by LJ Baker
“No one deserves that. She was a child. Younger than Jen. What is wrong with me? Why have I always been this way? And why is it getting worse as I get older?”
Liz handed Ronnie the half full glass and waited for her to take a big gulp before speaking. “I don’t know sweetie, but you have to get a handle on this before things turn really bad. You’re not a kid anymore. The consequences now are the big time.”
“It’s already turned bad. And it’s been getting worse. I know you’ve noticed that. I have never been this out of control. Sure I’ve always felt the potential inside me, but that last fight, and now this. Any worse and I’ll be a serial killer.”
“I think there’s a little more to becoming a serial killer than that.”
“You know what I mean.” Ronnie finished the glass and sat forward to pour another. Alcohol was exactly what she needed. A lot of alcohol. And maybe a jail cell so she couldn’t hurt anyone else.
“Look at what you’ve been through. You just lost your parents, your life, everything. And now you have three kids to support. Sweetie, you’re barely an adult yourself. With so much stress, anyone would snap.”
“People live through worse than this and they don’t try to kill strangers on the street.”
Liz sighed and took a long pull off her drink. “Have you considered therapy?”
“Seriously?” Ronnie scrunched up her nose. “You know how pointless that was all the years my parents made me go. It only made me more angry and I doubt that was the intended result.”
“You were a kid then. And you didn’t want to be there. Now you’re different, you can give it a real shot.”
“Yeah,” Ronnie laughed. “I’m different now.”
“I mean, you’re old enough to understand how therapy might help. It certainly can’t hurt.”
“I might be older, but I can’t say I think it would help any more now than it did back then.” Ronnie sighed. “Look, I know you want to help, but honestly it’s probably too late. They’re going to find me and I’m going to go down for this. And I deserve to. What if he dies? I could be going away for murder.” Ronnie leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling. She wondered how long she would have that ceiling to even look at. Everything was going to change. She could feel it in her bones.
“You can’t think like that. We have to stay positive until we have reasons not to be.” Lizzie rubbed over Ronnie’s arm and forced a half smile. She was trying to make Ronnie feel better, but it would take a lot more than that. Like maybe a time machine and some gene therapy to get rid of whatever it was about her makeup that made her so damn angry.
“You don’t think what’s happened is reason enough? I can’t even understand why Luc didn’t fire me. I would have fired me.”
“Maybe because he had a good enough time in the sack that he wants to keep you around for round two.”
“That’s kind of like calling me a prostitute.”
“Better than a slut.”
“Is it though? I’m not so sure.” Ronnie tried to stifle a smile. She wanted to wallow in the misery she knew she deserved, but she couldn’t help it. Lizzie knew her too well. The half bottle of tequila didn’t hurt either.
“Is everything okay?” Jen peered around the doorway in her penguin pajamas. They were the last thing their mother bought her and she wore them every night, without fail, since the accident. What would happen when Jen outgrew them was something Ronnie didn’t even want to think about. Kind of like whether or not she would even be around to see Jen grow out of them.
With a small smile, Ronnie patted the couch next to her, and waited for Jen to sit before speaking. “Everything is fine. What are you doing up? Bad dreams again?”
Jen looked down into her lap and gave a small nod. “The same one.”
Jen had been having the same nightmare since the week after their parents died. She was waiting outside of school for Ronnie to pick her up, but she never showed. Eventually, the younger girl would walk home thinking her sister just forgot. Instead, she would return to a street full of police cars and a social worker telling her that Ronnie was dead. She was orphaned, again.
Ronnie smoothed her hand over Jen’s back and leaned her head into her sister’s. “We’re going to be okay.” She didn’t really believe her words, especially now, but for her little sister, she had to try. She was all the kids had, and for better or for worse, she had to be what they needed.
At least until they threw her in jail.
Ronnie never wanted to be a parent. Like ever. When other little girls were playing with dolls and pretending to be mommies, Ronnie was planning her career and the nieces and nephews she’d visit on holidays. She certainly never asked to be responsible for three half grown kids at twenty-three. But her siblings were her last link to her parents, to the life they had before. She had to make things work. There was no other option.
Even if she may no longer have that choice much longer.
***
“You hear from her today?” Harley flopped onto the velvet sofa next to Luc in the VIP section of the club and put her feet up on the glass table. It was busy for a Sunday, but there were enough employees to handle it while she took a well-deserved break.
“I may have taken a peek into the mirror to see how she was doing.” Luc shrugged. He knew she wouldn’t like that, but he also knew she wouldn’t be surprised.
“And?” Harley raised one eyebrow, but didn’t mention the fact that Luc shouldn’t have been using devil powers to check in on her. Though her look said she was thinking it.
“She’s at home, where she should be, but she is kind of a mess. Are you sure this was a good choice? What exactly did you base it off of?”
“I’ll have you know that I took my job very seriously. I certainly couldn’t have anticipated what happened yesterday, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be a good match for you.”
“Are you sure about that?” After looking in the mirror, Luc certainly wasn’t. He still felt the need to protect the girl, but her life was a disaster and he wasn’t sure that’s what he needed in his right now. Although, he knew he wasn’t going to walk away, either.
