by Sedona Venez
Why the hell did he have to listen to me when I told him to get out?
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
This is it. This is how I’m going to die.
Panic threatened to consume me, but I fought for mental control. I took a calming breath as my brain raced with multiple scenarios of how this night would end. None of them were good.
Sin, it’s time to reason with the psycho.
“Jaxon, what is it that you want?” I worked hard to control my breathing, steady my heart rate, and temper my fear.
When Jaxon spoke, I felt like he was taunting me. Asshole. “You. I’ve always wanted only you.” His sour breath made me gag, but when he pressed the knife harder against my skin, my body tightened. “We belong together. Do you see?”
“Jaxon, there is no us,” my voice shrilled.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he muttered. “I wanted to talk. I wanted to apologize for destroying your clothes and your house.”
Everything in my mind froze. “That was you? You were the one who destroyed my collection?”
“Yes. When I saw you all dressed up and then getting into that car, I knew you were going on a date with lover boy. You’re cheating on me.” His hand trembled. He was becoming more enraged. I felt the knife piercing my skin as a little bit of blood trickled down my neck. “How could you do that? To me? To us? I needed to teach you a lesson.”
He’s a damn lunatic.
This fucker had broken into my house, destroyed my shit, and now he was violating me because he had some delusional notion that I was his girlfriend because I’d fucked him years ago?
But I knew his crazy went deeper. He was pissed and obsessed with me because I’d said hard pass to anything more than a one-night stand.
Rage coursed through my veins.
I wanted to claw his eyes out. Kill him. Bathe in his blood. That was what I had been reduced to. Primal urges—attack, maim, kill, using whatever was available to succeed, including kicking Jaxon in the groin, which became a priority.
I remained silent, emotionless, knowing that would bother him more than me talking. He wanted my attention, my adoration, my begging. Well, that shit was not happening.
He leaned in, and his tone dropped to a low growl as he spoke. “And now you show up again with lover boy? Are you fucking him, Sin?”
I kept a sharp eye on the entrance to my bedroom. Come on, Core. Get a clue.
It had been ages since I kicked him out.
“I’m talking to you, bitch!” Jaxon shouted.
I’d seriously had enough of his shit. “Bitch? Is that the best you could come up with? I’ve been called worse by a better class of people than your ass,” I pointed out.
Core’s voice bellowed from downstairs. “Sin? What’s taking you so long?”
“Good. Your boyfriend’s here,” Jaxon whispered.
I croaked, “Core—” But I was quickly silenced by a sharp dig of Jaxon’s blade. At first, it felt like someone was pinching my skin with a metal claw—like a nipping feeling but a lot worse—and then I got pins and needles before it went numb.
“Time for some fun,” Jaxon jabbered before dragging me over to my open closet with the blade firmly pressed against my throat. Then he flung me inside.
His gaze rested on me, and then his eyes traveled along my face, down the curve of my neck, and to my breasts. Then they lifted lazily to my mouth again. “It’s been so long,” he chattered. “I can’t wait to kiss you.”
“I’d like that, too,” I replied in a saccharine tone, “so you’ll be close enough for me to rip your cock off.”
He grinned. “I find our banter amusing.”
I frowned. “Banter?” I spit. “That’s a fucking threat.”
“Sin?” Core’s voice called out again, and this time, he seemed closer.
“Co—” I shouted.
“Shut it,” Jaxon warned while simultaneously lunging at me with his knife.
Dodging his blade swipe, I clumsily fell back onto my ass—hard. “Goddammit.” That was going to leave a mark. “Asshole,” I groused, scrambling onto all fours and scooting farther away.
Jaxon narrowed his gaze on me. “Keep your damn mouth shut,” he warned, “or you’ll both die.” He slammed the closet door shut.
My heart raced with fear as I stumbled to my feet in the dark space.
My mind raced with all of the horrible possibilities and scenarios psycho Jaxon had planned and would inflict on Core and me, given the opportunity.
