Loyal Cheaters (Cheaters #2)

by Lacey Silks

  I could already imagine the headline news, and all the celebrity members and government heads scrambling to justify being loyal to a service that degraded women.

  “Once we have all the info, there’s another team that will work on extracting all the women and shutting him down. His bank accounts and assets will be turned over to the FBI. This will get ugly. Craig will be toast in a couple of weeks, and you’ll be a free woman.”

  I wished that were true, but during the past two years my wishes hadn’t exactly been fulfilled. Well, except for the time when I’d prayed that Julia would survive the attack. That one was like a miracle. I could still see her bruised and wounded body when I closed my eyes. And that was when I had penned my destiny on Infinity’s contract.

  “And you’re sure he won’t remember what happened?”

  “He’ll feel drunk when he wakes up. Just play your part the way we discussed, and we’ll take care of the rest.”

  The problem was that I wasn’t used to just playing. I went in, did what was asked of me, called Infinity to check in, took a shower, and left. Unless the guy specifically requested that I stayed until morning, there was no need. But tonight was so different in so many ways. Too many people were depending on me. Failure wasn’t an option. And what if Craig asked me to stay the night? How would I tell him I just woke up, got up, and left?

  I shook my head. Please God, let this work!

  “I’ll do my best to pretend it’s just another night.” Pain flashed across Ace’s face, and his eyes dimmed as he let out a frustrated breath. I did not intend to venture into his thoughts, but it was difficult not to wonder whether his mind was drifting to all those other nights, I was on my own, with strange men. They’d all made me feel so unworthy; and yet here was Ace, respecting me more than I could have ever hoped for.

  “Look at it this way: in a couple of weeks, this will all be over. And once we’re done, maybe I can take you out on a proper date. Out in public. As much as I want to keep you to myself, I don’t want to have to hide you all the time.”

  “A date?” I laughed.

  “Yes, what’s wrong with that?”

  “I just didn’t picture you as a date type of a guy.”

  “What did you picture me as, then?”

  “A fuck and forget type.”

  “Well, then you got me all wrong, princess.” He leaned forward. “I may fuck, but I won’t forget. Especially you.”

  He stared at me as if trying to read my mind. Could he? No way. Because the things that were going on in there were forbidden. They gave me hope. Too much hope. Over the past two years, I’d gotten used to the idea of always being on my own. I’d given up my life not to Infinity, but for my sister. I couldn’t regret that. She was better, and that was enough to make my decision worthwhile. But when the corners of Ace’s eyes softened and his jaw was not as hard and defined, I couldn’t help but feel that spark in my chest, confirming that this wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning, and Ace would ensure I would finally have the life I had once dreamt about. While I could hope that the few nights we’d spent together wouldn’t be our only ones, I didn’t dare. Not yet. Craig had to be gone before I could commit to Ace.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Like you want to be my hero. Don’t, Ace. Don’t give me hope unless you’re sure it won’t be taken away. I don’t think I can go through with this if I have too much hope. And there’s so much that could go wrong tonight. What if it doesn’t work?”

  He didn’t say anything – only gently took my face into his hands again and touched my lips with his. Heat collected in my chest, and not the kind you felt when you just landed somewhere on the equator. It was the kind that filled your soul and made you complete.

  “Take this for what it is. I don’t break my promises, and I want you to know that your life, the one that’s tied to this fucked-up group, is about to be over. I will give you a new one. A fresh start, if you let me. If that’s what you want. You don’t need to have hope, because I have so much of it for you, and for all those abused women, that it should be enough.”

  “You’re unbelievable. How did I find you?”

  “I found you.”

  And then he kissed me again, this time possessively, with so much passion, I thought we would have to soon make good use of this bed. If I failed tonight, it meant I’d probably lose Ace. If Craig got as much as a whiff of our plan, I’d be dead before sunrise.

  “By the way, I told my brother about Julia being back in town.”

  “And?”

  “Apparently he already knew that.”

  “Then why the hell has he not called her?”

  “He’s going through crap with work. But I doubt he’ll stay away for long.”

  “We should fix them up.” I shot up. A jolt of excitement was exactly what I needed before the start of the night. I could already see Jules’ face when she ran into the heartthrob Scar Wagner. He didn’t have much on Ace. In fact, all the Wagner brothers were hot and easy on the eyes, each in his own distinct way. When they walked into a room, they owned it. When they spoke, they did so with authority; and when they wanted something, they went after it. There was no goal a Wagner couldn’t accomplish, and no obstacle he couldn’t overturn.

  “We should and we will.”

  The stakes had just increased. If I couldn’t do this for myself, I had to do it for Julia. Because if we took Craig Harper down, I would know that no matter what happened to me, she would be forever free. They would never come after her again.

  I pasted a smile on my face, hoping it would add to my inner confidence. Because honestly, what could go wrong when you tried to bring down one of the most wanted men in the country… right?

  Chapter 18

  Zoey

  My knees felt like rubber. I knocked on the door, silently praying that no one would answer. After a moment, I touched my hand to the knob just as it was beginning to turn, and I jumped back.

