by G. Bailey
"You can't just decide you want me and then . . . then kiss me," she stutters while sorting her hair out. I’ve never seen her stutter over anything.
I lean against the bar and smirk at her. "I just did."
She looks so hot when she stomps her feet and walks out the door that I can't help but laugh. I get that she is going to try to stop me from having her, but she hasn’t realised she’s already mine.
"Hey, bro, what did you do to piss off Allie this time?" Sebastian asks with a smirk as he walks in and stops in the middle of the room.
"Nothing. She won't forget anytime soon." I laugh, picking up more bottles to put into the fridge.
Sebastian whistles low before saying, "This place looks great, bro."
He walks over and stops in his tracks as he looks at my hair. He looks beyond fucking shocked. I smirk at him as he shakes his head.
“Fuck, you look like me now. I like it.” He grins.
"Thanks, how are Jake and Maisy?" I ask, thinking of my little nephew who makes me smile when he isn't being sick on me. I’m sure the kid likes to ruin my clothes on purpose. I know he is sick on other people, but he throws up on me every time I hold him. Maisy says it’s because he eats too much, but I’m sure the little man is doing it to piss me off.
"All good. I'm meeting Maisy in a bit to see the vicar for the wedding, and Harley has Jake."
"Harley always has Jake, and that's why you’re so dressed up." I laugh, remembering how much Harley loves to help out with Jake. Harley is my oldest brother, the one who has always looked after us. I don’t respect anyone as much as I respect him. The amount of times I would have lost my fucking mind over the things my dad did if he didn’t stop me. Harley was there, picking my ass off the floor and telling me it was all right every fucking time. I know Seb feels the same way, his son’s name is Jake Harley King.
I look over my brother in his suit, with a few buttons undone at the top. It’s weird to see him in a suit, but he wears them more now as he is a partner at the gym Harley owns.
"I know my poor son is spoilt with attention. Jake always has someone holding him or taking him shopping."
I smile at Sebastian as he continues.
"We need another kid in the family to help distract us from Jake. I tried asking Maisy for another, but that's a no for a while."
"Yeah, well the rest of us are single, so no luck there." I laugh.
"That's true, and if Blake gets Izzy pregnant before he marries her, I’d have to beat the shit out of him." Sebastian laughs as we both know that wouldn't happen. I doubt Blake is crazy enough to risk her over protective brothers coming after him. He damn well knows we are protective of Izzy. The fucker didn’t tell us about dating our sister until Seb found out. By then, it was too late; they both loved each other.
"Speaking of which, how are the plans for my wedding reception going?" he asks, reaching over the bar and getting a packet of nuts. They aren’t meant to be eaten yet, but I’m not telling him that.
"We have it all sorted, and we are having it in our back garden," I tell him as he opens the nuts and eats a handful. Harley loves gardening, so the house has an amazing garden; it looks great this time of year, and we wouldn’t have to do much work on it.
"I like the idea, and Maisy will too," Sebastian says, finishing the bag of nuts.
"Don't worry, I will sort Allie out. We can work together." I smirk.
"Work together or sleep together? I know you want her." Seb laughs, playing with the cuffs on his shirt.
"You’re right," I mutter, noticing how happy Sebastian looks. I laugh.
"Fucking hell, I thought you'd never admit it,” he says with a wide-eyed expression.
"Things change," I tell him.
“I’m happy for you, man. Just be careful, not all things change,” he says.
“Like what?” I narrow my eyes at him.
"Like her dad? You should be careful. We know he is pissed that we are all walking away from the fights soon. He tried fucking with me recently. It wouldn’t surprise me if he tries something with you. He needs one of us on his side," Sebastian warns, looking worried.
"Yeah, I know," I say, patting Sebastian’s shoulder as I sit next to him.
"Look, can you babysit this Saturday? I want to take Maisy out, and Harley is busy," he asks with a grin. I know he likes it when I babysit because I always end up going home with sick on me.
"All right, I want to see Jake. I've been busy with the club, and I haven't been able to get around much."
