by A. C. Mason
“With the attempt on the president’s life last night, there are twice as many check points.” He glanced over at her. “We should be home in time for dinner. Meg’s making a roast.”
She wasn’t in the mood for small talk. Not even close. Nor could she handle her sister-in-law. Better she change the subject.
She latched her belt and curled up toward the window. “How did you know where Vaihan was?”
“Ah, at Vaihan’s press conference he said he was going to his cabin. Meg and I attended a party there last year.” He adjusted the heat.
There really was nowhere for her to escape to. “Drop me off at Devin’s.”
“Rowley’s buddy, Devin? No. Forget it. Not going to happen.” He pulled out of the roundabout driveway. “What is it with you and Rowley?”
“It’s complicated.” Telling him the truth wasn’t an option. His stupidity–lack of cunning skill at aiding and abetting a suspected tourist–had gotten her into this mess.
“Then uncomplicate it.” He glanced over at her. It bothered him that he didn’t get her. “Is it that he was your first love?”
“That’s part of it. And the fact that he got me pregnant, I lost the baby and my ovary.” Why she was partaking in this charade of a conversation was beyond her. “I never had appendicitis. Dad made that up.”
“Are you telling me you weren’t born with just one ovary?” He looked back and forth from her to the road.
“Correct.” She pushed even further into the door. If only she could melt into nothingness. “I can see why you were always Dad’s favorite. You’d believe any lie he fed us. Even when you should have known better than to accept everything he said, just so you didn’t have to stand up to him.” Maybe that wasn’t fair, but she’d said it anyway.
“You are so naive. Is that what you think?” The pain in her brother’s eyes was real. Just like her own. “I believed Dad, because it made my life easier. I went along with Dad. Otherwise, he beat the crap out of me and Momma. We took whippings for you and all the reckless shit you did.”
Hence, the reason why she was taking her karmic payback for him.
“We had to worry he’d lose it with you like he did with Leona.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You don’t remember. Either because you were too little or you have forced yourself to forget. Dad killed her. She wouldn’t stop crying and he shook her. You were there in the room when it happened.”
This couldn’t be real. Or maybe it was... Peter had been forced to live with that. Was that what caused Mom’s first breakdown?
“Momma and I didn’t want the same thing to happen to you. After, Momma was a basket case but wouldn’t stand up to Dad.”
Leera swallowed.
“It was the first time you went into that shutdown state you hide in. You stopped talking. Neither Dad’s yelling fits or his spankings could force you out of it. In some ways, I admired your guts. He couldn’t look at you, because you knew what really happened.”
How could she have no recollection of the events? “I need you to take me to Devin’s.” She didn’t want to talk about this anymore.
“Fine. But I’m done bailing you out.” He hit the steering wheel with the heel of his hand. “I don’t want to relive our childhood, and I don’t get why you seem hell-bent on it.”
Had she lost herself, or been beaten down? Rowley was familiar, and therefore, comfortable, a port in the storm.
Chapter 50
A car pulled into the driveway. Rowley stood up and peeked out the window. His Lee-lee was home. With rushed footsteps, he opened the door. Bright sun reflected off the snow, blinding him. He shielded his eyes with his hand.
Peter carried her up the pathway in his arms, her dangling bare feet poking out from under the legs of men’s sweatpants. “She’s all yours.”
“Thank you.” Rowley scooped her up from her brother’s arms.
“I do love you, Peter.” She leaned back, meeting her brother’s angry stare.
“I know, but don’t you bring this craziness into my home.” Peter turned and headed for his car. “Stay away from us.”
Rowley shut the door, carried her to the sofa and set her down. “This is going to hurt me more than it will you.” The back of his hand struck her cheek with force.
A gasp escaped her, and she grabbed her face.
“Was that necessary?” Devin kneeled next to her and examined the point of impact.
“Yes. And now Leera and I are completely clear about her actions. Aren’t we?”
“Crystal.” She rubbed the area.
