Dangerous Ties (Ties #1)

by J. L. Beck

  I had never been a praying man a day in my life, but I was praying that if I could save anyone at the end of all of this it would be her.

  I was a wreck all day and night as I waited for Grayson to return. Every single sound had me on edge.Now that they were on the lookout for me, anything could happen. All they needed was the smallest inkling that I was here, right underneath their noses-hiding and then bam, it would all be over. All the running and hiding would be for nothing. As I sank onto Grayson’s mattress, the same one that we had made passion filled memories on, I realized just how much he meant to me. It wasn’t about the sex, or the fact that he wanted to help me escape.

  It was that for the first time in my life someone was out to protect me from the evil in the world. What would my life had been like had Drake been the knight that Grayson is?

  Don’t get me wrong, I knew Grayson was evil. That he had sinned in darker ways, after all he was working as one of my father’s henchmen; but it was more than that. Grayson was grey, where Drake was black. He did for the world what others refused to do.

  Yet, the burning question in my mind that replayed like a never-ending song was if it came down to it, would he shoot me? Would he kill me? We had only shared a small amount of time together. What started as infatuation was going to end up burning us both. His darkness called to me, even when I knew I should’ve ran.

  My heart was ringing in my ears as a storm brewed outside, raindrops pelted the window across the room and as much as I craved to trace those drops as they fell against the glass I didn’t. Even the smallest things like that could be seen and get me killed. A shrill laugh escaped me.

  “Don’t touch the windows, Ellie. It’ll get you killed.” Shaking that thought from my head, I picked at one of the pillows on the bed. A whiff of cologne hit me right in the nostrils. It was woodsy, mixed with smoke and rain. I brought the pillow up to my face, taking in a deeper breath of the smell, allowing it to sink deeply into my veins, calming my heartbeat and breathing.

  Grayson struck fear in me, but at the same time brought me as close to heaven as I would ever get.

  “Your beauty is magnificent.” I heard his voice before I saw it.

  A blush formed against my cheeks. “Did you find anything out?” I asked, placing the pillow against the bed sheets.

  “A plan has been devised, it’s not foolproof and the chance of it working out is slim to none, but so is everything you truly want in life… Kind of like you.” His voice was firm but soft almost as if you could lay yourself on it and be comforted by it in the same notion.

  “What do you mean?” Confusion was setting in.

  “I told myself that I wouldn’t care about what happened to you. That if things ended badly it wouldn’t be the first time I had seen bloodshed. Except it's different with you. I was so beyond fucking wrong to think that I could taste you once and allow it to be enough. That I could let you walk away after taking you.” His admission shocked the hell out of me.

  What could I say to that?

  “You’re everything I hate, yet everything I need. You aren’t supposed to be here, but I want you here. It’s the most dangerous thing I have ever done, but at the same time the most exhilarating.”

  “I don’t know what to say, Grayson, it was pure infatuation. I never meant to cause problems…” Tears formed behind my eyes. Was I truly falling for this man? For everything that I shouldn’t be? Hate was such an easier emotion to feel towards someone, but I couldn’t with him. Not after all he had sacrificed.

  He crossed the room in the blink of an eye, one of his large hands reaching out to me, cupping my cheek. It was such a soft motion, such a delicate thing to do, but one that made me shy away from his touch. I had never known love and when you didn’t know anything but pain and hurt in your life, delicate and soft wasn’t something you were used to.

  “I’m going to protect what is mine, Ellie.” His breath fell against my cheek. “I will always protect you, even when you leave this place.” My shoulders sagged and just as I was about to turn away he gripped me under the chin tipping my face upwards, pressing his lips against mine. The kiss was explosive, a mixture of emotions that I had needed to set me off.

  My dam had been broken open and now a flood was about to take place. Before Grayson I was afraid of drowning, afraid of sinking to the bottom of my own lake, but now Grayson was my life vest.

  The kiss deepened, and before either of us realized it clothes were being shed. He shoved me gently upon his mattress and looked down at me with misery and amazement in his eyes. It wasn’t something that any other woman would understand, but I got Grayson where others wouldn't.