The only bright spot to this clusterfuck was that Core was one tough motherfucker and could handle Jaxon. And so could I.
My counterattack strategy quickly came together. As soon as the closet door opened, I would be ready to brawl. Scrambling over to my shoe shelf, I snatched one of my highest stilettos and tightly gripped it with the thin, long heel pointing outward like a deadly weapon.
“I’m no one’s bitch,” I mumbled while making practice swipes with the shoe, slicing it through the air.
I never realized how deadly my stilettos were. One stab with full force would easily cause serious injury, and with laser focus on a soft part of the body—like the throat or eye—it could give me enough time to escape from Jaxon… or piss him off. Either way, it was him or me, and I chose me.
I blew out a breath. “Okay, Sin,” I mumbled, “no fear.”
Bouncing on my bare feet, I readied myself to go full-on survival-of-the-fittest beast mode. If Jaxon somehow made it past Core—highly unlikely—then it would be a shoe to Jaxon’s face.
“It’s go time, motherfucker. Stiletto fucking city.”
There was an audible bang that pierced the air. I knew it was gunfire.
I heard Max’s voice bark, “Clear.”
The closet door was thrown open with Core standing at the threshold. Dropping the shoe, I rushed into his arms, relieved as hell that he was alive and so was I.
“Thank God,” I whispered, clutching him for dear life. I wanted to cry, laugh, and yell—all at the same time.
“I’ve got you, Sin,” he declared huskily before kissing me.
Warm, soft lips covered mine. The kiss became more fervent, and when it ended, I leaned into him, lingering in his arms that protectively engulfed me as if he never wanted to let me go.
He released me, clutching my face in his palms with eyes sweeping me for injuries. “Are you okay?”
“Some cuts to my throat, but I’ll be fine,” I answered. “How did you know he was here?”
“Because Max smelled cologne when we were downstairs. He didn’t think anything of it, but when you were taking so long, he put two and two together, and we knew something was wrong.”
Glancing over, I saw Max standing there with a gun in his hand and a fierce look on his face. “Core, go. I’ll take care of it. I already sent a text to both the cleaner and Rocco. They’re all on the way. We’ll make sure to clean up the body.”
I blinked and then blinked again.
Cleaner?
Clean up the body?
Both Core’s and Max’s expressions were There’s nothing to see here, folks… just a dead man lying on the bedroom floor neutral. It was as if we were standing in a grocery store, waiting for a cleanup on aisle ten.
What type of world does Core live in that makes this situation remotely normal?
And is this a world I can learn to get used to?
My heart started to pound in my chest at the thought of it.
My gaze landed on Jaxon, who was lying faceup.
“Sin, don’t look.” Core’s voice became low and commanding.
But I couldn’t help myself. My eyes zoomed in on Jaxon’s body crumpled on the floor with blood running out of his head, eyes wide with shock, and lips parted slightly in death’s awe.
I felt nothing about his death. Jaxon was going to kill me. So it was either him or me. Yet there was a part of me that was a little concerned that my conscience was silent, on a hiatus, unmoved at the loss of life. But I also knew that
the body on the floor could very well have been me, and just the thought of that near-miss tragedy settled my lack of emotions toward his demise.
I croaked, “Who’s the cleaner?” I split my attention between Max and Core.
Max’s lips flattened into a straight line.
Core narrowed his eyes. When he finally spoke, his tone was slow and restrained as he carefully chose his words. “It’s our connection that takes care of messy situations like this for us.”
My eyes widened.
What the fuck?
Exactly how many situations like this has he been involved in?
My lips parted to ask more questions.
“Sin, the less you know, the better.” He grazed his finger along my cheek. “You got me?” Fastened on me were determined and unwavering eyes.
I nodded because, strangely, I did.
They’d killed Jaxon with a weapon they probably shouldn’t have. Plus, I’d watched enough police procedural shows to know that calling the police would only land the three of us in jail while the cops sorted out the who, what, why, and how of this major clusterfuck.
