Battle for Love

by Julia Sykes

  “I was asking if you want to go to the frat party this weekend. You know, if you can manage to pry yourself out of Joseph’s arms.”

  My cheeks heated. “Oh, um, sorry. I should have been paying more attention. But I probably won’t go to the party. Sorry,” I apologized again.

  She waved off my apology with a small smile, my transgression forgiven. “It’s okay. I’m really happy for you that you’re hooking up with the hottest guy in town. Even if I’m super jealous. Although,” she purred the word and glanced past me, “this guy might give Joseph a run for his money. And he’s totally checking us out. I call dibs, since you’re taken.”

  I grinned at her, happy that she’d found a distraction. “Sure. He’s all yours.”

  “Dude, are you not even going to look? He’s freaking gorgeous. Total bad boy, leather jacket vibe. Kind of like Joseph, but… harder. Yummy.”

  I laughed at her description and turned to look for the mystery man, out of idle curiosity, if nothing else.

  My laughter caught in my throat when I laid eyes on him.

  Hard wasn’t a dark enough word to describe him. And he certainly wasn’t a bad boy. This was a dangerous man. He was older than the coeds by at least five years, but there was something else about him that further separated him from the boys around him. Maybe it was his leather jacket and motorcycle boots. Or maybe it was his sheer size; he was almost as tall as Joseph, and impossibly broader. His clenched square jaw looked sharp enough to cut, the almost harsh lines of his face roughened further by his dark stubble.

  When his black eyes locked on me, I knew none of those physical markers were what set him apart. There was something dark about his soul, something twisted and cold.

  One corner of his lips twitched when he caught me looking at him, and I tore my gaze away. My hands were suddenly clammy, my fingers almost trembling.

  “I, um, I need the bathroom,” I announced, needing to escape from his stare. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Sure,” Jayme agreed easily. “But if I’m occupied when you get back, don’t be offended.” She shot another heated stare in the dark stranger’s direction. I didn’t understand her attraction. He was obviously bad news. I shook my head at her, baffled by her choice in men.

  “Be careful,” I advised.

  She tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder with a little laugh. “What’s the fun in that?”

  I shook my head slightly. “He’s all yours. I’ll talk to Joseph after I go to the bathroom to give you some space.”

  “Thanks, girl.”

  “Of course. But let me know if you’re taking him home. I don’t want you to leave with him alone.”

  “Will do,” she promised. “I won’t go anywhere alone with a stranger. We can leave with you and Joseph in a few hours.” She gave me a sly smile. “We’ll make it a double date tonight.”

  “Sounds good to me. See you soon.”

  I wound my way through the crowded dance floor and got in line for the bathroom. There were three women in the short corridor ahead of me, but I didn’t mind. I hadn’t really needed to go, but I’d wanted the excuse to escape from the dark stranger’s stare. I wasn’t entirely comfortable leaving Jayme at his mercy, but she seemed happy enough with his attentions. I wasn’t going to cockblock her.

  “Are you Ashlyn?” I jolted at the rumbling, masculine voice. It was low and deep, and far too close.

  I spun around on a soft gasp, and I found the dangerous stranger in my personal space. The bar was loud enough that I hadn’t heard his approach, but now that I was caught in his black stare, I was very aware of his nearness.

  I took a step back, and my butt bumped into the wall. His lips twisted again, his harsh eyes twinkling with cold amusement.

  “So, are you? You’re Ashlyn, right?” he prompted. He didn’t step toward me, but he leaned in slightly, his bulk bearing down on me.

  My breath stuttered in my throat, and my pulse hammered in my veins. The dark energy pulsing off him kissed my skin, curling around my body in insidious, velvety tendrils. I shivered, even though I wasn’t cold.

  “What do you want?” I squeaked. I felt thoroughly trapped, even though he wasn’t touching me. His stare and powerful aura were enough to pin me in place. “How do you know my name?”

