“WHERE DID YOU get these?” I ask barely over a whisper.
“I got these in the mail one day. Anonymously.”
I’m seeing fucking red. He lied to me. Why didn’t I fucking question him? The Lords have taught us that it’s never what it seems. But I’m the idiot that believed every-fucking-thing he said. Why else would he have had those pictures of her?
I take the curves faster than I should, my gun sitting on top of the center console. The headlights of her car shining on the two-lane road. She’s passed out in the back seat, and her father sits quietly in the passenger seat.
“You think my father framed you?” I ask, tightening my grip on the steering wheel.
“That’s been my thought for the last nine years. Of course, I’ve been wrong about things before,” he states, looking out the window. “I just don’t think Laura could have pulled it off herself.”
“I’m not saying my father wasn’t involved but could James have been in on it too?” I ask.
“Your guess is as good as mine.” He looks over his shoulder into the back seat to see she’s asleep before looking at me. “Elli had mentioned that you were going to marry a woman named Amelia?”
I snort. “That was my father’s plan. Not mine.” Giving him a quick look, I ask, “Why?”
“Because…” He pauses. “We had a different plan.” I give him a quick look when he continues, “You and Ellington were to marry.”
“Wait. You and my father had agreed for me and her to get married?” I make sure I heard him right.
“Yeah,” he nods. “She was to be your chosen and then you’d get married.”
A rough laugh escapes my lips that I can’t stop. “Fucking perfect.”
“What is?”
“I begged him to do whatever it took to make her my chosen and he said you didn’t want her involved with the Lords in any way. Her mother too.”
“You’re born into this life. You don’t get to choose to leave when you want.” He looks back at her again. “Remember that when you two have kids.” A soft smile spreads across his face. “God, how I wish I could be there to see that day.” Bowing his head, he runs his hand over his hair. “I missed so much. She’s lucky she has you.”
I flinch at his words. “Don’t say that. You don’t know what I’ve done to get us to where we’re at.” I’ve lied to her and manipulated her so much that I’m not sure she’ll ever trust me. I mean, she’s still been letting me fuck her even thinking that I was cheating on her with Amelia while engaged to marry her. How far would I have to go for her to turn her back on me? I hope I never find out.
“Why would he lie to me?” I question out loud. “Why push me on to Amelia when you two had agreed we’d marry?”
“Money,” he answers.
“How would keeping me from her equal money from them? Elli gets access to her trust fund at twenty-five, but no one can touch that. I mean, I guess they could if they somehow deemed her unfit. But that’d have to include an institute of some sort.” Parents have done it before. I’ve seen it among the Lords. When money gets involved, people go feral. Even the ones that are already set for life. They do it out of spite. “But again, it doesn’t make sense—I would think he’d want her to be my wife because he would want access to her money through me if I was her husband.” I’d never let that happen.
“Asher Corp,” he states, sitting up straighter in his seat.
“What about it?”
He looks over at me. “The stipulation was you marry Elli and Asher Corp was to be hers. Of course, you would help her run it. If there’s no wedding, Laura can hand it over to anyone she wants. Including your father.”
Asher Corp is the largest gun and ammo manufacturer in the world. Nicholas’s great-great-grandfather started it and it’s been passed down ever since. Elli was the first daughter to be born to the Asher family in over two centuries. That I know of, anyway.
It’s not unheard of for the Lords to ‘sell’ their daughters after they were born. They didn’t add to the Lord army they were trying to achieve. Men meant power. Women meant nothing. But that was back before my parents’ time. I think along the way the Lords realized that they need the women to produce the children. They were cutting off their own noses to spite their faces. Now, I can’t say that the Lords aren’t still doing that today, some don’t like change and will do anything in order to achieve what they want. But you’d have to be a sick son of a bitch to sell your child on the black market just because she can’t carry on your name.
_______________
I LAY ELLI in our bed and she rolls over, turning her back to me but still asleep. I enter the living room, heading to the kitchen for some water, when my cell rings. “Hey, man, now’s not a good time,” I greet Prickett.
“Bad day?” he asks.