"He misses his uncle, I'm sure." Sebastian laughs.
"Jake can't tell you yet, but I'm his favourite uncle." I smirk. At least I hope I am with the amount of sick he has given me.
Sebastian helps me clean up a little before going off to meet Maisy. I’m just sitting on my bike, readying to put my helmet on, when I get a text. It’s from Arthur saying there is a fight next weekend that he wants me to fight. It's Harley's turn, but, whatever, we only have ten fights left, and this will make it nine. I pull on my helmet and drive back home.
57
Allie
"Answer your damn phone," I mutter to myself as Tristan doesn't answer my fourth call today. I said to Dad that I would check on him. I'm driving over to see him as it’s just easier. I know focusing on my brother is my way of forgetting what happened yesterday. Elliot’s demanding kiss is seared into my head, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve heard of people having chemistry, I’ve read about it lots in my smutty books, but I didn’t realise what it was really like to be kissed like that.
I grab my keys and walk to my car before making the long drive back to my old home. I love my new Hummer; its red, and my dad bought it for me after I crashed my last two cars. I really didn’t see the telephone pole the second time, and I’m lucky I didn’t get hurt. No one will ride with me anymore. I really don’t understand why. An asshole beeps at me while I’m driving nicely down an empty lane. I glance at my speed and see I’m going a little too fast. Ah well, I haven’t crashed this one in the last few months. My dad said it’s the safest car for me.
I pull up at my old home where Tristan lives alone now. I don’t know why he doesn’t move, he has the same inheritance I have, and it’s enough to buy a few apartments or houses around here. The cottage is very old with its grey stone and thatched roof. It has two levels and a newer garage built near it. It looks homely from the outside but, honestly, it never felt like home to me. I notice a black jeep, which I don't recognise, in the driveway next to Tristan’s car. Maybe he has a friend over and that’s why he hasn’t been answering me.
I unlock the door with my key, wondering why it's locked if he has someone over. I quickly walk into the lounge and scream at the sight of Lily fucking my brother on the couch.
"Oh my fucking god, I wish I didn't see that. My mind will never recover. I need something fucking strong to drink. Holy cows, the image is burning me," I say loudly and walk into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water to stop myself from being sick. There are images you never want in your head, and this is one of them.
"Sorry, Al. I wasn't expecting you to come home," my brother, Tristan, says as he comes into the kitchen and pulls a top on. A moment later, Lily comes in, sitting by him in a red dress that shows too much.
"How long has this been going on?" I ask, glaring at Lily, who shrugs, wrapping an arm around my brother.
"A while. Look, it's serious, and I was going to tell you," Tristan says with a grin.
Holy cow, he looks so happy that I don't want to say this. "So when I interrupted you trying to sleep with Elliot last night, you were serious with my brother?" I ask Lily, who turns redder than her dress.
"What? You said you would never go back to him. Fucking hell, Lily, we have been dating for a year," Tristan shouts and moves away from her. She grabs onto his arm, shaking her head.
"While she was dating Elliot? Are you crazy, Tris?" I shout at him. He pulls his arm away from Lily, giving his back to her.
<
br /> "Get out, Lily," Tris says, looking at me. I want to tell him how much of an idiot he is being, but I don’t when I see how upset he is. I know how close he was to Lily, but I never thought it was anything other than friendship. I should have known better.
"No, I love you. Last night, I was just drunk," Lily says, throwing herself at Tristan’s back and trying to turn him.
"She wasn't,” I tell Tris. I’m not having this shit anymore.
“My brother asked you to leave, Lily." I walk over to her, pushing my brother behind me.
"It's always you ruining everything. First me and Elliot, now my relationship with Tristan. Why can't you go away?" she shouts at me.
She comes to stand right in front of me and I brace myself as she slaps me, knocking my head to the side. I taste blood in my mouth, and I grab her hand the second time she tries to hit me and push her away.
