Keep It Sexy (KIS Series Book 3)

by Snow, Olivia

  “Wake up, sleepy head.” Her voice flowed into my ears like a sweet song. I felt the warmth of her thigh against mine. She wasn’t in the bed with me, she was standing. My arms shot up to grab her hips and I pulled her back where she belonged, in bed next to me. Billie squealed and giggled when she landed on the mattress. I tucked her in my nook and instinctively inhaled the fruity smell of her hair.

  “That’s better,” I murmured against her. She sighed in contentment before she turned to look at my face. I thought she was going to kiss me but then she stopped short and lowered her nose to my nose and inhaled deeply.

  “I like breathing in your air,” she whispered.

  I was surprised by her words and the way they made me feel. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah, it fills me,” she explained.

  If she was going to continue to say things like that to me I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep being a good boy, because all I wanted to do was ravish her. Taking her small chin in between my thumb and index finger I softly gripped it and led her mouth to mine. Her lips were warm with the taste of mint and something entirely Billie. I feathered my lips against hers and when she parted her mouth, my tongue darted out to fill the opening. Billie let out a small whimper and I lost my will by the feeling of her skin against mine. I flipped her on her back and deepened the kiss, my hand traveling from her bent knee up to her thigh, stopping before reaching her forbidden middle.

  “Christian,” she whimpered against my lips, and it was a mixture of pleading for more and a warning that it was going too far. I reluctantly pulled back to see her face, her eyes filled with desire, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “You haven’t forgotten, have you?” she asked.

  “Of course not. No sex, not yet.”

  She smiled before moving her nose around mine, then kissing me. “But we can play in other ways.” She slid her hands down, then gripped my cock through my pants. I hissed, taking her bottom lip in my mouth.

  “We sure can, babe.” I reached down, moving her panties to the side, eliciting a moan from her. “Fuck, yeah, we sure can.”

  ***

  We’d showered together, playing around some more before we went into the kitchen to eat. When I asked what she wanted, she answered with bacon, so I cooked my girl some bacon. As we sat, her eating her slices of pork and me digging into my egg whites, I asked specifically what it was that Don was involved in. I was hoping after what happened yesterday that she’d have a little more trust in me.

  “He cons people, you know that.” By her tone, I knew she wasn’t going to tell me.

  “What is it that you do?” I tried a different approach. I needed to know more about her. And this life was still so much of her. She sighed, then swallowed her food.

  “I count cards. I go around casinos and basically rob them.”

  “Don’t casinos have people to check for that?” I frowned. She made it sound easy. “If you go too often, wouldn’t they catch on?”

  “They do, but I’m good. And we only hit the big casinos if we want a big payout. That’s the problem with others, they want to make bank right away, and they’re not willing to play for small amounts at different casinos.”

  “So you hit local casinos too?”

  “Yeah, local, countrywide, even Europe. It’s easier for me not to get caught. I can easily disguise myself as someone else.”

  “And your brothers? What do they do?” I asked, taking a drink from my glass of orange juice.

  “Different things.” It was clear I couldn’t ask anything involving her brothers or father.

  “You’ve never spoken of your mom.”

  Billie sat back, picking up and dropping a crumb of bacon. “There’s nothing much to tell. I don’t remember her. She died when I was a baby.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, babe.”

  “Thanks.” She glanced up with a small smile. “So tell me about your mom.” She propped her elbows on the table.

  “She’s a great woman, hardworking, tiny, a hell of a cook and she’s loud as fuck. There’s no telling my mom to be quiet.”

  Billie’s grin widened tenderly. “She sounds wonderful.”

  “She is.” I smirked, getting up to clear off the table. Billie rushed to help me. “Sing for me?” I asked, as I passed her a soapy dish to rinse off. Biting her lip, she leaned in to kiss my arm.

  “Okay,” she whispered. Then she cleared her throat and began to sing.

