A Dominant Fallen (A Dominant Series Book 2)

by Black, Lena

  “Ok, I won’t,” she replies with uncertainty.

  Damian turns to Chase and says, “I want to go check the situation out. Will you accompany Banks and me?”

  “Sure, I will.”

  “Excellent.” Hunt turns back to us. “I want you girls to stay here. It isn’t safe for you two.”

  “I don’t want to stay here,” I softly argue.

  “Gabrielle, this is not the time to question me or my decisions, is that clear?”

  “What if he comes here? What if he’s just trying to get you there so he can get in here without you around?”

  “I told you, Elle, there is 24 hour security on this place.”

  “But, what if he figures a way around them? Don’t you think I would be safer with you and Banks?”

  That does it.

  “Yes, I do…Alright, but you will listen to me, understood?”

  “Yes,” I reply.

  “Both of you,” he says sternly, looking in Maya’s direction.

  “Yes, I promise.”

  Maya and I were instructed to wait in Hunt’s locked Land Rover while they inspect the damage. They only agreed to allow us into the apartment because we convinced them that we would spot what was stolen.

  So, here we sit, waiting for the call from Hunt, letting us know it’s clear and safe to come up. Banks accompanied them, gun ready. Maya has her head lying on my shoulder as I cradle her in my arms.

  “Ellie?”

  “Yeah, sweetie?” I nuzzle my head on her head, trying to comfort her, but I’m panicked out of my mind. I know that they are safe together, but it still terrifies me to think about what might happen if Dante is up there.

  “What’s going on? Why didn’t Damian want us to call the cops?”

  “We can’t,” I reply simply.

  “Why can’t we?” she asks, lifting her head from my shoulder with a perplexed stare.

  “Do you remember what I told you about Dante, Hunt’s brother?” I don’t want to give her all the details because I don’t want her to tell my mother.

  “Yeah, of course, but why would they be looking for him at our apartment? Why do they believe he was the one to rob our place? What’s going on, Ellie?”

  She’s so damn inquisitive. I sigh. “They believe he’s still stalking me. They think this is his work.”

  “Why do you think he came after you to begin with?”

  “He said I got in the way of him and someone else, but I think there’s another reason that I’m missing. I know Hunt knows information about his whereabouts or something, but his lips are sealed…for now.”

  Just then, my cell goes off. I answer it and Hunt gives me the okay to come up. By the time we exit the warmth of the car, Banks is waiting for us on the curb.

  “What did you find, Liam?”

  “I think you should see for yourself, Gabrielle.” I hear the concern in his voice, genuine concern for my well-being and it warms my heart.

  We make it up to my floor and head down the hall to my place at the end. I haven’t been here in forever. It’s weird.

  The door is cracked open, and Banks pushes on it, swinging it wide. The disaster that lies before me is heart-wrenching. The furniture is flipped over, paintings are slashed and torn off the walls, and drawers are ripped out and tossed across the floor.

  My room isn’t much better, clothes everywhere, dressers toppled-over, bed in a messy heap. They left nothing untouched. I feel violated.

  Hunt walks into my room as I stand in the middle of the mess, shocked into silence.

  “Your sister’s room is…” Hunt begins to say something, but trails off. I rush past him, down the hall to Maya’s room, and shove the door open. Her room is pristine, eerily so, as if it had never been lived in.

  Dante.

  I feel it in my gut and fall to my knees, defeated. I gaze blankly out into nothingness as his name rushes through my head over and over. His icy eyes pierce my skull, and the feel of his hand around my neck suddenly overwhelms me. I can’t breathe. I can’t…

  “Ahhhhhhhh!” A blood-curdling scream erupts from my lips and hot tears stream from my stinging eyes.

  Damian’s beside me a split-second later, holding me in his arms and petting my hair as he rocks me. I can’t take all the secrets and threats. I can’t take this anymore.

  “It’s Dante, isn’t it, Hunt? He won’t give up until he’s gotten his way.”

  “We don’t know that, Elle…Just relax. I’ll take care of everything.”

  “Why won’t you tell me anything?” I’m panicking. I can feel the dread rise in my chest.

