Love Drunk

by Marita A. Hansen

  “Kara,” I pleaded. “Stop, that’s too intense.”

  “No,” Andrew said. “Keep doing it.”

  Kara continued to rub me, her mouth going to my breast, sucking on it.

  “Oh, God!” I gasped, the sensations too much. She knew exactly what she was doing. Kara had clearly been with other women, her ministrations feeling both good and bad, the good—she knew how to rouse a body, the bad—I didn’t want it. She had the ability, just not my desire. Either way, she was creating a pressure inside of me, building it up and up. I closed my eyes, so I didn’t have to see her working me, or the two men leering at us, especially since Andrew was now wanking himself. I conjured up an image of Dante’s face, needing to see him instead. Then everything changed in an instant, but not because of Dante’s image. Kara removed her mouth from my breast and her fingers from my pussy, her startled yelp telling me it wasn’t voluntary. I snapped my eyes open, not liking what I was seeing. Not at all. Andrew was holding her against his body, his smile obscene. But it wasn’t Andrew that I was concerned about.

  Simon held out the gun for Andrew to take, then turned to me with his own smile, one much more chilling. He climbed onto the bed like a sleek, dangerous cat ready to pounce on its prey.

  “You never said yes the other day.” He yanked my legs apart. “I lied.”

  33

  Dante

  Ash parked the Mustang across from the cops. I jumped out of the car, running around the bonnet. “Officers!” I called out. “My dad called you lot.”

  They turned to me, the male cop’s hard stare roaming my tattoos. His focus shifted to my car, probably eyeing up my bro and dad.

  The female cop’s attention remained on me. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen her. She smiled at me as I drew closer, her whole face lighting up as though I was a sight for sore eyes.

  “I haven’t seen you in forever,” she said.

  I stopped in front of her. “Do I know you?”

  Her smile disappeared. “Ash, it’s me, Jenna.”

  “I’m not Ash,” I said, now remembering her, the chick one of my bro’s exes. I indicated to my car, drawing Jenna’s attention to it. “Your lover boy’s in my Mustang. Anyway, you got any news on my missus?”

  She shook her head.

  “Then, what are you doin’ standing around ’ere?”

  “Oi!” the other copper said. “Watch your tone.”

  I turned to him. He was built like a brick shithouse, all muscled up and aggro to boot, probably pumped full of steroids. “My woman has been kidnapped, so my tone is fuckin’ fine. Stop talkin’ to randos and do sumpthin’ ’bout it.”

  The cop tensed.

  Ash’s ex put a hand out in front of her partner, stopping him from stepping forward. “We’re doing everything we can, Dante,” she replied, obviously recognising me now. “This rando,” she indicated to the balding civilian in the tracksuit, “has helped greatly. He’s informed us that he saw two cars going down that driveway,” she pointed to it, “which means there could be more than one perp.”

  “All the more reason why we needa go in now instead of standing around talkin’.”

  “We’re waiting on backup. More of my colleagues are making their way to the back of the property.”

  “Then, let’s get this started.”

  She stepped in front of me before I could make a move. “Not until I get word that my colleagues are in place. We don’t want the perps taking off if they see you, plus we don’t know if they’re armed.”

  “What I know,” I spat out, “is that they have my woman, so you can’t fuckin’ stop me from goin’ in.”

  “You wanna bet,” the male cop piped up, his gaze flicking to Ash and my dad as they headed over to us.

  I glared at him. “I got my dad to call for your help, yet all you’re doin’ is standing out here, twiddling your bloody thumbs!”

  “You still have to wait.”

  “I can’t afford to wait. They could be hurting—”

  A gunshot in the distance cut off my words. Before they could react, I was off, sidestepping the cops, not waiting for no one. I sprinted for the driveway like a madman, with only one thing on my mind…

  To save Clara.

  34

  Clara

  Everything happened in a blur, Kara’s reaction so fast none of us had seen it coming. Before Simon could touch me, she’d snatched the gun off Andrew, in the process shooting him in the foot. He was on the floor, screaming and clutching his foot, while Simon leapt at Kara, the two of them struggling over the gun. Simon wrenched it free from her grip, but before he could shoot her, she kneed him in the groin, forcing him to drop the gun. He also dropped to the floor, doubling over in pain. She went to pick up the gun, but Simon kicked out, striking her in the knee. She cried out and fell on him. He shoved her off, and climbed on top of her, wrapping his hands around her throat. She clawed at his hands and arms, gasping for breath.