  Holy mother of…

  I pulled my hand to my chest, feeling my heart pound, and watched the gates to hell open in front of me. Well, at least it felt like I was about to step into an underworld ruled by none other than Craig Harper.

  Darkness swallowed me as soon as I passed the threshold. Cold shivers ran down my arms, and my stomach must have done a three-sixty from the way it was turning.

  “Hello, Zoey. Close the door behind you and turn on the lamp.”

  I had imagined his voice to be more ruthless than it actually sounded. Feeling my way around the room, I knocked my knee on what was probably a side-table that I remembered having seen just before the door shut behind me. I still couldn’t see where Craig was, but his voice came from somewhere to my left. It had been two years since I’d last seen him at the hospital. Under the stress of Julia’s accident and the quick decision I had to make to give her life a chance, I didn’t remember too many details about him, other than a domineering presence.

  I adjusted my long-sleeved, nearly sheer dress and clicked the switch. Once the light was on, I realized I was the only one in its glow; the rest of the room was still dark. Craig must have chosen that corner on purpose to remain unseen. It reminded me of what a black hole in space looked like. Was I about to step into the unknown and be sucked into his world, ultimately giving up my soul? I had an urge to turn around and walk out the door. Hell, I’d wanted to leave even before I stepped into this room, but if I had, I would have let Emma’s team down, and I’d have let all these women who suffered at Craig’s hands down, including my own sister, and nothing would have stopped Craig from dominating. This was not the time to let fear win.

  “Come to the bed and undress. Once you’re naked, you’ll swallow the pill waiting for you on the night table, which will put you to sleep. When you wake up, I will be gone.”

  “Sounds boring,” I said, making my way to the bed, acutely aware that talking back was against the rules. His grunt rumbled a
cross the room. He hadn’t moved from his corner, and I knew that if I couldn’t lure him to me, I’d lose.

  “What is it about me that interests you?” I asked, slowly unzipping the side of my dress, making sure he saw the faint glow of my skin. Hopefully, the makeup I’d used to conceal the small scar on my arm wouldn’t rub off.

  “No questions.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s a question.”

  “Well, the least you could do is to answer just one of mine.”

  He swore under his breath, and I wondered whether I’d pushed my luck too far. I heard him shift and then walk across the room, like I imagined a black panther hunting in the jungle. Suave and mysterious, dark and intriguing. Despite my hate for him, I couldn’t help but wonder what made him tick and how I could break through that tough exterior. Was it even possible?

  Up close, Craig’s posture dominated me. My head was even with his chest, and I had to look up to meet his smoldering gaze. He stood inches away from my face and was wearing sunglasses, which made direct eye contact impossible. A sudden grasp of his fingers around my forearm took me aback. Stunned, I heard a wheeze of fear escape my mouth as his fingers tightened. He lowered his head, closing in on my lips.

  “When did you get that mouth of yours?” His alcohol infused breath was bitter and sweet.

  We both stood in the faint light, and I could finally see him. Craig was more handsome than I remembered. Well over six feet tall, his body was made of muscle; a perfect exterior shielding his ruthless heart. If I didn’t find a way to work him, if I couldn’t reach him on a human level, then I was doomed. I touched my hand to his and slowly uncoiled his fingers.

  “I’m here for you, Mr. Harper. For whatever you need. I want to please you, but I’m curious. Why me? Why after two years did you request me? Especially after I turned down your offer.” I slowly reached up to his face and removed his sunglasses, lowering them to the bed beside us.

  His eyes were almost turquoise and stood out against his bronzed complexion. I felt his chest vibrate with the next threat. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  While he wanted to be angry, there was something stopping him from crossing that line. It was as if he were fighting against an inner demon I couldn’t see.

  “You have beautiful eyes,” I said. “I’d like to see them when you fuck me tonight.”

  “There’s no negotiating for why you’re here. You agreed to the deal. I do not change the rules. You will not watch me fuck you. This is my turf.”

  “Well, since you haven’t had me before, how do you know it wouldn’t be better if I were conscious? How can you know what I’m capable of?” I ran the tip of my finger down the hollow of his neck, gently scraping my nail over his skin, feeling him tense to the touch. He held his breath. I saw the beating of his heart pick up. I whispered my next words into his ear: “I can make you feel things you’ve never felt before.” The full length of my body was now pressed against his every hard curve, including the one in his pants. He was turned on. I didn’t have time to think how gross this was — I was on a mission, and I wouldn’t fail. I drew my hand down to his slacks, right over his firm cock, and massaged it up and down as he twitched.

  “You’re a bad girl.”

  “And you like it.”

  His grunt of approval affirmed my suspicion. “You shouldn’t be talking back.”

  “I usually don’t. But you’re someone who deserves special treatment,” I lied. “Rest assured, Mr. Harper, I do follow the rules the company has set, but I have a feeling that you’re someone who appreciates breaking the rules from time to time.”

  He swung me around and pinned me to the bedpost. The rest of my dress swooshed to the floor, and the pressure of his body squeezed the remaining air out of my lungs. His hand latched around my neck before slowly sliding to my jaw. He tightened his fingers there, forcing me to purse my lips before kissing me. I closed my eyes as he shoved his tongue down my throat.