  “We don’t know anything, Gabrielle. Please, try to relax.”

  How can I relax? How can I do anything but panic about this?

  I begin to cry hysterically, choking on my tears. The room is spinning. My heart is beating rapidly, pounding into my chest plate. I can’t breathe.

  “Ellie, it’s okay. You’re going to be okay. Breathe, Ellie, breathe,” Maya says softly, kneeling in front of me.

  “No, no…” I sputter out repeatedly. “He won’t stop…He won’t stop.”

  Hunt holds me tighter in his arms, kneeling behind me, swaying me back and forth. I try to push him away, but he only squeezes tighter.

  “Please, let me go,” I plead, twisting and shoving at his chest.

  “No, angel, you’re okay. Shhhh…You’re going to be okay,” he assures, shifting me into his lap and cradling me in his arms like a baby. “Liam, get me a glass of water and the bottle. Maya, grab my coat off your bed. NOW! Go, both of you, hurry.”

  The next thing I know, Hunt cocoons me in his long, wool coat and attempts to shove something into my mouth.

  “No!” I cry, grabbing his wrist and pushing his hand away. “Leave me alone, Damian.”

  “Come on, angel, take this for me.” When I open my mouth to protest, he pops it in and pours some water after it, forcing the mystery object down my throat. “That’s my girl.”

  I continue to cry and squirm in his arms, but he just holds me closer, refusing to let me go. I fight until I can’t fight any longer. I don’t know how much time has passed, but I feel myself calm, my worries slip away as if I don’t have a care in the world. I feel…good.

  Suddenly, I go limp in his arms, and my eyelids and limbs feel like they’re made of lead. I look up at Hunt as I drift out of consciousness and he’s smiling down at me, but his eyes show his alarm. He looks away from me, at whom, I’m unsure, and says, “We need to get her…”

  His words cut off as I sink into darkness.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Take Me Away

  I wake up with the cool night breeze wafting in my face, and the gentle serenade of a woman’s voice caressing my ears. I ponder the name of the song, attempting to mentally grasp onto something factual as I come out of my confusing, sleepy haze.

  Ivy’s, ‘Edge of the Ocean’!

  My eyes flutter open, finding Damian in the driver’s seat of his classic Porsche 550 Spyder, with the soft glow of the dashboard lights etching his face as he concentrates on the road ahead, driving us to god-knows-where.

  Even though it’s quite chilly out, I’m warm, and I realize I’m wearing Hunt’s wool coat. I sit up and scan our surroundings, but instead of charming Victorians and tall city buildings, I find only blackness around us. The only light comes from the car’s headlights but they only go so far, and I can’t make out much in front of us either.

  Suddenly, the moon comes out from behind a cloud, its blue glow reflecting off the dark waters of the Pacific.

  “Well, look who’s up,” Hunt purrs. “Did you have a good rest?”

  “Yes, I suppose,” I reply with a sleep-hazed voice. “Where are we?”

  “We’re headed up the coast to this little B&B I go to when I need to get away for a few days.”

  “Where are Maya and Chase?” I ask, feeling foggy and a bit weak.

  “Maya and Chase are back at The Artemis with Banks. I invited Maya to
stay there and Chase to keep her company. I didn’t think it was a good time for her to be alone.”

  “You did?” I ask with a softhearted tone, pleased with his concern for my sister. “That’s really sweet of you, Hunt.”

  “It was nothing, really. I know how much she means to you, which means she’s important to me. When I said I want to take care of you, I meant everything about you and your life.”

  “So, what happened to me?” I inquire, attempting to put the pieces together in my head.

  “You had a panic attack, Gabrielle. I had Banks sedate you for your own safety.”

  “You drugged me?” The shock and rage in my voice is evident.

  “I wouldn’t quite put it that way, but yes, I had you drugged. I didn’t have a choice. You were terrified and crying to the point you couldn’t breathe. I tried to calm you down, we all did, but we just couldn’t get through to you. You weren’t yourself, Elle, and it petrified me. I didn’t know what else to do.”

  I just sit there, unsure of how to feel about this, tranquilized like some animal gone mad. I remain quiet, lost in my head until Hunt places his hand on my thigh, grabbing my attention.