“Yes.” Harley elbowed Luc in the ribs and glared. “Let me ask you this. When you’re around her, do you feel any different?”
“What do you mean by different?” Luc was stalling and Harley knew it.
“Don’t be an ass-face. You know what I mean.”
“Ass-face?” Luc feigned insult.
Harley ignored him and continued. “Let’s just look at it from the outside for a moment. You’ve gone out of your way to be around her, such as going to her fight.”
“You’re the one who told me to act like a human and get to know her. What was I supposed to do? Hope we ran into each other at the grocery store? Maybe ride that hideous bus on her route and save an empty seat for her so I could chat her up between stops?”
Harley rolled her eyes. “And, you spent the night with her—”
Luc Laughed. “I spend the night with many ladies, Harley. That is certainly nothing new.”
“I wasn’t finished. I don’t mean you did the nasty with her. Anyone in hearing distance knows how often you do that. I mean you spent the night with her. As in all night. You didn’t throw her out when you were done, or take away her memories.”
“Technically, she was home in her own bed before dawn. I drove her and neatly tucked her in.”
“Exactly.”
“What?” Luc shot her an innocent look, but he could tell she wasn’t buying it. Was what he did really so different? He was just trying to do what any other human would do. Wasn’t that what she wanted?
“Plus you healed her, ran to her side when she was in trouble, are attempting to keep her from paying for what she did to that man in the alley, and are checking up on her when she’s not around. And don’t think I didn’t see your face when you were looking at her that night after the fight. There is something going on inside you that is not the same as you are
with every other female you’ve spent time around.”
Luc thought about what she’d said for a moment. It was different. She was right. Some tiny twinge of something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, bubbled just under the surface when he was around her. Hell, even when he thought about her. He cared how she was, though he didn’t understand why. The feeling was different than any he’d ever had. Did that mean she could be the one he’d fall in love with?
“Maybe it’s a little different.” Luc hated to admit that to Harley, mostly because he knew how much she’d enjoy it.
“See!” Harley pumped her fist in the air like she’d won a prize. It annoyed Luc more than it should have.
“So what if it is? I’m doing as you said and trying to take the game seriously. So, shouldn’t it feel different? It’s not like I’ve ever gone out of my way to get to know any random female before.”
“Well, besides me.” Harley flashed her brilliant smile.
“Now that is different.” Luc matched her smile and leaned his head back on the sofa. “No one compares to you, my feisty little minx.”
The words should have held more emotion, but Luc’s mind was elsewhere. He was still caught up in how different he felt when his mind was occupied by Ronnie Falcon. He’d barely gotten to know her, but he wanted more. It was as if some deep part of him needed to get to know every dark corner of her soul. Even if she wasn’t the one, he knew in that moment, he would follow it through to the end.
Hopefully, that didn’t mean with him visiting her from a jail cell.
Chapter Eight
“How was your first night working here?”
The blond stood in the doorway with his arms folded over his chest and a wicked grin on his mouth, looking like some sort of Norse God. Ronnie wasn’t as impressed as she probably should be.
His hair tumbled over his shoulders in soft, golden waves and his eyes were so blue they almost took on a glow. His biceps bulged through his shirt, which was half open, showing off his perfectly chiseled chest, and something about him drew Ronnie in, made her want to reach out and touch him. She took a few steps toward him, then shook her head, and backed up.
“Who are you?” She’d seen him talking to Luc earlier in the night and they looked friendly, but she got the feeling that Luc wasn’t happy with the guy.
“Call me Az. I’m Luc’s younger brother.” He stepped forward and held out a hand. Ronnie eyed it suspiciously, then took it for a quick shake. A spark of static electricity traveled through her hand and up her arm, and she jumped back, dropping his hand.
“Luc didn’t mention you.” Ronnie’s eyes narrowed and she held her arms stiff at her sides.
“No, I suppose he wouldn’t. I would think that you two had better things to talk about when you were alone, than his siblings.”
Ronnie took a step back, and he advanced, keeping the stifling distance between them static. She thought about slipping past him out of the office to find Luc, not wanting to be alone with the guy any longer, but something kept her planted. It was as if there was a hum coming off him, an energy that drew her in, yet it was that same bizarre force that cautioned her not to trust him.
“Are you afraid of me?” Az choked out a surprised laugh. “Now isn’t that the twist.”
She was about to tell him hell no, that she wasn’t afraid of anything, but her voice refused to cooperate. The lie died in her throat.
“Leave the girl alone, Az. I thought you were done here?” Luc walked over to Ronnie and put his arm around her protectively. She was never big on guys who staked their claim on a woman in public, or went all caveman on them, but this time, she was grateful. Az gave her the creeps for some reason and Luc was clearly trying to get him to back off, so she was not about to complain.
“Are you trying to get rid of me, brother?”
“Yes. Was that not clear already?” Luc raised an eyebrow, but his lips stayed flat, almost bored.
“Fine. I’ll go, but just remember what we talked about. You know that I’m right, Lucifer.”