  The sound of air filling lungs met my ears. “I want this to be what you remember about me. The passion, the way I touch you as you reach the edge of your peak.” His words were so strong and full that a tear fell from my eye as I stared up at him watching his every move.

  His movements were jerky as he shed his own clothing, showing off abs of steel and a V that made my mouth water. I wanted so badly to sit up and lick the crease, but instead stayed in place, my fingers digging into my palm. His eyes darkened, telling me that he wasn’t playing. Everything about him at this very point said rough and powerful.

  “I want you. Even if I shouldn’t, even if it’s against all the rules, even if we both die tonight this is what I want.” That was all he needed to hear and he was on me, like a moth to a flame he covered his body with my own, blanketing me in warmth and a tenderness that sank into my soul.

  His lips pressed kisses against my neck, while his beard rubbed against my skin in a way that turned me on far more than it should have.

  “I will miss the way you feel above me,” I whispered as if it was a secret admission that I shouldn’t have said. He didn’t stop or even verify that he had heard me. Instead he kissed me harder, his fingers gripping my body in a bruising manner, but it didn’t frighten me or even bother me. It made me feel, it reminded me that he was here.

  Taking my own hands, I rubbed them down his back, scars that I hadn’t noticed before marred his skin. Oh the pain he had endured, I could feel the sorrow and anger in each jagged line as my finger traced over it.

  “Don’t feel sorry for me,” he growled, gripping me by my hair as to bring my face closer into his. His features were dark, his loving demeanor gone.

  “I don’t,” I snarled, reaching out and biting his bottom lip just enough to draw a smear of blood. He licked at the wound, his eyes flickering between madness and completely turned on.

  “Good.” With a shove he released me, gripping my hips in one swift movement and pulling me to the edge of the bed. His fingers dug into my skin and it was as if someone was filling my veins with a drug that could numb all the pain, a drug that could take all the sadness away.

  “Dripping for me, huh?” He licked his own lips as one of his thick digits circled my clit and entrance. Was I already soaked for him? It seemed unnatural for me, but with Grayson everything was different.

  I nodded my head and a pleasing smile showed on his face right as he bent down and licked me from the top of my pussy to my ass. My thighs tensed, my legs lifting off the mattress. This time was so different, this time I allowed myself to feel everything. Every emotion, every lick, touch, and push. This time there would be no limit.

  “Do you like that?” He purred against my pussy, his words causing a vibration against my clit. My body shuddered and my belly started to tingle.

  “Please, more, so much more…” I begged. It wasn’t hard for him to give into me, because in a moment’s time he was back to where he was before, his tongue gliding at the sweetness between my legs. Every swipe of it forcing me to remember what feeling truly was.

  “So good…” I squealed, grinding my pussy against his face, not getting enough of what he was giving me. Fingers dug into the inside of my thighs as he held me firmly in place giving me only what he wanted me to have.

  “Stay put…” His growl sparked an avalanc
he inside of me. My legs shook and the butterflies in my belly released, as he sucked every drop of life out of me. Light blinded me as I gripped his head holding it in place, never wanting this moment to end even though I knew it would all too soon.

  My body convulsed, and just as Grayson pulled away from me I heard the creaking of a door. Unaware of what was about to take place, I sat up and noticed just how true my previous thought was.

  We were fucked.

  Literally.

  I should have known that rolling the dice one too many times was like playing an insane game of Russian roulette. I also should have known that only the ugliest of men attacked while another man was down, and while having Ellie lay before me spread eagle would’ve been one of the best ways to go out it, wasn’t the last memory I wanted with her.

  “Liar, liar…” Cole bellowed, his words echoing off the walls. Turning swiftly, I grabbed a sheet from the bed throwing it at Ellie and grabbing my own pants off the floor. If this fucker wanted to brawl we could, but I wasn’t letting him see Ellie or myself naked.

