by Layla Frost
As her eyes went unfocused and dazed, I took control of her hips again. Lifting her, I yanked her back down and raised my hips. There was no smooth flow to our movements, only a savage rhythm.
I rolled her onto her back and gripped her thighs, spreading them. Each time I inched out, her pussy seemed to squeeze tight and pull me back in.
“For the rest of my life,” I growled, nearly mindless, “this is my pussy. This is where I belong. What belongs to me.”
This time when she came, I exploded with her. My first shot of come marked her insides as mine. It took my last bit of control to pull out and wrap our fists around the base of my cock. Her hand under mine, I stroked fast until the rest of my orgasm was shooting all over her stomach and tits, marking her outside as mine, too.
Maybe I am a monster.
Drained but still hard, I lowered my body over hers and took her mouth in a soft and tender kiss. When she pulled away, gasping in a breath, I rolled onto my back and pulled her tight against me.
“I’m glad you’re home,” Dahlia whispered, resting her head on my shoulder.
“So am I, gattina.” I trailed my hand down her spine to squeeze her ass. “So am I.”
Dahlia
Pee.
My eyes shot open as my bladder screamed at me. With Theo’s heavy arms draped across me and Gus curled on my side, it was no wonder. I moved both off me and stood, padding to the bathroom. As I washed my hands and glanced in the mirror, clarity hit me and I remembered the day before.
With as much vodka as I’d drank, I’d clearly been more booze than woman.
I’d also attacked Theo, scratching and biting before having sex. This wasn’t a bad thing necessarily, but it didn’t make me feel great. Mostly because my path was still unclear, and I didn’t like feeling as if I were leading him on.
Or, worse, using him.
I splashed cold water on my face before opening the door and taking a few steps toward the bed. Light streamed in from the window, illuminating Theo, naked and on his side. His face was relaxed, and so handsome it still seemed unreal.
Changing directions, I crept from the room, easing the door closed behind me. I opened the spare bedroom I’d used when Theo had first gone to prison. The bed was made, any trace of me gone. I left the door ajar for Gus, and so Theo didn’t worry. Climbing into bed, I covered up and blinked back tears.
I couldn’t sleep with Theo, falling back into old habits and routines, only to decide I couldn’t stay. If I was going to be with him, I needed to be all in.
Despite Julie’s advice and input, I still wasn’t sure if I could accept what Theo did. His motives may have been understandable, even justifiable, but that didn’t make it right.
The road to hell was paved with good intentions, and he was in the express lane.
Being separated from him while he was away had made me feel like I was split in two. I thought once he was back, that feeling would go away. Instead, I was still being torn. Between the good and bad. The right and wrong. The dark and light.
And I wasn’t even sure which was which anymore.
···
I’d thought I’d grown used to waking up alone. As I opened my eyes later that morning, I didn’t have those few blissful moments before I remembered how messy my life had become. My head pounded, my eyes were scratchy, and my body ached.
I peeked my head into Theo’s room, finding it empty. Showering quickly, I pulled my hair into a messy bun before throwing on some jeans and a sweater. I crept down the steps, turning toward the kitchen only to stop short.
Theo sat at the island, reading a newspaper. Not looking away from it, he fed Gus small pieces of bacon.
He looked exhausted, with deep, dark circles under his eyes. His hair was a mess, as if he’d been running his hands through it. It didn’t match with his impeccable sweater and slacks.
“Morning,” I muttered, entering the room before I was caught staring. I went straight to the coffee maker and pressed the button to add an espresso.
When I turned around, Theo had moved to lean against the side of the island closest to me. “Why?”
I knew what he was asking. He wanted to know why I’d left his bed in the middle of the night.
“I just need some time to figure things out,” I said softly.
His jaw clenched, but he gave a quick, jerky nod. “I have to go into Amaric for the day. I printed off a list of classes Rosa put together for you. It’s in the living room with the laptop so you can look it over.”
