Sugar, Mine (Mine Series Book 3)

by Kay Maree

  When I open my eyes, I see the panic on his face. I shake my head, take a few steps back and sink to the floor.

  Sergio crouches in front of me. "Talk to me, Sugar."

  "T…t-that's…." I take a deep breath as images flash through my mind and I close my eyes trying to stop them.

  "Angel take Evie outside please." I hear Dominic call out in the background.

  Sergio lifts me up and into his warm chest, I breath in his scent trying hard to calm down.

  He leans over and whispers in my ear. "Talk to me, Sugar."

  "T…thats Bruno J!" I gasp out and look up into his dark eyes.

  I see the change in his eyes the moment he realizes what I've said and I tense when he curses in Italian. He turns and says something to everyone else and Katherine is crying louder.

  I'm struggling to breathe and I'm trembling all over. "Breathe, Sugar."

  Listening to his deep husky voice whispering in my ear starts to calm me as I allow it to seep into my bones. The trembling eases, my hands rest on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart and I find my voice.

  "I'm sorry," I whisper.

  "You have nothing to be sorry for."

  "I'm okay now. Seeing his picture shook me, I wasn't expecting it."

  I think about what happened, the conversation before I had my meltdown and something clicks into place. I swing around to face Kat and see realization flash in her eyes when it comes to me.

  "He's your father?" I whisper.

  She nods. "I promise you, I didn't know. He left when I was a little girl." She sobs in distress.

  I notice everyone in the room is as shocked as me, they haven't been keeping anything from me.

  "I'm so sorry, Kirsty. I swear I didn't know." Katherine's eyes plead with me to understand, to believe her but it's unnecessary.

  I can see this knowledge has shocked and hurt her too. She approaches me slowly, tears stream down our faces and she wraps me in her arms. I stiffen at first before relaxing and hugging her back while we both cry.

  "I promise you I didn't know," she whispers in my ear.

  "I believe you."

  The tension eases between us. I hear a sniff and glance over Kat's shoulder to see tears streaming over Brooklyn's cheeks before Dominic folds her into his arms.

  I fill with anger at the thought of what this monster has done not only to me, but also to these girls who are fast becoming my friends. Friends I had dreamed about over the years.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Sergio

  Fucken shit, how did I not recognize Bruno J from the picture Theo showed me two weeks ago and why did he not run this past me first? I look to Theo and narrow my eyes. I'm fucking pissed and if the deep swallow and wide-eyed look he gives me is an indication, he fucking knows it too. My muscles clench, fists form and adrenaline is coursing through, surfing on a wave of my anger. As much as I'd like to punch Theo in the face, I won't.

  I glance to where Kirsty is hugging Kat and can only fucking imagine what is going through both girls minds right now.

  Brooklyn crosses to them and places her hand on Kat's arm. "Come on, how bout we all go upstairs." They nod, move apart and swipe at their damp eyes.

  "Angel take princess with you," Dominic says.

  Brooklyn moves to the living room where Evie's coloring book and Crayons remain on the floor. When she bends over to pick them up, Dominic stops her.

  "Go and fetch Evie, Angel, I'll get these."

  Brooklyn stands on tiptoes and kisses his cheek before heading to the back door and calling for her daughter.

  "Sugar, do you want a glass or water or something to eat before you go upstairs?" I ask Kirsty.

  She shakes her head before glancing around the room, her and Kat leave and I see Brooklyn following behind them with Evie. None of us men say a word until we hear a door closing upstairs.

  "How the fuck did you find him?" Dominic demands to know.

  "Trixie." Theo answers.

  Dominic and Antonio have a confused look on their faces and I'm sure I do too.

  "Who the fuck is, Trixie?" Antonio snaps.

  "Why the fuck are you getting other people involved in our business?" Dominic yells. He's pissed.

  "Fuck." Theo realizes he hadn't explained to them about Trixie so he goes on to explain all about her. "I didn't, Boss. Two weeks ago, someone hacked into my system. I did everything I could to stop it but coded messages began popping up. When I finally worked out how to access them, I discovered her name."

