by J. L. Beck
“No. I didn’t know.” I gain enough courage to spit the words out, knowing if I didn’t, I could end up with a black eye. Xander doesn’t look like he’s opposed to beating women, and I don’t really want to find out.
“Good. So, you’re telling me you had no idea your brother was doing illegal things? Drug trafficking, auctions, prostitution.”
I blink, the contents of my stomach churning. Now I know why my brother always had money—why he was able to afford clothes and my schooling.
“I didn’t know. I knew he was making good money, but I didn’t know what he was doing. He never shared his work with me—and I never asked.”
Xander stares at me, appearing to digest my response. I lick my lips, afraid he may not accept my answer and I’ll end up dead on the side of the road in a gutter—or worse, raped and beaten.
“I swear…” I whimper, feeling Xander’s cold gaze on my face. Time seems to stand still.
“Do you know what is going to happen to you if you lie to me, or try to run from me again?”
I shake my head. “N-N-o-o.”
Xander smiles, leaning his body into mine, causing me to curl into myself. “If I find you’ve done either of those things, I will hunt you down and take you back to my club, then I will fuck you bloody until you beg me to stop. And when I’ve had my fill, I’ll give you to my men to be used. They’ll fuck you as well, and then they’ll slit your throat and watch the blood drain from your lifeless body.”
The SUV comes to a stop, and without thinking, I open the passenger door. All the contents in my stomach empty onto the ground. My eyes burn, tears slipping down my cheeks. I feel a cold gun pressed into my side, halting any further movement.
My body shakes with every breath I take. My brother got himself killed gaining an easy way out, but I’m still alive, and I’m paying for his actions.
“Do you understand the consequences, Keira?” I feel his hot breath on my neck. I’m still hanging out the side of the car, my body swaying like leaves in the breeze.
“Yes. Yes, I understand.” The words come out calm, too calm, and I wonder how long it’ll be before death and I meet.
I’m alone, tired, exhausted, and above all, I am done.
“Good. Get the fuck out of my car. I’ll be back to check on you, and when I do, you better be here.” Xander gives me a shove, and I slip out of the SUV on wobbly legs.
“Oh, and don’t tell Damon about our little conversation. This one stays between you and I, sweetheart.”
My knees go weak, and I almost fall to the ground. Then he closes the door behind him, and the SUV drives off into the night, as if it was never there to begin with.
I’m back in Night Shift’s parking lot. The evil cycle continues. I’m trapped between the Rossi brothers.
With the bright street lights shining down on me, I move into the packed parking lot. I’m not sure where I’m going or what I’m going to do. I doubt my bank cards work anymore, and even if I did run away, Damon and Xander would come for me. They both threatened me, and I believe them.
I have no place to go. No place to hide. No way out of this.
There’s only one thing to do.
A choice must be made.
And it will be the lesser evil.
I drag my feet across the parking lot, forcing each step toward the back door. Before I can even lift my hand to reach for the handle, the door flies open and Damon's large frame appears in front of me. His eyes are full of fury, like a bull on the verge of charging—at me.
“What the hell are you doing out here?”
I want to tell him what happened—that I know his brother is the man after me. I want Damon to take me in his arms and tell me everything is going to be okay…tell me he will always protect me—even from his own brother. But Xander’s warning rings in my ears, and I can’t shake the threat. He might not kill Damon, but he’ll kill me, and I value my life—even if it is pretty shitty right now.
“I just needed some fresh air,” I lie, trying to hide the tiredness and sadness from my face. I’m starting to think the only way out of this mess will be from a bullet to the head.
The fury rolling off Damon pulls me back to the present. His anger suffocates me, and I hate that he’s mad and there’s nothing I can do about it.
He doesn’t buy what I’ve told him, and I think he can smell the lie on me.
Instead of dragging me back inside—like I half expected—he walks outside, letting the door close behind him.
