Between Family

by Erin Trejo

  As soon as we’re inside I set her down and begin to peel her clothes off her. She reaches for my shirt, kissing me as she goes. She only pulls back long enough to get my shirt over my head. Once she has me naked in front of her she lets her fingers crawl up my chest. Bumps erupt over my skin from her simple touch, but when she leans in and sucks on my pierced nipple I nearly explode. I throw my head back and run my fingers through her hair as pure fucking ecstasy runs through my veins. Each and every flick of her tongue sends another shudder through my body.

  When I can’t take it anymore I push her back. Bri stumbles, but then catches herself. She stares up at me as I stalk toward her like she’s my next meal. As much as I want to devour her and taste every single inch of her, I know that I can’t right now. I stop and grab my jeans to pull a condom from my wallet when her eyes widen.

  “If you don’t want this then you’d better tell me now princess.”

  It’s a warning and I pray to god that she doesn’t heed it. She’s hesitant, but when she walks toward me and grabs the condom in her hand I almost lose control. I suck in a big, deep breath with my chest heaving as she rips it open.

  “I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as you,” I tell her as her eyes sparkle.

  When her warm hand wraps around my cock I suck in another breath.

  “Princess,” I warn her.

  She doesn’t speak. She strokes me a few times working me up until I can hardly keep myself from grabbing her and taking her roughly. She finally rolls the condom down my length. Then she steps back and lets me see her. She lets me see all of her. She’s gorgeous. She’s absolutely everything a man could ever want. I want her.

  “Dante,” she whispers my name and I move.

  Bri falls back onto the bed and spreads her legs for me. I can’t believe that she’s opening herself up for me the way she is. I knew she liked me, I could see it in her face. But this? This is so much more.

  I climb onto the bed and position myself between her legs. I press my cock against her.

  “I wanted to take you slow and easy the first time. I wanted to lick every spot on your body, but I can’t Bri. Fuck I want to, but I just can’t this time,” I warn her as I slowly thrust into her.

  Her lips part and form that perfect O shape. Her hands wrap around me and pull me even closer. I plunge into her and her legs wrap around my waist. Her heels are digging into my ass urging me on. She’s so damn tight.

  She’s so damn perfect.

  She’s so damn mine.

  Chapter 9

  Brianna

  My body aches in the most delicious way. Dante has been over every second that he can be, and I can’t say that I mind. As a matter of fact, he just left not too long ago. I like having him here. It still feels weird that it’s him and not Tucker. I know that Tucker still has feelings for me. I will always love him, just not the same way that he loves me. My feelings for Dante are far stronger than my feelings for Tucker ever were. My head is a complete mess because I have no idea what we are. He shows up and he’s sweet to me. He gives me a side of him that not many people ever get to even see. I cherish that, but then he’s gone again and that’s the part that hurts.

  “Why are you still here?” I ask when I spot Kerry aka Barbie sitting at the counter eating an apple.

  “Spoiled little brat. Your dad warned me about you. I thought you getting a job was a great idea by the way,” she says fluttering her fake lashes at me.

  “How sweet of you. I figured he would have tossed your ass to the side for a new play thing by now. Why are you still here?” I ask cocking my head to the side to study her.

  Everything about her is fake from her hair, to her nails, to her attitude. I don’t like her. Not one fucking, tiny, little bit.

  “Your dad has given me permission to stay as long as I want. I think I’m going to take advantage of that.”

  “Oh, how nice of him to let you stay,” I say rolling my eyes.

  Kerry stands and walks around the counter. Her overpriced heels are clicking on the floor. When she stops in front of me we have a silent stare down until the back door opens and Tucker walks in.

  “What’s going on here? Girl fight?”

  I flip him off, but I don’t take my eyes from hers. If she wants a girl fight, I’m in.

  “Just a little chat about sharing the house,” Kerry says looking to Tucker.

  She walks back around the counter and presses her manicured nails into his chest. She slowly runs them down to his abs. Tucker watches her. There’s no doubt he’s wondering what she is going to do, but when she reaches down for his cock he grabs her wrist and pushes her back against the wall.

  “You might not want to play with the wrong toy sweetheart. You never know when they might break,” he hisses.

  Her eyes stay on his and I watch them both. I know Tucker has a dark side to him, but I’ve never really witnessed it before now. It’s kind of hot. Kerry shakes his hand free and stalks from the room when he turns to face me.

  “Why the hell is she still here?”

  I shrug and open the cabinet.

  “She said dad told her she could stay. I don’t know what she did for that special treatment. If he had his way I’m sure he’d throw me out on my ass,” I tell him as I grab the glasses before I turn and take the liquor from the freezer.

  I shake the bottle at Tucker and he smirks. I walk past him and through the back door as he follows. We drop onto the small sofa and I pour each of us a drink while Tucker lights up a joint.

  “He loves you in his own way,” he tells me as he passes me the joint.

  I bring it up to my lips and inhale.

  “Who?”

  “Your dad. Who the hell did you think I was talking about?” he asks narrowing his eyes at me.

  I shrug my shoulders hoping knowing that I was hoping he was talking about Dante. I should have known better. I take another toke from the joint and pass it back to him to grab my drink. I down it in one gulp as Tucker laughs.