  "Trixie?" Antonio asks.

  Theo nods and grips the back of his neck. It's then I see how fucking tired he looks and I wonder if he's had any sleep at all since this whole mess started.

  "For the past two weeks, every time I started a search, another coded message would pop up on the screen and I'd have to spend an hour or so unscrambling it." He sighs, I can see his frustration and feel bad for him. "When I entered Bruno J into the search engines, I could only find old articles from years ago. So, I started searching everything on the girls, I started with Darren and it unfolded from there. Trixie started telling me a story and unlocking everything as I went."

  "So, you're telling me some woman…." Dominic starts.

  "It could be a man." Antonio offers.

  "What the fuck, man, woman, I don't give a shit. Someone broke into your failproof system and has led you on a game of cat and mouse? And, this happened after we found Kirsty in the warehouse."

  Theo slams his fist onto the table, his own anger escalating. "It's a fucking woman."

  "Fuck, Theo. Calm the fuck down." I sound pissed now.

  "Everyone can calm the fuck down." Dominic paces the floor. "I want to know everything about this Trixie."

  "That's the problem, Boss. I only know what she is prepared to tell me. I can't find shit anywhere and it's pissing me off. I can't figure out how she keeps breaking through our security."

  Dominic stops and glares menacingly at Theo. "Are you telling me she has access to everything including our businesses and the shit we're dealing with right now and you don't a fucking thing about her?"

  "Si." Theo looks down at his computer. "I think she's trying to help us though, I don't think she's a threat. She could have crippled us by now and she hasn't."

  "So, what's the connection with Darren?"

  "I don't think there is one."

  "So, what the fuck does she want, what is she trying to tell you?" Dominic drags his fingers through his hair.

  "It's like building blocks, each piece of information I entered unlocked something different which led me straight to Bruno J. I didn't know it was the same guy, although I suspected it, until Kirsty saw the picture earlier. His name was listed as Byron and you can see the changes he's made. The picture I showed you a couple of weeks ago of Bruno J was taken a few years ago. The one I showed Kirsty is recent, he's had surgery."

  "This shit is making my head spin," Antonio growled.

  "Theo, keep digging. I want everything on Bruno J, I want to know if he's changed his appearance again now we have Kirsty and I want information on that girl." Dominic sounds a bit calmer now.

  "Si, Boss."

  "Why do you think she's helping us?" I ask no-one in particular.

  Theo answers. "I have a gut feeling she's trying to help. Every time I did a search, she was at her end digging deep and leading me through the right gateways to find information."

  "I thought nobody was better than you at this type of thing?" Antonio asks what I've been thinking.

  "I think when Miss Katherine's sister went on her rampage she set some sort of wheels in motion which put a firewall in place. It meant no-one could access anything."

  "Except this girl?" Dominic asks.

  "Si, Boss. I think the only way to access anything beyond that firewall is through this girl. Why the fuck would she be helping us if she's been the one to put it in place?"

  We all look at each other, I'm sure we're thinking the same thing. If this girl i
s helping us, she's also in danger.

  I voice my concerns. "Theo, if what you're saying is true, we need to find this Trixie and fast. She could be in danger too if she's caught helping us."

  "Fuck." Antonio runs his hand over his face.

  Dominic paces the floor again.

  When I glance at Theo, the look on his face tells me there is something he hasn't told us. "What is it?"

  "I don't know but I have a gut feeling something is wrong. I haven't had a coded message from her since last night and I haven't had time to crack it because I knew you would want to see the information I'd already found first thing this morning."

  He returns his attention to the computer and his fingers fly over the keyboard. I saw the flash of fear in his eyes when I mentioned Trixie could be in danger. I think this cat and mouse hunt has just turned into one of survival. It seems Theo has met his match and I heard the admiration in his voice, God help anyone who threatens the life of his little Trixie.

  ***

  The afternoon passes before the girls come back down stairs, I wrap my arms around my girl as soon as she's near. Bending over, I whisper in her ear, "are you okay, Sugar?"

  She rests her hands on my arms, leans her head back against my chest and I feel her relax into me.

