Burn It Down (The Burn Series Book 2)

by Dee Ellis

  “Nothing happened. I came right to you. Like I promised.” I also promised no more lies.

  “I feel like something triggered it. Something you don’t want to tell me. You need to tell me shit, Gigi. How can I take care of you if you won’t let me?” Finn sounded frustrated, but his voice was sweet and soothing against my skin.

  “I am letting you. Nothing happened. I just went for a walk. I heard footsteps. I got scared. I came to you, Finn.” I was not known for being a dependent person so this in and of itself should clarify I trusted him.

  “Let's get home, Sweet Girl. Missed you tonight, you didn’t text me back most the night.” I frowned as I climbed into the truck, shivering without my coat.

  Finn blasted the heat as I swiped open my phone, searching for his messages. Nothing. Not even the ones I’d had earlier, before he headed to work. It was too late, and I was too exhausted to consider what that might mean.

  We had exchanged a few dirty texts, including a photo of me in nothing but the jewelry he’d been showering me with. Nothing out of the usual for us, really.

  “Let me get you some food, Gigi. Hungry for anything?” I glanced out at the glittering streets, my forehead against the cool glass.

  “Your spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread. Because it is so late, I’d settle for some tacos. I love tacos when I’m drunk. I feel drunk.” My eyes closed when his heavy hand closed around the back of my neck.

  “My poor Sweet Girl. I won’t let anything hurt you, Gigi. I fucking promise. Tell me.” Finn’s voice was clogged with emotion.

  “I love you, Finn. I know you won’t, baby.” The Christmas lights strung through the trees and along store fronts went unfocused as I watched him.

  The feel of his callused fingertips smoothing over my skin, the heat it burned through me, and the promise in his eyes set me at ease at last. I was safe. I would be safe with Finn.

  Though the memory of those photos stung, he wouldn’t let something hurt me again. He had never wanted to hurt me, even as he did it time after time. Bree just happened to be one of those times.

  Leaving the car idling at his favorite taco joint, Antique Taco, he rushed to get us food. It was late, but the place had a few people milling about. I watched Finn place the order then twist to watch me, just feet away at the curb. Finn knew I was lying about what sent me out into the streets tonight. Picking his battles, he clearly decided to let it go. For now.

  We were quiet until we were in bed, the food spread out on the blankets. I asked about his night. Finn asked me again why I didn’t text. I showed him my phone, both of us confused by the missing texts. Finn showed me his own phone as he fed me loaded nachos. Ten texts had been sent after I sent that photo earlier.

  “So weird. They even say delivered. Not read, though. I figured you were busy with Charli and wedding shit. How’s that coming, by the way?” For a while, we discussed that before he cleared our food away.

  Cuddles turned to Finn sinking inside me, watching me as I let him control me. Give me pleasure that washed away the fear, confusion, and panic from tonight.

  When he lowered close, thrusting slowly and deeply, telling me how much he loved me, tears slid down my temples. I didn’t want to lose him again. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t let Bree or anyone else take him away from me.

  “Stay. Baby, please.” I begged when he started to leave my body

  “Whatever you want, Sweet Girl. Come here. I won’t ever leave you, Gigi. Never again. I love you so much. I promise, I’m here. I won’t let anyone take you away from me again.”

  After that promise, he held me close, and I was able to sleep. Once again, we missed something.

  The messages on my phone went from delivered to read.

  17

  I’m getting a little tired of lies. Gigi lied to me last night. Mags had lied to Gigi for me; Gigi saw a handful of letters and roses. Mags tucked away many, many more.

  All were handed over to Diggs, who still had no leads. I felt like that prick knew more than he was telling me. I was lying to Gigi about the visit from Bree and her constant texts afterwards. It was becoming a fucking nightmare.

  After Gigi had been followed, I thought I knew who was behind it all. Bree had no reason to scare Gigi that way; she wanted the truth, whatever it was, to come out and hurt Gigi.

  I was not going to allow that. I couldn’t be the cause of her hurting again. I didn’t exactly know what the truth was about Bree, because I couldn’t remember.