  Snapping out of my shock, I leapt off the bed, jumping onto his back. Using my fists, I pummelled his head, going wild, doing anything to save Kara. He let go of her and flung himself backwards, flattening me to the floor, winding me in the process. He turned over and grabbed my throat, no lust, only murder in his eyes.

  Then his hands were suddenly gone, Simon fighting for his own life. I coughed and spluttered as Kara attacked him from behind, screaming like a banshee as she tried to gouge his eyes out. He hollered and swung around with an elbow, knocking her back down. Before he could do anything more, the door burst open, the lock and frame splintering apart.

  Dante rushed in, his frantic gaze turning to fury when it landed on Simon. “You fucker!” he hollered, going for him.

  Simon yelled out in fright and threw himself over the bed. Dante followed, not noticing the security guard getting up. Andrew had grabbed the gun, and was now lifting it to shoot Dante. I went to yell a warning, but Dante’s brother burst through the doorway, disarming Andrew before I could get a word out. Ash smashed the gun over the guard’s head, dropping him to the floor, the bastard not getting up this time. At the same time, Dante leapt at Simon, knocking him against the wall with a vicious punch to the face. Simon slid down the wall like a rag doll. Dante hauled him back up, his expression pure rage.

  A blonde female cop appeared in the doorway, yelling, “Put him down!”

  Dante pulled his fist back, looking like he was going to plant it in Simon’s face again.

  “Lower your hand, Dante!” the woman yelled.

  Dante dropped his hand, but before the female cop could get to him, he head-butted Simon in the face, the crack of Simon’s nose sounding loud in the room. But not as loud as Simon’s scream, his agonised voice ear-splitting.

  “Dante!” the cop yelled.

  “I lowered my fist,” Dante said snidely, letting go of Simon.

  Simon dropped to the floor like a corpse. But he was far from dead, his pain continuing. He curled up into a ball, holding his nose and sobbing. Dante spat on him, ignoring the approaching female cop. She shook her head at him and went to her knees to check on Simon. Next thing, she was reading him his rights, switching from being concerned to arresting him within seconds.

  Spinning around, Dante whipped a sheet off the bed and came to me. “Are you all right?” he asked, wrapping it around my body, holding me in his arms. “What did he do to you?”

  I went to answer, but Kara cut me off. “She’s fine, I looked after her.” She sat up, her pale blue eyes devastated. “You really are done with me, aren’t you? Going to her instead of me, as though she’s more important to you. You say you love me, but you don’t. Your love is loose, Dante, shifting wherever your cock takes you.”

  Dante tensed. “I knew you could take care of yourself, which is why I went to Clara first.”

  “No, you went to her because you care more for her than me. And you’re right, I do know how to take care of myself. I made them pay.” She spat in the direction of the security gua
rd, also spitting out some harsh-sounding Croatian words.

  “I’m sorry, Kara,” Dante said. “I did try to save you. I went to see Ant, thinking he’d kidnapped you.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “I got a photo of you tied up, with a scrawled note tellin’ me he had you.”

  She looked down at the security guard with a sneer. “All bullshit. It would’ve been him. He used to work for Craven and Ant. He would’ve done it to get you outta his and Simon’s way.” Her gaze returned to Dante. “So, how did you find out I was here instead of there?”

  Dante didn’t reply.

  She glared at him. “You didn’t know, did you?”

  He shook his head.

  “So, you chose to come here instead of saving me?” she asked, looking even more hurt.

  “I left Nike and Murderer to get you out after I got Clara’s call.”

  She pushed to her feet. “If you truly loved me, you would’ve stayed to get me out!”

  Guilt crossed his expression.

  She spat out something in Croatian, her tone full of pain. Dante dropped his gaze, looking ashamed.

  “So, this is it?” she said. “You’re truly done with me?”

  “Yes,” he said, glancing back up. “I want Clara.”

