by Alexia Praks
He laughed sadly, as if to mock me. "Well, Mia. When you come here and go through so much shit, yeah, your language changes."
My heart ached. "Oh, Andy..."
He looked both shocked and sick at his own aggressive reaction toward me. He worked to rectify himself by pulling me into his arms. "I'm sorry, Mia. I'm just so shocked, that's all. Tell me who did this to you, please?"
"I told you. It's nothing."
"Shit! Mia, it's not nothing. The bite marks. The bruises. Those only happen during... when... Fuck!"
I was shaken and said, my voice trembling, "When what?"
He growled in frustration. "Sex, Mia! When you have sex. Real. Hard. Core. Sex."
"What? But it wasn't hard. At least... not that hard," I stammered.
"Were you raped?" he asked urgently.
"What?" I was confused.
"Were you raped, Mia?"
I shook my head. "No, of course not."
He was quiet for a moment and then said, "Oh, I get it."
"What? Get what?"
"It was Mr. Maxwell, wasn't it?" he asked, his eyes bright and dark at the same time.
Slowly, I nodded.
"Shit! I can't believe he did this to you," he said in disbelief. Then he chuckled sadly. "I thought he was different from Matt. Shit! They're friends, aren't they? But I thought Mr. Maxwell was different, since he was married once and everything."
I didn't get what he was talking about. "Andy?"
He turned to me. "Mia, what type of contract did you make with Mr. Maxwell? I know I said I'd sort everything out before you left... But now it looks like I have to sort it out immediately. I can't leave you in his hands. You'll suffer more than this; you know that. And I know... Oh fuck!" He raked his fingers through his hair again in frustration. "I won't let you suffer... the pain... the humiliation... Shit! I won't let you go through what I went through!"
I was scared at his strong emotions. "Andy, please. It's nothing."
He shook his head. "No, Mia. No. It's not nothing. You always say that. It's never nothing. Tell me what type of contract you signed with Mr. Maxwell."
I sighed. "Me," I said. "I signed myself over for the two million."
He looked confused. "What? Come again?"
I swallowed and took a deep breath. "I signed a contract as James's mistress in exchange for the two million."
He just stared at me as if he couldn't believe what I'd just said. Well, I wasn't surprised, of course. I wouldn't believe him either if he told me he'd just signed his life away as an escort or whatever in exchange for a debt.
"Fuck!" he swore. "Oh, Mia. It's because of me, isn't it?"
"It's for the debt, Andy. The two million, like I told you last night." I couldn't believe he actually forgot about that. I thought I'd mentioned it to him already. Unless, of course, he'd heard but refused to fully accept it, accept I was now a mistress to some billionaire in order to pay off his debt.
He took a deep breath and nodded. "For the two million." When he looked at me closely, I saw the determined look in his eyes. "I'm going to fix everything, Mia. Please trust me on this one."
I bit my lip. "I trust you always, Andy. But please don't do anything stupid."
He just looked at me for a moment. "I promise he won't hurt you again." Then he took a few steps back. "Get changed. I'll be back soon."
"Where are you going?" I couldn't help asking, panic in my voice.
He raked his fingers through his hair again and shrugged. "Personal business," he said, his eyes on the floor.
Relief swept through me. So it was nothing to do with me and my bruises, then. Thank God. I nodded, clutching the shirt and pants against my chest.
Before he closed the door, he said, "And don't leave. Promise me you won't go back to your own room, okay. Please wait for me until I get back."
I nodded. "All right. But don't be too long, okay?"
He gave me a smile and nodded. "See you soon."
He closed the door before I could ask him what type of personal business. But I held myself in check as I didn't want to overstep my boundary yet again. Even though we were close as siblings, I had no rights to intervene in his life. And I personally wanted what was best for him, to let him enjoy his life and his freedom, which we both never really had since our parents' death.
Then when I turned eighteen, I'd had enough of being under our aunt's and uncle's thumbs. I'd taken Andy and moved to another town, a smaller one, where hardly anyone knew we existed, where no one knew us or our history.
