Pretty Monsters

by Kimberly Carrillo

  I used to long for some relationship with him. I never saw him much growing up, but the times I did get to see him were the highlight of the few family vacations we took. Of course that all ended when I turned twelve, but I never forgot him. I don't think he can say the same.

  His eyes flicker up to my head. There's a bruise that is more green than purple and a healing gash that is mostly in my hairline. Carmen told me I'd likely have a small scar, but that no one would be able to see it easily because of where the gash is located.

  "About time you brought her back," he snaps, glaring at Sin.

  "He isn't my keeper," I seethe. Ford pulls me back when I take a step forward.

  "Get your hands off my sister," he says in a low, threatening tone.

  "I'm not your possession either." So far Sin isn't stepping in. I'm thankful for it, because I'm done being treated like a thing to pass around from one man to the next.

  He scrubs his hands across his face, and suddenly looks very tired. "No, you aren't my possession, but you are my responsibility."

  "No," Sin speaks up. "You lost that right when you tossed her against a dresser."

  "It was an accident!" Lucien shouts.

  "I hate to break it to both of you, but I'm no one's responsibility. Don't patronize me and think you can make my decisions," I say to both of them.

  Sin turns around, and the softness I've seen in him since this morning comes back. "That's not how I meant it. I promised I won't try and control you anymore."

  His hands cup my face. The gesture is gentle, but his hands are rough. The contrast makes me shiver with a renewed sense of want.

  He waits for the fog to clear from my eyes, a smirk playing on the edge of his mouth. "You are mine to protect, and I take that very seriously."

  "You've got to be kidding me. I told you not to touch my sister," Lucien snaps. He stands and moves toward Sin.

  Ford and Shane step forward to flank him, and Ford urges me back.

  "Why is that exactly?" Sin's voice has dropped. It's quiet, eerily calm, and laced with a threat that's more felt than heard.

  "Is it because you are trying to make a better deal for yourself with Damien? Are you using her as leverage to get a bigger piece of the empire?" Sin continues in the same tone.

  Lucien freezes, and his eyes open wide. "Is that what you think? You think I'd let that bastard get his hands on her and sell her to the highest bidder?"

  "You tell me," Sin pushes.

  "Fuck you!" Lucien spits. "I wanted you to stay away from her because she's too good for you. She doesn't belong in our world, Sin. I don't want you dragging her into it."

  "Maybe none of us belong in that world. It's not like I ever had a choice," Sin replies.

  "You're right. We didn't have a choice. The two of us are neck deep in shit and covered in blood. She's innocent of all that, and I'd like to keep her that way," Lucien explains.

  Ford puts his hand on Sin's shoulder and squeezes. "Remember, they don't get to tell you who you are."

  I overheard some of their conversation before they realized I was awake. If Ford hadn't earned best friend status last night, he certainly did now.

  "Sin," I try and get his attention. He stays rooted to the spot, frozen in another cycle of self-loathing. "Jackson," I say louder.

  He turns, and there's a wariness in his eyes. I cut a look at Lucien. My stare promises pain, and he takes a step back.

  Ignoring my asshole of a brother, I step closer to Sin until I'm flush against him. This time it's me who cradles his face. "Don't pull away from me again."

  He blinks and wraps his arms around me. His hold is tight, and I feel him shaking. I slip my arms around his waist and squeeze him back.

  "He's right, I don't deserve you," he says into the top of my head.

  "I think that's for me to decide," I chide.

  "You love her," Lucien says, astonished.

  Sin goes stiff in my arms.

  "I think that's for them to figure out," Ford snaps.

  "Fine, but this isn't just a hookup?" Lucien rephrases.

  Sin lets me go, but holds my hand. "No, it's not a hookup."

  Lucien sits back down. "Wow." He shakes his head. "Okay, I don't have to worry that you won't do everything it takes to keep her safe, I guess."

  "That's it?" I ask.

