After about fifteen minutes, we’re deep in New Orleans and he pulls his car in front of a blue storefront. The sides are old-fashioned brick, at least hundreds of years old, but I’m not shocked. So many of the buildings here have been standing for many years. On top of the sign that reads ‘Gianina’s’, there’s a row of pink and white flowers, really giving it some curb appeal.
Finn puts the car in park, exits the vehicle, and comes around the other side. At this point, I know not to even open the door. He prefers to do it for me, so I’ll let him. He proceeds to open the door, and I unbuckle my seatbelt. After he extends his hand, he helps me out and he wraps an arm around my waist as we walk inside.
We head into the jewelry store and I’m in complete awe. It looks like we’ve just walked into something that you might see in Chicago, Los Angeles, or even New York City. The floor is a combination of gray and white. It’s carpet, but very high class. Throughout the store are rectangular jewelry cases on the sides, and in the center are smaller display cases. Each one of the display cases has gold trim, and it matches the abstract chandeliers that hang above.
“Finn Brisbane, when you called me I thought ‘what kind of woman could handle this man?’, but now that I see her, everything makes sense.” An older woman with all white hair smiles brightly as she approaches.
Finn and I walk up to meet her, and Finn gives the woman a hug. “Gianina, it’s been too long. How’s the family, the grandkids?”
Her smile grows even bigger. “They’re fabulous, thanks to you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for them. I appreciate it so very much.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was glad to be able to help. Now, allow me to formally introduce you to my fiancée, Olivia.”
I take a step forward and extend my hand, but the woman pulls me into a full-on hug. Surprisingly enough, I don’t flinch as she grabs onto my body, making me realize I only react when it’s a man who does it. She lets me go and looks into my eyes. “He’s a good one, lovely. You’re such a lucky woman.”
Without even thinking, my words slip out. “I’m starting to realize how lucky I am.”
Finn’s taken aback by my words, but I’m being honest. He’s done so much for me, and if I’m being forced into a marriage with someone, I’m glad he’s the one I’m going to be with. Before, I didn’t think I would think that, but here we are.
“Come, come! I have to show you some gorgeous rings! Now, he told me a bit about you, Olivia, so I designed five rings I think might fit what you’re looking for. They’re each a bit different, so tell me what you like or don’t like. I should also tell you I can customize anything for you.” Finn and I both follow Gianina as she walks us across her store to one of her display cases. She kneels on the ground, and sounds that can only indicate she’s putting a code into a safe fill my ears. After a loud beeping sound, she pulls out a long, rectangular display with five fingers attached. Each of them has a ring, and every one of them is different than the rest.
Modern, princess, vintage, classic, and emerald cuts are displayed before me. All of them are white-gold, and some even have smaller diamonds that go down the sides. As I get a closer look, I see the wedding bands are with the rings as well. “These are the full sets, right?”
“A woman with a keen eye, I see. Yes, I wanted to give you a complete picture of whatever you decide suits you. My hope is it will help you pick something.”
I nod and smile. “It will. Thank you so much.”
Scanning over the rings, my eye keeps going back to one more than the rest, so I point to it and Finn smiles widely.
“What? Why are you looking like that?” I question him, and Gianina’s laughter fills the room.
“He helped me design this for you,” she fills me in.
I look at Finn and immediately wrap my arms around him. He’s . . . he’s making me feel like I am the luckiest woman on the planet. At every turn we’re making the best of this, and he’s proving to me he can be the type of husband I need.
Chapter Nine
Finn
Over the past few weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time flying back and forth between New Orleans and Corpus Christi. I didn’t mind doing this since it allowed me to spend more time with Olivia. The two of us have gotten to know each other quite a bit. I found out her favorite color, blue. I also found out she loves jazz. Her favorite drink is a red wine, and she loves cheese.
The more we talk, the more I found myself pulled in her direction.