Luc walked over to his brother and followed him through the door. “I know no such thing.”
They kept talking after Ronnie could no longer hear them and she went about counting out her tips for the night. There was a part of her that wanted to sneak around the corner and hear what they were saying, but she shook it off and dealt with her tips.
Counting through her wad of cash, she realized she made much more than she expected to. A few nights like this and it might almost match what she made on Friday nights.
During the day and early evening, the place was a high end bar, but once night rolled around, the ropes went down and it became an even higher end club. The customers didn’t all look like they had money to burn, but they tipped like they did. Ronnie wasn’t going to complain. If she made this much on a regular basis, she might be able to give up the fights eventually, and still put the kids through college.
Ronnie thought about the kids at home. Mae was sixteen now and only had one more year of high school left. Then she’d be off to college, and that wasn’t cheap. After that, Jen would be along just a few short years later. And Freddy, who knew how fast he would finish. He was already ahead of Jen, despite the fact that he was two years younger. At least he was likely to get scholarships and give her bank account a break.
“How did you do? Monday nights are on the slow side here.” Harley looked down at the pile of cash and frowned.
“If this is a slow night, then I can’t wait for the weekend.” Ronnie stacked the bills and shoved them into her purse. “Hey, Luc’s brother, Az… what’s his deal?” She regretted asking as soon as the words left her mouth, but it was too late to take them back.
Harley shifted on her feet and glanced back toward the door. “He’s uh, he’s okay. He comes around sometimes when he’s bored. Why?”
“I don’t know. I just got a weird vibe off him. He’s a little creepy.”
The corner of Harley’s mouth came up into a half-smile. “He’s an angel.”
“Who’s an angel?” Luc strode into the room with a smile.
“You are, of course. Oh and Az.”
“Well, that’s true. But then I’m more of a fallen angel.” Luc chuckled and they exchanged looks, like it was some inside joke that Ronnie wasn’t privy to. “How were tips? Sorry Monday is slow.” Luc’s smile fell to a frown.
“Yeah, that’s what Harley said, but they were good.” Ronnie tapped her purse. “Anything else you need me to do before I go?”
Luc’s eyes darkened and his lips spread into the kind of smile that should have been a warning, but heated Ronnie in a way she knew was wrong. “Yes, there is definitely something I need.”
He advanced, his intent clear and singular. Ronnie wasn’t keen on a show and she was about to say something about Harley standing right there, but when she looked over his shoulder, the girl was gone, with the door shut behind her.
“And what is it you need?” She took a few steps back without even realizing she’d done it until her ass bumped the cold metal of the desk.
“You.”
“Oh.”
Ronnie’s mouth went dry and Luc advanced like a predator. Something about him set off warning alarms in her brain, but she ignored them every time. He was dangerous, and she knew it. She just didn’t care.
“Take off your clothes,” Luc demanded, his voice low and even, but deadly serious. Ronnie had never been one to take orders from a man, but before her brain could tell him to fuck off, she was lifting her shirt over her head and undoing her bra as if a magical force was guiding her.
Her breasts sprung forward and her nipples hardened into tight peaks, begging to be touched. Luc stood only inches away, inspecting her, but not touching. He nodded his head toward her shorts, as if to say, now those. She complied with his silent request, adding her shorts and panties to the pile on the floor.
Standing there naked, she waited, allowing him to enjoy his fill. Wetness pooled between
her legs and her clit throbbed with the anticipation of his touch. She would give him a few moments to enjoy the view before she demanded more. There was something about the way his dark eyes burned into her, that turned her on even more. She wanted his touch, but she was enjoying his eyes on her, too.
Sparks of electricity passed between them, dancing in arcs over her skin. For a quick moment, Ronnie had to look down to make sure he wasn’t actually touching her. His knowing half smile told her he understood what she was feeling much more than he should.
“You are so beautiful.” Luc’s voice was raw, almost a growl, and it sent shivers over Ronnie’s body which faded into a tingle that shimmered over her.
No longer able to wait, she reached out and grabbed him by the waistband of his pants to pull him against her. The soft silk of his shirt brushed over her nipples as she stood on her toes to reach his mouth. He wasn’t assisting her, merely allowing her access. She pulled his bottom lip into her mouth and bit a little rougher than she should have. With his lip still between her teeth, he smiled against her mouth .
Ronnie had no patience for the row of pearl buttons that kept her from his hot flesh. She slipped her hands under the fabric and explored his chest. His skin was smooth and tight in all the right spots. She had to taste him, take in the salty tang of his flesh, mix his essence with her own.
Luc stood still, other than reaching one hand up to the back of her head to lift her hair from her face, allowing him a view of her as she explored his body with her tongue. Luc tasted like sin, if that even had a taste.
She was sure it did.
And she needed more.
Sinking down to her knees before him, she undid his pants and pushed them down his hips. His cock sprang forward, fully erect, and bobbed in front of her face, tempting her. He appeared even bigger up close. How that was possible, she wasn’t sure. Maybe it was like one of those objects in mirror are closer than they appear things. But instead, it was like, penis from farther away only appears huge, when in reality it’s downright monstrous.