  I thought it safe to say it was nothing good. Either I fucked Bree and couldn’t remember, which was bad enough. Or worse, I tried to fuck Bree and she had proof.

  Still worse, all of the above. Gigi told me once Bree liked mementos of her flings. Photos or even videos that could come back to haunt the idiots she fucked. I hoped I was not one of those idiots.

  The stalking didn’t fit with whatever Bree was up to. It was meant to scare Gigi. The notes had gotten increasingly hostile. At first, the stalker just said they deserved more. Wanted more from Gigi.

  Now they talked about what they wanted to do with Gigi. Sick, twisted shit they would do to my woman once they got her. Little did they know they wouldn’t be getting her.

  Christmas was just a few weeks away. Sitting safely hidden away in the icebox at work was an engagement ring. Charli made sure I got something perfect. It was smaller than I thought Gigi deserved but Charli insisted Gigi would love it.

  With a dainty diamond band holding up a round three carat diamond, circled by a flowering setting of sapphire and emeralds, it looked perfect. Unique, like her beautiful eyes. That two-toned setting is what sold me on it. I could not wait to put it on her finger.

  Then, I would move her somewhere that would become our home. Today, Cage and I were using a day off to house hunt. The condo was great, but too much had gone on there. I’d taken too many bunnies to that place. Bree had been there. Jordan had been at Gigi’s. I wanted a fresh start.

  “Charli should be here helping. I don’t know what chicks like.” Cage grumbled as he sipped at his coffee, the steam billowing in the snowy air.

  “I know what my chick likes. I want to be close to you guys, close to the station. For now. Maybe someday all of us move out by your Pops? Gigi needs the city right now; her photography is going so well for her, and she loves having so many places to shoot.”

  That pricey little camera I had gotten her had paid for itself by now. Since the beginning of the holiday season, Gigi had been taking photo shoot requests. Holiday cards, holiday weddings, she was shooting it all. Gigi was happier than I had ever seen her, and it looked fucking beautiful on her.

  Gigi said once she had always wanted two things. To take photos that mattered to people. She was doing that now. Even I felt shit when she showed me the sweet family photos or the artsy ones of the park or skylines. The other thing?

  Gigi had wanted me. Now, realizing we were worse off apart than we could ever be together, she was getting that too. Whether it made sense or not. I loved her and would give her whatever I could. Starting with a future.

  “I like this one. It’s close to the station and the Cottage. Close to Auburn Park too.” Cage pointed out a house.

  For a week, I had compiled a list of houses I thought would be perfect. All near the neighborhood I wanted to stick close to and with certain requirements.

  Space for Gigi to set up a studio and a dark room. A garage for all my toys, and a kitchen that Charli could teach Gigi to cook in. I loved my woman, but her favorite meal, besides me, came in a bag or a box.

  “Yeah, I like that one. Open house, let’s check it out.”

  Half an hour later, I was in love again. The place was perfect. It was a two-story house with three rooms and plenty of space. There was a sprawling back yard with a patio and a huge garage. The third bedroom rested on the upper level near a bonus room. Perfect for a studio for Gigi. I was making an offer before we finished the tour.

  “You think Gigi might want to see the home
you plan to bring her to?” Cage smirked as I signed some paperwork, making the offer legit.

  “Probably. Hopefully my proposal is romantic enough it won’t matter. Wait,” I panicked as we headed back out to the truck, “Am I fucking it up again? Bro, don’t let me fuck it up again.” Cage laughed and threw a snowball that hit me square in the face.

  “Bro, shut up. Gigi won’t care. This is huge, man. Buying a house. Settling down. Fucking crazy. Finn Fucking Cooper getting married and buying a house. Insane.” I lobbed a few snowballs back his way, but Cage was quick.

  Laughing, we climbed into the blazer and headed out. I nearly collided with a little Mini Cooper, but I didn’t care. They laid on the horn, but I just flipped them off. I was too happy to give a shit. I was counting the days till I could put my ring on Gigi’s finger and carry her into that perfect house. Our home.

  Nothing was stopping us from getting our happily ever after.

  Christmas felt special for the first time I could remember. I always spent the holidays with the Coopers, but this year would be different. I would hopefully become one in more than a similar name.

