I’ve been driving my jet-black Benz for three years, and the darkened windows give me privacy as well as hide the gun that always rests on the passenger seat when I’m alone.
I wonder if he’ll be at the club tonight.
A man like no other. Sexy, handsome, and strong. Those honey-colored eyes pierce everyone he stares at. There’s an awareness to him, something different, as if he’s searching for something, or someone.
The first time I saw him, I wanted him. Scrap that, I fucking needed him. But when I saw him leave with her I knew I didn’t have a chance. Not for long though, I’ll weave my way into his life. One way or another. I’ve been doing this too long to lose to that bitch.
He’ll be mine. Her life will be mine.
She plays the sweet innocent act too well, but the thing is, she doesn’t know I’m back. She thinks she’s safe, but she’s so far from it. She’ll never be safe again. Not until I finish what was started all those years ago. Not until her final breath. The last one she’ll take, and I know that, because I’ll be the one to deliver the final blow.
Chapter 14
Braxton
“This is it.” I stab at the screen. Grant stares at the information, but all I get is a deep grunt. Ignoring him, I continue, renewed confidence has my mind spinning at what I can do. “We can take this asshole down. I’ll find that fucker and make him pay. Miguel Alvarez will beg for his life and I’ll show no mercy.” Even though the search ends here, I’ll keep digging, I’ll dig so fucking deep until there’s a hole big enough for her father to fit into.
“And you’re going to do this with my help,” he states matter-of-factly, giving me a no nonsense look that I can’t refuse.
“Thanks, man. This is almost ten years in the making, just to find out that the girl I’m fucking is related to that monster.”
“You mean the girl you’re falling for?” he challenges. Snapping my gaze to his, I open my mouth to respond, but shut it again, because deep down, I know he’s right. There’s no doubt I’m falling for Tia. “It’s written all over your face, man, no need to deny it. I’m sure everyone’s noticed, including her.”
“If she has, she hasn’t said anything. I didn’t give her a chance.” My mind flits back to last night when she found me in the living room drinking her bourbon. I didn’t tell her I’d found her purse, or discovered her real name. I promised her I’d wait, but I’m not sitting around, she’s going to have to trust me.
Somehow, I doubt she knows about her father’s dealings. There’s something else about her, something she’s hiding and I’ll find out what it is.
Grant slumps into the chair beside my desk and watches me. “What?” I ask without meeting his intense gaze. “Spit it out, man.”
“This girl, I know she’s something special to you. I’m not telling you how to live your life, because fuck knows I don’t even know how to live mine, but just be honest with her. Tell her about your folks. And I think you should tell her about your search for her father. If you’re serious about her, and she is about you, then nothing can come between that.”
I stare open-mouthed at him. I’ve known this man for so long and we’ve never really spoken openly about our personal lives. It’s always been work, but as I look at him, I can see there’s a man behind the soldier exterior. “I’ll think about it. Right now, she’s not giving me her full story so I don’t want to freak her out and have her running for the hills. I want her with me all the way.” My confession startles us both because his eyes widen in shock. My expression must give away the same emotion because he smirks then, nodding in understanding. Never in my life did I think I’d fall so deeply, but I am, I’ve done it.
Deep down, I wonder if Mom and Dad would have been proud of me. Of her. If I brought her home, I know my mother would have fussed over her, I just wonder if she is my forever, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
She’s got a lot she’s hiding. I’m curious to see how this plays out. If we’ll move past this hurdle and both learn to trust. Finding out that her father is the owner of the club we’re taking down is a breakthrough. I’d love to walk in there right now and fuck his shit up, take down the sick fuck once and for all, but I know we’ve got to do this right.
With rules to follow, I need to calm down and go into it with a rational head. Although, who am I kidding, I’m never rational around her. She’s like a fucking storm, sweeping through my life and taking down everything in her wake. And I’m gladly letting her do it.