  “For there to be a lie you would have to have known that something was going on, and for every lie there is a truth, Cole,” I said, my voice firm as I turned around ready to face the music. I knew they would find out eventually. I was just praying that I would have more time with her.

  Cole smirked and then a sickening laugh filled the air, one that made my belly roll with disgust. “Here we all are looking for her, and all along you had her. Hiding her or protecting her neither which I care for, because you both are as good as dead.”

  “You don’t know a damn thing,” I sneered. Now was the time when I needed to put my game face on, now was the time when Ellie would look at me like she did everyone else. She had to believe at the end of all of this that all I ever wanted was to save her from the darkness, to cure the pain she had been caused.

  “I know you kept this from us.” His growl was loud as his eyes narrowed and the shadows of two more of the guys appeared behind him.

  “The plans I devise are my own!” I yelled, I was about to blow up. I wanted to protect Ellie from them! I wanted to scream it at the top of my lungs, but I knew there was no way out now. I had to come up with something, a lie, a formulated plan that only I would understand. It would break her, but it would save her.

  “Plans?” Dex stepped forward coming into the light, his eyes lingering on Ellie’s image before meeting my stare.

  “Yes, plans. When I discovered who she was I made plans to keep her. Since the moment I found out she was the woman we were looking for, I had to do whatever I could to make her feel comfortable. If she caught on or didn’t think I cared, then she would’ve escaped.” Every single word that left my mouth was like a stab to the chest. I could feel the room fill with uncertainty on both sides. Ellie most certainty would believe that it had all been a setup, which would lead Dex, Cole, and Luke to believe me as well.

  There was indifference in Dex’s eyes as he continued to analyze the situation. Ellie was still and silent, a glance over my shoulder showed just how final everything was to her. Hurt and anger showed in her blue eyes, but there was more, so much more; words that were left unsaid. Words I would never get to hear.

  “Good, then you can be the one to kill her…” Cole trailed off, advancing towards the bed. He was testing me, to see if I would stop him. My muscles tensed as he grew closer, but I knew if I made the wrong move it would be the end for both of us. There would be no future for Ellie. I couldn’t take that from her just because I didn’t like the circumstances.

  Her life matters.

  Her future is her own.

  I repeated the words to myself.

  Cole’s shoulder slammed against me in rage as he manhandled Ellie, gripping her from my bed by her dark hair.

  “Leave me the fuck alone!” Ellie spat, fighting fiercely against his hold. She didn’t understand that fighting just made it all worse. Cole would hurt her for her actions, and there wouldn’t be a fucking thing I could do about it if I wanted to throw them off.

  “Sorry, babe, but you fucked up big time with your daddy, and therefore it's our job to take care of you.” Cole smirked, his fist gripping her locks of hair in a more aggressive manner. Everyone stood still as they waited to see if I would protect her.

  “What? Take her, she was a good fuck while it lasted.” I shrugged my shoulders, keeping my face as motionless as possible.

  “Fuck you! Fuck all of you. You’re all ruthless bastards… All of…” The words stopped coming the moment Cole struck her with his hand across her temple. I watched my hands, aching to catch her body as she fell to the wooden floor. I bit the inside of my cheek distracting myself from her pain, blood pooled inside of my mouth but it did no good. My eyes still stayed glued to hers as she stared at me, longing for some type of protection or answer.

  “Listen, bitch, this isn’t a game I want to play. Gray here fucked you good, in more than one way and now you have to deal with the consequences.” Without warning, Cole gripped her by the hair again pulling her to her feet. A cry of pain left her perfectly pink lips.

  “You did good, Grayson. I may have to reward you after all, I mean I was planning your funeral before, but now you made my life about ten times easier.” Dex crossed the room, placing a hand upon my shoulder. I nodded, smiling at him as I watched Cole drag Ellie away.

  “I hate you, Grayson!!” she yelled as loud as she could just as Cole slammed the door behind him. I didn’t know where he was taking her and as my heart pounded out of my chest, I knew if I found out I would do anything I could to help her escape.