  “I don’t like this. I don’t like that you had me sedated. It’s just too fucking far. It’s weird, Damian. It’s overstepping a boundary. I don’t want you to do it again. I’m not asking you, Damian, I’m telling you. It’s a hard limit.”

  “I did it for your benefit, Gabrielle, and as I know it won’t be the last time you have an attack, that’s not something I can guarantee.”

  I open my mouth to argue with him, but he shoots me a look that tells me he is not to be tested. I cross my arms and huff, turning to look out at the blackness. We don’t say another word the rest of the ride up.

  Hunt

  We arrive at Beverly’s B&B around midnight, after a long, quiet ride. I tried to hold her hand, but she pulled it away. It killed me, and I didn’t try again.

  The converted home is a three-story Victorian, soft blue with white lace-like trim and a wraparound porch with rocking chairs. It’s the perfect place for a quick getaway.

  I park the car in front, on the gravel driveway, and grab our bags out of the trunk. As we approach the entrance, Beverly opens the door, greeting us in paint-covered overalls and her brown hair braided down her back.

  “Hello, Damian darling.” She wraps her arms around me and gives me a warm kiss on the cheek. “Well, this is Gabrielle.”

  She releases me and I turn back to Elle, her confused expression speak volumes. “Yes, this is my Gabrielle. Gabrielle, this is my Aunt Beverly, Vivian’s younger sister.”

  “And prettier,” she teases, and Elle giggles. The sweet sound is a pleasure to hear after this tense day.

  “It’s great to meet you, Beverly.” Elle steps forward and extends a hand out to her, which she takes and brings Elle in for a hug.

  “It’s wonderful to meet you, Gabrielle. From what I’ve been told, it’s been a long time coming. You knew Aubrey and Keira when they were in school, correct?”

  “Yes, I’d heard of you as well. You’re the artist.”

  “Ah, yes, kooky Aunt Beverly.”

  Elle giggles again, but I find myself becoming jealous that I’m not the cause of this delightful noise pouring from her supple lips. I want to fuck those lips.

  Get ahold of yourself, Hunt. This is not the time or place.

  “I’ve heard only good things. They would tell me about the summers spent with you when they were little.”

  “Well, I loved having them here…Come. You must be exhausted from your drive.”

  “Amongst other things,” Elle murmurs under her breath so only I can hear her.

  “I’ll show you to your room.”

  “That would be great,” I reply, following them up the stairs to the lover’s suite on the top floor. It was the attic, converted into a little love nest. The décor is bright and rustic with a large brass bed, worn white furniture, and Beverly’s spectacular paintings hung all over the walls.

  “There’s a wonderful view of the gardens, but you’ll have to wait until morning to see it. The bathroom is through the door to your right, and Damian knows the rest.”

  Once Beverly wishes us a goodnight and leaves, I set our bags on the lounging sofa at the end of the bed and take a breath, scanning the room.

  “What do you think?” I ask, praying she doesn’t rebuff me.

  “I think it’s wonderful, but I really shouldn’t take any more time off work. This wasn’t the best time to leave the city.”

  Why does she continually fight me? She makes protecting her so difficult.

  “Gabrielle, can’t you just learn to be happy? Will you ever stop fighting me when I try to do something nice for you?”

  She looks at me, insulted, and crosses her arms under her breasts, heaving them up.

  Dear lord, give me strength.

  “I know how to be happy,” she snaps.

  “Then why won’t you let yourself?” I retort, cocking my brow at her.

  “I would be happy about this if you would be honest with me about why we’re here.”

  Why can’t she make this easier on me? Come on, Hunt, you can handle this.

  “I felt that you needed time away from things. After your freak out, I knew you weren’t ready to go back to work. I want you to take some time to get yourself together before you go back.”

  “That isn’t for you to decide. I decide when I’m ready to go back, not you. You can’t keep interfering with my professional life just because you can. And, I’m still not thrilled that you had me sedated. I don’t like not having control over my own body.”