  “What the fuck are you doing here, Marco? Get away from her.” I sucked in a relieved breath at the sound of Joseph’s furious growl. He was coming to my rescue again, and I’d never been more grateful for my knight in shining armor.

  Then, something else registered. Marco. Joseph knew his name. He knew this intimidating man. I’d known Joseph wasn’t from my world; he wasn’t a student at Harvard. But I hadn’t imagined that the sweet man I’d come to know would associate with someone so overtly dangerous.

  Marco’s lips curved farther, and he turned his coolly amused gaze on Joseph. “I’m just introducing myself to Ashlyn,” he said, nonchalant. “I heard you had a girlfriend. I wanted to meet her.”

  “Outside. Now,” Joseph bit out.

  “All right,” Marco agreed. I heaved in a deep breath when he finally stepped away from me, freeing me from his influence. He glanced back at me one more time, a sly smirk fixed on his face. “Goodbye, Ashlyn.”

  Joseph snarled and took a step toward Marco. The dangerous man raised his hands in a show of contrition. “Outside,” he prompted Joseph.

  I didn’t want Joseph to leave with him. Marco was a threat, and I didn’t want him to hurt the man I loved.

  Love. Yes, I was in love with Joseph. The idea of him being hurt made my stomach turn.

  I reached out a grabbed his big hand, holding him back. “Don’t,” I begged. “Stay in here with me.”

  He stared down at me, his expression twisted with pain that I didn’t understand. “I can’t,” he rasped. He leaned down and brushed a kiss over the top of my head. “I’m sorry. Stay inside. Don’t follow me.”

  Somehow the words seemed heavier than a simple order not to follow him outside. My heart twisted, my stomach knotting with anxiety. Something was very wrong, and I didn’t understand why Joseph would go anywhere with Marco.

  Before I could fully process what was happening, Joseph pulled his hand from mine and began making his way through the crowd, following Marco toward the exit. The man I loved disappeared into the night, leaving me behind.

  Chapter Seven

  Joseph

  Rage coursed through my veins. Of course Marco had hunted me down. My best friend would never have allowed me to escape from my family. Even though he knew I hated it, I also knew that it had been selfish for me to leave him behind in that hell. Secretly, he resented our mafia family as much as I did, although he’d never admit it aloud. I’d known him long enough to recognize that his cold exterior was a barrier between him and his more volatile emotions. His hard edges concealed a deeply-buried pain that he’d never express openly, maybe not even to himself.

  I couldn’t bring myself to hate him, but I could rage at him for ruining my escape.

  “Why did you come after me?” I demanded when we stepped outside the ring of illumination provided by the streetlight that flooded the parking lot. “You know I want out. Why would you do this to me?” The last came out more strained than I’d intended. I didn’t want to abandon the simpler life I’d found in Cambridge. I didn’t want to abandon Ashlyn and the powerful connection I shared with her. My affection for her bordered on obsession, and there was so much more I wanted to learn about her.

  “You know I couldn’t let you go,” Marco rumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. “There’s a war brewing in our family. Tensions are running high. The son of the presumptive mob boss can’t just disappear. It looks suspicious. Like maybe you didn’t leave of your own accord, if you know what I mean. You could have been fucking dead, Joseph.” His voice was more strained on that, too. His hard demeanor threatened to crack, revealing just how much he’d worried about my fate.

  “Then you called me,” he continu
ed. “I got the area code off the call and was able to narrow my search. At least I knew you were alive. Do you know what—” He cut himself off, shaking his head sharply. “You have to go back with me. It’s going to get bloody if you don’t. Do you want your father to be murdered in a power struggle?”

  My stomach sank. I hadn’t fully thought through the potential ramifications of my disappearance. As much as I hated that lifestyle—the violent world in which I was trapped—I didn’t want to see my father dead.

  “No,” I said quietly. “Of course not. But I can’t go back with you. I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can,” he said harshly. “You just don’t want to. But you have responsibilities, Joseph. Even if you don’t want them, that doesn’t mean you don’t carry them.”

