“I love you,” he whispers against my lips. “Do you fucking know that?”
My breath hitches in my throat from his confession, and heat swarms throughout my whole body, making me feel as if I’ve just burst into flames.
I can hardly breathe, to be honest.
Aston Locke loves me, and I have a feeling that’s something he doesn’t feel for many people other than his brothers and uncle.
I’ve known I loved him for a while, but hearing him say it first has my heart beating straight out of my chest.
I love this man so fucking much that it hurts. Belonging to Aston is everything I could’ve ever asked for.
* * *
Aston
Kadence’s breathing picks up against my lips, letting me know that my confession has her heart and body reacting.
Good. That’s real fucking good.
It lets me know that she loves me too. Even if she doesn’t say it back. She doesn’t need to.
I feel it with every moment we spend together.
Every touch.
Every kiss.
Every time I’m inside her.
Kadence is mine, and I’ve known it from the moment our eyes first locked that night across from her house.
Smiling, she leans into me, gently brushing her lips over mine. “Guess what?”
“What?” I whisper while running my thumb over her cheekbone. “Tell me.”
“I love you too, Aston.”
Feeling overwhelmed with emotions, I grip the back of her head and kiss her so fucking hard that it hurts.
I kiss her until we’re both fighting for air and one of my brothers is throwing something at us to break it up.
Doesn’t matter.
They can throw shit at me all night, and I’d kiss this woman until I can’t breathe. I wouldn’t stop until I knew she needed to come up for air.
“Holy shit, little brother.”
I glance at Ace.
He jumps up from his spot on the ground. “Did I just hear you say love?”
“Hell yeah, you did,” Sterling says with a smile. “Our littlest Locke has found his woman.”
“Well, I know that shit. But that dipshit has barely even said he loves us. This calls for a cele-fucking-bration.”
Ace disappears into the house and comes out a few seconds later with some guns and moonshine.
This motherfucker…
“You don’t have to drink that shit.” I laugh against Kadence’s lips. “Even I think that crap taste like shit.”
She leans in and bites my lip. I love it when she does that.
It reminds me that she doesn’t give a shit who’s around us. She wants me and she’s not afraid to show it.
Standing up, I grab Kadence and throw her over my shoulder, giving her ass a hard smack.
“Oh come on!” Melissa laughs while holding up a beer. “You’re going to leave me out here with the two craziest Lockes?”
I smirk. “She’ll be back… in a few hours.”
I’m just about to escape inside with Kadence so we can get a little time alone when a set of headlights has us all looking down the driveway.
I instantly set Kadence down and stand in front of her, while Ace pushes Melissa behind him. None of us know what to expect.
But from his expression, Sterling recognizes the little white car the second it pulls up and the engine cuts off.
We all watch as a petite brunette steps out and closes the door behind her. It’s not until she walks closer to the fire that I realize it’s Sterling’s old crush from high school… a girl I know Sterling has still kept in contact with. A girl Sterling still cares about.
Wynter’s face is busted up, causing Sterling to immediately throw his bottle of beer at the house and walk over to her, pulling her into his chest as she cries into him.
Looks like some whole new shit is about to happen.
There’s no way my brother will allow the asshole that hurt her to get away with it.
I love Kadence, and I’d do anything for my girl. Same goes for my brothers, and I know Wynter is the one that got away for Sterling.
The one girl he always wanted but never quite got.
And so it continues.
The dark, twisted ways of the fucking Locke brothers.
The End
Savage Locke
Locke Brothers, 2
Copyright © 2017 Victoria Ashley & Jenika Snow
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means such as electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Cover model: Jonny James
Photographer: Wander Aguiar
Cover Designer: Dana Leah, Designs by Dana
Editor: Kasi Alexander
Sterling Locke
They say us Locke brothers are savage and that we’ll take care of any motherfucker who steps out of line without even batting an eye.
They’re right as shit.
The last thing you want to do is get on the bad side of a Locke.
There’s no fucks given when it comes to protecting the people we care about. We’ll fight to the motherfucking death if it comes down to it.
So when Wynter shows up on our property with a busted up face, looking for protection, you better believe that’s what she’ll get.
It may have been three years since I’ve seen her, but I instantly feel the need to protect her. It consumes me, turning me into a monster that even the devil himself doesn’t want to fuck with.
I know she’s here because she’s certain I’ll go to great lengths to protect her, but I’m going to show her that she’s gonna want me for a hell of a lot more than just that.
I can take care of her, not just making sure she’s protected, but by showing her with my body how good I can make her feel.
I’m going to show her that sometimes savage… can be good.