  I was nervous as shit, but more excited than I knew what to do with. My offer on the house had been accepted, and Gigi’s designer sister, Regan, had gone all out on the house.

  It looked amazing and would be my ultimate Christmas gift to Gigi. It was still weeks away, but I could barely wait. The place looked like our home.

  Stunning photos Gigi had taken had been blown up and hung on the living room walls, black and white and one full of yellows and grays. Regan had built the living room and dining room décor off that pallet and it looked amazing.

  “I love it, Regan. Gigi will fucking love it.” I got choked up standing in the entryway, gazing at our new home.

  “Course she will, I know what Gigi likes. Man, can we find a huge bow to tie around the place? It could literally be her gift on Christmas. Besides that rock you plan to weigh her down with.” Regan teased as she showed me around.

  The dark room was set up, and bright lights and white walls made for a spacious and perfect studio next to it. The master suite on the main level was perfect; romantic like Gigi would want it, but not so feminine my dick couldn’t get hard in it.

  I eyed the massive wood sleigh bed, the silvery silk curtains billowing behind it, and imagined Gigi in it. Nope, no problem getting hard in there. It was perfect, and I had to wait to share it with her.

  Charli followed behind me, the two girls cooing with Tegan about the weddings and the house and Regan’s bundle of joy. Life was fucking good. Better than I thought it could be.

  The people I loved most in the world were happy. I thought maybe I finally could be too.

  Things were so good in my world, I didn’t pay attention to the signs. To that little green Mini Cooper I saw often. Too often to blame it on coincidence.

  I didn’t notice that the roses had stopped after that night Gigi was followed. The notes too. I still got messages, and although Gigi said nothing, I think she did too.

  Nothing but wispy warning smoke for the fire that was coming.

  I was bringing home a little tree for my woman to decorate. I couldn’t tell her Charli had an eight foot one decorated with presents to boot at our new home. Gigi wanted a tree, she was getting a tree.

  Just as I lugged the four-foot sapling up the steps to my place, I felt it. Unease. A metallic burn at the back of my throat like something was wrong.

  My door was cracked open. Gigi sometimes forgot to lock it after her, but she shouldn't be home. Like an idiot, I went inside. I smelled her right away. Gigi smelled sweet and fresh, cherries and fresh laundry. Bree smelled like sticky lip gloss and cigarettes. That smell brought a wave of memories that had me doubled over.

  Bree. On her knees, that smell clogging my lungs. My cock in her throat, my hands tugging at her hair. A camera flash that I barely noticed. Fuck.

  I think I fucked Bree.

  Another flash alerted me to a new problem. If that one was not bad enough. Bree. In my fucking apartment. I followed the trail of panties, bra, and high heels towards my bedroom.

  If that bitch was in the bed I shared with Gigi, I might end up in jail before the night was over.

  “I swear to God, if you're in there...." I don't know where I was going with that; of course she was.

  Lying on the bed I fucked my woman in just hours ago, was Bree. Naked. Polaroid’s from a clunky looking old camera littered the bed. I saw red, my vision blurring I was so pissed off.

  I stepped back instead of moving forward. I might kill her if I got close enough. That bed was getting torched once her filthy cunt was out of it.

  “I’m calling the cops. Please, feel free to stay until they show up to arrest you for stalking and breaking and entering. I’m sure a ton of other shit too, you crazy bitch.” Bree spread her legs, running her hands over her body and laughing.

  “Subtly didn’t seem to work. Neither of you got the hint. I don’t do subtle, not usually. I take what I want. This is me, taking what I want.” Bree’s voice was sticky sweet, but full of venom.

  “Jesus, Bree. I don’t want to fuck you so you go all Fatal Attraction?” I sneered at her, struggling not to cross the room and yank her out of our bed.

  “Absolutely clueless. Call the cops. I’ll wait.” Bree smirked, cupping her tits and licking her lips.

  I took a good look at her as she giggled. I realized then how fucking crazy she looked. Thinner, paler than the perfect tan she always sported, and her blonde hair was tied into a messy pony instead of the waves she kept it in. Dark circles smudged beneath eyes that looked vacant. Empty completely.