"Don’t try that again, Lily. What happened was your fault, not mine. We used to be friends, and I don’t know what the hell happened to you," I tell her as she starts crying. The part of me that used to be friends with her wants to hug her, and the other part wants to hit her over the head for hurting Tris. There might even be a tiny bit of me that wants to hate her for what she did to Elliot. I don’t know much about their relationship, but no one should be cheated on. That was uncalled for.
"Get out," Tristan says, coming to stand next to me. I see the tears in his eyes, and I grab his hand, which tightens around mine.
"Fine, your loss," she mutters, throwing her hair over her shoulder and slamming the door on the way out.
"I'm sorry," I say, glancing over at my brother as he opens one of the kitchen cupboards and brings out a bottle of Jack Daniels. I watch as he pours himself a large drink before downing it in one go.
My brother’s black hair is curly and very much unlike my own blond hair. He is covered in tattoos, which peek out from beneath his clothes, and he is a lot taller than me. His right eyebrow and lip are pierced also. He plays rugby for the local team, and it’s good for his anger, I think. The one thing we have in common are our blue eyes; both our parents have blue eyes, but mine and Tris’ look more like our mother’s. Well, from the few times I’ve seen her over the years.
"Want one?" he asks, and I nod at him. I know I can't leave him alone tonight, so I might as well join him. I could use one to forget yesterday and today. Fuck, Elliot King is messing with my head like he always has.
We don’t talk as he drinks more and more until I’m sure he has drank half the bottle. I’m still drinking my second drink, and I can’t drink more because I’m worried about him.
"Hey, little brother, let's get you up to bed," I say, noticing how he can’t hold his head up.
"You’re not my mum; in fact, you’re nothing like her. Maybe you are, maybe you will leave me too. Like everyone fucking does," he says, and I flinch at his words.
We don't speak about our mother, ever, since she left us with the last nanny at ten, and our dad will even walk out if I mention her. The last we spoke, I was thirteen and she was in Paris. There wasn't much chatting other than her telling me about the new shoes she bought the other day. I don’t know what happened to her, and why she won't come here. I found pictures of us as kids with Mum, and she was smiling. The pictures stopped when we were seven, and I can’t remember why.
"That's a good thing, and I’m not going anywhere, Tris," I say, trying to pull him up, but my brother is huge. I end up on the sofa next to him as he takes another drink.
"Everything good is bad in this family. The girl I've loved since I was twelve is a whore, and Dad is in a load of crap, which I don't want anything to do with," he mumbles, but I hear every word.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, pushing his curly, black hair out of his face.
"Dad is the owner of The Cage. He makes the King brothers fight for him. I'm sorry, but he wants me to run it. I won't, so he is going to make you do it. That's why we have been arguing. I won't kill for him, and neither will you," he mumbles before passing out. I shake him and try slapping him, but it doesn’t work.
"Tristan, what the hell are you going on about?" I ask, knowing he won't answer.
I think about what he said. I know The Cage, everyone around here does. It’s the dirty secret of the town, but it’s not really a secret. If you want to watch a fight and fuck some random person, that’s the place to go. There’s no way my dad has anything to do with it. I have heard at school that the King brothers fight sometimes. I always guessed it was a fun thing they liked to do for a fucked-up hobby or money. I just never put much thought into it. I know Elliot may give me the answers I need. I guess I could call Harley or Seb, but being honest with myself, I know who I want to call.
I ring his phone, and he answers on the second ring.
"Allie?" he questions as an answer. I can hear the rumble of his loud Harley Davidson in the background. I’m sure he can answer calls in his helmet.
"What the hell does my dad have to with The Cage, and you?" I ask, getting straight to the point.
"Where are you?" he asks, I can hear his bike being turned off in the background.
"At my old home, just answer the question, Elliot," I demand.
"See you in ten," he says before hanging up the phone on me.
"Fucker," I shout into my phone before throwing it down. My mind is running a million miles a minute trying to think of any reason for what Tristan said.