“Okay,” I said, not wanting to be rude. I had no intention of taking any classes, interesting as they may be. If I was leaving, I needed to find a job. Preferably one that started a month ago and was already depositing hefty paychecks into my bank account. If I was staying, I needed to figure out how I fit in.
Grabbing his briefcase off the table, Theo started for the door before stopping. He stood with his back to me for a moment before his briefcase hit the floor and he was turning, moving on me fast.
The counter dug into my back as he pushed me against it, his lips covering mine. Cupping the back of my head, he held me to him as he pushed his tongue in, deepening the kiss.
I clutched his shirt, lifting onto my tiptoes and giving back everything I got and more. Unlike the kiss the night before, filled with aggravation and pain, this one was desperate. Sad, almost.
His fingers dug into the back of my neck as he squeezed gently and pulled his mouth away. Barely a second passed before he was kissing me again, pushing in tight so I could feel his arousal against my stomach.
When he pulled away a moment later, he rested his forehead on mine before walking back toward the door. He picked his briefcase back up and looked at me. “On the list of classes is also a real estate agent’s number. She’s a friend of my mom.”
Had I lifted my coffee already, I’d have dropped it. My whole body felt numb, my brain clouding between the racing thoughts. An ache so deep in my chest formed, I wanted to press the spot to try to ease the pain.
“Are you… kicking me out?” I asked, trying to keep the emotion from my voice.
Theo’s head jerked back before he shook it. “Fuck no, Dahlia. Never. But I don’t want you to feel trapped.” Before I could say anything, his voice became low and different. Almost robotically forced. “There’s enough money in your bank account for you to get a good place to live. If you want to go back to school, that can be arranged. Just let me, or Rosa if you’d prefer, know. The money is yours. If it makes you feel better to pay me back when the time comes that you’re able to without struggling, that’s your choice. But it’s not expected. There are no strings attached.” He walked from the room before turning back again. His eyes were so dark they were almost black. Tension filled his body. “This isn’t an attempt to buy your love. It’s me giving you your freedom.”
Without another word or glance, he left.
I stood in the kitchen long enough for my coffee to grow tepid. I was fine with icy or hot, but lukewarm was intolerable. Starting an extra brew of espresso to warm, I grabbed the small stack of papers and laptop from the living room. I took Theo’s spot at the island, Gus jumping up to sniff around for bacon. When he realized there was none, he took off.
Sipping at my coffee, a thought hit me suddenly.
I was alone.
Not just in the room, but in the whole house. No one was on babysitting duty anymore.
I’ve got my freedom… Now what am I going to do with it?
Theo
My fist connected with a fat jowl. Each hit caused another ripple. “Warned you, motherfucker,” I snarled, stretching my neck before throwing another jab.
Frankie, Astaire’s ex-manager, barely moved his head to the side in a half-assed attempt to avoid the hit. “I didn’t know—”
“Bullshit. Why else would your fighter think your name was Tony?”
His back was to the wall, but I stepped away between hits, giving him the chance to move. Even though he wasn’t restra
ined, Frankie still didn’t try to run.
It was disappointing.
I had a lot of pent up anger, and some fight would’ve been nice.
For almost a week, Dahlia had slept in a separate room than me. She’d returned my kisses briefly, before pulling away. Emotionally, she was completely pulled away. She lived in her head, there but not.
I’d laid it out for her as best as I could. Gave her money to leave and, hopefully, every reason to stay. The decision was hers.
That didn’t mean I had to accept it.
But for now, with her mind in limbo, I wasn’t going to pile on more reasons for her to decide against us. It’d just make it more difficult to win her over again.
I would, though.
There was no alternative.
With Dahlia taking up most of my effort and focus, I had little patience left for the rat. Nothing had happened since I’d plead guilty. I’d thought getting out would spur him into action, but all was quiet. Luc’s assumption was the rat knew he was in over his head and crawled away to hide in a sewer.
But I wasn’t buying it. Quiet was dangerous. Quiet meant planning.
