This scene takes place a few months after the end of CORRUPT. The first 3 parts are from Rika’s point of view, and the fourth is from Kai’s. Kai’s point of view is a teaser for his book, HIDEAWAY. If you have not read CORRUPT, this entire bonus scene is a spoiler.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!
RIKA
Swimming pools creeped me out.
It never used to be like thatâand if I werenât alone, it wouldnât be so nerve-wrackingâbut I hated being by myself in a pool now. Or probably in any body of water.
Which is exactly why I forced myself to use Delcourâs indoor pool at least twice a week. Ever since Pithom and Trevor and the cinderblock tied to my ankle, IâŠ
I ground my teeth together, blowing out a hard breath as I slammed my hand across the water, sending a small wave crashing against the side of the pool.
Damon could go fuck himself.
And wherever he was I hoped he was in a lot of pain.
I was constantly walking around with one eye trained over my shoulder, and all the happiness Iâd felt the past several months was only ever overshadowed by a tinge of black cloud that would pop up here and there to remind me that I wasnât safe. Not completely.
He was still out there, and I hated it.
AndâŠI didnât.
While I tried to deny the fact that he rented a space in my head, there was a part of me that understood more and more that the threat of him might be a good thing. He kept me on my toes, and I was grateful for that.
Damon or no Damon, I shouldnât get too comfortable. I shouldnât relax. I should always keep in mind that the rug could be swiped out from under me at any time, and while I could lean on Michael, Kai, and WillâŠmy survival, my success, and my life were ultimately in my own hands. I had to know how to take care of myself.
I hadnât realized that last October when Michael and the guys came after me, and I hadnât been prepared, but now I understood.
Donât be lazy. Donât be quiet. Iâm in charge. I set the pace.
Thank you, Damon.
Walking through the water, I climbed the steps out of the pool, ringing out my hair as I dripped all the way to my towel.
Grabbing my cell phone, I checked the time, seeing that it was after six. Michael would be home soon.
I dried off quickly and slipped on some shorts before swinging the towel over my shoulder. Grabbing my phone and water bottle, I jetted out of the pool room in my bare feet and into the elevator, holding up my card key to scan for the penthouse.
As the elevator ascended, my stomach dropped a little, and I couldnât help but smile as the butterflies took off. Michael had left town for a game, and I hadnât seen him in three days. I didnât care that today was Valentineâs Day or about the opera tickets he got for tonight, or even if we went out at all. I just wanted him.
I hated him being gone, but I loved him coming home. It was a conundrum.
The doors opened, and I stepped inside our apartment, immediately hearing music cranked up to an ear-splitting level. It echoed down the hallway from the apartment, and I stopped, every hair on my arms standing up in sudden awareness.
Music? I hadnât left music on.
But then I noticed the song. Bodies by Drowning Pool.
I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes. Of course.
Will.
Michael never took his key away, so heâd show up at any time and raid the refrigerator or weâd find him in the middle of the night using the court.
Walking into the apartment, I spotted him sitting on the couch, slouched back in his crisp black suit and holding a sandwich in one hand and spinning a basketball on the finger of the other.
The music screamed. âLet the bodies hit the floor! Let the bodies hit the floor! Let the bodies hit the floor!â
Yeah, yeah.
Dropping my stuff on the counter, I grabbed the remote and turned off the music. How could he listen to that song ALL the time?
He dropped his basketball, finally noticing me. âOh, hey,â he greeted and then took a bite of sandwich.
His green eyes were always so big and puppy dog-looking that I couldnât help but melt a little. Despite his behavior. It aggravated me that he always just showed upâI could just be getting out of the shower, after allâbut he always gave the impression of a child who just drew you the worst picture but did it with the biggest heart.
See, mom? Did I do good?
I gave him a half-smile and made my over to him, nudging his feet off the coffee table. âMichaelâs not here.â
âYeah, I know.â
âSo why are you?â
He took another bite of sandwich and set the rest down on the sofa before sitting up and grabbing the towel off my shoulder to wipe off his mouth.