“Let’s go home.” He unlocks his car and grabs my hand, tugging me along. I can still feel the anger radiating off him, but he does a better job concealing it now. It isn’t until we are in the car that I notice Damon is clean and wearing different clothes. I guess he keeps extra clothes on hand for when things get messy.
I get into the car and lean against the window.
I’m caught between two killers.
One wants to love me, and one wants to literally kill me.
The chances of surviving this horrible predicament seem slimmer and slimmer everyday...and still…when I close my eyes, I see myself with Damon, celebrating a life I know we will never be able to live.
A life full of love and laughter—full of happiness.
Chapter Twelve
Damon
I don’t want to lose it, but I feel the blackness closing around me. This is why feelings never work. Why I promised myself I would never fall for a woman.
My thoughts are twisted and warped, mixing with my past. I know I need to care for Keira, but she makes it so fucking hard when she doesn’t listen—when she’s so naive and kind. It literally kills me to bring her into the darkness.
She rests against the passenger window. Her eyes are closed, and she looks as if she is sleeping. I grip the steering wheel, trying to cool my heated blood, trying to stop myself from losing it.
I keep the fury contained long enough to make it home, and as soon as I park and get out, I lose it. I unleash myself against the brick exterior of the house. My fists slam into the unforgiving brick over and over. The pain reminds me I am in fact human, and very capable of breaking bones.
Blood starts dripping down my fists, but I don’t stop until I’ve taken the edge off the top and first layer of skin of my knuckles. My chest heaves as I suck precious oxygen into my lungs. I turn around and see Keira waiting for me. Her eyes are sad, dull, and I wish like hell they were sparkling with excitement or desire—hell, even fear would be a better emotion than the one I am seeing right now.
“Why did you lie to me?”
She averts her gaze, and the gesture gives her away, confirming she lied.
When she doesn’t answer, I start up the front steps and open the door, swinging it wide. She follows behind like a meek little mouse. I slam the door shut, then turn on her—right as she’s taking her shoes off.
“Were you planning to run again? I thought we were past that, Keira. I thought you wanted my protection?”
Tears well in her eyes, threatening to spill over and down her cheeks.
“I…” she croaks, her voice full of unknown emotion.
“You what? You thought it’d be better? Easier to run from your problems?” I squeeze my eyelids shut, frustration and anger coursing through my veins, threatening to break through to the surface. I run my fingers through my hair, pulling hard against the strands. I take a step toward Keira and watch as she retreats a step.
“Is that what you were doing? Running? Did you think you could get away from me again?” I close the space between us in a second. My hands grip her hips with a bruising touch, and I stare straight into her brown eyes.
“I’d never run from you, Damon. Not again.”
My eyes trail over her beautiful face, her tired eyes, and down over her body. The air around us sizzles as soon as my eyes land on her throat.
The faint bruises on her creamy white skin stick out like a sore thumb. I lift my eyes to her face and see fear rattling around inside her. She’
s scared shitless, and I doubt I’ll get an answer out of her about who did this—even if I ask.
The sound of my phone ringing in my pocket angers me. I don’t want to answer right now. I just want to make Keira tell me who the fuck I need to kill. I grab my phone anyway, nearly breaking the fucking thing when I see the name flash across the screen.
I lift my gaze to Keira once more—fresh tears have fallen on her cheeks, and I don’t know how she still has more tears inside her. Suddenly, everything falls into place, and I make the connection. The reason why she would lie to me…why she is so fucking afraid right now… why there are bruises around her neck—like someone was choking her.
“He did this, didn’t he? Xander. He put his fucking hands on you.”
Keira’s wide-eyed expression confirms my assumption.
I'm unsure how the bastard got into the club without anyone knowing, but it’s clear he planted that bastard in her apartment to distract me. Or maybe he didn't, and I was just too fucking concerned with killing some fucker instead of protecting her. Either way, I feel like a pile of shit for not being there for her.
