by G N Wright
“For Rachel?” She says her name so easily, it’s weird having people know about her and speak about her. It has been a long time since anyone has used it so casually and I find myself hating it, yet also craving it. Emotions clog my throat and I barely trust myself to reply, so I just nod.
“She's in a better place than this awful world, she would just want you to look after yourself now.”
“And how do I do that?” I whisper hoarsely, trying not to let my emotions pour out more than they already have.
She laughs, “You’re already doing it, look around,” she gestures wildly to the house.
I sigh slightly, “Yeah I see a house that isn’t mine, family that isn’t mine, wealth I can never even hope to amass,” I start listing off things.
Her frown is instant, “If you think that the people inside that house aren’t your family then you haven’t been paying attention. Those brothers of yours would die for you, Elle would kill for you, Zack would give you his entire fortune if he felt you needed it,” she pauses. “And well, Arthur and I are more than used to being blessed with children we don’t deserve but love them anyway. You are part of this family whether you like it or not, Jace Conrad.”
An unfamiliar feeling floods my body as I try to process her words. I have never had this, an adult that cares, it’s weird. My parents were more interested in their next fix than their own kids, and while the foster homes I were in weren’t terrible, they weren’t caring either. More interested in the paycheck than the kids they housed. So, having someone like Mrs. Royton show any kind of affection well, I don’t really know how to react.
She looks over and must-see whatever emotions I am unsure of on my face because she curls her fingers around my forearm and squeezes, “Give it time, it will come. You will feel it, you belong here, you just haven’t processed that yet,” she gives me another squeeze before she stands dusting off her pants and looking down at me. “Now go on, get to bed, it’s late and you have school tomorrow.”
I can’t help but smile at her light scolding, not once in my life has anyone ever given a shit if I make it to school or not. I stand up immediately, “Yes, ma'am,” I tease with a smile.
“Don’t sass me, boy. Don’t think Elle is the only Royton lady who knows how to brandish a blade.”
My eyes hit the roof at that, but she just smiles, winks.and then turns and walks away. Well damn. Momma Royton is also badass. I better watch my back with the girls in this house.
I'm still thinking about what she said at lunch the next day. We sit at our usual table except our new usual, now includes our little Queenie. She is sitting across from me quietly picking at her lunch and tapping away on her phone, that serious little frown she does on her face. Marcus is staring at her, she’s got his balls in a fucking vice grip, poor guy doesn’t even know how far gone he is for her. I mean I love the girl like a sister, don’t get me wrong, but what they have is the last fucking thing I want. I will keep my endless string of girls. Who would give up threesomes for one pussy? Not me. I am happy for the both of them, but I couldn’t imagine letting one person have that kind of power over me.
I flick my gaze around the cafeteria just as Marcus’ biggest mistake starts stalking towards us. Elle and Marcus are too engrossed in whatever is on her phone to notice but Lincoln has spotted her just like I have. His back tenses as he awaits whatever bullshit she is coming over here to start.
“Exciting isn’t it?” Her shrill voice causes Marcus to snap up straight, while Elle just smirks into her phone, before continuing to tap. A few quiet moments pass before she sighs, making a show of putting it away and turning around to greet her, pushing herself into Marcus as she does. I see you, Queenie.
No one responds to her and I watch as Elle assesses her and whatever angle this is before sighing again, “I’ll bite. What’s exciting, Cherry?” The way she says her name has me smirking.
“The Fire and Ice Ball, of course,” undeterred by Elle’s tone she gushes back at her. “I can’t believe we are finally getting to have a school party; we are so lucky the board of Hallows Prep decided to include us.”
I snort, “Yeah, if you like dirty money.” She looks at me with a slight frown and a look I can’t decipher in her eyes when I speak. Hmm what are you thinking about, little Cherry?
She schools her features quickly, but I can tell Elle saw it too when she looks over at me as Cherry and I continue to stare at each other. She puts on what she must think is a flirty smile and turns her voice breathy, “Well, what do you say, playboy, wanna be my date?”