“Something like that.” I’m still shaking at the thought of my father taking advantage of her. How many times did he see her in that position? How many of those pictures in that box did he take? She doesn’t remember my father ever being involved. Did James want it that way, or was that something my father wanted? She grew up around my family, knew he was her father’s best friend. So it would make sense that he didn’t want her knowing his involvement.
“Well, let me make it better for you.” He chuckles at himself and my teeth grind. “I just walked into Blackout and guess who I see?” He doesn’t let me answer. “Holland.”
“I’m on my way.” His growing laughter fills my ear as I hang up. “I’m leaving. Can you stay here with her?” I ask Nicholas, entering the kitchen.
He nods, sitting at the island with a bottle of bourbon in front of him. “I have nowhere else to go.” I notice that he’s still wearing the same clothes that he was dropped off in three days ago. I’ll get him some new ones but right now, I don’t have time to worry about it. At least they let him wear something. The guy in the straitjacket comes to mind, reminding me it could be worse.
Turning around, I go to the spare room and open the safe I have. Pulling out a gun, I secure the safe and then find Nicholas now in the living room. That same bottle of bourbon now on the coffee table. “Can I trust you?” I ask, holding it out to him.
He glares at me, offended by my question. “To be alone with my daughter? Of course.”
I hand him the gun. “Shoot anyone that tries to enter this house.” If I’m being honest with myself, I do trust him with Elli. I think Nicholas had some enemies who pretended to be friends and fucked him over for greed.
“You think Linc will come after her?” He reads my mind.
“I think anything is possible, and if I’m not here, I can’t protect her. So I need you to do it.”
He nods, taking the gun and relaxing back into the couch. “You have my word. Anyone other than you walks into this house, they’re dead.”
It’ll have to do for now. I pull my cell out of my pocket and call Tyson.
“Hello?” he answers on the third ring.
He said he wanted me to let him know when I was going to do something stupid over pussy. This is that time. “Heads-up. I’m coming to Blackout to kill a motherfucker,” I state, walking back toward the master suite.
“Sin—”
“You told me to give you a heads-up. This is it.”
He sighs heavily. “Who is it?”
“Holland.” I step inside the room to tell my wife goodbye, but I see she’s no longer in our bed.
“I’ll get the basement ready for you,” Tyson tells me.
Looking around, I see the bathroom door cracked. Entering, I find her sitting in the shower, back against the tiled wall and head down on her knees.
“Sin?” he questions at my silence.
“Never mind,” I interrupt him, hanging up. I send a quick text to Prickett, telling him I’ll take a rain check but thanks for the heads-up.
Placing my cell on the counter, I remove my shirt and kick off my shoes before I pull off my socks and get out of my jeans. The thought of beating the shit out of Holland sounded good. It was exactly what I needed. But as I see my wife upset and softly crying in the shower alone, he can wait. He doesn’t deserve a moment of my time. She does.
He already took her from me for the two days she went through withdrawals, and I hated every second of it. There was nothing I could do to make it better. But right here, right now, I can do something for her. Show her what no one else has ever done—that she comes first.
Opening the glass door, I step inside and bend down in front of her. “Elli?” Reaching out, I push the wet strands that cover her legs while her head is down. “Ellington?” I say more assertively when she chooses to ignore me. Sighing, I push my hand between her face and knee, and force her to look up at me. Watery ice-blue eyes avoid meeting mine.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
I grab her arms and yank her to stand.
“Sin. Stop.” She sniffs, trying to push me away, but I pin her back to the tiled wall and wrap my hand around her throat, pushing my body into hers, holding her in place.
“Don’t fucking apologize to me, Elli.”
She swallows. “If I hadn’t—”
“It’s not your fault,” I interrupt her. “You hear me? None of it was your fault.” Letting out a long breath, I lean in and gently kiss her forehead. “I’m the one that’s sorry.” Pulling back, my hand around her throat moves to cup her face while my thumb runs over her bottom lip. “I should have been there for you. I promise you that my father will pay for what he’s done. And everyone else who has ever laid their hands on you. Do you understand me?” I can’t guarantee that I’ll be the one to kill the fucking bastards, but I will make sure it’s done.
Raising her arms, she drapes them around my neck, pushing her naked body flush with mine. “No, Sin. Don’t do anything. Please. I don’t want you in trouble with the Lords.”
