I wanted to punch myself in the face as she turned away from me. Again. How could one slim, far too young woman make me feel like a teenager? I said the wrong thing. Every. Single. Time. I'd had more cold showers and solo jack off sessions than I cared to admit. She'd made it so that none of my previous companions did anything for me. Other than turn my stomach. They were all too soft. Too...needy. But Nik. She was strong. Probably stronger than I fully knew. And she didn't need any man. Hell, I was pretty sure she didn't need anyone. And fuck if I didn't want to be needed for the first time in my life. Mas was watching me from across the small impromptu aisle. He raised a single brow. I flipped him off. He'd always told me I was going to find a woman who'd treat me like I treated women. Disposable. Toys. Nothing more than a release. He'd laugh his damn head off if he found out Nik had given me more than ample opportunity but that I choked each time. I was runni
I gritted my teeth. Tried to act like I was having fun. My body shook and jostled under the thrusting body of the guy I'd picked up at the club. He'd been pumping away for the last half hour. The only thing I was close to was being chafed raw. Stupid Arturo Amatucci's face flashing in my mind. A low curl of heat twisted through me. Suddenly, it was Turo's body that curled over mine. His skin that I dug my short nails into. I closed my eyes, sank into the -"Fuck, baby, yeah. Just like that," the guy said.I wanted to choke him as my fantasy went up in smoke. I glared at the ceiling. This was doing nothing but pissing me off even more.I dropped my legs from around his waist. Pushed at his shoulders. "Okay, we're done. You can leave now." He grunted against my neck as if he thought I was joking. "Right. I know you're having fun."I threaded my fingers through his dark hair. I wanted to snatch his scalp bald. Asshole. I yanked his head up. "No. I'm not. Not only do you suck
My adrenaline spiked as I watched her slide towards me with all the grace of an attacking lioness. Silent in her approach, had I not been watching her, I wouldn't have been able to track her movements at all. She was fucking fantastic. I slapped her first attack away. Felt my belly tighten with heat as the rage was quickly controlled on her pixie face. She spun with the deflection, went for my legs. From standing tall over her almost delicate frame to being flat on my back and wrapped up in her thighs, staring at the ceiling, in the space of a heartbeat. Once I could breathe again, I was going to -She rose up on one knee...that was planted in my crotch. She leaned down into my face, her strawberry scented wet hair trailed cold fingers over my cheek. "If you want to get out of here without permanent damage, stop trying to start shit you can't finish." She sneered at me. "On any level. You don't want me? Fine. But you will treat me with respect." She emphasized her point with so
I stared at the door for long moments as the sound of the slam finally stopped ringing in my ears. Had that really just happened? I...I was at a loss. I didn't need a vibrator. Hell, I could use about a gallon of ice cream, really. But neither would be happening. I hadn't been lying. I did have to work in the morning. Prowling Chaos every night for a hookup was getting exhausting. And none of them were any good anyways. Tonight wasn't any better. No, tonight had just been the cherry on the top of my particular shit cake. Cake. Now, I wanted some of Willow's cupcakes. I set the alarm on my security system. Reset all of my deadbolts. Setting the anti-burglar bar under the doorknob, I made sure it was secure before heading back to my bedroom. I was tempted to just grab a blanket and sleep on the couch.But that felt like failure. And I didn't do failure. Ever. I stomped into the hallway, ripped open the linen closet doors. Getting down a set of flannel sheets, I decided I was g
I gritted my teeth as I watched the man across my desk. He knew the rules and he had still decided to break them. Now I would have to teach him a lesson. Getting up from my chair, I moved around my desk as my first lieutenant eased over to cover the door. He hit the switch that would turn this office into a soundproof room. I sat on the front edge of my desk. "Martin, you disappoint me."The arrogant idiot just smirked at me. I sighed. "How long have you been in the family, Martin? Three years? Four?"He snarled. "Five, Arturo."My lieutenant growled low in his chest at the lowly soldier using my first name. I waved him off. We had bigger fish to fry than his utter lack of intelligence."And yet you still think being glib, disrespectful, and going against my wishes is the way to survive?" I curled my fingers into the desk. This stupid fuck. He was going to make me maim him. This level of insubordination wouldn't be tolerated.He slouched back in his chair. "I should be
I glared at my primary screen. How the hell had Chad found me? I'd swept through my records with a fine-toothed comb years ago. There was nothing there for anyone to find. And certainly not any information I didn't want people to find. Added to the fact that Chad was nothing but a bully with barely two brain cells to rub together, he shouldn't have been able to find me. Ever. But not only had he found me, he'd found my freaking home address. Only PennCorp and Ryker had my physical address. And I'd made Ryker promise not to let anyone besides HR and Payroll have it.I did a bot sweep on the cache sites on the server farms. Nothing. I gritted my teeth. I was the same secure ghost I'd always been. How the hell had he found me?A heavy hand thudded against my door, making me squeak like a little girl. Fuck. "What?" I snarled. The door knob turned, and one of my colleagues stuck his head in. "Nik, we've got some guy at the front desk asking for you."Shit. I licked my lips
I hung up with the bank. Rubbed a hand down over my face a couple times. A knock sounded at the door. I groaned at the cessation of my brief reprieve. "Come."Edi opened the door. His face was thunderous. "I've got news from Jimmy and Fran."The bottom of my stomach dropped out. "Bring them in here." Shit. He stepped back and let two of his soldiers come in. Jimmy and Fran were brothers who looked nothing alike. They were the same height, and that was where the familial resemblance ended. Jimmy was a lanky guy with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Fran Never call me Francis,' on the other hand, was stocky, built like a fucking train, and had a shaved head with light brown eyes. They were also my best tail team. Jimmy nudged his brother. Fran rolled his eyes. "Where do you want me to start in the timeline?" he asked me, his voice low and raspy. "Wherever you think is relevant."He nodded. "Jimmy was on last night. But I think you know what went down then."
"Fucking men," I muttered as I hiked my gym bag strap higher on my shoulder, shoving the phone in my gear bag. Who the crap did he think he was? You have something you need to tell me? His sexy, husky voice rolled through my mind again. Asshole. I'd been willing to get all hot and sweaty with him, hadn't I? What more could a man want?I pushed it all from my mind as I turned the final corner on my way to the gym. I started my deep breathing as my happy place came into view. Here, I was the master of my world. Here, I was able to pummel and pound my enemies into dust and tears. Here, I was strong and brave and kickass and awesome. Such a difference from my years growing up. Living out of a trash bag until I finally ran away the last time. Then it had been my choice to live out of a holey duffle. My choice to sleep in abandoned buildings instead of a warm bed with a foster dad who had wandering hands. Every single choice had been mine. I would do almost anything to keep from h