  A tear ran down her cheek. She swiped it away, then limped out of the room, a broken woman.

  Dante exhaled loudly, his upset gaze shifting to Simon as the female cop cuffed him. A cruel smile quickly replaced his guilty expression. “I hope you get put in the same prison as my gang. Karma’s more than a bitch, it’s a six-foot-five gang member with fists the size of your face.”

  Simon stared at Dante in horror, then his eyes moved to Ash. They widened, a muffled, “It was you,” only just decipherable. He indicated to Ash. “He bashed me the other day, not Dante.”

  The blonde cop looked over her shoulder at Ash, giving him a wink, then refocused on Simon. “Ash Rata is a law-abiding citizen, unlike you.”

  “He attacked me!”

  “You can say it until you’re blue in the face, but no one will believe you.” She yanked him to his feet, not being gentle about it. Simon yelped, and slumped back down. He looked in agony. His breathing was coming out in harsh, laboured pants, while his bloodied nose was dripping onto his white shirt.

  And I didn’t care… but not in the way I would’ve thought.

  I wasn’t happy or sad, I just felt nothing. Maybe I was in shock. No, I was wrong, because I did feel something. Hope. I looked up at Dante, knowing exactly why I was feeling it. He’d chosen me over Kara, giving me hope that the love he used to feel for me was going to return.

  Dante helped me to my feet. I winced, my ankle hurting. “You are hurt,” he said, sounding upset.

  “I think I twisted my ankle when I leapt off the bed.”

  He swept me up into his arms, making me squeal. He fixed the sheet covering me, then carried me outside, placing me on the patio next to Kara. She grimaced at him, pulling her newly acquired blanket tight around her shoulders.

  Ignoring her, Dante glanced back at the female cop, who was directing Simon out. “You called the ambo?” he asked. “Clara’s hurt.”

  “One’s on its way,” she said, leading Simon to a cop car. There were more policemen—a muscular man with a neck the size of a kauri tree, and a few others in a different uniform. The latter were holding weapons, clearly from the armed division.

  The female officer handed Simon over to the cop with the kauri neck, saying something I couldn’t hear. She then came over, stopping in front of Ash, who had just sat down next to Kara. He had his arm around her shoulder, comforting her. He looked up at Jenna, his emotions once more hidden behind a blank expression.

  She smiled down at him, her blue eyes sparkling, the woman clearly interested in Dante’s brother. “Long time no see, Ash. How are you doing?”

  “Fine,” he mumbled.

  “Still with Tiana?”

  He nodded.

  Her smile faded. “Lucky bitch.” She turned and walked away, the comment so blunt it left me blinking in surprise.

  Ash shook his head. “Jenna as a cop. That’s not good.”

  “Maybe it will be,” Dante said, glaring across at Simon. “She’s the type who’ll make sure he suffers.”

  “True.” Ash’s attention shifted between me and Kara. “That punk who attacked you will wish he’d never laid a hand on you girls. Despite the way she acted in there, Jenna isn’t a good person, far from it, and if she doesn’t make him suffer, our mates in prison will.” He smiled, his expression almost evil. Dante sniggered next to me, both of them looking as wicked as each other.

  The scrunch of gravel drew my attention away from the brothers. Mr. Rata lumbered over to us, stopping in front of Kara. He placed his hands on his knees, puffing like crazy. He looked like he’d run a marathon with the way he sounded.

  “I really needa give up ciggies,” he huffed. “That shit is catching up on me.”

  Kara mumbled something in Croatian, Ash sniggering at what she said.

  Mr. Rata’s gaze snapped to her. “What did’ja say?”

  Kara replied in Croatian.

  “Don’t speak that shit to me, speak English,” he snapped back, obviously not understanding a word.

  “I said you sound like a bitch who’s just been fucked up the arse.”

  He growled at her. “The only bitch ’ere is you, and I give, not take.”

  “Then take this, Papa Smurf.” She flicked him the finger. “Actually, no,” she lowered her hand, “you might ride it.”

  He straightened, his hands clenching, but instead of retaliating, he shook his head at Dante. “You have shit taste in women.” He refocused on Kara. “By the way, I have mates who know what you are. You’re a whore just like me, no, you’re worse, cos at least I don’t walk the streets, lookin’ for my next hook-up, bitch.”