Now, it’s Elle’s turn to snort.
I don’t even miss a beat before responding, “I'm already going with someone with a lot more class than you. Sorry, darling.” I sound like a patronizing fuck, but there is just something about her that irks me, unsettles my stomach. I can’t put my finger on it.
The bell rings but we remain seated as she glares at me before she smiles that sickly sweet smile again, “Your loss, I got a beautiful dress from Havensgrove,” she remarks, and I feel Elle’s flinch from across the table. Fucking Havensgrove.
What the fuck would someone like her be doing shopping somewhere like Havensgrove? It can’t be a coincidence. I feel Lincoln pull his tablet out and begin tapping away next to me. I keep my bored mask in place as I respond, “I’m sure it will look good on some douche bag’s trailer floor.”
She smirks an evil sort of smile before she turns back to Elle and Marcus. “Marcus, we have Chem together now, wanna walk together? You’ve got Bio, right, Elle?” She sounds so smug but all I am focused on is how well she seems to know our schedules.
Elle smiles wide with a glint in her eyes and I don’t miss the possessive grip Marcus encases her hip in before he responds, “Sure thing, Cherry.”
They both stand and Cherry looks like she just won the lottery. Until Elle goes to move, and Marcus grips her by the back of the neck, spinning her into him and kisses her like he is ready to fuck her right there on the table. A couple of the football douches holler, but shut it down quick when Lincoln and I glare at them. Cherry looks murderous as she watches them, but quickly smiles when she finds me glaring at her again. I see you.
Elle pulls away and licks her lips, a slight blush to her cheeks as Marcus whispers loud enough for all of us to hear, “To be continued later, my little King.”
“Later,” she responds before looking at Linc, “Come on, Superman, you can walk me to class.”
Lincoln looks at me offering me a nod before he meets Elle on the other side of the table, and she takes his arm as they leave for class.
Cherry is practically preening now that she is gone and giving Marcus what I can only assume are fuck me eyes, except her face looks fucking weird doing it.
“Come on then, Mr. King of the Southside,” she purrs before turning and walking away putting as much sway into her hips as she can manage.
Marcus moves to follow but I grip his arm tight and pull him back, “Please don’t tell me you are buying that little miss nice bullshit. Something is off about her.”
He smiles at me, “Why do you think I am keeping her so close, brother? I won’t let anyone close to my girl and that's exactly where Cherry’s eyes have been since we got together. Keep your enemies close and all that.”
“Marcus,” she snaps across the room. He winks at me before pulling away to follow her. Well, fuck me, my brother has finally pulled his head out of his ass. Finally.
Chapter 40
MARCUS
The news of Captain Baizen's disappearance made headlines every night on the 8 o'clock news for four days straight. When the news of his own crimes came to light, it made national news, morning, noon, and night. Everyone in the country is talking about what a sick, sadistic fuck he was.
If you would have asked me a few months ago if I was capable of killing a man, I would have said no. Yeah, I had hurt people before, broken bones, made them bleed, but I always stopped before I crossed that line. Now, I pray I get t
o do it again. Every time I hear Baizen's name on the news, I feel a mixture of glee and pride flood my veins. Taking out our enemies gives me a high I never knew I needed, and never thought I would crave. I already can't wait for my next fix.
I think about Greg Donovan every day, it used to be Elliot and what he did to my father that plagued my mind, but that's nothing compared to the rage I feel towards his son.
Elle has us training daily, from basic hacking skills, to fighting, to weapons. All of which. I now know she started at fourteen, thanks to Zack. He gave her back what they tried to take from her. It made her come back stronger than ever. Elle leaving broke my heart but knowing what she went through, what she did while she was gone. Well, in a way, I am glad she left.
We pretty much spend our days going to school, coming home, playing with Cassie, family dinner, bedtime stories, and then training. Asher hasn't been around much, he is trying to stay close to Elliot in case, he hears any plans in regard to the party. Logan had to head back to college, but is coming home for the party, so we have a little more back up.