Winter Lowe
I don’t know what I was thinking when I showed up at Sterling’s house. I guess knowing that only he could protect me made me do this pretty stupid thing.
The Locke brothers are dangerous, and have been since long before I really knew them.
Coming here beaten won’t just humiliate me and make me feel weak, but I know it will get the Locke’s worked up. And hurting the person who did this to me runs strong in my veins.
But maybe that’s the reason I came here… because I knew they’d help me no matter what.
All it takes is one look at Sterling for me to realize my feelings for him are still there… and strong as hell. I want to hold onto these emotions because after what I’ve gone through they make me feel safe, protected, and like nothing can touch me.
Sterling makes me feel like all of that and more. I want to be his and this time, the dark rumors around town, won’t keep me from letting that happen.
WARNING: Savage Locke is a short co-written, kind of twisted love story from NYT Bestselling Author Victoria Ashley and USA Today Bestselling Author Jenika Snow. If you like it hot and a little rough... this is the book for you. 18+
1
Sterling
I feel a rush of adrenaline take over, heightening my need to punish this asshole, and hyping me up about what we’re going to do next.
This motherfucker has no idea how much I’m going to enjoy pounding his face into a bloody pulp and leaving him here on this filthy fucking floor to rot if he doesn’t talk soon.
“Where’s the kid, huh?” Tightening my hold on the collar of the asshole’s shirt, I pull him up so we’re face to face, not giving a shit about the blood that is dripping onto my jeans. “Tell me where you took him. I won’t ask you again.”
My brass knuckles are blood-covered, and I make sure to keep them in his view, reminding him of what it felt like to have them embedded into his face.
“Just tell him, Paul,” Ace says from the doorway, swinging his hammer around with a wicked grin. “We’ve already broken two fingers and that pretty little pinky toe of yours. Want it to be your face next? Not sure how much more of a pounding it can take before those bones begin to shatter.”
Paul shakes his head violently back and forth, blood splattering all over me as he fights to catch his breath enough to talk. “I didn’t kidnap anyone. He’s my fucking nephew. He wanted to work for me so I gave him a job.”
His words make me angrier, causing me to lose it on this piece of shit.
Growling out, I slam my forehead into his hard as fuck, and make sure to keep my hold on his shirt. I want it to hurt more for him. “You know that shit doesn’t matter, now does it, motherfucker? Family or not, he’s fifteen and selling fucking crack.”
“How the hell did you guys even know about Abel?” the little fucker wheezes out.
“You took off with Camille’s son in the middle of the damn night and you didn’t think she’d call us to handle your junkie ass?” Ace tosses his hammer down and snatches Paul out of my reach, dragging him across the ground by his neck.
He doesn’t stop pulling him, not until he’s shoving his body halfway out the fifth-floor window.
This shithole warehouse is so abandoned that I’m not worried about anyone hearing his screams. Other than cracked-up fiends that are so used to this sort of violence that it won’t even faze them, the surrounding area is pretty much barren of life.
“If I were Killian, your body would already be smashed against the pavement below and I’d be home happy and peaceful, getting my motherfucking cock sucked while throwing back a bottle of whiskey. But since Abel is like a son to him, here the fuck we are dealing with your dirty ass. You’re lucky Killian isn’t here himself.” Ace grins as if he’s just now thinking about what he said. “Oh, wait… did I say lucky?”
With that, he releases Paul’s body, catching his feet right before he falls to his death.
This has the asshole so shaken up that all I hear is him crying and pleading through snot bubbles to not let go of him.
“All right, brother.” I laugh and put out the cigarette I just barely lit. “I can deal with blood but I’m not dealing with the stench of this fucker’s shit if he loses control of his bowels. Pull his ass back in.”
Ace shrugs and pulls him back inside. He kicks him to the floor and pins his neck down with his boot.
Then he pulls out a cigarette and lights it as if he’s got all night to chill and torture this asshole. “You have until I’m done with this smoke to give me a fucking address or your ass is mine for the rest of the night. We’ll be having a motherfucking sleepover, except instead of jumping on the bed and pillow fights…” He stops to take a drag from his cigarette, speaking as he blows out the smoke. “There’ll be breaking bones and losing body parts.”
“Okay!” Paul screams, prying at Ace’s big-ass boot. “Okay! I’ll tell you where he’s at.”
Ace grins at me before flicking his cigarette at Paul’s head and kicking him over to his back. “Write that shit down.”
I laugh and toss the pad of paper and pen at his busted-up face. “You could’ve just told us this shit an hour ago and saved us the fucking hassle of beating the shit out of you.”