I snort. They’re why she’s had the life she’d had. “I’m not afraid of them.” I’ve already promised myself to Carnage. The Lords can’t do shit to me.
“I just want to move on.” She licks her wet lips. “And have a life with you.” Lowering her voice, she adds, “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I flinch at her words and hope that she doesn’t notice. “I’m not going anywhere, little demon,” I lie to her. The last thing I need is for her to think I’m leaving. That I’ve made a deal that I can’t go back on. It’s for her. Everything I do is for her, but she won’t understand that.
She reaches up, pressing her lips to mine and I slide my hand into her hair, tilting her head back, devouring her. She moans into mine; I growl into hers. Lifting her leg, she wraps it around my hip, and I drop my free hand to it, digging my fingers into her soft skin.
I pull away and she looks up at me through her watery lashes. “I need you.” Pulling her leg free from my grip, she falls to her knees in the middle of the shower and looks up at me. Eyes heavy and lips swollen. “Fuck me, Sin. Please.” She runs her hands up and down her thighs, her knees opening and closing.
Reaching up, she grabs my hand and places my thumb in her mouth, sucking on it.
I groan, pulling it free of her lips, and her eyes fall to my cock to see it’s hard for her. I always am. “Stay on your knees,” I command, exiting the shower. Grabbing the belt from my jeans, I join her once again. “Hands behind your back,” I order, stepping behind her.
She bows her head, her heavy breathing able to be heard over the sound of the shower running. Bringing her arms behind her back, I take the leather belt and wrap it tightly around her upper arms, pulling her shoulders back and pushing her chest out. She whimpers when I buckle it in place. I grip her wet hair and yank her head back, forcing her to look up at me. Bending at the waist, I lean over her from behind, capturing her lips with an upside-down kiss while my free hand drops between her legs. She wiggles her hips, and I swallow her whimper. Running my hand up her stomach and to her breast, her hips pick up, begging me to play with her pussy again.
I deny her.
Slowing down the kiss, I pull my lips from hers and she sucks in a deep breath. My fingers pinch her pierced nipple, making her whimper before I wrap it around her neck. “Keep your mouth open.”
She nods the best she can with my other hand still wrapped in her hair. I spit into her mouth and watch it run down her tongue to the back of her throat. “Good girl,” I praise her when she doesn’t gag.
I’m enabling her. She needs a sexual fix just like she needs to get high. I may have burned her drugs, but sex? Fuck, I’ll give her all the fucking sex she wants. I’ll mark her as much as I can before this is over. I want her lying in bed alone and her pussy wet just thinking of the things I’ve done to her, knowing no other man will be able to satisfy her like I could. Letting go of her neck, I keep my hand in her hair, twisting it tighter as I move to stand in front of her.
She’s panting, knees spread wide, tongue still out, the warm water spraying at her back.
I slap her pretty face, loving the way that she gasps while she pushes her chest farther out and the way her pierced nipples harden. Taking my cock in my hand, I slide into her willing mouth. Her cheeks hollow, sucking me in deeper.
Throwing my head back, I groan. “Goddammit.” She’s always been good at sucking dick. Lowering my head, I watch her bob her head up and down as I fuck her mouth. “You want me to use you?”
She pulls back, my cock popping free of her lips. “Yes,” she pants. “Please—”
I drag her by her hair over to where the bench is, pushing her back into it. She sits on her ass on the floor, legs out in front of her. My hand fisting in her hair yanks her head back, resting her neck against the sharp edge of the bench and she cries out. I take advantage of it and push inside of her again. Holding her pinned in place against the bench.
My free hand comes up to the wall and I raise my right foot onto the bench by her head, and I slam my cock down her tight fucking throat, making her gag at this angle. “Fuck, little demon. That’s what I want to hear from you.” Her watery eyes stare up at me while her gagging and slurping fill the hot shower. “Fuck, Elli.” I groan when she swallows with my cock at the back of her throat, creating a vacuum sensation around my dick.
Adjusting myself, I lower my foot to the floor of the shower. Bending my knees up against the side of the bench, I slide both hands into her wet hair, pulling her neck from the bench and controlling her head while I fuck her mouth.