After training is the best part of my day, taking a worked up and sweaty Ells to bed is fucking cathartic. We fuck in the shower, on the floor, against the wall, even in her walk-in closet. I can't keep my hands off her, the fact that she feels the same after what she went through, is something that will astound me until the day I die. The girl is a fucking walking miracle, and she is all mine.
The party is tomorrow and even though we have everything ready, have run through countless things that could happen, and have more weapons than I would have thought possible, Elle is still worried. She denies it, but I have known her too long for her to try and hide it from me.
We came to bed over an hour ago and she is still restless and nowhere near sleep. I get up from the bed and head into her closet and when I return, she is sitting up in the bed watching me. I throw one of my hoodies at her as I pull on my own before holding my hand out to her. She takes it wordlessly and doesn't speak as I lead her out of her room and down the stairs. I don't stop until I get to the doors that lead out to the patio and then I enter the code to let us out, closing the door behind us.
I walk past the outdoor pool, tugging her along by her hand, and stop when I reach the big oak tree in between the pool and the guest house. I slump down against it and pull her until she is in my lap. From where I have positioned us, we can't be seen from the main house or the guest house and we have a perfect view of the stars.
She is still tense, so I lean forward and whisper into her ear, "Make a wish, baby."
She sighs, "I wish I could give you another life."
"Why?"
"So, my darkness didn't leave you so shaded," she admits into the night. I can't bear the pained tone of her voice. I grip her by the hips and spin her in my lap until she is straddling me, nose to nose.
"Ells," I start, and a tear slips from her eyes. The look on her face, the most vulnerable I have ever seen. I swipe the tear with my thumb, "Another life would not be this life. Another life would not have Zack, Helen, Arthur, or Cassie. In another life, I wouldn't have my brothers, they wouldn't have you. I wouldn't trade this life for anything. I would sacrifice everything to take away the shit that happened to you, but how could I wish that when it brought you so much good? I've told you before and I will tell you again. You and I are inevitable. In this life, in another life, in every fucking life. You are mine, forever."
She opens her mouth to speak as more tears caress her cheeks, but I won't allow her words of self-doubt. I grab the back of her neck, the place that fits my hand so fucking perfectly and drag her mouth to mine. As always it feels like fucking home. She is everything, my home, my love, my life. Her tongue dances with mine in an erotic battle of devotion.
She pulls back breathless, her eyes still glistening with emotion, "I'm scared."
"Me too," I admit, knowing I don't need to put on a tough guy façade with her, "But that's okay, we can be scared together," I add, and she nods, taking a deep breath.
"I need to feel something other than this despair; I don't want to worry about tomorrow," she brings her mouth back to mine and kisses me like she needs me to breathe. She molds herself to me so fully that we might as well be one person.
We are like fire and water. Apart we both cause chaos but mix us together and you create the perfect balance.
Her kiss turns reckless, messy, as her hands explore my body until she reaches my sweats. She fumbles with the waistband until I lift up so she can move them. At the same time, I bunch the hoodie around her hips and when she comes back down against me, I rip her panties to the side. I groan when I feel her dripping onto my fingers.
"Always so fucking ready," I growl as I drag my fingers through her lips until I can coat my cock in her juices. I line up to her entrance and she impales herself on me and we both groan. She isn't shy as she takes what she needs and rises and falls onto me, fucking me the only way she can.
This isn't about love, it's about pure carnal need and release. We don't have time for soft touches and gentle caresses. I grip her hip so tight I know it will bruise and use my other hand to thumb her clit until she starts to shake, her pussy gripping my cock.
"Fuck, River," she gasps. "Don't stop, I'm gonna come," she moans, and I pick up my pace.
"I'm not fucking stopping until your come is dripping down my cock, Ells. Until I can feel your cream fucking covering me," I growl at her, thrusting into her wildly, taking over our movements.