I returned my attention to dressing myself, shaking my head, wondering if Andy was overreacting about my bruises. But then again, he'd always overreacted where I was concerned, hadn't he?
Once I was dressed, I turned to look at myself in the long mirror. I wanted to laugh. I looked like a senior high school girl in boy's clothing. Andy's shirt fit me just right, though. To make it look more fashionable, I rolled up the sleeves and then tugged the hem under the waist of the jeans. I cocked my head to one side and nodded with approval. Yes, I look pretty good. If I was a few inches taller, I could be a model. I smiled at the thought and headed back out the door to wait for Andy's return.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 33
James
"You know how hard it is to keep those bastards under control," Matt said, rolling his eyes heavenward. "Fuck! The police are useless. Drugs and prostitution are booming in Las Vegas."
"All you need to do is keep our turf save," James said. "Make them understand we're not to be fucked with."
Matt laughed. "No need to worry." He crossed one leg over the other. "It's taken care of."
"How's Andy going with the infiltration?" James asked, his eyes dark.
"Good, I guess," Matt said, shrugging. "Can't we put him in another job? That boy's too fucking tempting for most men."
James laughed. "Come on, Matt, you know how it works. We need someone like Andy. Someone with the good looks and the brain that still looks innocent and gullible enough to be lured and fall into a trap. He's smart enough to look after himself."
"James, I get it," Matt muttered. "You don't need to lecture me. He just worries me sometimes."
James wasn't surprised by that. Matt was falling in love with Andy and he didn't even know it. Come to think of it, James worried about Mia a lot, too, ever since she'd come into his life. Did that mean he'd fallen in love with her, too? No. Not possible. Just not possible. It was just lust between him and Mia. That was all. And he worried about her because she was worth two million.
"Did you know about the darkroom?" Matt brought up another subject.
"I heard rumors," James said.
"Prostitution. Apparently, it's going very well. And apparently, William attended one or two."
James frowned. "William?"
Matt nodded. "He bought one, too. Just the other day. Five million. She's so fucking young. Like high school."
"Jesus!" James swore under his breath. "I would have thought he'd stay away from shit like that."
Matt shrugged. "You can never read him. Just like his old man."
James agreed with a nod. "By the way, I saw Tory last night."
"Oh?" Matt stood and headed over to the vast window that overlooked the city. "And?"
"Having dinner with him and the gang tonight," James said. "Care to join?"
Matt chuckled. "No thanks. I have my hands full tonight." By that, he meant Andy. It was a pain in the ass having to watch over the boy every night while he worked. That private nightclub, reserved only for those with money, was notorious for wealthy mobs who wanted to do real business as well as drugs and prostitution. And his Andy was working in the midst of that fucking shit.
James didn't press the matter. Matt and Tory never really got along, just as with him and William. They always rubbed each other the wrong way. Yet they were sworn blood brothers. They'd made an oath once upon a time--he, Matt, William, Tory, and Mark. Five of the toughest, richest boys in high schoo
l, who ruled the streets of Las Vegas. Now they were all the toughest and most ruthless billionaires.
"I heard Tory's doing some business in Australia. The Gold Coast is apparently booming with tourists. You know, all the hotels and resorts."
"Good for him," James said. "What? Are you planning on doing business there, too?"
Matt chuckled. "Not yet. Got my hands full just dealing with all the shit here."
James didn't doubt it was probably mostly to do with Andy. Putting that boy in that particular position, infiltrating as a waiter in one of the hottest clubs, was probably too dangerous for Andy, considering he was wanted by both the Mexican and the Albanian. He understood it worried Matt, but they needed Andy as bait to lure out the snake, the man behind all the drug dealing and the prostitution.
Heck, James understood without that sort of business, Vegas just wouldn't operate. Sin City's economy soared because of the drugs and prostitution, but at the same time, he believed they needed to be kept under control. And the police were doing a fucking shitty job of it.
It was then the door burst open and a wild Andy stood there, staring at James.
Matt turned his eyes from the lovely view to Andy, a dark frown on his handsome face. "What is it?"
