Rust

by J. M. Walker

  MY PLAN WAS backfiring. After talking to my sisters, we had decided to set Kenny up. Chill by the fire and let him think our guard was down but when he showed up with the cavalry, I would go with him and be done with it. Get him to calm the fuck down but that wasn’t what happened.

  Now, hours later, I was sitting on the floor in his office.

  My jaw hurt, the slice of pain sliding over every inch of my skin. Kenny could always pack a punch and he had never been afraid to hit me. I wasn’t a normal woman in his eyes even though he had confessed his feelings for me. My brother. I bit back a scoff. I couldn’t understand why my parents had done what they did. Killing the mom and dad of a boy only to raise him as their own. It was sick and twisted as fuck.

  Kenny rubbed the bruise forming on his cheek and licked along the split in his lip. “I almost forgot how strong you are.”

  “You trained me.” I sat up slowly, every muscle in my body protesting at the movement. “I’m only strong because of you.”

  “I don’t want to have to kill you,” he said, leaning his head back against the door.

  “I know.” I sat beside him and grabbed his hand. “This is it. Isn’t it?”

  “There’s nothing else we can do if you won’t agree to join me.” Kenny’s shoulders slumped like he was finally admitting defeat. It wasn’t something I had seen often. It only ever came to me because I would never back down from him.

  “Tell me what you haven’t yet,” I demanded. “I want to know everything.”

  “Your family started the Organization as you all call them. Those little bitches your friends killed were only pawns. They liked to make everyone think it was them who started it. But no, it was your great-great-grandfather.”

  I nodded, releasing his hand and stood. “Stone knows, doesn’t he?” I should have been pissed Stone knew things before I did but I got it. He was protecting me.

  “Yes.” Kenny rose to his full height and came up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders. “I won’t let you go without a fight.”

  “I know.” I took a deep breath and turned on him. “He knows it was you who had his ex killed, doesn’t he?”

  “Yes.”

  “I refuse to be a part of this.”

  “I know that too.” He kissed the side of my head before heading to the door. “Try and escape and my men will kill you.”

  “That’s fine.” I grinned. “I enjoy a challenge.”

  Kenny smirked, nodding once, and left me alone in his office.

  He was giving me a head start.

  Looking around me, there was nothing I could use to defend myself. I wasn’t sure how many men Kenny had standing behind him. Knowing this was it, I would save the last bullet for the man who I had called brother my whole entire life.

  ***

  (Stone)

  Crawling through the bushes at the back of the compound, it felt like we were on a mission. The further we went, the deeper into hell we went. Only this time, I didn’t have all of Vice-One at my back. Only Coby. Even though he was on stress leave, the guy was lethal as fuck, already taking down two men I had never seen coming. I was too emotionally involved but there was nothing anyone could do. It would be me saving my girl. No one else. As pissed as I was she had left with Kenny, I got it. I would do anything for family, even if I didn’t agree with them.

  “Focus, brother,” Coby grumbled beside me. “We have to make it out of this alive or Brogan will kick both of our asses.”

  I grunted in response but I couldn’t focus. Hell, I couldn’t even see straight. I saw blood and lots of it. I would have Kenny writhing beneath me, begging for his life. He didn’t deserve to breathe for the shit he was doing.

  Coby cupped my nape. “We go in, get your girl and get out. Nothing more.”

  “How could someone raised as her brother do this?” I muttered.

  “It’s in his blood,” Coby grumbled taking out another man before I could even process what he was doing.

  Shit, I needed to get my head in the game before I got us both killed.

  “I need you in this,” Coby said, as if he could read my thoughts.

  I nodded, taking a deep breath.

  “You good?” Coby asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Perfect.” A sly grin spread on his face “I’m craving blood.”

  THE MOMENT I left the office, all hell broke loose and then some. It was like everything happening next came right out of an action movie. Guys I didn’t know were shooting at each other. Bullets flew. Bones cracked. Blood was spilled.

