Almost everyone here is with someone, or spoken for, and I’ve no wish to invite more beatings tonight for interfering. Money buys privacy, but when those surrounding you are just as wealthy as you are, tongues wag and rumors spread like wildfire through a dry brush. I sit at the bar alone, chatting idly with the bartender, and knocking back the whiskey as though it’s water. I should have gone to one of the other clubs in town, one that’s not owned and run by the families.
Deciding to do exactly that, I drain the glass and place it on the counter before I pay for my drinks and then leave the premises. There’s another club, not too far from here that’s less upscale, and a lot more lively. I’m hoping to find some fun, and a few more drinks before I head home for the night. I need to find someone willing to have some no strings fun and get some of this pent-up desire out of my system. I’m hoping a quick, hot fuck will do the trick.
I’m way overdressed for a nightclub, so I strip off my tie, flick open the top button of my shirt and roll up the sleeves on my jacket and shirt. I’m still dressed too formally, but at least I won’t stand out quite so much now. I’ve always seemed to draw attention wherever I go, but I don’t need the whole damn club staring at me when I walk through the doors. Approaching the bouncer, I flash my ID and wander into the club, which is bustling with people and music so loud the floor is vibrating with the bass.
My heart thuds in time with the beat, and I let it roll through my body until my blood is pulsing with more energy than I’ve felt in a long time without finishing the night with blood on my hands. That’s not my intent tonight, I want to have some fun, unwind, and get laid. I relax my body and move in time to the heavy music thumping through the club, losing myself in the writhing mass of dancing bodies. How long has it been since I truly let go?
I shed the weight of expectation and propriety and allow myself to enjoy this moment of freedom from everything that has ever tied me down and held me captive to the life I was born into. I’m sweating by the time I venture over to the bar for a drink. The buzz from the alcohol I drank at The Society club is fading, replaced by the adrenaline sizzling through my blood, but the heat from so many people in such a confined space has left me parched. I lean on the wooden bar and order a drink, taking a moment to catch my breath and slow my racing heart. Draining the glass, I feel the delicious burn of the alcohol mixed with the chill of the ice in my throat, and enjoy the warm flavor hitting my taste buds.
Looking down at the people lined up along the bar, some waiting to be served, and others like me, taking a moment away from the dance floor to watch and catch our breaths. I meet the eye of a pretty brunette at the other end of the bar and when I wink at her she blushes and smiles back at me. Encouraged, I weave through the crowd of people until I’m standing right beside her.
Leaning close, I whisper in her ear, loud enough to be heard over the music, but not loud enough for anyone else to hear. “Wanna have some fun?”
She turns her head and brushes her lips over mine in acceptance of my invitation. I grab her hand, leading her around the edge of the club in search of a more private area. We go through a door and into a narrow hallway that’s surprisingly empty. She kisses me again, and I oblige her hungry mouth. I run my hands over the soft curves of her body, relishing the breathy moans when I cup her tits and run my thumbs over her nipples through her dress. She drops her hands from my shoulders and fumbles with my zipper, freeing my cock.
I’ve barely lifted the hem of her dress when a voice cuts through the moment and tears me out of it. “You’re not supposed to be out here, get out!”
I look up at the angry face of the bartender and let the girl go. She scurries away back through the door and disappears into the crowd. I quickly rearrange myself, and scowl at the man in front of me.
“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to finish what she started?” I smirk, eyeing him up and down.
The haze of the alcohol loosens my tongue and inhibitions, and I gesture at my still hard cock, while staring him dead in the eye.
“As tempting as that may be, I’ve a job to do,” he snaps, and gestures at the door leading back into the madness of the club.
“Maybe some other time,” I growl, narrowing my eyes at him and then push past him and reenter the fray of moving people.
The girl is long gone, and I’m no longer in the mood to try and score another potential fuck. As I step out into the cool night air, the alcohol buzz sets in, making my thoughts swim. I’m coherent and cognitive enough to order an uber to get me home, but this little trip is over. I’m angry, drunk, disappointed, and unsatisfied, everything I was before I stepped into the building behind me. This was a complete waste of time; I’m done for the night.