  "I will be." She turns her head to look up at me and I see the shine of tears in her eyes.

  I kiss her temple and hold her closer.

  Brooklyn urges Evie onto the sofa and puts a movie on the television for her.

  Katherine is wrapped in Antonio's arms. I realize how lucky I am to have these people I call family in my life. This shit is far from over but together we'll get through it and for tonight, we can relax and enjoy being together.

  "What would you like for dinner?" Brooklyn asks at the same time Dominic's phone sounds.

  "Si, Nico." He listens and I watch his expression harden before he speaks again. "We'll be there in ten minutes, tell Demetri to wait there." He listens for another moment. "Call him and tell him I'll be there in ten minutes. Antonio will meet you at the club." He hangs up and everyone remains silent, waiting for him to speak.

  "Antonio and I have to leave. Brooklyn, Katherine, I want you both and Evie to stay here where it's safe." "No worries." Kat leans up and kisses Antonio.

  Dominic whispers in Brooklyn's ear before kissing her, he then crosses to Evie and crouches down before her. He speaks quietly and she nods.

  I walk Dominic and Antonio outside to the cars. "What's going on?"

  "Demetri killed a man behind Destiny."

  "What the fuck?" Antonio growls.

  "I don't know what the fuck happened, all I got was some cazzo attacked a girl in the club. Demetri has taken her to his place because the fucker he killed was part of the Talon MC."

  Fuck, now we have a motorcycle gang to deal with on top of everything else.

  "Is the girl okay?" I ask.

  "Si, as far as I know." Dominic is stressed, he drags his fingers through his hair. "Antonio, go and help Nico clean up the fucking mess at Destiny. I'm going to Demetri's to find out what the fuck is going on."

  "What do you need me to do?" I ask.

  "Stay here with the girls and Theo, if he finds anything, call me."

  "Si Boss." I nod and watch them head to their cars and climb in. After starting the engines, they ease from the driveway.

  Fuck can shit get any worse?

  Chapter Nineteen

  One Week Later

  Kirsty

  It's been three weeks since Sergio saved me from Hell and a week since I saw the picture of Bruno J on Theo's computer. After spending the day talking with Brooklyn and Katherine, I was determined not to be a scared little girl anymore. Later that night, I headed down to the home gym where Sergio was punching a bag. Instead of standing in the doorway watching, I moved toward him and asked him if he would teach me to fight. He was reluctant at first but I explained, I didn't want to feel weak, I wanted to be able to defend myself if it was needed and he finally agreed.

  The first two sessions, he taught me simple moves so if anyone grabbed me I'd be able to get free. After showing me a move and going over and over it for an hour, he'd declare I was tired and send me to bed.

  He seemed abrupt, pre-occupied and I became curious after the third session. I waited for him to get in the shower and crept to the door. He was moaning and I wondered if he was hurt but, as I was about to push open the door I heard him grunt and groan my name. I froze in place for a moment before scurrying back up to bed where I pretended to be asleep. He crawled into bed and wrapped me in his arms as if I was the most precious being in the world. It broke my heart and I hurt, knowing I was causing him to suffer because I was scared to let him touch me in that way.

  Every night since, for the past week, I've listened to him while he showered and become hot and achy. Last night, I lowered my fingers and touched myself, I was soaking wet just from listening to his moans. I was confused by the way my body was reacting after so much abuse and wasn't sure what I should do. As I'm not allowed to leave the house, I called Brooklyn and asked her to come over so we could have lunch together and chat. Sergio and Theo are hunched over the computer at the dining table, still searching for answers. I've found a recipe book in the kitchen, I've never cooked before but how hard could it be? I place the book on the bench, lean over and flick through the pages until my eyes are drawn to the window and through to the back yard.

  "Sugar, what are you doing?" Sergio's deep, honeyed voice never ceases to send shivers of want down my spine.

  He wraps his arms around me and I relax into his hold, the warmth of his body seeping through me.

  "I'm going to make lunch."

  "You were staring through the window; do you want to go and lie in the sun? I can make something for lunch."