I’m gasping, balls tightening, and I want to come down her throat so bad, but I take what little will power I have and pull out. Spit flies from her mouth as I pull her to her feet. Turning her away from me, I push her down face-first to the hard tile bench.
I slap her ass, making her yelp, and order, “Place your left knee on the bench.” It’s not deep enough where I can bend her over it, so we’ve got to go at an angle.
She does as she’s told, and I do the same, pinning it up against the wall. Her face, chest, and stomach lying down on it. Her right leg hanging off the side and on the floor.
I use my right foot on the floor to spread her wide open for me. I slide my cock into her tight cunt and start fucking her while her cries and whimpers fill the shower. “I’m only coming in this cunt from now on, Elli.” She’s going to get pregnant, even if it kills me.
She’s gasping, her body sliding back and forth on the wet bench. My free hand reaches out, wrapping around the buckle of the belt that ties her arms together, and grabs a hold of it.
Her pussy clenches on my cock and her voice rings out with my name as she comes all over me. I slam into her a few more times before my dick pulses inside of her.
Pulling out, I let go of her to open the shower door and grab a towel. I turn off the water and dry her off, then myself. Wrapping a hand around her upper arm, I pull her into the bedroom and over to the bed. “On your stomach,” I order her.
She crawls onto the bed, lying flat. I slap her thigh. “Ass up in the air, legs spread. I want to see my cum dripping out of you, Elli.”
Pulling her legs up underneath her, she spreads them wide. No shame at opening herself up for me. I shove two fingers into her, and she pushes against them, wanting more. Pulling them out, I run them up her ass and she wiggles it back and forth. “Stay still,” I command, pushing my thumb into it and making her bury her face into the bed, crying out. “Don’t worry, little demon. I’ll fuck that too.”
_______________
I REACH UP, knock on the door, and quickly send a text.
Call me.
Placing the cell in my pocket, I take in a deep, calming breath. I can’t lose my shit. Not like I want to. Not yet.
“Come in,” I hear my father call out from the other side of the door.
Opening it up, I enter his study at my parents’ house. “Do you have a minute?” I ask him.
“Easton,” he growls my name, his hands going to his hips. “Sit.” Barking at me, he points to a chair across from his desk. Grinding my teeth, I do as I’m told. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Busy,” I answer vaguely.
He snorts. “Amelia hasn’t been able to get a hold of you. I’ve tried calling you and your phone goes straight to voicemail.” Walking around his desk, he leans back up against it. “Does this have to do with Elli?”
Just the sound of her name coming from his mouth makes my blood boil. I say nothing.
Sighing, his jaw sharpens. “Linc called me. Said that Chance called off the wedding.”
“Amelia told me,” I inform him, which is true. But it also tells him that I’ve spoken to her. He doesn’t have to know I didn’t respond.
His lips crack a smile at my half lie. “Linc said that Laura can’t get a hold of her. They think she’s on a drug binge in someone’s basement.”
I laugh at how close they are to their assumption. She is in someone’s basement all right—ours. But she’s sober as can be. I’ve had two days with my wife. Nonstop sex. My time with her is limited and I’m more determined than ever to knock her up. Once I’m gone, there’s no chance for her to have my child.
“What’s so funny?” he barks.
“She’s been on drugs for years and Linc cares now where she’s at and what she’s doing.” I shrug. “Maybe if he would have cared sooner, she wouldn’t be on them.”
He runs a hand through his dark hair. “Doubtful. The woman is an addict. Sex, drugs, alcohol. I mean, no one can blame her.” He pretends to care about her. “After what James put that poor girl through, but she needs help.”
I tilt my head to the side. “What kind of help?” I question.
He doesn’t answer and it tells me all I need to know—he doesn’t trust me. If he tells me too much, he thinks I’ll go and warn her what they have planned for her. It could be a rehab facility to something worse where they help feed her, her addiction by keeping her medicated. I don’t put it past them to lock her up, that way they have access to her whenever they want.
Pushing off the desk, he walks around to sit in his chair.
“I spoke to Kira yesterday and she was over at Elli’s. Said she was pretty messed up,” I lie.
“See,” he sighs. “Someone is just going to find her dead one day.”