  Bree shoved to the end of the bed, and I took a step back. Her hands slid down her thighs as she gazed up at me. I looked away as she kicked her legs wide open, her pussy bare.

  One hand shoved between her legs, the other reaching out to me. Bile bubbled up in the back of my throat at the idea of anyone but Gigi ever touching me again.

  “Don’t. Fucking. Touch me.” I gritted as I slapped her hand away.

  “Oh, baby. I got what I wanted from you.” Shoving up on her knees, she waved one of the photos in the air.

  Bree, on her knees, a cock in her mouth. Could be any cock, I thought. Until I saw that tattoo at my hip. It was me, all right. Except, Bree looked different.

  Dark hair, paler skin. I rounded the bed, snatching up the other photos. Some were from tonight, her undressing as she walked around our place. Lying in the bed naked.

  The others were not from tonight. They made me sick. Photos that showed she and I at the pub. My tongue pushing into her mouth. My hands all over her fake tits. The two of us leaving, Bree smirking back at the camera.

  I remembered it now; she looked so much like Gigi that night. Clearly that was not by accident.

  “You were just what I thought you were. Tasted like I thought you would. Sweet, but dirty. Like an expensive cigar.” I snatched all the photos up.

  “You’re such a whore. You knew I wanted Gigi. Even tried to look like her for me. I think I called you her name.” I taunted as the fog lifted and I remembered.

  During the spring, I had been in a bad way. Gigi was at Cage’s almost every night and I was going crazy. I stopped fucking the randoms, but I brought them home anyway.

  That night, Gigi had a fucking date. I was miserable, got wasted at the bar, and Bree was all over me. I brought her home, let her suck my cock, and when I came all over her tits, I cried out Gigi’s name. Saw Gigi’s face.

  “Hmm, yes. You know,” Bree leaned close, her mouth against my ear, “It made me come so fucking hard when you did.” My eyes widened as I shoved her away from me.

  “What? You’re a sick bitch, Bree.” I glared down at her.

  “Perhaps. Know something else I am, Finn Cooper? Tired. Tired of waiting for what I want. Tonight, I get what I want.”

  “I swear to God if you touch me again…” I didn’t know what I might do to her, but I c
ertainly didn’t regard her as a lady.

  “Oh, handsome. Clue in, big boy. I don’t. Want. You.” I backed further away as she fell dramatically back onto the bed.

  The fuck?

  “Cogs are moving up there, but slow, yeah? I never wanted you, Finn. Tasting your cock was a treat, I won’t lie. It was never about you, handsome. Clued in yet?” I shook my head because no, I had no fucking clue what she was on about, “I. Want. Gigi.” Bree’s pretty mouth curved up in a twisted smirk as my stomach bottomed out.

  “Gigi is mine.” I growled, bending over her on the bed.

  “Was. Gigi was yours. Always fucking yours. I had her once, for a while. Not the way I wanted her. For four months, you were out of the picture. No more driving her crazy with want. No more leading her on, parading your whores in her fucking face,” Bree’s lips curled as she glared up at me.

  “Four months I had her. It was fucking beautiful. I loved her first, Finn. You loved her once she grew tits and believed your cock was a magic remedy for the burn between her legs. I tasted her pussy first. Years before you had her in your mouth, Gigi came for me. So fucking beautiful when she comes, yeah?” Ice burned through me at the thought of anyone else making my woman come.

  “What the fuck are you going on about? You never had Gigi.” I knew the two were close, but I doubted they blurred the lines like that.

  “Fuck yes, I did. You broke her fucking heart, Finn. Over and over. I pieced it back together. Had to take my sweet Gigi out of the fucking country to erase what you did to her. Ringing bells yet, handsome?” My head sagged as my shoulders slumped.

  Yes, it fucking rang some bells. The summer before Gigi started college. When she took off because I refused to let us happen. After her graduation, Gigi hoped I’d let her in. Instead, I flaunted women in her face because I couldn't let myself have her.

  Gigi went off with Bree on an overseas trip and came back different. Distant. It hurt me to watch and threw me even deeper into my downward spiral.