He grunts and rolls over, fighting to open his swollen eyes far enough to see what he’s writing. When he’s done, he tosses it at my boot. “You’ll find him at this address unless Benny has him working the block. Fucking assholes.” He whispers the last part.
I look down at my boot and crack my neck before reaching down and wrapping my hand around his throat. “Want to say that shit louder and see if you’re still breathing afterward?”
He shakes his head.
“That’s what I thought.” I release his neck and stand up. “Let his friends out of the closet so they can see what’ll happen to them if they ever attempt to fuck with us.”
“Gladly.” Ace reaches for his hammer and walks over to the closet door. He swings it around as if practicing for impact. “Might want to stand back, nut sacks.”
“Well, fuck. Here we go…” I mutter.
I stand back and watch as Ace swings his hammer through the door, taking the shit down with four swings.
He doesn’t even wait to make sure he didn’t kill one of the two assholes inside before he turns and walks away. “Let’s go pick up this kid and get him home where he belongs.”
Paul must’ve sent word ahead because Benny is nowhere to be found when we arrive at the address thirty minutes later.
Abel is sitting on the couch, high out of his mind and seconds away from losing consciousness.
“Fucking shit.” Rushing inside, I pick him up and get him into the SUV as quickly as possible, slamming the door behind me. “Drive fast. I’ll call Camille and let her know we’re headed to the hospital.”
Paul better hope on his motherfucking life that this kid doesn’t lose his or he won’t just be hearing from us.
And if they think we’re bad… they should meet Killian.
2
Sterling
I slam back the third beer of the night, my knuckles burning from the beating I gave that little prick earlier, but my fucking adrenaline still going strong.
I stare at my youngest brother, his girl Kadence on his lap, the affection he has for her clear. I know Aston would fucking die for her, as it should be when you love someone.
I instantly think of the one girl I wanted, but never had. I think about her so fucking much it’s damn pathetic.
Wynter Lowe.
Fuck, even thinking her name gets me hard.
I shift on the seat, not really caring if my brothers see how hard I’ve become, but wanting to be comfortable.
Flexing my jaw, I reach for another beer, pop the cap and down half of it before taking another breath.
There’s a flash of headlights coming up the gravel drive, and everyone straightens, already at attention, wondering who would be stupid enough to come out here. Wanting to be prepared, I set the bottle down, reach in my pocket for my brass knuckles, and get ready to beat some motherfucker’s ass.
But when I see the little white car come to a stop a few feet from the bonfire, I feel my entire body stiffen with attention.
Fuck.
I’d recognize that car from anywhere. Even if it has been years since I’ve seen it.
She cuts the engine and climbs out of the car. Wynter looks the same: small, petite, her hair seeming darker now that it’s dark as hell outside.
And I still fucking want her.
When she comes closer, her nerves clear, the shadows covering her face partially, my damn cock jerks to attention even more.
But it’s when she comes more into the light that I see her face is all busted up. She’s got a swollen purple and blue eye. Her lip is split, and there’s a nasty fucking scrape along the side of her face.
I toss the half-empty bottle of beer aside, my anger, rage, burning so damn badly I wish there was some little asshole here for me to beat the fuck out of.
I walk over to her, see she’s on the verge of crying, and pull her against my chest instantly. I hold her, telling her things will be okay, and feel myself soften for her.
Only her.
She starts to cry and I grow pissed, not that she’s broken in this moment, but because I want to hurt whoever the fuck did this to her.
And I will hurt whoever did this. I’ll make sure to work them over so much that not even a dental record can identify them.
“Come with me.” I keep he
r head held against my chest and guide her across the yard and into the house, where she can feel comfortable and safe, out of everyone’s view.
I know my brothers are on fucking edge, just as anxious to find out who did this to her as I am.
But this is something I need to handle by myself first.
* * *
Wynter
I let Sterling take me into the house, up the stairs to a bedroom, and set me on the bed.
I feel like I’m unraveling, like what I’ve been through doesn’t compare to the fact I am actually here with him.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Sterling, since I left this fucking town and tried to start my life elsewhere.
Should’ve known that someday I’d be back. This town has a way of keeping people here and my reason is Sterling Locke.
The bed dips beside me when he sits down, causing my heart to race with anticipation of his closeness.
So many times in the past I have wondered what it would feel like to be touched by the middle Locke brother.
He turns me to face him, tips my head back with his finger under my chin, and stares at me, looking at the fucking disaster that is my face.
His anger is tangible. I feel it surround me, coating the air. But it’s clear he’s trying to stay calm, maybe for my benefit, maybe because he thinks I’m broken.
I’m not wrecked, not yet anyway.
“Tell me what the fuck happened so I can destroy whoever did this to you.”
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