Chapter Twelve
Ethan
A crash in the hallway jerks me out of sleep and I grab the heaviest object at hand—one of my boots—before venturing slowly out of my bedroom. Who the fuck would be stupid enough to break into the Johnson property, and why haven’t the security alarms gone off? Or maybe they’ve figured out who I am and they’re coming to finish me off. I discard that last thought. If whoever it is has broken in to kill me, they would’ve been a hell of a lot stealthier about it.
“Fuck,” a familiar voice slurs, and I drop the boot on the floor where it lands with a thud and flick the light switch on.
Dim yellow light floods the hallway and I see a disheveled and clearly drunk Devin squinting and blinking in the sudden light.
“Devin, what the fuck are you doing here?” I demand, taking in his appearance.
His tie is gone, his shirt and jacket sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and his usually carefully styled hair is a mess.
“This is my family’s house, I can go wherever I please,” he responds with the arrogance I’m used to hearing filling his tone.
“Not when I’m living here, you can’t,” I say, crossing my arms across my chest.
Devin doesn’t answer, and I realize he’s staring at me with a hungry look in his glazed eyes. I glance down at myself and realize why he’s suddenly gone quiet. In my haste to apprehend the intruder, I didn’t bother to pull on any clothes, and I’m standing in front of him wearing nothing but a pair of boxers.
“Get out of here, Devin. You’re drunk and need to sleep,” I sigh, moving down the hallway and past him, opening the front door.
He walks toward me, slowly and unsteadily, and I raise my eyebrow, doubting his ability to make it across the grounds and into the main house without hurting himself or rousing the entire household. I wait for him to leave, but he shuts the door and steps into my personal space. The scent of whiskey and Devin fills my nose as he presses against me. I lift my hands to gently push him away, but he slaps them aside and kisses me. I’m taken by surprise at the ferocity of his lips and tongue hungrily seeking entrance to my mouth, and I find myself granting him permission. The hot flavor of his tongue and whiskey permeates my mouth and I push him back, more forcefully this time.
“You’re drunk, stop it,” I bark at him.
He chuckles, “I’m not drunk enough that I don’t know what I want, Ethan. You’re not blind to the fact I want you, and given the way you kissed me back just then, I don’t think you’re as immune to me as you’d like to think you are.”
Fuck. Even as inebriated as Devin is right now, he’s still annoyingly perceptive.
“You caught me by surprise, and I stopped you,” I throw back at him.
“That may be true, but not before you let me have a taste,” he says with a smirk.
I can think of no response to that, and the truth of his words fills me with shame. I hate everything this man stands for and the wealth that allowed his Society to get away with murder, but the truth is, I’m attracted to him, and I hate it with every fiber of my being. He moves closer, and I take a step back, but he follows, stalking me like a predator until I’ve nowhere to go. I shove him away, but he keeps on coming. His eyes flash dangerously when I glare at him and push away once ag
ain. Devin moves back in for the kill, quicker than I expected him to in his current state and he wraps his hand firmly around my throat before sliding his hand down the front of my boxers to grip my dick.
“Fuuuuck,” I curse, hissing the expletive between my teeth when he slides his hand down the length and rubs his thumb over the head.
“You’re a fucking liar, Ethan,” he murmurs huskily, releasing my dick and tugging my underwear down to get better access.
I grab his hand to stop him, but he just tightens his grip on my throat and moves closer until my dick is pressed against his body. I glance down and see the obvious tenting in his slacks as he rubs it against me with a groan.
“Stop,” I grit out through my teeth.
“I don’t think that’s really what you want, is it? If you did, then you’d be stopping me from doing this,” he says, releasing my throat and dropping to his knees in front of me.
