t matter that Cassie is here with us and safe. He will wear that expression until he chases his father and brother into the pits of hell.
“Hey, how’d you sleep?” I ask and I’m greeted with a slight teasing smile.
“Not as good as you, apparently.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me, and I can’t help but laugh at him as I hide my blush. It’s a gesture I’ve never seen on his usually serious face, but it’s certainly a welcome one.
“Ash.” I squeak back and he laughs at my awkwardness.
“What? Maybe keep it down next time, Hells Bells, some of us were actually trying to sleep.” He teases and I can feel the burn of my embarrassment all over my face.
Marcus groans from behind me, “maybe keep it down now because some of us are still trying to sleep.”
“Sorry, Riviera,” He snorts in response, “I didn’t realize how much beauty sleep the King of the South Side needed.”
“Eurghhh, I remember why I hated you when we were kids now.” Marcus grunts in response. My embarrassment quickly turns to shock as I listen to their light, back and forth banter. When the fuck did they stop wanting to completely kill each other?
I don’t get a chance to ask before Marcus sits up slightly and snuggles into my neck, planting a kiss there. “Morning, baby.”
“River?” Cassie asks as she stirs awake.
“Yeah, it’s me, little one.” He replies without pause and she smiles wide rubbing her tired eyes.
I’m still so wary, just waiting for her to cry or break down and tell me something awful happened, but she seems completely fine. Like she just went and had a little vacation. The most dangerous and anxiety-inducing vacation ever.
“Did we have a sleepover?” She asks and Asher snorts again. I give him the death glare as Marcus laughs behind me.
“Yeah, princess, we all had a sleepover because we missed you so much.” I say brushing her hair from her forehead and leaning down to give her a kiss.
“So fun!” She exclaims excitedly as she sits up, “can we do it again when Santa comes?” She pleads and I falter.
Fuck. It’s almost Christmas. I didn’t keep track of what time it was, let alone what day, while she was gone. Shit. We have so much fucking work to do. I need to make sure this is the best Christmas she has ever had.
Marcus doesn’t miss a beat, “of course we can, whatever you want.”
Her eyes widen as she looks at me, “really Mommy?”
I smile, “whatever you want baby.”
She throws herself at me cuddling me just as tight as she did last night and once again, I breathe her in. I will never allow myself to take one cuddle for granted, when I know what it’s like to be without them.
A knock on the bedroom door breaks our moment and Asher yells that the door is open and a few seconds later, Arthur pops his head round. If he’s surprised to find us all together like this, he doesn’t show it.
Just smiles and says, “just thought I’d see if my little spitfire wanted some chocolate chip pancakes.”
“Yesssss!” She screams, bouncing off the bed and running towards him. He scoops her up and cuddles her. A huge smile plastered on his face, he’s happy our family is whole again.
He focuses back on us. “Anything for you guys?”
“Yeah, we’ll be out in a minute.” I say with a nod moving to sit up and he offers me a mock salute and shutting the door behind him as he leaves.
I huff as I flop ba
ck down covering my eyes with my arm, trying not to panic at letting Cassie out of my sight, which is absurd. She is literally with her Grandpa in the next room, but I can’t help the anxiety that crawls across my body like a bunch of spiders.
“I feel it too.” Ash whispers. I move my arm to look at him and he continues, “the fear, wanting to keep her right next to me where I can see her. Even though she is perfectly safe. Yeah, I feel it too.” He exhales deeply and I’m glad I don’t have to be alone in my feelings. I think we will probably feel like this for a while or at least until there is no longer a threat against her. Question is what do we do about that threat?
“Should we leave?” I ask, not really aiming my question at any one of them in particular. “Do we just take her, run and never look back.”
I feel Ash shrug, while Marcus remains silent, “It was a close call.” Ash says. Yeah, real fucking close. “But does leaving really solve anything?”
“She’d be out of danger.” I shrug back.
“Could you really do that? Leave behind your revenge and move on, knowing they’re still out there?” Ash replies.
“Yes.” No. I don’t know. All I know is I almost lost my daughter thanks to my revenge, but hundreds of others will continue to lose theirs if we do nothing.
“What do you think?” I focus on Marcus and he looks shocked that I would direct my question at him,
He looks to Ash, then back to me, “I think my opinion on it doesn’t really matter.” It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a hint of sadness in his eyes, while he’s been thinking about Cassie. He doesn’t realize how serious I am about us. He is it for me, and if he’s a part of my life, then he’s a part of her’s too. Always.
“Please don’t start being a whiny bitch again. I thought we were past it.” Asher huffs at him and I have to smile. “I’m family, you’re family, we are all fucking family, everyone gets a vote.” He adds on and I don’t miss the shock on Marcus' face that Ash sees him that way. It’s how I’ve always seen the two of them but having them both here now. My best friend and the man I love. It’s everything.