  Come on, Zoey, it’s all pretend.

  I loosened my lips, trying my best not to bite him or push him away, wishing all this could be over. I drew my hands up his arms and around his neck, twisting the cap of my ring to the right. The small needle filled with a sedative popped out. I turned the ring around my finger, aligning the sharp end with the bottom of my palm. It was time to inject him and get this plan rolling. “Let me show you what a good night of fucking looks like,” I said between kisses.

  He pulled and grabbed me by my arms. In one swift motion, my feet left the ground and I flew to the soft bed, bouncing. And there went my first chance to sedate him. There were so many things wrong with that dominating move, it made me want to vomit – but the game of cat and mouse we were playing wasn’t over just yet.

  I’m safe, I repeated in my mind. Ace had promised they would break through the door or cause a distraction if things got out of hand.

  Still in my panties and bra, I leaned back on my elbows and spread my legs apart to draw his attention. Whatever could throw him off, I had to do it. He grasped his crotch and shifted his cock in his pants. I feared he was beginning to run out of room there, and I didn’t have much time.

  “What exactly did you have in mind?”

  “Have you ever given up control?” I asked.

  He frowned. “You’re fucking around, Zoey. I’m the one who’s calling the shots tonight. All I’ve wanted was to have you since the day I laid my eyes on you, and you refused me. You fucking refused me!”

  He unbuckled his pants and lowered them to the ground. The tip of his cock protruded from the band of his underwear, a drop of pre-cum glistening in the faint light. I wanted to hurl. “The only reason I haven’t touched you was because of your father.”

  What?

  “From that look on your face I gather you didn’t know we were friends, did you? Longtime friends, in fact.”

  What the hell?

  “I haven’t seen him in years, so how would I know? And what changed now? Aren’t you friends anymore? Is fucking his daughter some sort of revenge, or a bet? Because you know, I couldn’t care less what he thinks. And I’m all for revenge.”

  Except not the kind you think.

  “Too many questions. Take that fucking pill,” he ordered, pointing to the table.

  My gaze flew there and then back to him. I couldn’t give up just yet. “Come here and make me,” I smirked. “Or come here and let me suck that dick of yours before it explodes, and then have your way with me.”

  He hesitated. A shadow of intrigue flitted across his face. He liked me bratty and mouthy. Hopefully he’d like it long enough for me to do my job. Craig climbed onto the bed and knelt at my knees before removing his shirt. He was as hard as a brick, and I was beginning to doubt whether I could pierce his skin with the injection.

  “You’ve been on my to-do list for two years, Zoey. When you said no to me at the hospital your father made a case for you.”

  My father knew about Infinity?

  “Why do you think you’ve been working so hard? Penance, sweetheart. Everyone has to pay for their sins. Everyone needs to pay their debts, including your father. Since I made a deal not to touch you without permission, I had to get my worth out of you in other ways. Now is my chance to cash in on the rest of his debts.”

  “What about your promise to my father not to touch me without my permission?” I asked. I would have never thought I’d use that cheating scumbag who pleaded his unfaithful loyalty to my mother for years to gain an upper hand.

  “Are you saying you don’t want me to touch you?”

  Change the subject, Zoey.

  “I’m saying I want to make you happy. I just wish you’d called earlier.”

  He cocked his head to the side, apparently appeased by my answer.

  “Circumstances. I’ve been meaning to request your services for a while now. I’ve been wondering whether you were as good as your sister. Now she was a piece of work. She didn’t care whom she fucked. She wasn’t like y
ou.”

  My stomach turned. He’d slept with Jules? I doubted she’d even realized it.

  “I wonder if she would still be up for an adventure. You know the saying – once an addict, always an addict.”

  I wanted to hurl. My insides twisted. A storm was brewing determination inside my body. Nothing would stop me from finishing this job tonight. I wouldn’t have him touch or think about Jules ever again.

  He crawled over the bed to me and flipped my body over with one hand. I was forced onto my front, with his hand pinning the middle of my back, reducing my lung capacity. That was the moment I wished I’d had more time with Emma to train. How the hell would I tranquillize him now?

  “I was almost done with you, you know. But in the past three weeks, you proved yourself worthy. Maybe Zack’s daughter is not a loss after all. Maybe I can find a way for you to pay off all his debts.”

  “What debts?” My voice was weaker. I didn’t want it to be, but with my arm bent behind my back, I didn’t have much choice. I slowed my breathing and tried to control my pulse, but I was beginning to lose the battle. Concentrate on the job. Don’t worry about the questions about Father.

  “So, I guess you don’t like blow jobs.”

  He paused.

  “I’ve been praised for my deep throats.”

  “You seem to intrigue me more each time we speak.” He let go of my back and said, “Turn around.”

  I was more than happy to obey that request.

  “Are you ready for this, Zoey? Are you ready for me to fuck you while you’re unconscious?”

  “No. I’m ready for you to fuck my mouth until I can’t breathe, Mr. Harper. I’m ready for you to have your way with me.” I reached for his cock, ready to give him an Oscar-worthy performance of satisfaction and desire, while inside I recoiled. He grabbed my arm, robbing me of yet another chance.