I scowled, about to scold him if he didnât get his food off our furniture.
But he stood up, swallowed his bite, and smiled down at me, only a couple of inches from my face. âIâm picking you up,â he announced. âIâm under strict orders to bring you to Michael and Kai, so go get ready.â
I stayed rooted, staring up at him, confused. Picking me up?
Michael AND Kai? What?
It was Valentineâs Day. Michael and I had plans.
âI donât understand,â I argued.
But he just smirked and swung the towel around my neck and pulled me in, playing. âDidnât Michael warn you?â he taunted in his smooth voice. âYouâre everyoneâs valentine tonight, baby.â
I cocked an eyebrow and swatted his hands away.
He walked off, chuckling. âGet cleaned up, Little Monster.â
***
âSo should I be scared?â I asked, sitting in the back of Michaelâs G-Class, slipping on my stockings as Will drove.
Shower, hair, make-up, and squeezing into my evening gown took nearly an hour, so Will had rushed me out the door before I was even fully dressed.
âYou donât get scared,â he retorted. âYou get excited.â
I smiled to myself. âTouche.â
He wouldnât tell me where we were going, but from what I could see out the window, we were off to the other side of town. To Kaiâs side of town.
Maybe we were finally going to be able to see inside his house? Probably not, but the prospect had me intrigued.
I slipped on my heels and fluffed the long black gown down over my legs as I inched up and double checked my hair and make-up in his rearview mirror.
Iâd put in some loose curls and pinned back the top half, leaving my shoulders exposed in the halter-style bodice. The opera was much fancier than our usual outings, and Iâd really enjoyed shopping for the dress, with its array of beads, jewels, and the sexy cut and the way it moved when I walked.
Will met my eyes in the mirror. âYou look great, by the way.â
âThanks. So do you.â
He turned his eyes away, breathing out a small laugh as if that was the farthest thing from the truth.
And I knew. While Will always looks healthy and happy, I knew how he looked on the outside wasnât even close to what he felt on the inside.
âHow are you?â I looked down, trying to avoid his eyes and not be too invasive as I went through my small clutch purse to make sure I had everything.
He grabbed a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth, lighting it as he spoke. âFuckinâ awesome. Did you see my pictures from Mardi Gras on Facebook? I could be that drunk every day.â
He inhaled and blew out a cloud of smoke. I leaned forward and plucked the cigarette out of his fingers, flinging it out the window. âYou are that drunk every day,â I shot back.
He caught me in the rear view mirror, shooting me a winning smile like it was all fun and games.
But the people who smile the most are also covering up the most. And I knewâŠ
All the times he sneaked into Michaelâs and my apartment to hang out, all the partying, all the nights with girls he didnât even know, trying to avoid ever being alone, Will was not okay.
I leaned forward again and hooked my arms over his seat, sitting my chin down on the leather as I peered at him through the mirror.
He sighed, continuing down the street. âStop looking at me like that,â he quietly scolded. âIâm only twenty-three. Iâm fine, and Iâll find something to do with my life. Donât worry.â
I grinned, sliding my hands around his neck and locking them in front of him.
He glanced at me through the mirror and pinched his eyebrows together, looking confused. âWhat?â
âWell, I have an idea,â I teased.
âOh, you do, do ya?â He challenged. âWell, stand back everyone. The blondeâs brain is working.â
I scowled playfully. âAss.â
His chest shook under my hands, and I watched as he turned on the windshield wipers, the sprinkles of rain when we got in the car turning heavier now.
âSo whatâs this idea?â he mused. âYou want me to go to college? Or maybe put myself in my dadâs and my grandfatherâs hands and see what office they can hide me in for the next ten years? Or maybeâŠâ He grabbed another cigarette, sticking it into his mouth, âI should strap on a backpack and go off to explore the world. I always wanted to be Indiana Jones.â
I snatched the cigarette again, snapping it in half, and dumping it in the cup holder. âYeah, I can see that.â I indulged him. âYouâd work that whip like a champ.