  “You doing okay? I mean with everything that has happened and now being left with that bitch?” he asks pointing over his shoulder.

  “I’m fine Tucker. Stop asking me. I’m not broken.”

  “I never said you were. You’re just different is all.”

  “What do you mean different?” I ask as I refill my glass.

  “You’re drinking more for one thing. You’re just not yourself,” he adds.

  I turn to face him feeling just a little pissed off that he even said that to me. He brings the goddamn liquor and weed most of time and now he wants to complain because I partake?

  “Are you kidding me right now?” I ask narrowing my eyes at him.

  “You seem depressed Bri.”

  If anyone could see that much of me I knew it would be Tucker. He’s known me since we were kids. We’re always together. I hate that I feel this way, but at the same time there is nothing I can do to stop it.

  “I just, I don’t know how I feel anymore Tucker. With everything that happened and then with my dad just showing up. He just dumped his sex toy off here. He’s pissed that I even thought about looking for a job. I sit inside all day and do absolutely nothing. Tracey is looking at colleges out of the state, and I’m just here.”

  “With me.”

  “What?” I ask as I look up at him.

  “You’re here with me. Just like you always have been Bri. Why isn’t that enough for you now?”

  I don’t know how to respond to that. I love Tucker. I really do, but it’s not like it used to be. He’s one of my best friends. I don’t want to lose that with him, but I don’t love him like that anymore. My heart races as I try to find the words to make this right. I need the words that might fix what I’m feeling, but I come up empty. Instead I bring the glass to my lips and take down the rest of the amber liquid feeling the burn as it goes down. When I set the glass down Tucker grabs me which makes me squeal. He pulls me closer to him and wraps his hand around the back of my neck. />
  “I’m never leaving you Bri. Don’t ever feel like you’re alone.”

  His words burn into my heart, but when he leans in ready to kiss me I still. Luckily for me his phone rings.

  “Fuck,” he mutters pulling back and sliding his phone out.

  I take that as my chance and pour myself another drink. My head is a mess and everything is out of control. Diggy, the puppy that they got for me, runs around the back yard. I can’t help but smile at him.

  “That’s the smile I always want to see on you,” Tucker says catching my attention.

  I turn to look at him and he smiles back at me.

  “He’s a good dog.”

  “Yeah. I’m glad you like him. I need to go. Something’s going on and we need to get a handle on it,” he says leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead before he stands up and walks away.

  I lean back on the couch and sigh.

  Chapter 10

  Dante

  Tucker walks next to me just as pissed off as I am. We stalk around the south side of Chicago in the middle of the night on a high that isn’t a good one.

  “Why do you think he did it?” Tucker asks me.

  I shrug and pull the cigarette from my lips and exhale the smoke out into the night air.

  “I don’t know man. We gave him everything. Hell we treat our dealers better than dad treats us on most days.”

  That admission is one that I’d rather not have said, but it’s the truth never the less.

  “That’s true,” he adds.

  We continue walking down the road before we turn down the next alley to the old grocery store. It’s long since been abandoned like most things around here have been. It’s a little sad, but at the same time this is what keeps us in business. As soon as I see the asshole on his knees with a gun to the back of his head I smile.

  “Ralphy what were you thinking man?” I ask taking note of the look in his eyes.

  Sorrow. Knowing. Yeah, he knows what’s coming.

  “I wasn’t Dante. I was just, shit. I just needed some extra cash man. That’s all it was,” he cries with tears leaking down his cheeks.

  I look to Tucker, but he just laughs darkly.

  “Extra cash? Because we don’t pay you enough right?” he asks him.

  Ralphy was a good kid. He grew up around here just like we did and when he asked for the job I was more than happy to give it to him. I know he has a small kid at home that he takes care of, but I also know he’s a rat amongst our family now. The Kings don’t take things like this lightly.

  “Come on Tucker. You know me man.”

  Tucker just stares down at him. He’s closer to Tucker’s age than mine. Actually, I think they went to school together.

  “We’re Kings Ralphy. Now tell me how that would look if I let you off the hook. Huh? Especially since you sold it to Jenkins. That would give us a bad rap. We can’t have that now. Can we?”

  Just as Tucker speaks a car pulls up at the end of the alley. I don’t need to look up to know that it’s our guys. I jerk my head in the direction of the car and say, “Get his ass in the trunk and meet us down at the lake.”

  I watch as our guys move to do as they’re told and gag Ralphy before they move him. I run my hand over my face and glance at Tucker.

  “You good?”

  “Yeah, I’m good. We walking him over there?”

  “Yeah. I need to check on Tim too. I want to make sure that fucker has all of his cash accounted for this time.”

  Tucker nods and we set off on foot once again. This what we do every day. Some might think this is the wrong way to live, but to be honest I don’t think that’s true. My dad raised us in this life. Gangs are everywhere. Some gangs are pretty boys that you wouldn’t even think twice about. Drug dealers, weapons dealers, hell even human trafficking is everywhere even if we don’t touch the last.