And I damn sure didn’t relish the probability of spending time behind bars, fending off sexual passes from Big Bertha, who was eager to make me her new prison yard bitch.
“Good. Let’s go,” he demanded, grabbing my hand. Escorting me toward the door, he led me out of the bedroom. “Don’t bother with your stuff. I’ll buy you whatever you need. Right now, we have to clear out of here. I’m not sure if your neighbors heard the commotion that took place just now.”
Still in shock from everything that had gone down, I didn’t look back. I didn’t need to.
Jaxon was gone, and I had one less person out to hurt and kill me. Then my new reality sank in. I’d never be able to be in my bedroom… in my home… without the memory of what Jaxon had done and his eventual death tarnishing the peace and sanctuary that I’d built.
My home was where I’d felt the freest of worries. Where I’d felt comfortable and safe. Now not only Jaxon, but also Core and even Bigsby had broken that barrier in my home as well as in my life.
I felt vulnerable and scared.
I didn’t know how to process the fact that my world had shattered around me.
What do I do now?
And how do I move on from this?
And will it be with or without Core?
UNABLE TO SLEEP, I SAT in the serene environment of Core’s private terrace overlooking Manhattan. It was late, a little after midnight, and the sky was dark. The crisp fall air whipped around me as I tucked my legs under me.
“Now this is living,” I murmured under my breath, enjoying the panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline, East River, and Central Park.
Cradling a cup of coffee in one hand, I sighed heavily. It was Thursday, only four days after my world had imploded due to Core’s truth bomb about my real parents and Jaxon getting killed at my house. The situation had gotten worse when Grace was found dead inside her business. The police had speculated that it was a robbery, but we—me, Core, and his team—all suspected it was Bigsby’s doing. He was systematically going down the list, killing everyone who knew about his connection to the ledger. It didn’t take a genius to figure out I was next, so Core and his team went on high alert, putting me on lockdown at Core’s penthouse until his meeting with Bigsby today.
Adding to the tension permeating the house, I’d moved myself into Core’s guest bedroom, deciding I needed time to get my shit together emotionally. I’d asked for space, and he was giving it to me.
“Be careful what you wish for…” I muttered.
I hated to admit it, but I missed him.
Compounding my feeling of isolation, I hadn’t spoken to Jade since Sunday, even when there were so many times I had wanted desperately to call her. Jade had her own little family drama brewing after the press had gotten wind of the authorities linking Bigsby to a sex trafficking ring. The media circus had kicked into high gear when Bigsby went into hiding. The tabloids had become dogged in their twenty-four-seven news coverage of the Bellisario family—following them around and camping outside of both Cate’s and Ariana’s homes. I was relieved as hell that Jade was still in New Zealand, avoiding the public drama this Bigsby fiasco had become.
Taking a sip from my cup, I voice-dialed the only person I wanted to talk to right now.
“Jade?”
“Sin? Why aren’t you sleeping? It’s past midnight in New York. Is everything all right?”
I grumbled, “Nothing a couple of shots of Patrón can’t resolve.”
“What’s going on? Issues with Core?”
I sucked in a ragged breath and held it for a long time before exhaling. “Yes,” I replied.
“And?”
The silence stretched.
“And my life is so fucked up right now.” Dammit, I needed to keep it together. I pressed my fingers along my temple, trying to ease the pressure from the stress. It didn’t work.
“What does that mean?” Jade countered.
“My life is a reality show, and the results are in. Ian is not my father, and Grace is not my mother,” I responded flatly, curling up into the plush cushions. “My real parents are essentially a pimp and a madam.”
Jade was silent.
“Did you hear me?” I asked in a strained voice.
“I did, but what’s the damn punch line?”
I swallowed hard before launching into the full details.
Moments later, Jade cleared her throat. “Oh my God! This explains a lot,” she hissed.
I frowned. “Like what?” I finished my drink and carefully set the mug down on the table.