  He regarded me for a moment, his head canting to the side as he studied me with his piercing black gaze. “You don’t want to leave her,” he surmised, seeing straight through me. “You know you can’t stay near her,” he said more gently. “If I can find you, anyone can. It’s just a matter of time. Do you really want your father’s enemies to get their hands on her?”

  My fists curled at my sides, my rage surging once again. “No,” I growled, an absolute denial of the idea of Ashlyn in pain, used as a weapon against me.

  “Come home with me,” he urged. “You don’t have a choice. Not if you want to protect her. Not if you want to protect your father. And me,” he added, as though that was of little consequence.

  I wouldn’t risk Marco. The man who was like a brother to me couldn’t be hurt because of my selfish choices. I’d die before I let that happen.

  My shoulders slumped as defeat rolled over me. All my foolish dreams of having a normal life with my perfect angel shattered. I was going to have to leave Ashlyn behind.

  Chapter Eight

  Marco

  One Month Later

  My decision was reckless, and more than a little selfish. I’d told myself I was doing this for her own good, to protect Ashlyn from potentially being discovered by our enemies.

  But really, I was doing this for Joseph. He’d been a shell of himself since returning to New York with me. I knew it had more to do with losing Ashlyn than it did with his hatred of our violent lives. He’d been happy with her here, and being torn from her was killing him inside.

  I couldn’t allow my surrogate brother to suffer like that.

  I glanced over at Jayme. She was sleeping soundly on the couch in the apartment she shared with Ashlyn. Seducing her hadn’t been difficult. Slipping rohypnol in her drink had been laughably easy, and I’d secured an invitation back to her place. I would never violate her, but I’d needed her to let me in. She was a means to an end, and all she’d suffer was a wicked headache in the morning and very little memory of spending any time with me at all.

  Ashlyn’s disappearance wouldn’t be traced back to me. I was anonymous here, unknown by anyone. There was no reason to suspect me.

  I fingered the syringe in my pocket and waited in the darkness for her.

  Ashlyn was going to come with me, whether she wanted to or not. I’d give her back to Joseph. I’d fix him. They’d both move past my more unorthodox decision to take her against her will.

  They’d be happy, and maybe I would be too.

  The End

  * * *

  Want more Joseph, Ashlyn, and Marco? Get their story in War of Hearts!

  * * *

  Keep up to date on new releases from Julia Sykes: Subscribe to Julia’s Newsletter.

  * * *

  Want another Dark Romance freebie from Julia? Check out My Sweet Captive! Turn the page for an excerpt…

  My Sweet Captive Excerpt

  There was nothing particularly remarkable about the woman bound to the chair before me, except for her flame red hair. I studied her with detached interest as she blinked and shook her head in an attempt to come back to full consciousness. I’d sent my men to pick her up. They’d drugged her and brought her here, to me.

  Me. Not my sadistic brother. But I’d made the mistake of informing Cristian that the young woman had been caught spying on our people, and he had insisted on being the one to interrogate her.

  I swallowed hard and tore my eyes away from the gleam of the wicked hunting knife he held at his side. I knew what it felt like to be carved up, tortured. The scars on my chest and face wouldn’t allow me to forget it.

  Sweat beaded on the back of my neck, but I kept my expression carefully blank. I couldn’t show any sign of weakness around my brother.

  The woman’s eyes finally focused on Cristian and the knife he held. I caught a flash of lovely sky blue as her pale lashes fluttered and then flew wide on a gasp. She twisted against the ropes that bound her arms behind the metal chair. I couldn’t help but note how her struggles made her small breasts strain against her blouse. Her little fearful whimper made something dark stir inside my chest.

  I took a breath and pushed down my more perverted instincts. This woman wasn’t mine to train. She was facing a horrific death at the hands of my brother. One that I would have to watch and pretend it didn’t bother me to see her ruby blood splatter all over the concrete basement floor.

  “You don’t want to do this,” she choked out, her voice high and thin. “Let me go.”