  “First of all, I wouldn’t expect any of my employees to come back to work until they were emotionally ready for it. You’re no good for the company if you aren’t at the top of your game. This isn’t about me. This is about you. Secondly, I used your medication to sedate you. Thirdly, it’s my body…Never forget that.”

  She lets out a shallow breath and whimpers, but regains herself. “They were mine?”

  “Yes,” I reply with a nod of the head.

  “How did you know I had them?”

  “The night I brought you home from the bar, I found them in your medicine cabinet when I went to grab you the aspirin. When we went back to your place before the funeral, I came into the bathroom while you were showering and took a few, just in case you ever needed them. I’m glad I did because we would have never found yours in that disaster.”

  “Oh, well, I guess that isn’t as bad as I thought.” She seems to deflate a bit, not so on guard.

  “I think you should see Dr. White when you get back into the city.”

  She looks up at me with her large, sparkling blue eyes and asks in an offended whisper, “Why?”

  “Gabrielle, you need to see what he has to say about everything that has happened to you lately. I know you haven’t gone to see him since before you left me.”

  She has a befuddled look on her stunning, angelic face. Her nose crinkles in that adorable way, as if she smells something unpleasant.

  “How…?” Clarity comes to her eyes, and she murmurs, “Liam.”

  “No, actually,” I correct her, “Dr. White informed me.”

  “You spoke to him?” she asks, slumping her head to the side.

  “Yes, I’ve actually been going to see him once a week for the past few months.”

  “You have?” She appears pleased, which makes me feel the same. “It isn’t because of me, is it?”

  No, angel, it’s because I’m fucked in the head.

  “No, Elle, because of me. When you left, I was prepared to do anything to get you back, but I knew that I had a lot I needed to fix before I could even consider that. I thought I wasn’t enough for you.”

  “Oh, Hunt,” she cries, running and leaping into my arms. She kisses me all over my face, bathing me in her love. “You’re more. You’re so much more than I could ever hope for.”

  I wish I c
ould believe that. What I wouldn’t give to believe I was.

  I press my forehead against hers with my eyes shut tight. “I’m sorry for dragging you up here. I’m starting to see it was a mistake.”

  “I’m not mad that you want to take me away, but how you’ve gone about it. You’ve been so secretive lately. Why won’t you be honest with me? What’s with those mystery calls and private conversations with Liam?”

  Oh, Gabrielle, if you only knew.

  I want to tell her everything that has happened, everything that I’ve found, but I couldn’t put her through that kind of stress. How could I put her in the perturbed, overwhelmed position I’ve been in, when she’s already so fragile, both physically and emotionally?

  She stares at me, waiting desperately for information, any detail I’m willing to spare, but I won’t do this to her. I need to distract her, the only way I know how. I smash her into me and come down on her lips hard. I shove my tongue deep into her warm mouth, but she pushes me away.

  “What are you doing?” she asks breathlessly. I place my hand on the back of her head, clench a handful of hair, and yank her head back, pinning her in place. She looks up at me with wide sapphire eyes and a slack mouth, inviting me to take it, take her.

  I pull her luscious lips back onto mine, kissing her as deep and rough as my stinging lips will allow. I dip into her mouth, fucking it softly, caressing her sweet tongue with mine. She tastes so good. I want more.

  I haul her away from me and grab the collar of her blouse, ripping it open so the buttons fly off. I stand and watch her milky bare cleavage rapidly heave up and down from her stressed breathing. Her prominent, braless breasts hang under their weight, nipples elevated, tempting me.

  I snatch her up into my arms and come down on them, greedily kissing my way over her plump cleavage. She moans and jumps up, wrapping herself around me, cradling my waist between her supple jean-clad thighs. I love her thighs, especially when I’m tucked between them. I feel my cock hardening against her, my wild heartbeat causing the head to thump against her clit.

  I eagerly glide my lips over her plump tits and move down to her little pink nipple, taking it into my mouth. I work it hard, nipping on occasion, rough, just how she likes it. Right on cue, she moans, thrusting her hands into my hair and tugging on it passionately. The jolt yanks my head back, taking her nipple, clamped firmly in my mouth, with it. She lets out a loud, primal growl and grinds her pelvis into my hard cock.