I go to push him away as he grips my ass with his hands and runs his tongue down the length of my dick. I shouldn’t let him do this. He’s drunk, and I’m taking advantage of him by allowing him to do this to me. I try to remind myself that he’s the enemy, but damn it all to hell, I don’t want him to stop what he’s doing to me right now.
Chapter Thirteen
Devin
Ethan is trying to push me away, but I’ve finally got him where I want him, vulnerable, pliant, and with his thick cock in my mouth. I’ve had enough drinks to lose control of my perfect facade, and be unsteady on my feet, but I have enough comprehension within the alcohol induced haze to be aware of what I’m doing. He’s right to try and stop me, but I don’t care enough to obey. Besides, I’m the one who should be making all the rules, and I’ve decided he needs to shut up and fuck my face.
I swipe my tongue around the length of his cock, tasting the hot clean skin, before dragging it slowly down to the head. I wrap my lips around the head and suck deeply, all the while flicking my tongue lightly over the tip and eliciting a shuddery moan from him. Ethan is putty in my hands, and his cock is hot and pulsing in my mouth, and I’m aching to see how far I can push him. I want to see him delirious with need and then I want to leave him as strung out as he’s been making me.
I tease him with long strokes, and alternate between taking him deep into my throat and sucking on his head, working him up more and more. I squeeze his ass in my hands and run my fingers down the seam to tease his asshole with my fingertips, brushing lightly over it. Ethan loses control, grabs my hair, and starts fucking my throat like a man possessed. Encouraged by his urgent need, I press my finger inside of him, bringing forth a gasped moan and a jerk of his hips that hits the back of my throat and makes me gag around him. He lets out a growl and his ass tenses, tightening around my finger which is now buried to the knuckle inside him.
Just as I think he’s about to come, I try to move away but he holds me in place with a snarl, “No. You started this so you’re going to finish it. Take it all.”
I groan around his cock, and he jerks his hips forward so his pelvis is flush with my face. He holds me in place, and I swallow around his length as best I can. He grunts in pleasure, coming down my throat and giving me every drop of his orgasm until he’s spent and releases me. I gulp down lungfuls of air as I move away, and just to taunt him, I slowly lick my lips. Ethan pulls his boxers back up over his hips, shaking his head.
“We shouldn’t have done that. I need you to leave, Devin,” he says, sounding tired and regretful.
“You don’t get to fuck my mouth like that and then leave me high and dry,” I snap.
“This won’t work. Don’t convince yourself otherwise. I had a momentary lapse in judgement, but I can’t do this with you, Devin.
“I’m not about to let this go, Ethan,” I insist, getting to my feet and grabbing him by the arm when he turns to walk away.
I never chase, so why am I now? What is it about him that I can’t leave alone or ignore?
“You’re drunk and don’t know what you’re saying or doing, and I shouldn’t have let you do that,” he hisses, yanking out of my grip.
“I knew exactly what I was doing when I let you fuck my mouth like you owned it. You’re just afraid to admit you enjoyed it,” I say, curling my lip with disgust as I move past him for the door.
I’m stopped by his hand on my shoulder, pulling me back toward him so my back is flush with his front, and he whispers in my ear, “What part of me didn’t seem to enjoy that?”
“Well you seemed awfully eager to run off and shut me out right after you had your fun,” I bite out.
My heart is racing because this is a side I’ve never seen to Ethan before. His little clever, nerdy persona has been stripped away, and beneath it is an angry man set on something. I don’t know what he wants, but right now I’m on edge and wound tighter than a bowstring waiting for him to snap and do something about whatever’s worked him up. I hope it’s me, and if he’s going to vent any of the pent-up emotion, I want it to be with me. I want to feel his anger, his frustration, and most of all I want to feel him lose control with me again.
Ethan makes a sound that’s somewhere between frustration and a moan, and I feel him press his lips against my neck, as he slides his hand around my hip and into the front of my pants. He pushes me forward, so I’m forced to lean against the wall and stands directly behind me, our bodies lined up perfectly. I can feel the heat of him seeping through my clothes, and I bite my lip when he reaches around to undo my pants.