Since the first kiss we shared together in her bed, I’ve kissed her many times over. She even initiated more to it. The other day while we were in her bed, she didn’t move when I cupped her breast in my hand. Instead, she gasped and moved further into my body. We got so far as her being stripped down to her panties and my mouth on her.
I didn’t want to take it further, even if my cock screamed for release. I won’t push her. Not until I know for a fact she’s good with me sinking my cock into her.
Sighing, I exit the helicopter and head for my car. I need to go to my house in Port Sulphur and shower, change and wash the blood off my hands. One of the men who thought they could mess around and start threatening my staff at the casino tried to come at me with a knife earlier today and ended up losing his life to the very same knife.
It’s a good thing my pilot is on payroll and is used to seeing me bloodied.
Tomorrow is Félix’s wedding, and I’ve got to be there. I promised Olivia I would go to the rehearsal dinner with her. I had no intention of breaking my promise to her. She means everything to me.
It’s why for the next few days, I’ve put Bourn in charge and told him unless it’s an emergency, I didn’t want to be bothered. Meaning to get Conor to keep an eye on Ashton. I refused to have him cause any problems.
Casen comes to get in the passenger seat of my car. I brought him with me just in case. Precautions are needed at all times, especially with time ticking and Ashton knowing I’m getting married to Olivia.
“After we clean up at my house, we’re going straight to the restaurant we’re having the rehearsal dinner. Your job is to keep an eye on Olivia,” I inform him.
“You got it, boss,” he mutters harshly. A few years ago, he took a beating that left him with damaged vocals. Now, whenever he talks, his voice always seems harsher than it really is.
We get to my house in Port Sulphur, and I text Olivia letting her know I should be there on time. I quickly shower and throw out the clothes. I make sure to shave and get cleaned up. I dress in a pair of charcoal gray dress pants and a deep red dress shirt. I roll the sleeves up to my elbows and put on a pair of shoes to match.
I make my way out of my room to find Casen ready to go as well dressed similar to me, but wearing a deep green shirt and light gray pants instead.
Nodding, the two of us head out to get into my car. An hour later, I’m pulling up to the restaurant. I park and get out from behind the wheel. Pocketing my keys, I head for the entrance to the restaurant.
Once inside, I spot Olivia right away and grin. She’s smiling as she talks to Sabine off to the side. I make my way to her with Casen right behind me. Olivia smiles brightly when she sees me.
“Hey, you.” Her voice is sweet to my ears after the day I had. “I’m glad you were able to make it.”
“Me too,” I murmur, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to her lips. Lifting my face, I introduce her to Casen. “This is Casen. He works for me.”
“Oh, hi, Casen,” she says, sticking her hand out to shake Casen’s.
“Hey, Olivia.” Casen takes her hand and shakes it curtly while clearing his throat.
“Don’t mind him seeming short. He doesn’t like to talk,” I murmur quietly for only her to hear.
Olivia nods and leans further into my body. I love the way she feels comfortable around me.
“You okay if I go talk to Félix for a minute?” I ask, not wanting her to think I’m ditching her right after getting here.
“Yeah, Sabine and I
were just talking about making plans. Actually, she was asking when we were going to have our wedding,” she giggles.
That’s a damn good question. Time’s ticking and we need to have ours soon.
“I’m down for the sooner, the better,” I tell her, loving the idea of officially tying her to me. “I’ll be back in just a few minutes.” Tilting my head down, I capture her lips once again, this time deepening the kiss.
Casen stays close to her when I leave to go speak with Félix. He sees me coming in his direction and says something to Madelaine. She gives him a nod and smiles. The two of us head outside into the garden off to the side of the restaurant.
“You’ve been really close with Olivia lately,” he mentions right off the bat.
“Considering she’s my fiancée, it’s a given for me to get close to her,” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Just watch it with my sister. She’s been through hell and is fragile.”
“She’s not as fragile as you think, Félix.” And she’s not. I’ve seen the woman behind the fear. She just needs to come to terms on her own that the depravity of what she went through isn’t on her and won’t happen with me.