I drink more Jack Daniels as I wait for Elliot, trying to calm my nerves, but it’s not working. Every time I look at my younger brother, I just get angrier.
"Hey, you left the front door open," Elliot says as he walks into the room, holding his helmet under one hand. His new short hair is a little wet and drips onto his leather jacket. He looks so hot in his leather trousers, black top, and leather boots. Man, I must have drank more than I thought.
"Allie, what did your brother say to you?" he asks, glancing at Tristan next to me on the couch.
I get up and walk up to him, standing right in front of him. I glance into his dark-green eyes, which threaten to suck me in. My mind betrays me by looking at his soft lips. I shake my head thinking back to why he is here and that it’s not for my lack of a sex life.
"That my dad owns that fighting place, The Cage," I say, raising my eyebrows at the stupid idea. My dad may be a little cold toward Tristan sometimes, but owning a fighting ring? I actually laugh a little at my thoughts, which makes Elliot take the bottle of Jack Daniels from me.
"It's true, Allie," he says calmly, then takes a long drink from the bottle. I watch as he puts the bottle and his helmet on the coffee table.
"What, no! My dad is kind and quiet. He is not an owner of a place like that,” I say, pacing in front of the old fireplace. We never actually use the fireplace; I can’t remember it ever being used when I was a child.
"Angel, come and sit down.” Elliot stands next to an armchair, and I shake my head at him.
“Fine, your dad was partners with my father years ago. It all changed when my dad tried to kill yours. Your dad killed him for trying," he tells me.
"What?" I ask slowly, and I drop into the armchair he offers me again with a wave of his arm. Elliot sits on the arm, looking down at me as he speaks.
"Then, your dad made us all fight in The Cage for him, for years. We are nearly done with what we owe him."
"Tristan said he makes you fight, all of you. That's what he meant,” I whisper more to myself, but I see how Elliot tenses when I say that.
"I'm sorry," I whisper as I get the nerve to look up to meet Elliot’s gaze. My eyes feel wet as we stare at each other. Why would my dad do this? Do I even know him? I can’t if he has done this to Elliot and his brothers. It’s not that I don’t believe Elliot, I just love my dad and I’m struggling to believe he is this person.
"Shit, I didn't want to tell you all this," he says, coming to kneel in front of me and wiping my tears away.
Elliot keeps his hands cupping my fac
e as we both stare at each other.
"It's why you hated me so much, isn't it?" I ask him.
"Yes, I thought you knew. I was an angry, stupid teenager who had a crush you. I couldn’t cope with the fact that the man I hated had a daughter as amazing as you. I didn't handle it well," he admits.
I smile despite everything. "You had a crush on me?" I ask, and he does that typical King smirk I've gotten used to seeing all my life.
Elliot leans in and kisses me. The kiss is anything but gentle as he pushes his tongue into my mouth, making me taste him. That’s the only way to explain Elliot’s kiss, he makes you want him. He takes everything from you with one kiss, and I don’t know how anyone can be strong enough to refuse him.
Holy crap, he tastes amazing. Elliot tastes like mint ice cream with extra chocolate chips, the best one you can get. I run my hands up his chest, moving closer as desire runs through my body, but he pulls away.
"As much as I want to rip your clothes off and find a way to make you scream, I won't when you’re like this," he says. I look over his shoulder to my brother, remembering what else he said.
"Tris said Dad wanted him to run The Cage. But Tris won't kill for him, so he is going to make me. It's why they have been arguing," I tell Elliot, who nods.
Elliot grimaces as he leans back on his heels before standing. "That won't happen." He casts a dark look over at me before pulling me to my feet.
"Where's your room?" he asks, making my heart beat faster. Elliot seems to see all the naughty thoughts I’m having because he shakes his head at me.
"This way,” I say, walking ahead. I stop and place a blanket over Tris and kiss his cheek.
As we walk upstairs, I'm feeling speechless about the events of tonight. If someone told me last week that I would be taking Elliot King up to my bedroom, I would have laughed at them.
"This is it," I say, glancing back at Elliot's face.