His mouth finds my ear, and his hot breath on my cheek makes me shiver, and my eyes roll back in my head when he fists my cock, sliding his hand up and down my length before he whispers, “This is never going to happen ever again.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ethan
The next morning I’m filled with regret as I recall the previous night. Devin caught me by surprise, but I’m only lying to myself when I tell myself that I didn’t enjoy it, that I didn’t want him. I feel conflicted, and that’s the last thing I need in the middle of setting him and the rest of The Society up to take a hearty fall from grace and power. When this is over, if Devin realizes it was me, if he ever finds me, he’s never going to forgive me. Good. I don’t want his forgiveness. I want his anguish, not his sympathy.
I know for a fact that once I’ve done this there’ll be no coming back. To Silvercrest. To this life. To my family. Not unless I want to suffer the same fate as my little sister. Katy’s face swims into my mind, and my heart throbs with the pain I’m forcibly repressing. I mustn’t lose sight of why I’m here, not when the time to act is within reach. In another week, or two at most, everything will be in place. I just need to keep a hold on myself until I can hit the button to shut this whole charade of theirs down.
I’m almost ready. Nearly everything's in place now. I’ve spent the last week sifting through hundreds of lines of code, planting my sleepers, and burying them deep in the network that functions most, if not all of The Society. Had Devin not been determined to avoid me after the night he burst in drunk and sucked my dick like a goddamned popsicle, I wouldn’t have progressed as quickly as I have.
I’ve not been able to gain access to everything I was hoping to, but I’ve managed to carefully break through some of the more complex firewalls that protect the accounts of the Johnson family. They had a lot more to their name than I anticipated, and almost all of it comes from legitimate business, although some of Mr. Johnson’s transactions had me a little puzzled as I couldn’t trace their origins no matter how deep I dug.
I’m looking through some of the last of the recorded footage leading up to Katy’s death. It was a bitch to find. The original recording had been deleted, but I managed to scavenge the data from the hard drive, which had been corrupted almost beyond repair. I could have simply checked the approximate date and time of her murder and looked for it at the first opportunity I had, but something held me back. I wanted to see if I could understand the why behind the ruthless and cruel act that took her from
my family.
My stomach clenches as I begin to run through the night of her death. Some of the footage is completely corrupted, and it’s not possible for me to repair it. Eventually I find a clear portion of the recording showing the masquerade ball which would end up being the last night of her life, ending in bloodshed and tears. I almost don’t want to watch, and had I not seen the photo Mom had taken of Katy all dressed up for the night, I wouldn’t have known which of the girls she was beneath the mask, not on the CCTV footage, that is.
My mouth is dry, and as I fast forward through the recording I spot something that makes me pause and rewind to watch at normal speed. Katy is dancing and laughing with a young man in a mask, who I’m presuming is Sebastian if the fact she kisses him is any indicator, but I spot at least two people whose gazes don’t leave Katy and Sebastian for a single second. I can’t tell who they are, but when Katy leaves the dance floor, one of them swoops in and takes her place. The other stalks her out of the room. Frantically, I switch to find the next camera, and load up the recording, zooming in as best I can.
She’s arguing with the masked man, who looks to be getting more and more annoyed by the second. I curse the lack of sound as I watch closely with my hands clenched tightly around the arms of my chair, my knuckles white and strained with tension. When he releases her, I see Katy say something before she turns to walk away and he grabs her by the arm, stopping her in her tracks. He grabs her by the throat, pushing her up against the wall while he speaks.
I silently praise her when she fights against him. They start to struggle and my blood runs cold when I see her movements stop. I watch helplessly as he checks her over, for signs of life maybe, but even here I can see the blood pooling beneath her skull. She must have hit her head in the struggle, or when he pushed her up against the wall. Another man enters the room and drags the man who killed my sister away from her dead body, leaving her alone on the cold marble floor bleeding out her final moments.
The Society Page 29