Pulling Keira into my arms, I press soft kisses against her throat, over the bruises my piece of shit brother left on her skin.
“I will kill him for this, Keira. I will kill him,” I whisper against her flesh, and she sobs into my chest.
“He told me not to say anything,” she mutters. “Why didn’t you tell me he was your brother?”
I can feel the fragile trust blooming between us wither away.
“Xander and I might share some blood, but I don’t consider him my brother. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it mattered. It doesn't change anything. I’ll kill him for hurting you.”
Some of the tension disappears from her body as she relaxes into my touch—as if she knows this is where she belongs. I bend down to pick her up, and her arms snake around my neck and her legs wrap around my midsection, holding on to me tightly. I can feel her warmth seep into me.
I carry her down the hall and into my bedroom, placing her gently on my bed.
“I’m going to call back Xander.”
I use the seconds it takes to pull my phone out and dial his number to compose myself—to the best of my ability.
I want nothing more than to scream all the ways I plan on killing him, but I know that would be a bad move…so I rein in my fury for a moment. Taking a deep, calming breath, I wait for him to answer.
It rings, and ring, then his asshole voice filters through the phone speaker.
“Damon, I’ve been trying to reach you. I even came by the club once, but I seem to keep missing you.”
I clench my fist. This fucker thinks he’s sneaky. Has he forgotten I know him—far more than anyone else? That he can’t fool me?
“What do you want, Xander?”
He chuckles. “I can’t simply call you and have a conversation? I do miss you little brother. It’s probably time we catch up.”
“Don’t pretend you have any emotions, Xander. We both know better, and I’d much rather discuss this over the phone…so just tell me what you want.”
“This isn’t something we can discuss over the phone. I’m afraid I’ll need to see you and Keira in the flesh. So please don't make this a hassle, dear ol’ brother. Meet me tomorrow at the Rossi Mansion. I assume you still know where that is?”
“Yes, we’ll be there. And, Xander, if you ever lay a finger on my property again, I will gut you like a fish,” I growl and hang up the phone, trying to forget my fucking brother and think about nothing besides the goddess lying in my bed.
There's no saying what will happen tomorrow—or what my brother will do to her…or me. I've seen his darkness, tasted it even, but I don’t want Keira to see it.
I’m distracted from my thoughts when she sits up, her eyes boring into mine. She looks at me like she wants to say something but instead she stands in front of me. Grabbing the hem of her shirt, she pulls it over her head. Then she reaches behind and undoes her bra. I’m so mesmerized that I just stand there and watch her. Her nice perky tits are free now, and her nipples are pointing at me.
I’ve seen a lot of girls take their clothes off. I own a fucking strip club for God’s sake. But this has to be the sexiest fucking striptease I’ve ever seen. Her eyes never leave mine. She is completely fixated on me while she slowly undoes her pants and pulls them down, taking her panties with them.
“I want you tonight. I want you to fuck me,” she mutters, standing in front of me completely naked now.
“Who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. It’s not set in stone, and after everything, I don’t want to waste any more time.”
Everything she says is true, but that doesn’t mean I want to admit it.
“I’ll protect you tomorrow and any other fucking day of the year. That’s what’s going to happen. As for the future, we’ll take it one step at a time.”
I keep a small amount of distance between us, afraid that if I get too close, I'll swallow her whole. She’s mouthwatering, and I want to possess her, own her, but not under these circumstances. I don’t want her to do this because she is scared.
“I don’t care. I still want you. I want it to be you.” She takes a step toward me and starts unbuttoning my shirt.
Her hands are a little shaky, but she has a smile on her face. She is nervous, but not scared of me. She knows I won’t hurt her. Still, I feel the need to say it out loud.
“We’ll go slow. I’ll try not to hurt you, and if you ever want me to stop, just say the words and I will.” I push a few strands of hair from her face as she gets done unbuttoning my shirt. She shoves it off my shoulders and lets it fall to the floor.