  "I love how you care for me, Knuckles."

  He throws his head back on a deep, full body laugh at the nickname I gave him when he first started training me. I bite my lip, his laughter soothes me, my body tingles. Actually, everything he says and does has this effect on me. I clench my thighs against the ache in my groin.

  He holds me tighter and unlike three weeks ago when I would have flinched and pushed him away, I encourage his hold. I accept his touch now, in actual fact, I crave it. He's pressed up against me and if he's noticed me clenching my thighs, he doesn't say anything.

  I turn my face up to him. "I want to do it." When his eyes widen, I realize what he thinks I've said. Shit! "I want to cook," I rush out before turning back to the window.

  Sergio turns my face toward him and plants a soft kiss on my lips. "Okay, Sugar. If you need help, call out."

  I nod my head and he kisses me again before crossing the room back to Theo. I rake my eyes over his body, from head to his sexy ass, I notice he walks with a swagger. The ache intensifies so, I return my attention to the cookbook on the bench and search for something which sounds easy. A quiche recipe leaps out at me, it looks easy enough and sounds delicious. Quiche it is.

  ***

  "Wow that was delicious." Brooklyn sips at her glass of water and rubs a hand over her pregnant belly.

  A smile pulls at my lips and I feel proud that I could actually pull it off. "Thank you." I stand, gather the dishes and cross to the sink.

  "So, what do you wanna talk about?

  I dart my eyes to where Sergio and Theo are engrossed in the computer, shake my head slightly and indicate the back door.

  Brooklyn takes my meaning, picks up her glass and follows me outside.

  "How do you feel about not having to use a cane anymore?"

  We sit on the chairs of the outside setting under a large umbrella.

  She laughs. "Dominic still treats me like I might break but it feels good being able to move around without having to use a cane to lean on."

  "I bet."

  "So, enough with the diversion, what's going on?" She sighs, leans back in her chair and takes a mouthful of water. I watch as she places the g
lass on the table and I stare at the condensation as it runs down the side whilst I fidget with my own glass.

  "Kirsty?"

  I snap my eyes up to hers and blow out a breath when I see the concern in her eyes.

  "I just…." Shit this is harder than I thought. Just rip off the Band-Aid, I chant to myself and suck in a deep breath. "I feel achy," I blurt out and lower my head. Fuck, that's not exactly what I meant to say.

  "Achy how?" I swear I see panic in her eyes when I look back up.

  "Not bad achy." I reassure her. "I mean, down there. I feel achy whenever Sergio is near me." I look her straight in the eyes, hoping she understands.

  I watch as she realizes what I'm saying and her eyes widen.

  "Do you want him to touch you?" she asks softly.

  "I..um…I think I do."

  "Then sweety, if you think you're ready, you should talk to Sergio. Tell him how you feel."

  "How did you know you were ready after what had happened."

  "I'm going to be honest with you. It was different for me. I don't remember the night I was raped, only what he did to me after that." Brooklyn breathes out heavily and closes her eyes.

  I feel bad for asking her to relive her past. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

  "Kirsty, the best thing you can do is talk about what happened to you. If you try to push it away, deny it, it will consume you and you'll never feel free or at peace. The first time Dom touched me, it felt like my body was on fire. I'd never felt anything like it before and knowing he felt the same made it special. I couldn't stop how I felt and even if it had been an option, I wouldn't have. Dom loved me from the first time he laid eyes on me and knowing that made the fall for me worthwhile. When we made love the first time, the Earth shifted, opened up and showed me he was the man I was always meant to be with." Brooklyn has a smile on her face now.

  "When Sergio touched you for the first time, how did it make you feel?"

  I don't have to think about the answer, it's on the tip of my tongue. "I felt hope and it was like all my nerves had short circuited. When he stopped touching me, I felt an overwhelming sense of loss. I wanted his arms around me, I wanted to be touched, needed it. He made me feel like I was home." I let out a deep breath and gaze up at the bright sun. smiling when a light breeze lifts my hair. God, I love being outside. I jolt at the sudden contact when Brooklyn places her hand over mine and laughs.