  He smiles sadly at me. "I'm sorry, little bird. I still see you as a little girl because I didn't get to see you grow up. You were the only person that belonged to me when I was younger, even though it was rare we got to see each other. I'm dealing with all sorts of big brother instincts I'm not used to."

  I step from behind Sin, and this time no one stops me. Dropping down next to Lucien, he gently lifts my hair and studies the cut on my head. "I'm so goddamn sorry I hurt you. I wasn't trying to, and I feel like the biggest piece of shit for causing you pain."

  "I can see that," I tell him. I'm not going to tell him it's okay, and I won't say I forgive him until I do.

  "Can you promise me something?" he asks me.

  I pull back from him, and his hand drops from my hair.

  "You don't trust me yet," he observes. "I'll prove it to you. Can you give me that chance?"

  "Yes. Is that what you wanted to ask me?"

  "Uhm." His face turns red, and he rubs his palms across his jeans. "No. I promise not to walk into your room without knocking and being told to come in. Can both of you promise not to get freaky while I'm home?"

  Sin laughs. "Yeah, that can be arranged."

  "Good." Lucien nods. "I'm going to pretend that all you do is hold hands while you sleep."

  Ford chuckles and Sin glares at him.

  "I feel like I've missed something," Lucien observes.

  "Oh, a ton," I confirm.

  "Do I want to know?" he asks.

  Ford and I say, "No," at the same time.

  Lucien looks to Sin. "Do I hate him?"

  Sin shrugs. "You can try, but the fucker is kinda hard to hate."

  "What else is going on?" Sin asks Lucien. "You still seem upset, and I don't think it has anything to do with Raven."

  "Going to work at Fallen Angels was a mistake," he answers. "I'm trying to keep a low profile, but I've noticed that almost all of the dancers are from a foreign country. Not just that, but they don't seem to speak English at all."

  "Shit," Sin curses.

  "I don't get it," Shane interrupts. "Yeah, it's a shitty and demoralizing job, but those women have families to take care of."

  Ford looks back and forth between Lucien and Sin. I'm glad my father never found him, because he seems to be on the same wavelength as them. "You don't think they chose to become exotic dancers, do you?"

  Lucien looks up at him and shakes his head. "No, I think they were trafficked. Likely from the former Soviet block. Mostly from Albania is my guess."

  "If that's the case–" Sin starts.

  "Then it's only a matter of time before my father finds us," Lucien finishes.

  "You need to keep your head down and find out for sure. Are there any cameras?" Sin asks.

  "No cameras, though there's an alarm on the basement and the owner's office. I think the girls are being kept in the basement."

  "Can you just quit?" Shane asks.

  Lucien's face goes hard. "Yeah, I can quit, and allow them to keep forcing women to dance for money they don't get to keep, and prostituting themselves against their wishes."

  "We need a backup hiding spot for the three of you," Ford says.

  Shane shrugs. "My grandpa pretty much gave me the cabin. I'm the only one who uses it. As long as no one at that club knows about us, then they won't be able to trace them to it."

  Lucien looks at me, and his face falls. "I'm sorry, Raven. I know walking away from this would keep you safer. I can't do that."

  "No, you can't. Hey, Luce–"

  "Yeah, little bird," he replies waiting for me to finish.

  "I forgive you."

  He smiles. "Let's save those girls, th
en forgive me."

  I shake my head. "No. I forgive you because despite what you think about yourself, what you were raised to be, you're the kind of man who will risk it all to protect those who can't protect themselves."

  Ford and Shane say their goodbyes, and for the first time in days it's just the three of us in the apartment.

  It's still awkward between Lucien and Sin, a divide made wider by the fact that Sin has other people in his life for the first time.

  "I take it they know everything?" Lucien asks.

  "Most of it. Not specifics, but yeah, they know who we are and what the situation we're running from is," Sin replies.

  "And you trust them?"

  Sin shrugs. "As much as I trust just about anyone."

  He turns to me and strokes his hand down my arm. "I've got something I need to do on my laptop. Are you okay being alone with him? I'll just be in the other room."