  After Kenny left me alone, only five minutes had passed before I decided to take my chances with his band of merry bastards but it seemed like someone else got to them first.

  Stone.

  I faltered in my step at the thought. There was no way he would show up. Who the fuck was I kidding? The guy was stubborn. When he said he would burn the world down to find me, he meant it. But stupid me doubted him.

  “Creena.”

  I spun around at the bark of my name and found Kenny coming toward me. His face was ashen, his skin clammy. He gripped his side, a pool of blood seeping between his fingers.

  My heart fell to my feet. Rushing to his side, I pulled him into his office and sat him on the couch. “Who did this?” I demanded, my voice coming out high pitched to the point I didn’t recognize it.

  Kenny took deep breaths.

  “Kenny, tell me.” I pulled off my jacket and pressed it onto the wound.

  “He fucking shot me,” Kenny said through gritted teeth.

  “Who? I need to know.” I gripped his side, pressing the fabric against him.

  His eyes rolled into the back of his head.

  “No.” I shook him, forcing him to look at me. “You are not dying on me.” If anyone was going to kill him, it would be me.

  “Fuck, Creena.” He bent over, leaning his forehead against my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  “Fuck that.” I rushed to the en-suite bathroom and grabbed the first-aid kit. “You’re not dying on me, Kenny,” I yelled. “I won’t allow it.” This moment brought me back in time. Back to where I had helped stitch up Stone. Back to when it was simpler. But in our lives, nothing was ever simple.

  “You need to get out of here,” Kenny called out. “Shit, this hurts.”

  “Tell me who shot you,” I demanded, rummaging through the first-aid kit in my hands. “Kenny, tell me.”

  “I did.”

  I stopped suddenly in my steps, the kit falling from my hands to the floor at my feet. Stone stood at the door with a gun pointed at Kenny. No words, no sounds, nothing left my mouth at the sight before me. I never thought it would come to this.

  Kenny laughed. “Well, isn’t this fucking fun.”

  “Shut up,” Stone and I said at the same time.

  “You shot my brother,” I told him, the man I loved, the man who only just that morning, was deep inside me. “You shot my brother,” I repeated slowly.

  “He’s not your brother, Creena,” Stone bit out, keeping his gun aimed at Kenny. “Why don’t you tell her who you really are? You’re no one compared to her, isn’t that right? You found out how her father, a man who took you in, wasn’t actually going to leave the family business to you.”

  My head whipped around. “What the hell is he talking about?”

  Kenny’s jaw clenched. “You don’t know shit.”

  “No?” Stone knelt at the arm of the couch, scratching his temple with the barrel of the gun. “Why don’t you tell her how when you found out that the business was being left to her, you lost your shit and that was the reason you had them run off the road?”

  “They killed my parents.”

  “No, they protected you.” Stone met my gaze that time. “You see, Creena. Kenny’s dad was a bastard. Your families didn’t get along. Your mom used to date Kenny’s dad which caused him to lose his shit. She probably left him once she found out what kind of sick games he was into.”

  “Shut up,�
�� Kenny screamed. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “No? I don’t?” Stone’s hard stare met mine. “His dad came for you out of revenge. You were just a baby but Kenny’s parents were going to steal you. They were also in this human trafficking shit. There was some bad blood between your families. You were going to be raised in this fucked up world as Kenny’s damn slave.”

  “Stop,” Kenny demanded. “She’s not going to believe you.”

  “Shut up,” I told him while my world tilted on its axis in front of me. “Go on.”

  “Your father’s men caught him in time. That’s why Kenny’s parents died. Both of them were in on it. They were going to steal you for him.”

  “Why?” I asked, dropping to the chair.

  “What the fuck do you mean why?” Kenny shouted. “You’re mine. You were meant to be mine.”

  My heart started racing. “That’s why you didn’t wait until Saturday. You knew I was getting too close to Stone. You knew I was falling in love with him.”

  “I wanted to watch him suffer because he took the last thing I had left.”