I didn’t think about falling for her all those times I sat in the bar and watched her flirt with my best friend, but since he’s out of the picture and I’ve gotten to know her I can safely say she was made for me. All she needs to do is let me into that stubborn head of hers.
It’s one of those days, the heat is unbearable and I’m pulling on my white wife beater tank when I hear the call come through. “Hey, man, we need to get out of here now.” I glance at my partner, Ryker, he’s been my best friend since we were kids. When I signed up, so did he.
“Let’s jet.” I grab my belt, looping it through my uniformed pants and we head out into the blistering heat. Our regiment has been deployed here for three years. We’ve not been on the frontline, but we’ve seen some pretty gruesome shit.
Jumping into the jeep, Ryk starts the engine and we tear out of the compound into the main city. Everything is brown. Dust settles on every surface and if I closed my eyes, I would be able to tell exactly what everything looks like still. This tiny town we’ve overtaken has become home. Each house looks the same, but the people, they’re the one’s who are different.
It’s painful, heart wrenching to see the hurt in their eyes. They live with the threat of murder, death, and losing limbs on a daily basis. It’s sickening that we’re here to defend them when it’s their own people trying to hurt them. “Watch! Watch!” Pivoting, I glance at the teenage boy screaming at us. Before I have time to react something lifts the jeep, flinging me from the seat.
There’s screaming, the heat burns and suddenly, there’s black.
Shaking my head of the memory, I check the time and realize I’ve got to get going. I’m meant to be meeting my girl in twenty minutes. I haven’t heard from her all day, granted we’ve been busy at HQ setting up our plan to take down the fucker, Miguel Alvarez and his fucked up club.
The dangers involved mean we have to take every precaution. We can’t lose men on this job and I’m concerned about Ryker. He’s been AWOL for almost a week. When he stormed out of the office he didn’t come back and he hasn’t responded to calls or messages.
He’s a grown ass man, but deep down, I know he’s also a broken kid. His life hadn’t been easy, losing his mother at an early age left him with a man who was an alcoholic. Most of his childhood was spent at my house and as we grew up together, I saw the bruises and scars on his arms and legs.
Now when I look back on it, I should have told someone. I just hope he can get his life back together.
Pushing off the chair, I grab my jacket and shrug it on. With my phone in hand, I send a quick message to Tia letting her know I’m on my way. As I head down the stairs, Grant glances up and crooks his finger, calling me over.
“You should see this man.” He points to the screen. When I lean in, I notice a woman, beautiful with long dark hair walking alongside Ryk. They’re heading into Innuendo. What the hell is he playing at?
I can’t see the woman’s face, but from her profile, she looks like Tia. “He’s going to the club we’re going to raid in two days?”
“Looks like he’s with your girl,” Grant remarks quietly. He’s right, she looks very much like my woman, but it can’t be. Can it?
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I hit dial on her number. It rings and rings, but ends up going to voicemail. This doesn’t make sense. She hates him, why would she be going out with him?
My mind races with confusion and my heart hammers in my chest. I should go there. Find the man I used to call best friend and knoc
k him the fuck out. Jealousy abates, leaving in it’s place anger.
“I’m coming with you.” Grant says quickly. I glance at the man beside me as he rises and grabs his holster and jacket. “Let’s go.”
Without a word, we head out to my car and when I peel out of the parking lot, the only thing on my mind is how the fuck I’m going to stay calm and not kill my best friend.
“Shit!” Grant’s growl drags my attention from the road. “Pull over, now!” he orders gruffly and I do. Luckily we’re on a quiet road. When I put the car in park, he hands me his phone.
I read the email from our intel guy and my blood runs cold. Words blur, my mind races, and my heart thuds painfully against my rib cage. Tia’s medical records. FUCK!
Tia
“So, you’re in love?” she asks me in her quiet way. The word love is a foreign concept. I haven’t felt it for so long, I’ve become accustomed to anger, hatred, and sadness. Perhaps love is something people only claim to feel. “Tia, do you love Braxton? You can tell me. Anything you’re feeling, you need to embrace.”