If she pulled that shit on him again, he might kill her. “One more point does have to be made between the three of us this night. Devin’s offered to take your punishment for you.”
“I’d rather he not take my punishment for me. I’m a big girl and can take my own whippings.” She sat up and met his gaze.
“I know, Lee-lee, and that is why Devin will, because I know you can shut out your own pain. But he can’t.” And knowing she’d caused another person to hurt would have a greater effect on controlling her than if he doled out the punishment to her.
“You are being an ass.” She hopped to her feet. “I did the crime. It’s only fair I do the time.”
“Rowley, we had an agreement. I’ll take the punishment for her.” Devin crossed his arms over his chest, glaring.
“I don’t care what the two of you agreed to while I wasn’t here.” She stood in front of him. “I acted recklessly, not him. I can pay for my disobedience.”
“I’m making sure neither of you is willing to take the risk of disobeying me again. That is why Devin will pay for what you both did.”
She stormed off and slammed the door to the bedroom. After Devin took his whipping, he would submit to him in front of her. What would she make of her savior then?
* * * *
Rowley stretched out his muscles. Of late, his delicate side felt neglected. Speeding up the Yang style Tai Chi made for some graceful movements. And tonight every strike would count.
Leera sat on the bed, pouting, arms and legs crossed. The soft lighting bathed her in a glow.
Devin’s six-foot-three frame towered over him by a couple of inches. He stood in silence. His chest rose and fell at a steady rate. He prepared for his punishment.
“One blow for each day she was gone. I could go with hours, minutes or seconds, but I believe this will illustrate my point. Besides, my arms will tire as I will make each strike worthwhile,” Rowley said.
Neither responded. If he didn’t admit that hitting Devin would bring him pleasure, he’d be lying. The trust between him and Devin was broken, for what? Only to have her come back as he’d predicted. He hoped to fuck it was worth the breach in their bond.
“I need to get in touch with my more delicate side.” Anger heated up inside him. Eyes closed, he took formation and moved the right foot a step forward, straightening the left leg with the heel pressing on the floor while bending his legs. He raised his right hand obliquely upward to eye level, palm facing upward and elbows slightly bent, and smashed Devin’s face.
A grunt escaped Devin.
Tears spilled down Leera’s face. She covered her mouth with her hand.
“One.” One for every night his bed remained empty and cold. “Seven more to go.” Rowley moved in closer. “You shouldn’t have helped her escape. I wouldn’t have done anything to her. That would have left permanent damage.” He brought his elbow back and whacked Devin’s jaw.
His face whipped back. “Fuck.” Blood spattered on the mirror.
“Two. Six left.” He grinned.
The man would be on his knees in no time. Despite the fact that Devin was stronger than him, he would do nothing to defend or protect himself. Devin knew he’d broken the code.
Rowley slid into the single whip, shifted his weight onto his left leg, while turning the toes of his right foot inward. He swiveled his body to the left and moved both hands to the l
eft with a hand on top, until his left arm extended at shoulder level, palms forced outward into Devin’s chest. “Three.” Then he thrust his palms in his abdomen again. “Four.”
A kick with his right heel seemed like the logical next move. Taking a cleansing breath, he separated his hands, extending them sideways at shoulder level, elbows slightly bent and palms turned outward. He raised his right leg, bent it at the knee and kicked forward toward the right. The blow’s impact hit the side of Devin’s face. Blood dripped from the corner of his eyebrow. “Five.” Rowley repeated the same kick to the left. “And six.”
Rowley cocked back and rammed his knuckles in Devin’s cheek. “Seven. Only one more to go.” Better he make this one memorable. Where to strike, to hurt him without gravely injuring him? He stepped back to put his body into the assault and thrust his fist to his forehead. “Eight.”
A gash opened above Devin’s brow. Blood slipped from the flesh, and Devin sucked air in between his teeth. “Shit.”
“You can be such a bastard.” Leera jumped off the bed.