  "Yeah," I tell him. There's a catch in my voice from the unexpected physical contact. I can tell he's not preventing himself from feeling anything for me anymore.

  He leaves us, and I notice Lucien studying our interaction. "He's different with you."

  "I think he's real with me," I state. I'm done listening to him put Sin down and tell me why he isn't good enough.

  "You're protective of him," he observes.

  I shrug. I won't bother denying it. "Someone needs to be."

  Lucien wipes his hand down his face, like he can scrub away his weariness. "I did the best I could, you know. I fought for every concession we were able to get from our father. It wasn't much, but at least it helped preserve his soul."

  "And what about yours?"

  "Look in the mirror and ask yourself that. I know I asked you to forgive me, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to."

  "When do you have to get ready to leave?" I don't want him to dwell on that anymore today. He doesn't have another day off for two days, since the day we left was one of his split days off, and it's clear he needs a break.

  "Not for a couple of hours," he replies, suspicious of my question.

  I knock on the door to the bedroom and poke my head in. "I'm going to take Lucien downstairs and introduce him to Teddy and the girls if they are still around."

  Sin's hair is sticking up haphazardly. He's wearing a pair of glasses I didn't even know he needed, and has a sexy nerd vibe that is so contrary to the usual lethality he exudes.

  I bite my lip, and his eyes focus on the gesture. "Like the glasses, princess?" The husky timbre of his voice lets me know he already knows the answer.

  I nod anyway. "Yeah," I squeak.

  "Does this have anything to do with teacher boy?" His muscles tense, and I realize Ford isn't the only one he's jealous of.

  "Nope. I just have a thing for hot nerds."

  "Hmm," he hums. "When you come back remind me to explain to you how I'm programming spyware for Lucien to use so we can remotely monitor the strip club. The sooner we can watch them offsite, the sooner he can get out."

  I wink at him. "Flirt."

  Playful Sin is a surprising development, and I can't wait to get back and explore this side of him. First, though, I have a brother to cheer up, and there's only one person on the planet so infectiously happy you can't help but cheer up around. Teddy.

  Only seconds after I knock, Ford is there to let us in. Shirtless. I let my eyes take him in. We might have decided to be only friends, but a half naked Ford isn't a sight to be taken for granted.

  He smirks, catching me checking him out. "Miss me already, firecracker?"

  "Does he have a shirt?" Lucien complains.

  Ignoring Lucien, I roll my eyes at Ford. "I definitely miss views of you half naked. You should spend more time like this."

  "Agreed," Jen shouts from somewhere inside.

  "Damnit, Jen! Ford, put on a damn shirt," Shane shouts.

  "Why did you bring me down here?" Lucien asks.

  "To get you out of your head for a bit. Come on," I urge and pull on his arm, towing him inside with me.

  Immediately his attention is stolen by the video game Amber and Teddy are playing. The same one they were playing before we went to the cabin. Teddy notices his interest, and holds out the controller to him. "Do you play?"

  Lucien looks him over, then Amber, before answering him. "Never had much time, but I've always wanted to."

  "No time like the present," Teddy says with his usual wide grin in place.

  Teddy's personality is so large, I hadn't really catalogued his appearance. Shane and Ford are ridiculously good-looking, I'm not sure why I hadn't recognized Teddy could hold his own with them.

  When he stands up he's nearly as tall as Lucien. He's leaner than Ford, but built like a swimmer, ropey muscles rippling under his clothes. The hair that constantly flops in his face looks like it belongs on a rock star, somehow artfully messy. His eyes are a deep green and always seem to be smiling.

  Jen drops her arm around my shoulder. "The sneaky hotness of Teddy just hit you, didn't it?"

  "How did I not notice?" I whisper.

  She shrugs a single shoulder. "Ford and Shane are both intense and Teddy is always being a little goofy. I think he does it on purpose. He's really not comfortable when we gush over him."

  "Huh." That's all I can come up with.

  Amber and Teddy have Lucien's undivided attention while he tries to learn to play their game. I'm concerned to see Amber leaning against him, her breasts pressed against his arm, but Teddy doesn't seem bothered.