  Dante stiffened. “Watch your mouth!”

  His father narrowed his eyes at him. “It’s true. She walks the hooker run up on K Road, which means she has no right to put me down. At least I get thousands for my cock, not pennies.”

  Dante looked over at Kara, who had turned to Ash, pressing her face against his chest.

  “Is this true?” Dante asked her.

  “Why bother asking?” she replied, her voice muffled by Ash’s chest. “You don’t care about me.”

  “I do.”

  “Not enough to be with me, so keep your judgement to yourself. I do whatever I have to, to survive.”

  “I can help. I’ll get some money from Jade.”

  She lifted her head, her eyes flashing at him, love and hate walking a fine line. “I don’t want anything from Jade! Nor from you, Dante Rata. I don’t ever want to see you again!” She pushed up and ran off. Ash went after her.

  “Fuck,” Dante said, rubbing his face. “I’ve fucked things up, haven’t I?”

  “Nah,” his father said. “You did right cutting that one loose.” His gaze went to Ash. “And make sure Ash doesn’t comfort her too much, cos she’s a leech. She’ll latch onto him too, plus he looks like you.”

  “For fuck’s sake,” Dante said. “Ash is like a brother to her, so stop bein’ a cunt for once in your life. She wouldn’t go there.”

  “If she’s desperate enough to walk K Road, she’ll go anywhere. And I’m always a cunt.” His attention shifted to the blonde cop. “Hey, Jenna, how’d ja get past the copper’s psych test? Thought you’d end up in a straightjacket, not dressed in blue.”

  Jenna spun around. “As always, a pleasure to see you, Mr. Rata,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

  “You got that right, sweet pea, cos all the pleasure is defo on your side. By the way, you ain’t gettin’ any Rata cock ever again.” He grabbed his crotch and flicked his tongue out at her.

  Ash let go of Kara and spun around. “Shut your mouth!”

  His father looked over at him. “Chill, son, I’m just lookin’ out for ya. Da
nte told me all ’bout what blondie did to you when you two were at high school.”

  Ash frowned, but instead of sniping back, he nodded and turned back to Kara, making me wonder what the female cop had done to Ash.

  “So,” Mr. Rata said to the police woman. “You finished with us, Miss Piggy?”

  “Be careful, Mr. R,” Jenna growled. “You’re treading a fine line.”

  “Just askin’.”

  “No, you’re asking to be arrested.”

  “Can’t arrest me for talkin’.” He lifted his chin. “So, can we go?”

  “After I get a statement.” She headed our way, giving Dante’s father a once-over as she stopped in front of him. “Heard you’re still whoring, Mr. R.” She lowered her voice. “Looks like I might be able to get some Rata cock after all. Bet you’re cheap as chips.”

  He stiffened.

  Sniggering, she pulled out a pen and pad, and turned to me. “Give me your version of events,” she said, looking like the cat that had gotten the cream.

  35

  Dante

  After dealing with the cops, we went back to my place, minus Ash and Kara. Jade met us at the door, smiling as he spotted me. Though, he raised a brow in question.

  “Why are you carrying Clara?” he asked. “And why is she wrapped in a sheet?”

  “She sprained her ankle, and the last part is none of your business.”

  “You don’t need to be rude about it,” he huffed, giving my dad a smile as he came up behind us.

  I shook my head as Jade basically batted his eyelashes at him. “You are one desperate father-fucker,” I said, turning for the lounge.

  Murderer appeared in the doorway, blocking my way. Ignoring me and Clara, he yanked Jade to his side, muttering something into his ear. Jade nodded and rushed off towards the kitchen like a good little housewife, Murderer obviously having him under his thumb.

  Murderer then turned his attention to my dad, giving him a lewd smile. “You gonna gimme a reward for a job well done?”

  My dad rolled his eyes. “You did shit, Kara wuzn’t even there.”

  “Me and Nike still stormed the grounds, tied Ant up and tortured him to get him to talk ’bout Kara. It’s not our fault it wuzn’t him who took her. We could’ve gotten hauled in by the coppers.”