Andy took a deep breath and then said, "Mr. Maxwell, I'd like to talk to you about my sister."
James sat there, expressionless, as he watched the boy stalk toward him.
Even though Andy was twenty, James couldn't help but think he was but a mere boy. The slim build. The gorgeous face. The innocent demeanor. The whole lot. He was the type every schoolgirl fell head over heels in love with, the type rich cougars kept under their thumbs. Heck, when he and Matt had been sixteen, they'd had much more life experience on the streets and the world than Andy.
"Mia." He got up from his seat and folded his arms across his chest. "What about her?"
"She just told me she signed a contract with you." Andy began.
"Yes?"
"I'd like you to cancel that contract," Andy said, staring at the other man, his face stern.
James cocked his head to one side. "Oh? And why would I do that?"
Andy held his head high and said, "I'll take her place. Sign a contract with me. You can fuck me all you want and hurt me all you want. But I won't let you hurt Mia."
James just stared at Andy, his face unyielding and dark. Matt was flabbergasted and pissed.
"What the fuck are you on about, Andy?" he roared across the room. He was fuming as he stalked to the younger man, his face dark, ready for the kill. He grabbed Andy by the chin and brought his face close.
Andy could feel his hot, angry breath and knew the man was more than livid. But he wasn't going to let Matt stop him from protecting his sister.
"It's none of your business, Matt," he said coldly.
Matt sneered. "Like hell it's not!" he said through gritted teeth. "What the fuck do you mean you'd let James fuck you all he wants?"
Andy glared at Matt and shoved him away. "I said it's none of your business." He turned to James. "Mr. Maxwell, sign a contract with me. I'll be your bitch. Just please let my sister go. She doesn't deserve this. Don't you understand? She's been through enough."
"What are you talking about?" James asked, his eyes dark. "I'm not interested in a new contract."
James turned toward the door, ready to leave. Andy, however, wouldn't let him go just like that. He rushed around and intercepted the man before he reached the exit.
"Please, Mr. Maxwell. Sign a contract with me."
James raised a brow mockingly. "I did, remember? And look where that got us."
Andy's face flamed red, but he wouldn't give in. "Please, let my sister go. She's been through enough."
James sighed in agitation. "Look, Andy, I understand you want to help your sister. But it's too late. It was her decision."
Andy shook his head. "No, you don't understand, Mr. Maxwell. You just don't. Mia doesn't deserve this. She--" He stopped short, frustrated.
Matt watched with interest while James frowned in suspicion.
"What?" James finally asked. "She doesn't deserve this? Are you claiming I'm mistreating your sister?"
Andy snapped, "Yes. That's exactly what you're doing, aren't you? I saw the bruises."
James raised a brow. "It's just sex play. You of all people should know that."
Andy looked sick. "I know it's sex play," he said quietly. "I've experience it enough to know. But Mia... She can't handle it. She's been through enough. I can't stand seeing her like that."
"Why?"
Andy sighed. "It was our Uncle Herbert."
James frowned, waiting patiently for Andy to explain.
"He never got to the end, though, but it scared the hell out of Mia. I mean the whipping and everything."
James felt sick. Shit! Mia had been whipped by her uncle? What a fucking sick bastard.
He couldn't keep his anger from showing in his voice when he said coldly, "What else?"
"She was molested, okay? By Uncle Herbert," Andy said. "But in the end, I always took her place. He'd start with her and then end with me. He'd sexually molest Mia and then he'd fuck me."
"Fuck!" James swore. "And she never told me this?"
Andy was a little shocked by James's strong reaction. "Why would she tell you? It's not like she's proud of it."
James felt like Andy had just punched him in the stomach, hard. Shit! The boy was right. Mia had been molested by her own relative, the person she depended on and looked up to. It was sick. He suddenly felt very protective of her and wanted to kill this fuckhead Uncle Herbert. Maybe I just will.
"So will you let her go and take me in her place? I promise I'll be good."
James was deep in thought for a moment, while Matt was outraged.
"Be good?" Matt snapped. "What the fuck does that mean, Andy?"