  "I should tell Luce that Amber and Teddy are a thing," I say quietly enough that only Jen hears me.

  She shakes her head. "We've all got our stories. Most of us it's just getting freaky with Ford."

  Speaking of the devil, he comes and drapes his arms around our shoulders. "Not all of us like groups though, but for you two–"

  Shane walks past and slaps Ford on the back of the head. "Jackass," he mutters on his way to the kitchen.

  Ford laughs, and drops his arms. "He just makes riling him up too easy."

  For the next two hours Lucien relaxes, and morphs into the twenty-one-year-old man I think he would have been without the black cloud of Damien Blackthorne hanging over his head.

  21

  Harbinger

  Raven

  Lucien leaves for work, and I'm alone with Sin for the first time in days. More importantly, this is the first time we've been alone since the status of what we are changed. Except, I'm not sure exactly what we are.

  He takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes. They're a bit bloodshot from staring at the computer for the last few hours. Placing them back in the case, he unfolds himself from the bed. I fight the urge to lick my lips, he's got a big enough ego.

  "Let's get out of here," he says, and stretches out the kinks created by sitting too long.

  "Anywhere in particular?" Watching his muscles roll is giving me ideas that do not involve leaving.

  Slowly, he moves forward. The intense look on his face causes me to step back instinctually. Not watching where I'm going, my back hits the wall. Putting his arms on either side of me, I'm caged between the wall and his body.

  "Keep looking at me like that, and I'm going to change my mind. I've got energy to burn through, princess, and you don't want it all focused on you."

  "Try me." My chin tips up stubbornly, issuing a challenge I'm not sure my body is up for.

  He growls. "Not this time." Grabbing my arm, he pulls me out of the room.

  Wherever we are headed, it's got to be in walking distance. We've only got the truck, and Lucien drives it to work. I'm surprised when we stop at Ford, Shane, and Teddy's apartment. Sin knocks, and Ford steps out like he was expecting us.

  "Did you make a decision about my offer?" Ford asks.

  "Yeah, I'm in," Sin tells him.

  "In what? What offer?" I ask.

  "Just a business venture," Ford answers evasively.

  "Ford has a building he bought as an investment. He wants to run a g
ym and a security business out of it," Sin offers more information.

  Ford grunts in approval. "Good, I'm glad you're being upfront with her."

  "What role would you play in security?" Ford is my best friend, but I won't let him use Sin in the ways he has been used in the past. There's a lot I still don't know about Ford, and my suspicious nature is causing me to hold back a little.

  "Calm down, firecracker." He holds out his keys. "How about I explain on the drive?"

  Sin and I follow him to his SUV. They both climb in the front, so I get in the back. Ford doesn't start explaining until he pulls away from the parking lot.

  He swallows hard. "My dad isn't as bad as yours, but he's not a good guy."

  "I don't think my pain is worse than yours," I whisper. "I grew up isolated, yes, but in a way it was a blessing. I have been removed from my father's evil. Sin and Lucien saved me from it when it finally caught up with me."

  "Well, I wasn't removed from mine. I was there every time he backhanded my mother because of some imaginary infraction. She met Tessa’s dad and left, and I took her place after that. Until I was strong enough to fight back that is. But, it's not enough."

  So much pain fills the inside of this car. Mine, Sin's, and now Ford's. It vibrates in the air, crackling like electricity. What we do with it will decide if we become victims or survivors.

  "For a long time I've wanted to do something to help other women and children living the same hell I did."

  "What does that have to do with a gym and security business?" I ask.

  "We're going to teach women to defend themselves, find them resources to leave, hide them if we need to, and help erase their identities if they need to run," he explains.

  Sin wears a determined expression. Here I am being suspicious of Ford's motives, and he's handing Sin the one thing that can pull him from the darkness he's lived his entire life in; a purpose.

  There's only a few miles between the apartment and the building Ford owns. It might as well be worlds apart. There aren't any apartment buildings on this side of town. There are factories and warehouses, and little else.