And when it went down, I’d be prepared. I’d set a lot of rat traps, now I just had to wait for him to get caught.
Dahlia deserved patience, and I’d give her as much as she needed. Rat hunting needed patience, even if I wasn’t fucking happy about it.
Frankie, however, got jack shit.
I knew before he opened his cut lip what was coming. Promises. Lies. Negotiations.
“Just give me the chance to explain,” he blubbered. “My wife, she’s real sick—”
“That why you were caught, again, with your tiny dick in some chick?”
“Not to mention, your wife left you a few months ago,” Luc muttered from the doorway.
“Try again,” I said. Pulling my fist back, I shook my head. “Or not.”
Holding up his hands, he shook his head. “I couldn’t get a fighter in any of the other circuits,” he wheezed. “I’ll give you a bigger cut. My guy’s good.”
“Your guy is fucking garbage who’s filled with garbage.”
He tried to widen his eyes, but they were already too swollen. “What?”
“You’ve got a shrunken balled doper. Dealer, too. His skills are subpar, which made some people wonder why he was winning so many fights. Since he’s also dumb as a fucking rock, it wasn’t hard to find out what was going on.”
Luc chuckled from the corner. “He sold you out fast. Of course, that might be because he’s coming after you to, and I quote, ‘squeeze his head until it cracks like an egg’ and some other graphic threats.” He shook his head. “Word of advice, Tony… If you’re going to use your fighter’s name to get laid, pick a girl who he doesn’t want to fuck. Imagine his fury when he cozied up to the woman he’s been eyeing, and she was under the impression she’d had to fuck you first. Not just did he not want your sloppy seconds, a night with you made her swear off sex.”
Although there was barely any color left in Frankie’s face by that point, the rest of it drained. He looked as gray and cracked as the wall behind him. “You guys didn’t tell him where to find me, did you? That guy is a monster more insane than you.” He quickly raised his hands. “No offense, I mean—”
“We didn’t tell him. Why’d you try to fuck me over, Frankie?”
“I told you, my wife—”
I punched him again, this time aiming for his kidney. When he doubled over, I lifted him and pinned him to the wall with a hand around his throat. “Try again.”
“I owe money!” he gargled through the pressure. “A lot of fuckin’ money! I thought if I kept to the smaller fights on the edge of the circuit, it’d be fine.”
“Who do you—”
Luc’s laugh cut through my question. “Holy shit, this stupid fucker owes you money.”
Frankie went tight before slumping at Luc’s words.
“What?” I asked.
Holding up his phone, Luc shook it. “I texted Joe a pic of Frankie. Apparently, Frankie goes by Andrew March when he’s placing bets.” His phone dinged, and when he looked down, he shook his head. “And according to Gabe, he’s been betting against his own fighter. Did you learn nothing from Pete Rose?”
“I’ve been taking out loans with you?” Frankie shook his head. “I thought you just owned the building and oversaw some things?”
“Ah,” I smirked, shaking my head, “the Amato business is a varied one.”
“I’ll find a way to pay you back. Just give me time.”
“You had plenty of chances.” Flesh connected with flesh, and skull connected with cement.
The door creaked open, and Frankie’s head lolled to look. The tiniest glimmer of hope lit his eyes, only for it to die out when he saw who was there.
Cazzo. I wish I had a camera to capture that exact moment.
“You said you didn’t tell him,” Frankie accused.
“Like you, I lied,” I shot back.
“Then just kill me,” he pleaded his negotiation. “I’ve got a few grand in my pocket. Take it and blow my brains out. At least you’ll make it fast. That fucker is gonna torture me.”
“And that’s exactly why we’re handing you over to him.”
Goliath’s huge frame blocked the exit. A sick smile spread across his face as he cracked his neck. When he shifted to the side so Luc and I could leave, Frankie tried to bolt. His adrenaline must have kicked in, because he moved quicker than expected.
It still wasn’t fast enough. Goliath stopped him with a large hand on his head.
As the door closed behind Luc and me, Goliath’s crazy, creepy laughter echoed around us.