  We reach another intersection and I lean back into the shadows. I want to watch my men work and make sure they are doing what needs to be done the way it should be done.

  “Motherfucker is just digging his junk,” Tucker says disgusted.

  I chuckle under my breath.

  “At least he’s where he’s supposed to be.”

  “True. Are we going yet?” he asks looking toward me.

  “Why are you in such a fucking hurry today?”

  I narrow my eyes at him. He’s been acting a little off the last few days and it’s really starting to get on my nerves. We’re out here to handle business not have fun.

  “I’ve got shit to do.”

  “Like what?” I ask stepping out into the middle of the road and walking toward Tim.

  His eyes come to meet mine quickly as he shifts from foot to foot.

  “Stuff,” Tucker huffs.

  “Tim. You got it all?” I ask.

  I don’t need to explain myself. He knows why we’re here.

  “Yeah Dante. I got it man. I’m not messing up again.”

  I nod my head and hold out my hand. Tim digs in his pocket and pulls out a roll passing it to me. I unroll it and count it before I pass his back twenty in fives.

  “Don’t fuck with me again Tim. I’ve warned you too many times already,” I remind him.

  He nods his head quickly before I turn and walk away with Tucker on my heels.

  “You talked to Bri?” he asks as we walk over to the lake.

  “No. Why?”

  Fucking lies. I hate lying to my brother, but damn I can’t tell him about us yet. It would mess him up in the head and I’m not sure I can do that to him. With my dad being gone so much everything falls on Tucker and me. We don’t let outsiders in. We never have. We’ve always relied on each other for everything.

  “She still isn’t herself. I asked her if she was depressed, but she just said she doesn’t know how she feels anymore. She’s had plenty of time to think you know?”

  I want to yell at him. I want more than anything to tell him to fuck off and leave her alone, but I can’t do that.

  “She’s just being a girl Tucker. They have more emotions than we do. They get over things differently too.”

  Yeah, she’s riding my cock every chance she gets. That’s a sure way to get over anything.

  “I just don’t like it,” he adds.

  “It’s not for you to like little brother. She just needs time. Let her have it. You can’t force her into shit. She will hate you for it later if you try.”

  We walk up to the next parked car when I motion for the guys to open it. They pull Ralphy out of the trunk and drop him to the ground.

  “Move him over there,” I tell them nodding with my chin toward the bridge.

  Once they have him where I want him I walk over and pull the gun from the back of my jeans.

  “Go collect the guys. We need to have a meeting. Meet us at our normal spot.”

  Our normal spot is an old, abandoned apartment building not far from here. The guys nod and turn to head back to the car. I walk around Ralphy to where he sits in front of me on his knees with his arms tied behind his back. Tucker moves to prop himself up against the slab of concrete.

  “I said I was sorry Dante.”

  “Shh. We don’t want anyone to hear us now do we?” I tell him darkly.

  I take no joy in killing people. Sure, there is a rush and thrill to it, but guys that work for us are like family to us. It’s almost like having to kill your own brother in a way.

  “Sorry just doesn’t cut it Ralphy. You picked Jenkins of all people? That is just not forgivable.”

  I hear the flick of the lighter as Tucker lights his cigarette before I smell the smoke.

  “Just shoot his ass already and let’s go,” Tucker says.

  “You’re just as impatient as always,” I say rolling my eyes at him.

  I sometimes wonder how he’s made it this far in his life.

  “Just give me another chance. Please? I won’t fuck up. I overheard him talking. I can give you details.”

  My eyes mov
e to Tucker’s. He motions for Ralphy to continue.

  “There’s someone trying to infiltrate the Kings. I don’t know what they’re after, but I heard them.”

  I raise the gun and pull the trigger. I watch as his body falls to the ground. I cock my head, kneel down, and grab some dirt in my hand. I let the dirt sift through my fingers over his face as I say, “Ashes to ashes and dust to dust motherfucker.”

  “You couldn’t let him finish first?” Tucker asks with a chuckle.

  “He was finished.”

  I stand up when I hear the sirens.

  “Fuck.”

  “It’s time to roll.”

  “We don’t have a car boy genius.”

  “So we get one. You have a preference?” Tucker asks pointing with his cigarette toward the two cars that are parked on the road.

  I shake my head and cross my arms over my chest as I watch my little brother jack us a car.

  Chapter 11

  Brianna

  “She’s a slut.”

  “She has to be.”

  “She is. Just look at her,” Tracey says as we sit on the back porch and watch Kerry inside.

  She’s on the phone, but she keeps leaning over the counter smiling and showing us half of her ass. I don’t know who it is that she’s showing because I don’t want to see it.

  “Who do you think she’s talking to?” Tracey asks which causes me to shrug.

  “Her other men? Surely my dad isn’t the only one that she’s screwing. I don’t even know why she’s still here. He’s been gone for weeks now.”

  “Oh god Bri. She’s going to be your new stepmom.”

  With as much alcohol as we have running through our systems I should be sick when she says that, but instead I just laugh.

  “Who’s getting a stepmom?”

  I turn when I hear Dante’s voice.

  “Bri is. She’s getting slut queen in there for a mommy,” Tracey says pointing toward the house.