“Finn, I trust you with my sister and you know this. But you gotta understand, Olivia was drugged by her stepmom, and raped by several of her men—”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Félix. I respect you and you’re one of my best friends, but when it comes to what Olivia’s endured, I’ve heard the rumors. I refuse to hear her story from anyone but her. Just know this, your sister is safe with me. She always will be, and if those fuckers weren’t all dead as I’ve heard in a rumor, then they would all be back in Corpus Christi where I would let them meet their end with my toys.”
Toys that I had designed to match those from medieval times, and I know how to use each one to their advantage.
Chapter Ten
Olivia
I sit in front of Madelaine as the photographer takes gorgeous photos of her while she’s in her dress. I knew this day would come, but it far surpasses anything I could’ve imagined. And the fact this woman planned most of it herself blows my mind. She didn’t want anyone else’s input when it came to her special day. Not that I blame her. Whenever Finn and I tie the knot, I hope all of my wants and needs will be respected. What the hell am I even thinking? The man has been an absolute dream, and I doubt there’s anything he won’t let me have.
Her hair goes halfway down to her back and it’s pulled out of her face with almost a Viking braid sort of thing. The top of her dress is made of black lace, and it goes down to her wrists. Near her midsection, it fades out to white and the lace stops. Now it looks like a typical wedding dress, but when it hits her knee, it fades to black again.
Goodness, as I stare at my future sister-in-law, I’m in awe. She’s smiling at the photographer, and then the photographer says something to her, but I don’t pay attention to what they’re saying. The next thing I know, the photographer leaves the suite. I’m sitting back on the tan couch, running my hand against the floral-designed upholstery. It’s fitting the couch is in a place like this, somewhere regal, where money has always been. Madelaine rented out an old plantation house on the outskirts of New Orleans.
“Shit, can you go find Félix?” Madelaine asks me, sounding worried as hell. She’s furrowing her brows and aimlessly looking for something, but what I’m not sure of.
“Yeah, is everything okay?” I know it’s probably not, but I still feel like I need to ask the question. Madelaine doesn’t even answer my question because she’s aimlessly walking around the room, pulling up cushions, looking in her bag. “Madelaine,” I say her name, sounding a bit stern, and finally, she pauses.
“Sorry, yeah, I just can’t find the blue thing I need . . . you know something borrowed, something blue, something new.”
“Okay, and my brother has it?” I question.
Madelaine immediately nods and a rush of red brushes over her cheeks. “Um, yeah, just make sure he gives it to you in a box or something. As discreet as possible, please.”
Okay, now I’m the cat. You know, the one that’s going to be killed by curiosity. “You’re going to tell me what it is, right?” I wiggle my eyebrows.
“You don’t want to know, trust me.” Even as she says it, her blush grows even bigger, and I need to know.
“Madelaine, come on, we’re going to be sisters soon. We’re supposed to be sharing everything together.”
“You really want me to share how your brother bought me a bright blue bedazzled butt plug, and I’m supposed to wear it during the wedding?”
Immediately I gag, and Madelaine busts out into laughter. “Okay, maybe I didn’t need to know that,” I end up telling her, and Madelaine hasn’t stopped laughing. Regardless, I’ll do as she asks because this is her day, and honestly, she could’ve been one of those nightmare brides. I’ll be forever grateful that she hasn’t been one of them.
The guys are supposed to be in the cellar getting ready, so I leave the room, head down the hall, and take the flight of stairs down into the cellar. Honey-colored floors make the natural brick pop, and there’s a piano and leather couches down here. Now I know why the guys were so adamant about this being their space. Hell, I don’t even know where my sisters are, but Sabine better not be late. If it comes down to her or Desirée, it’ll be Sabine. She can never be on time to save her life.