I flinch at his words because I’ve thought the same thing, more times than I can count. I don’t believe my wife to be suicidal, but does she put herself in situations that are very fucking stupid? Yes. Case in point, Holland the other night at the party. I don’t even want to think of what my father or Linc could do to her if given the opportunity.
My cell rings and I hide my smile as I lift my hips to dig it out of my pocket. “Hey, baby.” I answer when I see it’s Amelia. Perfect timing.
“Hey, where have you been, Sin?” she rushes out.
“I was on an assignment.” Another lie and my father looks concerned. Like he hasn’t thought to ask me how I’m doing with the Lords. Of course, he’s too focused on my wife.
“Oh.” She sounds surprised. “I miss you. Can I see you tonight?”
“I was thinking … want to get away? Corbin and my sister are up at his parents’ cabin for the next few days. He invited me yesterday, but I haven’t had the chance to ask you.” I’m the one that suggested he take her there. I need Kira as far away from Elli right now as possible since I’m hiding her dead father out at our house. Corbin was more than willing to take my sister away for an uninterrupted weekend. Might as well use their relationship to my advantage.
“Of course.” She squeals. “I can be ready in an hour.”
“No rush. I’ve got a few things to take care of before we can leave.” My wife being the most important thing on my list. “I’ll pick you up at seven tonight.” I hang up the call before she can tell me she loves me. Every time she says it, it makes me want to vomit.
“I didn’t realize you were on an assignment,” my father speaks once I pocket my cell.
“It was nothing.” I wave him off, getting to my feet. “I’m going to get away for a few days. I think it’s what me and Amelia need. Some time alone.”
He nods. “I’m proud of you, son. I know it’s hard, but Amelia is the right one for you.”
I want to slit his fucking throat and watch him bleed out. “I think so too.” The lie gives me a bad taste in my mouth. “I’ll call you when I get back into town.”
ELLINGTON
I SIT AT the kitchen island in Sin’s and my house. It’s getting late, the sun set a couple of hours ago. I’ve got a shot glass and bottle of wine in front of me. I could just drink from the bottle, but I feel like counting the number of shots it takes me to drink all the wine.
I’m not drinking to get fucked up. No, I’m drinking to numb my body. I’m in pain, but in the best way.
Sin has fucked me so hard and rough for the last couple of days. Today was the first day I’ve seen daylight since I kneeled for him in the shower. He’s had me locked down in the basement. I needed him to remind me that I’m his. The need to please him is so strong. To hear him call me good girl. Fuck, it makes me weak in my knees. I’d do anything for him.
Anyone else, I’d be embarrassed or ashamed, but not with Sin. He praises me for being his whore.
I hear a noise and look up from the island. “Hello?” I call out but am met with silence. My father left this afternoon. He called a cab and said he needed to go get a few things.
Taking another shot, I hear the front door open, and I smile. Getting to my feet, I exit the kitchen and head toward the living room to greet my husband but come to a stop when I see who is here. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I narrow my eyes on Linc. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I demand.
He places his hands in his pockets as the door opens and another man enters my house. My breath catches and it takes everything in me to not drop my eyes to the floor. He has no clue that I’ve seen the picture he took of me.
I’ve known Linc is a fucking bastard, but Sin’s father? Not being able to remember if we did anything makes me feel dirty. Like the filthiest fucking whore.
“Hello, Elli,” Linc speaks, making the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
“You need to leave,” I whisper, not acknowledging Liam.
The door slams shut, and I flinch.
“We just thought we’d stop by and see how you’re doing.” Linc is the one who speaks. “I figured you’d be heartbroken after Chance called off your wedding.”
I can’t help but snort. “He was a piece of shit. Why would I care that he no longer wants me?”
Linc steps farther into the room and I take a step back. “Because he was your last chance at a normal life.”
It’s a threat. “You think your husband loaning you out to be used by other Lords is a normal life?” I ask. “You’re more fucked up than I thought.”
He laughs. “I was just doing that for your mother. She wanted you to settle down.” Shaking his head, he frowns. “She’s so disappointed in you, Elli.”