"Matt, it's just a business contract, all right? You have nothing to do with this."
"What? Using your body in exchange for your sister's freedom," Matt asked sarcastically. "What a fucking hero." Without further ado, he roughly grabbed Andy by the arm and shoved him on to the sofa.
Andy landed on the softness with a puff, surprised.
James stared down at Andy and said, "Sorry to disappoint you, Andy. Like I said, I'm not interested in a new contract. And I'm not interested in boys either." Then to Matt, he said, "Deal with him, will you?"
Matt grinned, his eyes dark. "Doing it," he said as he took off his suit jacket.
James walked out the door and shut it behind him as Matt undid his tie.
"Shit!" Andy swore, his voice trembling as he scrambled back on the couch.
Matt caught him before Andy could get away. Then he came down on the younger man and slammed his lips against Andy's, his kiss hard and wild.
"Ngh..." Andy tried to fight off Matt, but he was stronger and crushed the younger man against the sofa, pinning him there. By the time Matt did let Andy go, the boy was breathless.
Matt grinned and his steel-gray eyes were bright. He said, his hot breath fanning over Andy's skin, "Why don't you be a good boy for me, Andy, and let me fuck you whenever I want?"
Andy glared and said sarcastically, "Go fuck yourself."
Matt's eyes darkened. He slipped his hand into Andy's jeans, a dark grin spreading across his face.
"Shit!" Andy swore under his breath as Matt tightly gripped him. "Ahh... Don't... "
Matt chuckled, pleased. "You're already hard. What a little man slut you are, Andy. Your body's so horny you can't even hold out for one morning without me."
Andy gritted his teeth as he groaned, his whole body squirming under Matt's touch. Fuck this body, he thought in anger. He hated his body. The body that men liked to take advantage of.
"There it is. That's a good look on your face," Matt said. "Such a beautiful face."
Yes, and he hated his face, too. The gorgeous face everyone seemed to fall for.
Matt pressed his lips against Andy's
and continued to kiss the boy hard out, wild tongue, sucking and licking and fighting within the mouth until he drove the younger man insane.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 34
James
James knew the moment Andy said Mia told him about their contract he didn't need to go back to their room. He'd known before he even wrote that note for her this morning she'd rather be with her brother than follow his advice regarding rest and relaxation. Heck, he just wanted her to loosen up and spend some time for herself, considering how hard he'd exhausted her during their lovemaking sessions. Not to mentioned her worries over her brother.
Talking about sex, ever since this morning, he hadn't stopped thinking about last night. Fuck! The way she'd licked, kissed, and sucked his nipples? She was so fucking seductive he'd simply wanted to let go of his self-control, throw her on her back, and pounded into her. But he held himself in check. The control, however, had almost killed him.
He'd wanted her to see what it felt like to be in control, to take charge during sex, and that was why he'd allowed her to molest his body by pretending sleep. But he did wish she'd go further and do her sucking on the lower part of his body, too. It would have been heaven.
In time, he thought. In time he'd teach her how to please him using both her hands and mouth.
At the door, he rapped a couple loud knocks and then waited impatiently for the woman he never stopped thinking about to greet him.
"Andy?" he heard her call out. The tone of that seductive, sweet voice was full of warmth and love. It made James wonder for a moment if she'd ever call his name with that sweet, seductive voice filled with warmth, love, and affection.
Just as quickly as that thought came into his head, however, he slammed it away with the force of cold logic. Her brother owed him two million. She was his mistress in exchange for that debt. They had sex regularly. No strings attached. No emotional connection. Just pure, hard fucking. That was all. He didn't need her to use that sweet, seductive voice with him. Period!
The door slid open, and he was greeted by one of the loveliest smiles he'd ever seen. His cold logic instantly scattered in the air. A lump formed in his throat as he stared down at his mistress. He had the urge to take her into his arms and kiss her gently, softly, and passionately.
His heart ached something sorely. What the fuck were these feelings? He felt like his world was changing, both for better and for worse. The turmoil within him was about to kill him.