My words push her over the edge. I flick my thumb harder and faster as I feel her clench around me. She comes with a loud groan and I can't hold back when her fingertips dig into my neck as she rides out her release. I come with a grunt.
Her head falls to my shoulder as we attempt to catch our breath when she whispers, "I don't think I will ever get used to this feeling."
I smile and kiss her hair, "Me either, baby."
She pulls back and gives me a shy smile which I find adorable and ridiculous at the same time, considering my cock is still inside her and my come is leaking down her thighs. "I think I'll be able to sleep now," she whispers.
"Well, if you can't, I'm sure I can find more ways to tire you out," I tease, and the sound of her laughter pulses through me.
When she stops, she stares at me intently, "Thank you, River."
I frown, "For the sex?" I ask with a laugh and she punches my stomach and I grunt.
"No, you fucking asshole. For knowing what I need when I don't even know it myself. You have always been the best at reading me," she admits.
"That's because you have always been mine. You just forgot for a while and I guess so did I, but that doesn't mean I ever stopped knowing you or loving you."
She smiles again, "I love you too."
No four words have ever been more perfect and I just have to pray I will keep hearing them every day for the rest of our lives. Lives I hope we get to fucking live, with whatever tomorrow brings.
Chapter 41
ELLE
Ibarely recognize the person staring back at me from the mirror. I look nothing like the young girl who was kidnapped and raped. Nothing like the girl who came back to this town with a mission for revenge. I look like a woman, a woman who is ready to get her vengeance.
The silk red gown almost touches the floor, the straps are thin but tight, holding up the corset top. The corset is honestly the most beautiful and brutal thing I have ever seen. The breast part is cupped and encrusted in red diamonds that distract you from the ruby knuckle dusters hiding there. The bones of the corset hide a syringe filled with a heavy sedative and two thin blades. Both blended perfectly into the design. The dress then floats around my ankles, a huge split up my right thigh touching just below the red leather thigh holster strapped there, my Glock sitting perfectly inside of it. Robert really has outdone himself. I am only wearing a red lace thong underneath and I have finished the look off with a YSL stiletto heel. I had a stylist come in and do my makeup in an ol
d Hollywood style type of way with my hair waved and pulled back on one side. A matte red lip to finish off the look perfectly.
I feel powerful, dangerous, and for once, willing to use my looks as a weapon. Considering I am walking into a lion's den tonight, I think that is a good feeling to have. I try not to fidget but I can’t help it, as powerful as I feel, it doesn’t seem to stop my nerves. A constant scenario of things that could go wrong is playing in my head on repeat. It doesn’t matter how much we have prepared, how many back up plans we have concocted, I am still brutally aware that anything could happen.
I pick up the red diamond encrusted clutch that Robert made to perfectly match my dress and slip in my red lipstick, keys, and phone. It’s showtime.
I leave my room and make my way down the hall. The carpet keeps the click of my heels from sounding out. As I near the staircase, Zack's voice floats up and I smile.
“Just because she knows how to handle herself, doesn’t mean she should have to. Watch her fucking back, or I will make you all disappear without a trace,” his voice is cold but completely sincere and my heart aches for the brother I didn’t grow up with but became part of my whole world.
I round the corner, “Can we not threaten my Rebels? They’re sensitive little souls, really,” I tease, and all of their gazes snap towards me at the sound of my voice.
Oh, holy hotness. The South Side Rebels in fucking tuxes should be illegal, or like, I don’t know an attraction you have to pay to see. They look glorious. They’re all wearing black tuxedos, with black bow ties, a red pocket square, and shiny black shoes.
Lincoln is wearing his black rimmed glasses, his lean frame looking completely beautiful encased in a suit, and his dark stare just makes him seem that much more stunning, yet dangerous. Jace has smoothed his hair into a neat man bun and apart from that and the perfect fit of the suit, his usual messy style pours out. He has the top button of his shirt open, his bow tie hangs loose around his neck, and there is a joint perched on his ear.