“But know we don't have to do this. We don't have to do anything today.”
Her cheeks a soft pink, and her eyes filled with arousal and excitement, she whispers, “Shut up and kiss me.”
I’m not used to following commands, but I am willing to make an exception today, and I obey. Leaning down, I press my lips to hers. She is close enough now that her pebbled nipples rub against my bare chest. There is no other feeling like her body against mine. My cock springs to life in response—so ready to finally be inside her.
It’s caught between us, pressing firmly against her flat belly. I nip at her lips, urging her to open to me. When she does, my tongue slips inside, swirling around her mouth, mingling with her tongue, tasting her.
I kiss her like that for a long time, tasting her, trailing my fingers up and down her arms. I want this to be perfect for her. I might not be able to save her from all the bad in this world, but I can give her this moment. I can make certain it’s all she ever thought it would be.
When I finally pull away, Keira is breathless. Her eyes peer up at me with adoration. I can see she feels safe in my arms, and I never want that to change. With a soft smile, I ease her onto the bed, watching her face as I do.
“I’m going to make this good for you—so fucking good for you, baby,” I whisper against her skin, peppering kisses over her throat, collarbone, and chest. Anger flickers inside me as I notice the bruises again, then I move my lips lower.
I take one of her hard nipples into my mouth, swirling my tongue around the tip, and she arches her back off the bed. Her hands make their way into my hair, holding my face against her tit.
I wonder if I could make her fall apart with nothing more than my tongue on her nipple. I smile against her skin, saving it for another day. When I release her tit with a pop, I knead her other breast, rolling the nipple between two fingers, giving them equal attention.
By the time I pull my hands away, she’s panting, her eyes are dilated, and I’d bet anything if I dipped my finger inside her she’d be wet as the fucking ocean.
Stripped of my shirt already, I shuck my pants and boxers in one swoop and drop down to my knees, gripping Keira by the ankles and pulling her ass to the very edge of the mattress.
Propping herself up on her elbows, she licks h
er lips and eyes me, looking like a vixen.
“You going to watch me devour your pussy?” I growl, a possessiveness overtaking me. She belongs to me.
Mine.
The word vibrates inside my head, but I don’t think about what it means.
Without warning, I dive between her legs like a starved man. My fingers sink into her smooth flesh, and she lifts her hips with every lick of my tongue—as if she knows exactly what she fucking needs.
“Damon...” she gasps, her head falling back against the mattress. I smirk against her perfect pink pussy and grip her ass, lifting her hips upward, alternating between long licks and sucking on her little clit.
It doesn’t take long for her to start thrashing against the sheets. Pants and moans escape her lips, but I keep up my relentless pace until she falls off the fucking edge. Her pussy quivers, and her delicious sweet cream coats my tongue.
Her legs are still shaking, and her eyes are squeezed closed when I press a finger against her soaked entrance. The thick digit enters her easily. Fuck, how I wish it was my cock claiming her right now and not my finger.
I take a couple calming breaths, reminding myself it will be worth it.
Soon…so fucking soon.
I need her panting, soaked to the bone, and primed for my cock.
“You’re so beautiful when you come.” I nudge her legs wide and slowly insert a second finger, scissoring them. She mewls, placing her arm over her mouth—as if she’s worried the whole neighborhood may hear.
“Be loud, baby. Scream if necessary. Tell everyone how much you love the things I do to your body.” I want to hear her. I want to watch her face as she falls apart again and again. I want to swallow every last drop of her cum.
Using my thumb, I rub fast circles against her clit, all while moving two fingers in and out of her tight hole. My cock throbs, and all the blood in my body roars to life, beckoning me to take her. I push the need down and continue fingering her, bringing her closer and closer to oblivion with each stroke. Only a few more moments pass, and she’s coming again. Her orgasm drips down my hand as her pussy tightens around my fingers, damn near squeezing the life out of them.