“That fucker is nuts,” Luc said. “It’s a shame he fucked up.”
“I told him if he got clean and could pass regular drug testing, I’d give him another shot.” At Luc’s look of disbelief, I shrugged. “Since he’s handling Frankie for us, I didn’t have to shoot his kneecaps out for trying to sell to other fighters. He knows he got lucky, and he seemed sincere. Worst case, we don’t hear from him again. Best case,” I started before a perfectly timed blood curdling scream interrupted, “we’ve got that to draw in some crowds.”
“Good point.”
“Gabe know he’s on clean up?”
Luc opened the door that led to the dark parking lot. “He’s around the corner. He’ll pull in when we leave, and Niall will shoot him a text when it’s his turn.” Putting his phone away, he shook his head. “I’m surprised he doesn’t bring Tina with him to cut out the travel time.”
“That’s my fucking cousin.” I grimaced, fighting back the memory. “And he has before, and I walked in on them.”
Whether he was wrapping his hands to fight and make the mess or pulling on gloves to clean one, Gabe liked what he did.
A lot.
“I’m surrounded by sick motherfuckers,” I said over Luc’s chuckle.
“We learn it from our leader, boss.”
I was going home to the woman I’d give up everything for, only to happily go to bed with a serious case of blue balls so long as I was sleeping in the same house as her.
Maybe he was right.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Devil Needs Love
Dahlia
With a sigh of regret, I trudged toward Weggies.
Despite all my attempts, I hadn’t been able to find a new job. Since Jerry had always liked me, I was going to suck it up and ask to be rehired.
I neared the door, but couldn’t bring myself to step inside. Customers maneuvered their carts around me as I stood like an idiot, the sliding door opening and closing.
“You okay?” an older man asked.
I gave myself a mental shake. “Yes, sorry.” Turning, I started through the parking lot toward the sidewalk. I’d walked the same route what seemed like a million times, but it felt unfamiliar.
Before I knew what I was doing, I stood in front of Java Brew. The doors were open, the f
aint smell of coffee still clinging to the interior. Wendy stood on a ladder, using a drill to take a painting off the wall. The place was mostly gutted, only a few odds and ends from the office and décor still there.
I should ask her about the smoothie bar offer. Smoothies and coffee can’t be too different. I could eventually get used to kale.
Maybe.
Instead of following through, I continued walking. I slowed when I approached my old building, but an SUV pulling to the curb grabbed my attention.
The window rolled down and Niall offered me a small smile. “Ready to go?”
I began shaking my head, but I nodded instead. “Yeah, okay.” Climbing into the backseat, I watched as Niall entered the address into the GPS. “Where are we going?”
“Mr. Amato is waiting at the restaurant.”
“Which one?” I asked, looking down at my clothes. For some reason, I could’ve sworn I’d put on black pants and a nice blouse to go to Weggies. Instead, I was wearing the watercolor skirt and crop top with a pair of white high heels that were splattered in colors to match the outfit exactly.
“A new place near his office. Everyone else is already there.”
“Everyone else?”
“Luc, Rosa, and all the other business associates.” He met my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Don’t worry. It’s been rented out and dinner is buffet style, so you’re not holding them up.”
I grimaced. For the most part, I had no problem attending events with Theo. I even enjoyed some of them. But being thrown into it unexpectedly left me feeling frazzled and off kilter. Plus, Theo and I still weren’t in a good place. We weren’t in a bad one either. We just… were. As if we merely existed in a shared space.
It was depressing.
When we stopped, I saw how crowded the restaurant was through the large windowed front. I wanted to stay in the SUV with Niall, or better yet, have him take me home. Forcefully, I exited the SUV and walked quickly across the sidewalk. When I opened the door, I saw Theo standing at the bar. I stepped inside, and his eyes locked onto me.
There was nothing contained or forced about the dimpled grin that spread across his face. He met me at the halfway point, pulling me into a hug that lifted me off my feet. “I missed you, gattina.”