I nod.
“And does he love you too?” A small smile plays on her lips at the question, which makes me grin. He does love me. I know he does. Even though we’ve not said those words to each other, I know he loves me. I see it in his eyes. Those caramel pools shine like gold when he looks at me.
Perfect.
“Tia, you’ll need to tell him the truth soon. You can’t live a lie with him. If you love each other, there’s only one thing you need to do and that’s come clean. Don’t you want to be clean, Tia?” Her question jolts me out of the reverie of happiness and dips me into the dark, inky blackness.
“You know I can’t tell him. If I do, he’ll leave. Just like everyone good in my life.”
“Lies are not the way to build a relationship, Tia. There’s things you’ll need to tell him before you can form a bond. And from the look in your eyes, you’ve already fallen deeply in love with him.” She’s right as she always is. She’s inside my mind, reading it like an open book. Am I an open book? Are my pages bared for all to see?
“Lies are the only thing I have to hold on to. They’re a constant,” I tell her harshly. It’s rude. My anger rises like a slow licking fire, heating my blood that rushes through every vein in my body.
“Some time you have to let go of your past,” she murmurs, scribbling on her notebook. As if she’s writing letters to someone. To my father? To me?
“Letting go means walking away from my goal. My plan. Everything I’ve worked so hard for. If he knows, if he ever learns who I am, I’m not sure I’ll be free. He’ll have me locked up and they’ll throw away the fucking key.”
She nods. Agreement swirls in the air around us and I know she’s contemplating how to go ahead with this. How does she expect me to walk away from Braxton?
If he knows about my sordid past, it will be the end of something before it ever started. I’ve never wanted more, never wanted someone to love me. But with him, I do.
“I love him. I’m not losing him because you told me to,” I bite out harshly. “This is my life, not yours. Have you ever loved someone more than your own life and didn’t understand why? Did you ever feel so complete with someone, that the moment they step out of the door you’re once again a fragment of what they make you? And tell me something, have you ever looked into someone’s eyes and truly known that you were made for them? That the reason you were born was to be their partner, their wife, or husband, that they make you whole?”
My tirade stops as she regards me with an expression akin to pity. Sadness mars her face. Soft, smooth skin crinkles into a frown, her dark brows knit together and her ice-blue eyes darken with fear, anger, and frustration.
It’s been so long and she’s no closer to figuring me out than I am to finding out why I’m here. Why do I come here every week? I don’t know.
It’s not like it’s helping me. My mind is still fucking broken. The only thing right in my life is the man I love. “This is over. This will be the last time I come here.” I stalk past her and head toward the door.
“Tia,” she calls quietly, and when I turn, her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Come back, just give me one more day?” Her plea is heartfelt. So much emotion. So much love. Confusion settles in my mind once again, but I don’t give her an answer. I twist the door handle and step through the threshold into normality.
Chapter 15
Isabelle
“You think I wanted this? My life was never as perfect as yours!” My voice is shrill in the dark. Her pretty face is still so perfect, even after I slapped her, even after I punched her. Hate spirals through me like a venomous serpent slithering ready to strike.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A melodic little voice filled with fear, anger, and rage is music to my ears. Everything about her being tied up, at my mercy shoots adrenaline through me.
She’s always been the innocent one.
The favorite.
Not anymore. She’s going to pay, slowly, filled with the pain I had to live through. She’ll experience every inch of her skin ache, bleed, and burn. Her body and mind will join mine in the darkest depths.
“Please, don’t hurt me. I don’t know who you are.” Her pleas turn me on, yes, they do, so fucking hot. Every time I begged and pleaded, they would only fuck me harder, deeper, rougher. Until I couldn’t walk. Shaking my head of the memory, I grab the scalpel. Her eyes are still covered with the thick black blindfold and I know her hearing will be prickling from the sound.
Using their methods, they used on me, I know how it feels, I know how it sounds. As I near her, I see the tremble that shakes her. Fear. So fucking beautiful.