  An interesting response. She was certainly fearful, but her first instinct wasn’t to beg for her life. She was warning Cristian not to hurt her. Despite her situation, the woman—Samantha—was brave.

  My stomach churned. I was going to have to watch my brother break her of that bravery before he finally killed her.

  “No, Samantha,” he said, his tone chillingly calm. “You’re never leaving this place. Not alive, at least. If you answer my questions, I might be inclined to mercy. Otherwise…”

  He let the unspoken threat hang in the air. My brother knew just how to extract the most toxic fear from his victims.

  We have to do this, I reasoned. She’s nothing to me. Nothing but a threat that needs to be dealt with.

  I’d killed plenty of men—more than I could remember. But I hated watching Cristian tear people apart, especially women. I might have my own sadistic streak when it came to women, but I never truly harmed them.

  That made me less of a monster, didn’t it?

  Samantha gasped in several deep breaths, visibly mastering her fear. “My friends will find me,” she flung out, defiant.

  “If they do, they won’t find more than what’s left of your body.”

  I remained silent, allowing Cristian to terrorize her while I recorded the horrific events on my smart phone. I wanted no part of this, and although watching her death would make me sick, it was almost a relief that I didn’t have to question her like this myself. I could let my brother get his hands dirty.

  Samantha redoubled her efforts to twist out of the ropes that bound her. “You can’t hurt me,” she said desperately. “If you kill me, my friends will hunt you down.”

  Cristian grinned, baring his perfect white teeth. “I want them to know what I’ve done. Your death will be a warning. We’re going to send a little message to your friends.”

  He gestured toward me, and Samantha looked directly at me. First, her eyes caught on the phone that was recording her torture. Then her gaze lifted slightly, finding my face. Her eyes met mine for a split second before she saw the scar that twisted my face. She shuddered and tore her eyes away.

  Something ugly stirred in my gut. Cristian laughed, delighted at her reaction. “What, you don’t like my little brother?” he taunted. “Maybe I’ll give you to him to play with, after I’m finished with you. He has… very unique tastes.”

  I bit back the demand that he give her to me now. If he wanted me to get answers out of her, I could do that without mutilating her.

  But I didn’t make demands of my brother. I’d learned that lesson a long time ago.

  He touched her freckled cheek, and she cringed away. “I think Andrés will like you. Such pale skin. It will mark up
nicely.”

  I hated that his words rang true. I’d so much rather see the marks of my whip leaving their angry red brand on her skin than see him cutting into her flesh.

  Cristian shook his head slightly, still smiling. “But I’m getting ahead of myself. He can have you when I’m done. I’m going to extract my answers first.”

  He touched the tip of the knife to her throat, and her breath stuttered. A foolish urge to surge forward and tear him away from her rushed through me, but I quickly mastered it. I might be bigger than my brother, but he was far more powerful in so many ways.

  All I could do was hope that Samantha gave him the answers he wanted before he hurt her too badly. I wasn’t sure if he was threatening to give her to me in order to scare her or if he was taunting us both. He knew I’d rather have her for myself than witness the gory scene he intended for her. He was teasing me, testing me. Tormenting me just as he was terrorizing her.

  Cristian stepped behind her so my camera could get a clearer view. He intended to send this footage to whoever she was working for as a warning.

  His fist tangled in her coppery hair, and he tugged her head back sharply, further baring her throat to his knife. She stared up at him, her breaths turning shallow as she focused solely on the threat he posed.

  He scratched the knifepoint upward from her throat, grazing under her chin. Her skin turned pink beneath the blade, but he didn’t cut into her. Not yet.

  He pressed the flat of the blade against her full lips, and I tensed. It would be a shame to ruin such a pretty mouth. There were so many other ways I’d like to use it.

  She whimpered again, the sound going straight to my cock. I might not want Cristian to torture her, but seeing her bound and frightened called to my darker urges. I wished I were the one towering over her, feeling her silken hair wrapped around my fist as I commanded her full attention.