  “Hate is such a strong word,” Luke mumbled, stepping out the shadows. He was the silent killer. Always lurking. If I was right about things he probably noticed what was going on first.

  “I’ll let the boss know you found her. He will be beyond pleased with you,” Dex said gleefully. My stomach twisted in knots, my throat burned with unsaid words, but what was I to do? Even if I did get her out of here now, there would be no hope for her and I.

  What was infatuation had bloomed into love, and love was now on the verge of killing us both. I didn’t know what to do from here on out, but I had to find a way to make sure she didn’t reach her father.

  “Actually…” Luke added. “Maybe we should see if he could fly out and see for himself the good deed that Grayson has done.” It wasn’t so much what Luke said, but how he said it that made me question everything I knew about him. He didn’t seem to react to anything that was going on, yet his eyes were on Ellie the entire time.

  “Yes! I agree, we could have a little welcoming party for him.” Dex sounded overly excited and as I watched Luke. I knew there was something off about him.

  “Do you guys have any idea where Tuck is?” I asked nonchalantly, buttoning my pants the rest of the way and grabbing my shirt off the floor.

  “Nah. We aren’t his keeper, but I’m sure he’s out clubbing and picking up his nightly fuck.” Luke laughed, his eyes burning a hole through me. I knew better than to think I had been let off this easily. They didn’t believe me, and if they did they hardly did.

  Whatever my next move was it needed to be quiet and precise. Ellie and I were riding on the line between life and death, and right now it looked like death had the upper hand.

  Light blinded my eyes and my head pounded as I tossed in bed from side to side. I could feel myself floating, my body aching from every blow that I had taken the night before. My arms refused to hold my weight as I rolled over to get myself out of the bed before he awoke.

  I had to leave, I had to find a way out of this mess called my life. Living under my father's thumb another moment longer was like diving into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim. I was drowning here, in this place. Worst of all, if I didn’t get out now I would die.

  What a bitch! The words smacked me in the face as much as the cold water that landed on me. I blinked my eyes open, my head aching as the coldness of the ground be
neath me settled into my bones.

  Confusion settled in, but soon disappeared as I looked up into a pair of a dark green eyes unknown to me. They were full of anger and vengeance. Nothing about the way he was looking at me said I was going to make it out of this alive.

  How had he allowed them to take me? Grayson’s words stung far more than any beating I had ever taken. I trusted him to care of me, to get me out of here. Yet, opening my eyes showed me nothing but death and pain to come.

  He hadn’t failed me, he killed me.

  “Let me go,” I muttered. I knew it was useless, and my heart hurt as the words that Grayson had said swam around my brain. Only he could make me feel wanted and hated all at the same time.

  The man before me chuckled, his laugh deep as if what he was really laughing about was something hilarious. I rolled my eyes without thought which caused him to reach out and grip me by the arm, pulling me from the floor.

  “Stop touching me,” I screamed, attempting to pull my arm from his hold. It did me no good though because in a second I was hit again, my head bouncing off the hard floor. Stars showed before my eyes, and I could feel a small trickle of blood dripping down my face.

  “I’m in charge. I’m IN CHARGE.” Spit clung to my face as the man bent down and screamed the words at me. Tears formed and began falling from my eyes, the pain in my head beating like a drum. I turned away from his voice, just wanting all of it to end.

  You put yourself here, Ellie. You believed him and listened to his words. Now you have a broken heart and your own death looming in the air.

  “Get the fuck up!” Another booming voice met my ears, but I held my eyes firmly closed. A kick landed against my stomach, forcing all the breath from my bottom. Pain throbbed on every inch of my flesh, but I refused to give in.

  Gritting my teeth, I held the pain in.

  A scream was what they wanted. They needed to know they were making a point. I couldn’t let them win.

  “I know you aren’t dead, slut. Did you suck the cum off his dick, too?” He snickered as he kicked me again, the steel of his boot landing against my rib. A crack met my ears with the impact, causing a muffled cry to escape me.