“You do know who I am. Or did you block that out as well?” I whisper quietly. I know she recognizes me. Her head shakes left to right again. Gripping the hair at the nape of her neck, I tug back, my mouth at her ear. “You will learn what happens to little princesses. My life has been a nightmare. My nightmares haunt me, and you know why? Because your precious little face was too fucking innocent.”
“What? I don’t understand. Let me go!” If I pleaded like this with them I’d have been whipped and beaten, she should be grateful I’m not them.
“I don’t think so, Tia. You need to pay—”
“Any amount, I have money. Please, just—”
“Shut up! You’re not paying in cash. You’re paying with blood,” I hiss in her ear. Another shudder of fear wracks her body and she cries out when I slide the metal down the side of her cheek. A prickle of crimson leaks from her tanned skin.
A tiny slit, but the trickle of blood is so pretty. So perfect. “Why are you doing this?” Her questions are grating on my nerves, scraping and clawing against me. I take a step back and grab the cloth lying on the table and stuff it in her mouth. Muffled cries now echo in the expansive space. It’s almost sunset, but the deep orange of the sunrays shine through the dark blinds on the one window to my right. This was the only place I could bring her without getting noticed. The abandoned apartment buildings on the wrong side of the tracks. Nobody will find her here, since no one knows my father owns them. His name isn’t on the deeds.
It’s cooling as the sun settles on the horizon. The apartment itself is bare—with no heating—besides the small sofa and cardboard boxes against the wall. Her body shivers and I know it’s a mix of fear and cold.
The sounds of steps near me catch my attention, and when I glance up, I see my man. The one who helped me.
“Is our guest comfortable?” he asks.
When she stills, I know she’s recognized his voice, but she can’t say anything, thankfully.
“She is, for now,” I inform him with a smirk.
He reaches out and strokes her cheek lightly and she flinches away.
“Hello, Tia,” he murmurs against her ear. “You look lovely all tied up, you didn’t tell me you enjoyed it, or I would have done it while I fucked your little cunt every single t
ime.”
Jealousy, unbidden, flares to life, shooting through me. Why is it always her? What is so fucking special about her? “Are you going to stand there all day and taunt her?” Dark eyes pierce me when he places a hand on my throat.
“Do you want me to fuck you? Do you want her to watch us?” Images of what he’s asking flit through my mind like a dirty movie. My mind is fucked up, everything I’ve endured makes me want that. I want someone to be rough, to tie me up, and to hurt me. I get off on that shit, and so does he. So I nod.
He reaches over and snatches the blindfold off her face. Eyes bulge when she looks between us. Those pretty blue eyes glare at him, but it’s when her gaze settles on me, that’s when recognition appears. It’s a slow burning flame which teases just behind those baby blues.
Lifting the one side of my mouth, I glare at her as the smirk forms in slow motion on my face. The hand gripping my neck tightens, seizing my attention from the woman I spent my life in competition with. Even when I was held captive, there was nothing but her, they spoke of her all the time. Told me how much prettier she was, how she would have made them more money.
“Hello, Tia,” I murmur again, meeting her angry, shocked glare. “How are you, little sister?”
“Enough family fun,” a deep rumble comes from the man who has me in a chokehold. “Let’s play.” He drags me over to the sofa and I feel her eyes on me. Burning me. Boring into me like a drill bit, inch by motherfucking inch.
He reaches for my tank top and tugs it off, so rough, it tears down the front. My bare breasts are at his mercy as he lunges forward, taking a pebbled bud into his mouth. My fingers rake through his unruly chocolate curls as I hold him to my chest.
Glancing over, I watch my little sister pierce me with intensity unlike anything ever. His mouth moves to the other nipple, suckling and biting down enough to earn him my whimpers. Already, his hands are fumbling with my jeans, the hiss of the zipper, and the whoosh of them traveling down my slim legs are the only sounds around us besides him slurping on my flesh.
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