  “But this business ... our family ...” I shook my head.

  “It’s all yours,” Stone said gently coming toward me. He kept his gun aimed at Kenny but moved to my side. “Your father meant this for you. He may have taken Kenny in, hoping he could give him a better life but all of this was always meant for you.”

  “No,” Kenny yelled which turned into a cough. He held his side, the blood soaking through his shirt at a rapid pace.

  “You’re going to bleed out,” I told Kenny, “if I don’t stitch you up.”

  “Fuck.” His breathing became shallow, his eyes glassy and unfocused. “Please.”

  “Tell me how this business is mine and you’ve never told me?”

  He looked away.

  “No.” I shoved to my feet, getting in his face. “Tell me, Kenny. Tell me why my father left this to me but I’m only just hearing about it now.” I gripped his jaw, forcing him to look at me. “Tell me.”

  “You don’t deserve this business,” Kenny spat, blood coating his lips. “A woman can’t run shit. Especially not one who’s as fucked up as you.”

  Before I could stop myself, my fist landed against his jaw. “That’s for killing my parents.” My fist connected with his face again. “That’s for ruining my fucking life.” Blow after blow landed on him. My knuckles cracked. My hands throbbed. But I didn’t give a shit. Not about him. Not about the business. Not about anything.

  He didn’t try and stop me. His pale face only stared up at me.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, blood gurgling at his lips.

  “No,” I screamed. “You don’t get to be fucking sorry.”

  “Creena.” Stone wrapped his arms around my stomach, pulling me back against him. “Shhh ... breathe, baby girl.”

  “I hope you rot in hell you piece of shit,” I shoved out of Stone’s grip and stomped to the door before turning back to Kenny beaten down and almost lifeless body. Sticking my forefinger and thumb in my mouth, I let out a loud whistle. Two large dogs came barreling toward me. Before they tackled me, I swung open the door and stepped to the side.

  Kenny yelled.

  The dogs barked, growled, and dined.

  Shutting the door behind them, I walked past Stone and down the hall. The screams from my brother would be something I would never get out of my head. They would haunt me for the rest of my life. Knowing what I was truly capable of, I gave in to the madness inside me.

  “Creena.” He came up beside me and handed me an envelope. “This has all of the answers.”

  “I have so many questions right now but I’m only going to ask one,” I said, taking the envelope from him. “Do you still love me?”

  “Fucking right I do,” Stone said, his voice firm.

  “Good.” I let out a sigh of relief that there was no judgment in his eyes over me unleashing dogs on my brother. Kenny. The fucker I thought was family. Whoever the hell he was, I had loved him like we were siblings. I didn’t cry. Not yet. I would. And I knew Stone would be there to hold me and comfort me but at the moment, I had more important things to worry about. Like the group of men standing at either end of the hallway with guns pointed and at the ready.

  Stone stood at my side, his gaze moving back and forth between both groups of men. “Open the envelope.”

  I did as I was told, my eyes quickly moving over paper after paper. Legal documents, birth certificates. Everything proving what I had believed since my parents died, was actually a lie.

  Much to Stone’s dismay, I walked up to the man who stood front and center. His gun was aimed at me, his mouth set in a grim line. He was large, an air of authority seeped from his pores.

  “How long have you been working for my brother?” I asked him.

  “Five years,” he bit out, his voice rough.

  “He treat you good?”

  “No.”

  “Did you hear the screams?” I asked, my heart racing over the threat of my life.

  “Yes,” the man answered, amusement flashing in his dark eyes.

  “Whatever my brother was paying you, all of you, I’ll triple it. As long as you help me shut down this operation. I don’t give a shit how long it takes, I want this to end. You will get your money. I’ll wire twenty-five grand into each of your bank accounts right now.” I took a step forward, the barrel of the gun the man was holding pushing right into my chest. “You could kill me right now if you doubt me but I promise, I’ll make it worth your while.”