I walk further into the room and look around, but I don’t see any of them. “Félix?” I call out my brother’s name, continuing to walk forward, and I quickly realize he might not be down here. There are a few doors along this room, so I start pushing doors open and one leads to another hallway. It’s quite possible they went down here, so I continue down the hall. It comes to two doors, so I open the one on the left. “Félix?”
But what I see isn’t my brother. A blonde woman with curly hair is on her knees, sucking off the man in front of me. He has a scar that goes above his eyebrow and stops halfway down his neck.
“Oh god, sorry!” I turn and start to close the door, but I’m quickly grabbed by the back of the hair and shoved to the ground.
“You’re that fuckin’ bitch my brother’s gonna marry. God, and now I see it, you’ve got an ass on you girl.” Every one of his words comes out as an attack, like he can’t stand the mere sight of me, and it’s absolutely terrifying. I didn’t even know he had a brother. He’s never spoken to me about him, at least.
Before I can even reply, I’m being dragged by the back of the hair and I let out a blood-curdling scream. Not again. I won’t go through any of this again. I think I’m still screaming, but memories come rushing to the surface. Memories I wish I could keep at bay, but I can’t. They always seem to come creeping in at the worst moments.
“I bet you’ve always wanted to be used like some cheap whore. You’ve had fantasies like this, haven’t you? Multiple men ramming their cocks in every available hole. You worthless cunt,” one of my attackers tells me, and I muffle cries around the cock in my mouth. They keep violating me, doing it over and over again, never stopping. There are so many of them and I’m afraid it won’t ever stop.
“Jesus, keep making her cry. It feels so good around my dick,” the man with his cock in my mouth says.
“Ha. Want me to make her cry? I’ll make her fuckin’ cry. You, get over here,” the man underneath me orders, and I feel heat around my ass. The one who seems to be in charge continues to rock up and down inside me and even though I hate it, the drug Deanna gave me is making my entire body feel like I’m on fire. I don’t know what to do, how to react. I need water poured over me, not this. Not to keep moving. It’ll only make it worse.
“Shit, man, keep makin’ her cry. It feels so good around my dick.” The man speaking is eye level with my head, and he shoves his cock in and out of my mouth. Meanwhile, the man he’s chatting with is beneath me, with his hands on my boobs, squeezing them like he’s trying to rip them off my body.
“Oh, I’ll make her cry for you, my man. You, with the big cock, come here.” The one underneath me calls another man over, and I immediately tense at feeling heat on my backside. Hands skim over my flesh, and I start to scream. But it doesn’t matter, I’m violated in yet another way and tears continue to stream down my cheeks. I sob, gagging on the cock the man in front of me keeps shoving down my throat.
Nothing matters. He’ll do whatever he wants. In fact, they all will.
“Liv?!” Tristan has his hands on my shoulders, and he’s shaking me, but the tears don’t stop.
“Olivia!” he says my name sternly again, and I breathe in sharply. It’s like all the air comes back into my lungs again.
My brother’s light green eyes stare at me with nothing but concern. “Tristan, I . . . I t-thought that . . .” I stop speaking as Finn’s frame fills the hallway, and he comes running up to me.
“What the fuck happened? What was the screaming for?” Immediately he’s questioning me and the tears continue to fall.
“I . . . I was looking for F-F—”
“It’s okay. We got you. Just fill us in on what we don’t know,” Tristan says, urging me to get to the rough part.
“I opened the d-door and there was t-this guy,” I leave out the part about the girl giving him a blowjob, “and he grabbed me, s-shoved me to the g-ground. S-said he w-was.” I continue to sob, and now I look at Finn. “He said he was y-your b-brother.”
“What did he say, did he say anything else?” Finn drops to the ground and grabs onto me, and for the first time, his rough touch only makes me collide into him. I want to be protected in his strong arms, and even though his words are gruff, I couldn’t care less. He keeps me safe, and I think I’m falling head over heels for this man.
Deprave (DeLancy Crime Family Book 2) Page 5