  I knew the song. I’d heard it before in a movie. But I couldn’t remember which one. It was as if she had a song playing in her head at all times. She was always able to think of something to sing, not to mention she knew the lyrics. I wasn’t sure what it was about her voice that made me feel the way I did. It was calming yet beguiling. I was brought into her world when she sang. I felt the glass against my fingers, the warm water and bubbles. My hands were submerged but I wasn’t there. I was wherever Billie had taken me with her voice and the calming sadness of the song. When she finished, I shook my head back to the present.

  “Hallelujah,” I said, clearing my throat. She smiled with pride then reached up and planted a peck on my lips.

  “That’s right.”

  “My favorite so far.”

  “Really?” she asked, taking the soapy glass from my hands. I didn’t respond, just kissed her head instead.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Billie

  The next couple of days went by smoothly. Christian hired someone to fix his car windows, but my Frog was totaled. Since Lincoln’s visit to Blush, Christian and I both breathed a little easier. Still, we knew chaos would storm back into Colorado soon, and we’d need to figure out something to do about Connor and my dad, but for now we were living in blissful ignorance. Something Jade didn’t understand. Christian had dropped me off at Jade’s when he went to visit his mom this morning. Pete made breakfast for us.

  “I don’t get it. Why are you not freaking the fuck out?” This was the second time she’d asked since I sat down to eat. I hadn’t been able to tell her about Christian and me. The moment didn’t feel right. I brushed my hair back with my fingers.

  “Let’s be logical here, okay? What would be the worst thing Don or Connor would ever do to me, besides mess with my ride, which they already did?”

  Pete shook his head and grimaced. “Not you, Bil. Christian, his mom, his bar, Jade…”

  I suddenly had to stop and concentrate on breathing at the thought.

  “They’re not violent. That’s not how we operate.” I shook my head. There was no way Don would ever lay a finger on anyone. He would not allow LCD to do that, either. This rules the world, wee girl, not this. I shook my head again. “He would never.”

  Pete sighed before rubbing his jaw. “You need to call John.”

  “Why?”

  “There’re rumors…rumors that Don no longer needs B.J. for muscle because he’s doing it himself.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense, Pete. Don has never, and I mean never, needed to do that. He doesn’t believe in violence.”

  Jade grabbed my hand and looked at me with concerned eyes, almost patronizing.

  “Baby, Don’s a criminal, and violence is a part of that world.”

  I yanked my hand away from her and stood, almost knocking the chair to the floor before I pushed it under the table with force. Both Jade and Pete looked at me, confused.

  “I know what and who my father is, Jade, and he’s not some common thug.” I fumed. “And how do you get off telling me shit like that? Don’t forget who the hell your father is.”

  Jade stood. “Why are you defending him? How can you easily forget all the shit he’s put you through? All the shit he’s forced you to do?” Jade gripped her head on each side. “I can’t believe you’re defending him.”

  “I’m not defending him, but it’s not always right or wrong, especially not for us.”

  Jade dropped her arms and looked down, grunting. “That’s the thing, Billie, it is. I left Harden years ago beca
use it’s not who I am. But I guess it’s still you.”

  “That’s not true. I hate it there. I hated that life.”

  “Oh, yeah? Funny, because you still talk about the crew like you’re part of it, like you know they’d never do anything to you because you’re still part of the team.”

  “You’re being ridiculous.” I grabbed my backpack to leave. I’d had enough of this. Before I could bring the strap over my shoulder, Jade pulled up my shirt to reveal my back, then pressed her finger against the ink on my lower rib. I hissed, feeling like her finger was on fire.

  “I thought you got that removed?”

  “Fuck you, Jade.” I stormed out of her house and walked to the bus stop five blocks away.

  How dare she assume that was how I felt? Jade grew up living next to me; she saw the comparison between her father and mine. She would have to throw away John’s boots because they were unable to wash off the blood. My father, on the other hand, was wiping ink off the floor, not blood.