“Interfere, and I will start all over again.” Rowley huffed. Not that he wanted to–he was sore. “On your knees.” He pointed to the floor in front of him. Excitement filled him at the thought of Lee-lee watching Devin pleasure him. His tongue wasn’t without talent.
Devin reached up and unfastened the button, then lowered the zipper on Rowley’s pants.
The shaft of his cock grew by the second.
Devin reached into his boxers and withdrew his penis. “This is what you want, isn’t it, Rowley?”
Hell, yes. Devin’s smooth lips met with the head of his cock, tracing the outer edge, then his mouth opened and the length of him vanished inside. The silky wetness of Devin’s hot mouth glided up and down. In and out, he slipped his shaft, then moved deeper in.
As she curled up and watched, her eyes held a new focus. Devin licked all around the base, and took the head to the back of his throat. Back and forth, he pumped Rowley’s dick to the back of his throat.
To steady himself, Rowley rested his hands on the dresser, allowing the waves of pleasure to pulsate through him. His nuts tightened. As he climaxed, he groaned with glee. Lee-lee and Devin were his and always would be. He owned them both.
Chapter 51
Leera tossed the bloody Q-tips into the trash. This was her fault. She and Devin knew it. And that was why Devin couldn’t make eye contact with her. That, and he’d just blown Rowley on his knees after taking a beating for her.
Not that she blamed Devin for his inability to meet her gaze. Rowley meant for them both to suffer, by one bearing the pain and humiliation for her actions. She placed her hands on the counter and sighed. Yet, something about watching Devin pleasure Rowley had turned her on. Perhaps it was because Devin took the abuse for her.
Footsteps approached, and Devin pressed his warm body to her. “I don’t regret helping you leave. And would do it again.”
“You say that to anger him.” She relaxed into him.
Devin cocooned her body with his. “My words are true and he knows it.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and held on. “I don’t care that you aren’t capable of feeling for me. You aren’t unlike Rowley. You prey on my emotion to get your way. I’m not blind to that. But I know how I feel when I’m with you. Real or imagined, and I like it. Pain cannot take that away.”
With a sharp turn, she pushed her lips against his damaged ones.
He deepened the kiss, driving his tongue into her mouth, as his hands cupped her breasts. Fire sparked inside her. Rowley’s punishment was to weaken him as a man in front of her, but that wasn’t how she perceived tonight’s outcome. In many ways, he was more a man than Rowley could ever be. Definitely more of a human being than either of them was.
“I missed you.” His lips lingered over hers.
What could she say to that? For days, she’d thought she was in heaven and love, only to find out Vaihan had hidden the truth from her. If the gun had been loaded, she would have killed him. That had to come from a dark place, deep emotions. Anger, hatred or pain. When she’d had the gun in her hand, she hadn’t been scared. What did that mean? Did she not value life?
She wrapped her arms around Devin, and pushed herself onto her tiptoes. “I wish I could return half of what you’ve given me. Rowley is right about me. I’m like him.”
Devin pulled back and checked his vibrating BlackBerry. “I need to take this.”
Rowley had rushed out like a bat out of hell and now Devin needed to take a call. She nodded. While lifting the phone to his ear, he vanished into the hall. His footsteps continued to the room where she wasn’t permitted.
“The blueprints are in the room. Let me check.” By his tone, she could tell he was speaking to Rowley.
In all the weeks with Rowley, she’d not been privy to any information that would point to the feds being right about him. He was an asshole, but so far, not a terrorist.
Paper was being unfolded on the other side of the door. She paused, then entered the washroom to listen in.
“Three exit points. The better options would be on the southeast side.”
Silence.
“Ten yards or so.”
Silence.
“The security room is under the adjacent parking garage with separate underground entrances, steel doors at ground level and two provide access into the parking lot.”
Silence.
“Don’t like it. She shouldn’t be dragged into this. It’s too risky.”
What on earth could Rowley be planning to suck her into?