  The man stared me down, a ruffle of bodies behind him ready and waiting for their next command. After a couple breaths, he lowered his gun. “Where do you want us to start?”

  WHEN I LEFT my brother’s compound, I felt like a weight had been lifted free from my shoulders. We had spent a good part of two years trying to bring down the organization when all this time, it was me who was the true front runner. I still didn’t know how I felt about it. I was upset, angered, pissed the fuck off but I still didn’t cry.

  It would take quite a while to continue what my father had started but I knew with the help of my friends, it would get done.

  Kenny’s men didn’t ask questions when money was involved. I would treat them well. All of the money our family had earned over the years would be distributed to safe houses all over the world. Money would be sent to the girls who escaped to help them with schooling and anything else they needed. I didn’t want it. I didn’t earn it. It was blood money as my brother called it. I was happy being a nurse and a tattoo artist. It was my life.

  I had told the Harlots and Vice-One everything that had happened but what surprised me most, was that they didn’t look at me differently. They knew it wasn’t my fault this organization was left in my name but I had still doubted they would throw me away like yesterday’s trash.

  “We love you, Creena,” Brogan had said, wrapping her arms around my middle. “You’re family.”

  My throat had closed up but I still couldn’t cry. Something had to have been wrong with me. When Stone kissed me later that evening, telling me everything would be okay, I still didn’t cry.

  It had been a couple of days since the shit went down at Kenny’s compound. The men were good and cleaned up everything but the dogs ate the very existence of Kenny Chan. It would be a long time before I would be able to forgive myself for what I had done. Even though Stone and our friends told me he did far worse, it still wasn’t easy.

  “Do you keep rope in stock?” I asked Stone one evening, pulling the bundle from the bottom of his closet. “You have several different types in here.” He had been a gentleman and left me alone but right now, I needed that control back. The need to dominate over the man I loved, consumed me.

  Stone laughed, sitting on the edge of his bed. “You asked. I answered.”

  “I asked you if you had a tie.” I held the rope in my hands, the long strands soft to the touch. “I wasn’t expecti
ng to have this many options, Stone.”

  “That one is made out of silk,” he whispered in my ear, his mouth moving to the soft spot just beneath it.

  I jumped, not realizing he had come up behind me.

  “You asked what kind of bondage items I have. If I actually purchase toys and things or just use what I have laying around.” He pointed at the rope in my hand. “That one is the softest. Although it can leave beautiful red marks on the skin, it won’t cut or rip open the flesh. So, to answer your question, yes, I’ve purchased many items used for bondage.”

  “I feel like you’ve done this before.” A flutter of jealousy erupted through me.

  “Jealous?” he asked, kissing the side of my neck.

  “You bet your fucking ass I am.” I spun on him and pushed him back until he hit the edge of the bed.

  Stone sat, pulling me between his legs. “Why are you jealous, baby girl? You know I’m with you. I don’t want anyone else.”

  “Right.” I brushed his bangs off his forehead. “But I don’t like knowing that other women have been tied to your bed,” I placed a soft kiss on his mouth, sucking his bottom lip between mine and bit down.

  A growl left him. His hands tightened on the back of my legs. “It makes me hard knowing every wet pussy I’ve been inside makes you jealous.”

  “Yeah.” I licked along his bottom lip. “Just like every hard, throbbing, delicious cock that has been inside me, makes you jealous.”

  “No.” He spun me around and bent me over his lap faster than I could have predicted. “It enrages me.” His hand landed hard against the flesh of my ass.

  I yelped, dropping the rope from my hands. This was supposed to be about me controlling him but every time his hands touched me, I couldn’t help but submit to him.

  “It makes me want to fuck you so damn hard, every time you shift in your seat, all you feel is me.” His hand landed against the back of my thigh.

  The sting from his palm burned my skin, heating me until I trembled beneath his touch.

  “Place your hands on the floor and don’t move,” he demanded, ripping my pants down my ass. “You have no reason to be jealous.”