  I rounded the corner, relieved to find the bench empty. I sat watching traffic pass me by and zoned out, ignoring the noises of people stopping to fill their tanks at the gas station a few feet away, and the honking and yelling from the busy street. Opening my bag, I took out my phone and scrolled down to find John’s name. The number was highlighted to call, but I just stared at it. I felt like I was betraying my family. I should have believed what was in my heart. I knew who Don was, who my brothers were. They would always remain true to Don’s teachings. I sat on the wooden bench, waiting for the bus, when my phone vibrated in my hand. Another unknown number.

  “Hello?” I asked, irritated.

  “Billie, we need to talk.”

  “Don? Where are you calling me from?”

  “From a throwaway. Can we meet somewhere?” I looked around, trying to find the nearest restaurant. Across from me was a Mexican restaurant called Del Sol.

  “I’m in front of Del Sol in Denver. Can you come here?” I asked.

  “Aye, I’m around the corner. Be there in ten minutes.” I hung up, then stood and jogged across the street when the light flashed the walk sign. Inside the restaurant, I was hit with a blast of cold air and the smell of fried tortilla chips and fresh salsa.

  “Welcome to Del Sol. Just one today?” the hostess asked.

  “Two, actually.”

  “Follow me.” She smiled. I walked behind her as she guided me to an empty booth toward the back of the restaurant. Pushing my bag to the end of the bench, I sat beside it as the bus boy dropped off a bowl of salsa and tortilla chips. Five minutes had passed when my phone rang. It was Christian.

  “Hello?”

  “Are you okay?” he asked with concern, but there was a sharpness to his tone. I frowned, wondering what was up with him.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Are you still at Jade’s?”

  “Ah, no, I’m having lunch with Don. What’s going on, Chris?”

  He stayed quiet for a moment. “Where at?” he asked.

  I was getting annoyed with his evasion of my questions.

  “I’m not telling you until you tell me what’s going on.” Even through the phone, I could feel the tension in his jaw as he spoke.

  “I’d rather discuss this in person. Tell me where you’re eating and I’ll wait outside until you’re done.”

  I looked up as Don walked inside. He waved, spotting me right away.

  “Del Sol, on Colfax.”

  “I’ll be there in twenty.” He didn’t even give me a chance to say goodbye before he hung up.

  “Trouble in paradise?” Don asked, sitting down across from me. The waitress appeared suddenly, asking us what we would like to drink. Don ordered a Corona, and I settled for water.

  “So?” I asked, getting right to the point and ignoring his comment.

  “I’m going to Ireland. I have to take care of some stuff.” This wasn’t anything new. Don periodically traveled to the motherland. The difference this time was that he felt the need to tell me about it. I didn’t even live with him anymore.

  “Okay…”

  “Do you still have that piece I gave you?”

  I nodded, taking a sip through my straw.

  “Do you carry it with you?”

  I wasn’t sure why he was asking, or why I suddenly felt like I had to lie to him. Something was off. Surprisingly, I was concerned for my safety, and I instantly feared for Christian.

  “Yeah, I carry it with me at all times.”

  He nodded, and I was thankful he didn’t ask me to show it to him.

  “Was that all, Don?”

  “Yeah…I…I…I lo—” He stopped, then sighed, rubbing his face. “Take care, wee girl.”

  He got up, then bent to kiss the top of my head. I stilled. He noticed and backed away quickly. He left without looking back at me. I was so confused as to what was happening. Maybe now it was time to give John a call. I gripped the phone against my ear, hoping he wouldn’t answer, because I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to know the truth.

  “Billie girl, how ya been?” John asked as a form of greeting.

  I stayed quiet as the waitress came toward me and asked if I needed a refill on my water. She looked irritated; she knew I wasn’t going to order anything and she would be missing out on a tip. I told her I didn’t need anything else, and she tried to smile politely, then left.