The door flew open, and Devin stared at her. “Come.” He grabbed a jacket, wrapped it around her and brought her through the sliding glass doors out back.
The city lot was big. It might even have room for a pool and swings.
“I don’t understand your relationship with Rowley and I may never, but things are going to get ugly. You might think of staying with your brother awhile.”
“What kind of ugly?” she asked.
“I can’t tell you that, Leera.” He shook his head. “I can’t imagine how you felt, learning that Vaihan took your husband from you. But this... You and Rowley. It isn’t healthy.”
Maybe she was pushing her luck with Rowley, hoping it would run out and he’d end it for her. “I’ve got no one else.”
“Sometimes, no one is better than someone who hurts you.”
What was Devin trying to do? Get rid of her or rescue her?
“Is this because you aren’t welcome in our bed anymore?”
He lowered his head. “No, cron sceimhiuil. I’ve refused his invitation to join you, because if I saw him touch you after what he did that night, I’d probably kill him.”
His words sunk into her. Why didn’t she have the same sense of self? In many ways, being with Rowley was like her childhood. One crisis after the other. No time to think. And even when she could, the last thing she wanted to do was consider how horrible everything was. So deep was she in his web, that up could be down and down could be up. And yet it was better than dealing with the stuff in her head and heart.
* * * *
The front door slammed shut. Leera rubbed her eyes. Days of Rowley coming in and out, waking her to relieve his need and vanishing again were wearing her thin. Devin was no better, in and out with a grim expression on his face. After asking each of them what they were up to and being shut down, she tired of trying to figure out what was going on. Besides, that wasn’t what she was there for. She was there to sleep with him.
“I woke you?” Rowley stood in the doorway, a large box in hand.
Sleep held no peace for her, only longing for an individual who had concealed the truth from her. She shook her head.
“Liar.” He smiled, set down the box, and sat at the edge of the bed. “Do you remember when we first started seeing each other I said I wasn’t sure how much of what I do I’d keep from you, and how much you should know?”
“Yes.” She sat up.
With a kiss to her lips, he smoothed back her hair. “I told you life with me wouldn’t be easy.”
Understatement. She nodded. Though the fact that she didn’t go anywhere probably made her life easier these days. Police harassment wasn’t pleasant, not from the CPD or Barton.
“Since you’ve been back, you are more settled in. I think it is time we speak of what I do.” He held her gaze with his dark blue eyes.
At this point, did she want to know? “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want, or trust me to know.” Maybe she was better off not knowing.
“I know.” He trailed his thumb along her jaw. “It’s time for truth between us, or there will always be a wall.” He gathered up her hand and tugged. “Soon you and I will need to go far away for a long while.”
That didn’t sound good. Leera tossed the covers off and allowed Rowley to lead the way. Once down the hall, he opened the door to “the room.”
A table stood central to the room with blueprints on it. Boards held schematics pinned to them. Bomb designs. Photos of the Headquarter of International Network for Undead Rights. The building was designed by one of the first Ancient architects, Alvat... The surname escaped her. The leveled, uneven roofs and honeycomb shape gave her pause. Stacks of pictures of the entrance on the floor forced her to watch her step. “What is this place?”
“Unofficial headquarters for the Army of the Living.”
“Are you saying... It’s true what they wrote about you in the papers!” Her knees gave way. Until this very moment, all the deaths had been facts and figures. Now she knew Rowley was a cold-blooded killer.
“Breathe, Lee-lee, breathe.” He gathered her up.
“I’m sorry.” She nodded. “I don’t understand.” Vaguely, she had some ideas of the misdeeds, but the scope, she didn’t understand.
“I don’t control all our members, of course. Some have acted irresponsibly toward human life, but in a war there is always collateral damage. People who will unknowingly give their lives for the betterment of us all.” He huffed. “I have to believe this. It’s them or us, Lee-lee. I know it clouded your mind with double-talk, affection and the toxin, but on a conscious level, you know that we are food to them.”