“Why you look nothing like Ian or Grace.”
I sighed. She was right about that fact. I had olive-toned skin and dark, exotic features. Grace had ethereal, porcelain features, and Ian had been just as fair.
I inhaled a ragged breath. “Is that all you got out of the fucked-up lowdown I just went into?” I nibbled on my bottom lip.
“Sin,” Jade replied in an even voice, “what you told me about Bigsby frankly isn’t surprising. My mom and I have never liked or trusted him. So Core taking that fucker down is just community service in my eyes.”
I jumped up, wincing when I hit my toe on the coffee table. “And the fact that Bigsby is planning on killing me?” My heart started to pound in my chest at the thought of it.
I started slowly pacing the terrace and twirling my tresses around my finger, holding my cell in one hand.
Once again, she spoke in a simple, even tone. “Core sounds like a badass, so that shit is not going to happen.” She paused. “I mean, come on. He took care of stalker boy. You can give him my thanks for that shit.”
In Jade’s typical MO, she was trying to calm me the hell down, but it wasn’t working. I was too wired… too frustrated… too conflicted… too damn everything.
“Great!” I threw a hand up in the air. “So now you’re a member of the Core McKay fan club?”
“Hell yeah! I don’t have to worry about your ass while I’m away. He has your back.”
“He manipulated me, Jade!” I snapped.
“And did you slap his ass for being a naughty boy, telling him not to do that shit again?”
I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out. Only Jade could lighten my dark mood.
“Jade, come on. This is serious. He manipulated me to get what he wanted.”
“I got that, and knowing you, you laid into his ass about it.”
“Yes. I told him if he lies to me again, then that’s his ass.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“I can’t trust him,” I replied.
She exhaled an exasperated breath. “You mean that you won’t.”
“Can’t. Won’t. It’s the same thing.”
Jade snorted. “Come on, Sin. You and I know what this is really about. You’re terrified of being hurt by a man again. Look, I get that what he did was fucked up, but the why is
valid. Bigsby had killed Core’s mother and left him for dead. That shit would stick in anyone’s teeth like corn. Life is too short to stand on the sidelines because you’re scared to trust and love. Zone in on the bad boy and make him yours.”
“It’s not going to work. I can’t trust any man to do the right thing.” I sighed. I hated feeling this way, but a whole lot of shitty life lessons had taught me nothing good came out of trusting men.
“Bullshit. You’re just scared. Just let the past go, Sin. Scars remind us where we’ve been, not where we’re going.”
My heart raced. Trying to hide from the truth wouldn’t alter the reality of this clusterfuck. “He scares the shit out of me. He’s the one man who changes everything I thought I knew about myself.” He was the one man who had stripped away my mask and laid me out, bare and vulnerable. “I’ve spent my whole life building a fortress and defending myself from being hurt again.”
“Listen to me, Sin,” Jade whispered. “Every relationship is different, and you can’t carry your past issues into the future. Keep the ex baggage where it’s meant to be—in the damn past.”
I remained silent.
“If you don’t open yourself up and trust him, your relationship will go nowhere. And without trust, you’re putting a dead end on a future partnership. Now pull on your big-girl panties and be brave and open. Let him in.”
I dashed away the tears rolling down my cheeks. That was exactly what I was afraid of doing. “I hate that I’m so fucked up in the head.”
“You’re not fucked up. We’re both emotionally challenged, but I think it’s time for a change.”
“Jade, I’ve only known one good man in my entire life, and that was my dad. He was way more man than Grace deserved.”
My upper lip curled in disdain. Even though Grace was now dead, she’d caused a hell of a lot of emotional damage while she was alive. I hoped her soul could find the peace she needed.
I walked over to the railing, staring down at the bustling city below. “I don’t think I’m built for the level of commitment that a relationship takes.”
Jade sighed. “I think that’s what we’ve been telling ourselves for so long that we actually believe it. This much I know. Someday, I want kids and stability. Don’t you?”