  “What’s going on, John? Why do I feel like he’s keeping something big from me?”

  John mumbled something to someone, then stayed quiet for a moment like he was waiting for them to leave the room. He grunted, then sighed.

  “There’s an underground video going around, with two guys dressed in black and ski masks beating up a member from the Eme Syndicate.” He stayed quiet, letting me process this. I squeezed my fingers along the bridge of my nose.

  The Eme Syndicate was basically us but a Mexican version. They were a family of seven. It was made of Felipe, their father, and by order of eldest to youngest—Mateo, Diego, Gael, Santino, Camilo and Juan Felipe. I’d met them several times in my life. Don and Felipe would team up on occasion. They had a long lasting peaceful agreement. We’d stay in the U.S. and parts of Europe and they would get Mexico, Canada, and the remaining European countries. Everything else was fair game.

  John cleared his throat, letting me know he was going to continue. “The video shows Diego Martinez getting beaten with a tire iron. You’re able to see the tattoo on the hands of the two men beating him. It’s the McAllisters’ Mark, Billie, and there’re only three men who have it tattooed on their hands.”

  Don, Donnie, and Connor. Instantly, I wanted to protect them.

  “What if it was someone trying to pretend they were one of us?”

  “One of us?” he asked.

  I shook my head, catching my mistake. “One of them.”

  “Listen, Billie, you need to stay away from your dad and brothers, especially Connor. The video is pretty gruesome, even for my sick standards. No one knows what’s going on in the inside, but one thing’s for sure. When Don gets backed into a corner, he doesn’t think correctly. He’s in deep with a crew from Ireland, he owes them big, and rumor has it one of the boys is out to replace Don. And it won’t be a peaceful takeover.” Don always knew he would be replaced one day. I doubted that’s what was getting him all freaked out. There was more to what John was telling me. I could feel it.

  “What are you leaving out, John?”

  B.J. grumbled something that sounded like a line of curse words. “I’m betraying my best friend by telling you this, Bil, but I love you like my own, and now shit’s getting too dangerous for you to continue to stay in the dark.”

  A heavy brick settled in my stomach, and I said nothing for a long moment.

  “Connor didn’t move here because his dad was getting him out of harm’s way,” John continued. “He came here to collect payment.”

  I frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “He came here to collect you.” />
  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Christian

  I sat at the kitchen table as my mom prepared a late breakfast. She never let me cook for her, and after so many years of asking, I stopped. It made her mad that I asked. She said when she wasn’t able to feed herself I could start feeding her, but until then she was going to cook. Ladling some red salsa over my sunny-side up eggs, she quickly flipped the tortilla from the griddle and set it on my plate. It smelled heavenly. It always did.

  She set the plate in front of me, then refilled my cup of coffee. I tore a piece from the warm tortilla and stabbed the yoke bubble, causing it to spill over the crispy cooked egg whites. I chewed my food as she gossiped about the women at her job. How the new girl was rumored to be sleeping around with her boss. I felt compression around my throat.

  “So what if she’s sleeping around with her boss? Maybe they really like each other. As long as they’re consenting adults, Ma, I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

  “Ay, por favor, Christian, no lady would ever sleep with her boss. That’s so, como se dice…trashy.” I lowered my gaze to look at my food, suddenly nervous. I knew Billie and I had just started officially dating, but I wasn’t one to lie to my mother. And technically we weren’t sleeping together. I mean, we were but we weren’t sleeping together.

  “I just started dating one of my employees,” I said, still looking at my plate. I heard her shift in her seat.

  “Una novia?”

  I cleared my throat, then took a drink from my coffee. Over my mug, I could see her judging eyes. “Yeah, she’s my girlfriend,” I replied.

  “For how long?”

  “Just three days.”

  “Oh.” She rose to grab the rest of the tortillas from the stove.

  “Maybe you can meet her someday,” I said, turning in my chair to look at her.