My shoulders fall and I try to swallow the knot in my throat. I hate that I know he’s right. But she was disappointed in me long before I started feeding my body poison and sex. “So she sent you to, what? Bring me back home?”
“Something like that.” He smirks and reaches down, undoing his cufflinks before he starts to roll up the sleeves to his white button-up.
I take a step back from them, needing to get to the kitchen. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” My heart races at the fact that this might not work. That I’m in over my head. I didn’t expect both of them to show.
“Who said we were taking you anywhere?” Sin’s father finally speaks, and I whimper at the sound of his voice.
I hate the unknown with him. What he’s done to me. Hell, I thought I knew everything I did with Linc, but what if that first time in James’s office wasn’t the first time? How many others were there?
Linc reaches down now that both sleeves are rolled up and unbuckles his belt before pulling it through the belt loops of his slacks.
I turn and run toward the kitchen, my chest is pounding and pulse racing. I enter the kitchen, yank the hand towel up off the countertop and pick up the gun I had waiting. I spin around and face the archway as they both come strolling in as if I invited them. Not a care in the world. They know I have nowhere to go.
Linc laughs as he sees the gun pointed at him, and Liam just snorts. “What are you going to do with that, Elli?” Linc is the one who asks.
“Kill you with it.” I lift my chin, but my hands are shaking.
“I have a better idea.” He rubs his chin. “How about you give it to me, and I’ll fuck you with it.”
My stomach drops and I can’t catch my breath. “No,” I manage to get out. He had said he’d been watching Sin sneak into my room at my parents’ and get me off. He knows what I’ve let Sin do to me. What I like. The gun lowers to my side because my hands are shaking so badly.
“That’s a good girl.” Linc smiles at me.
“I like that idea.” Sin’s father nods. “With the safety on, of course. We already know the whore likes it, don’t want her to get too excited and accidently kill herself.”
“Of course,” Linc agrees, taking a step toward me.
Swallowing, I lift my chin, taking in a deep breath. “Like my father killed himself.”
They both stiffen, looking back and forth between each other. “What happened to your father was—”
“You murdered him,” I growl through gritted teeth, interrupting Linc.
“This bitch is crazier than I thought.” Sin’s father laughs at me.
But Linc? He looks happy about what I said. Proud, even. “Your father was too weak of a man to get the job done.” Linc steps closer to me, farther into the kitchen. “Just like you’re a weak, pathetic cunt. But don’t worry, we’ll finish you off as well.”
He truly thinks my father is dead, which tells me he didn’t know he had a twin. I lift the gun, pointing it at Linc once more, tightening my sweaty hands around it. “My father isn’t dead.”
Linc throws his head back and the sound of his laugh fills the kitchen, but Sin’s father just stares at me. “Fuck, what are you on right now?” Linc asks, still cackling at the fact that he thinks I’m crazy. “It must be some good shit.”
“Tell him, Liam.” I look to Sin’s father. “Tell Linc that my father isn’t dead.”
Linc turns to face him, and his laughter starts to die down. “What the fuck is she rambling on about?” he demands when he sees Liam glaring at me.
“She’s an addict.” He finally looks away from me to face Linc. “A fucking whore who spreads her legs for dick and drugs. She’s delusional.” His voice rises. “Making shit up. He’s been dead for nine years. She’s a bitch with daddy issues.”
Linc turns back to me. “Is that the problem, Elli? Huh? Do you miss having a daddy?”
By the way he said daddy, I know he means James. I swallow the bile that rises at the thought of him. At what I allowed James and Linc to do to me in his office that day.
“Hand me the gun.” Linc reaches out to me, getting tired of our conversation. “Get on your fucking knees and open that mouth. I want to see you choke on the gun before you come all over it.” Stepping forward, he closes the space between us, and I pull the trigger back.
Bang.
“FUCK!” he screams, grabbing his right arm.
My ears ring and my heart is now pounding as I watch him stumble back. I meant to shoot him in the face, but I missed. The only experience I have with a gun was when Sin used it on me. Sucking in a deep breath, I step back even farther into the kitchen to put more distance between us now.
Blood soaks into his white rolled-up sleeve and down his arm onto the floor. “You’re not touching me,” I say, my voice shaky. “Not this time. Not anymore.”