He shook his head, laughing it off.
Wrapping my arms around his neck again, I snuggled in close, peering at him through the mirror. âBut actually, I was thinking something different.â I dropped my voice, staring at him as he
stared at the road. âI was thinkingâŠyou could rebuild the gazebo.â
I watched him closely, seeing his face still and his smile slowly fall away. He didnât say a word as he continued to stare at the road in front of him.
Okay, maybe that was going too far, bringing up the past.
Maybe Iâd finally found Willâs trigger, and pushed the wrong button.
But no.
No.
I flexed my jaw, narrowing my eyes on him.
He needed to be pushed. Michael and Kai covered for him, never making him stand up and deal, figuring heâd handle his shit when he was ready, but I refused to enable him. Iâd done it for my mother, and I wasnât following their lead on this one.
âWell, what do you think?â I pressed.
But he remained silent.
All I could hear was the rain kicking up under the tires outside as the bustle of the city fell away and we entered what I liked to call âthe dark zone.â It was the East District, an area of Meridian City that was once vibrant and busy, but now it was justâŠwell, dark.
And abandoned. Kai had purchased a huge turn-of-the-century house over here, and while I knew he had his work cut out for him renovating it after years of neglect, I was suspicious as to why that was a good enough reason to keep us away. Were we going there now?
âShe wouldnât see it anyway, Rika,â Will finally spoke up. âI hear she hasnât been home since high school.â
I looked back up, seeing him in the mirror.
The gazebo. She. Emery Scott.
âSo itâs only worth doing something good if people are around to see it?â I prodded.
I looked at his face, the lost, forlorn look he seemed to always have when he didnât think anyone was watching, and I let out a sigh, dropping a trail of cookies for him.
âAnd she doesnât need to see it,â I teased, leaning in to whisper in his ear. âShe just needs to hear about it.â
He broke out in a huge grin, turning down a dark alley as the rain made the street shimmer under the streetlights.
âYouâre almost as good a talker as me.â
I leaned back and peered out my window as he shut off the car. âAlmost,â I mumbled, suddenly forgetting our conversation.
Chills spread down my arms as I gazed up at the old black building. There were no lights on, no cars around, no sign of lifeâŠwhere the hell were we? Where were Michael and Kai?
Will opened his door, the sound of rain rushing in and making me immediately rub my hands up and down my arms to warm myself.
âHang on, Iâve got an umbrella,â he said, reaching over to the passengerâs seat.
Popping it open, he dived out into the rain, the drops pummeling the umbrella as he hurriedly closed his door and swung mine open. I stepped out, hunching over as he closed my door and we both hustled to the small awning hanging over a narrow black door on the side of the building.
âWhat is this place?â I asked as Will opened the door.
I went in first, while he closed the umbrella and shook it out.
âIt used to be apartments,â he shouted over the rain before dropping the umbrella on the floor and closing the door, âaround the turn of the century, I think. Then someone bought it, knocked down all of the walls, and turned it into an art gallery in the 60âs.â He gazed around the dark space lazily. âNow itâs abandoned.â
I couldnât see much with the lights off, but there was a small amount of light coming in through the windows, and I spotted a stove, a make-shift island, and some counters. I guess, whenever they renovated it from apartments, they decided to keep one of the kitchens.
âAre you going to tell me whatâs going on now? Whereâs Michael?â
I was starting to grow aggravated that Michaelâs first stop back in the city wasnât me.
But Will simply turned to me, held out his arm, and gestured for me to go ahead. Looking to where he was directing, I stared down a long, black hallway and straightened, hesitating a moment.
I couldnât tell where the dark abyss ended, but I straightened my back despite the flutters hitting my stomach.
Michael, Michael, Michael. And here I was, thinking the games would get boring after a while.
Shaking my head, slightly amused, I went first, slowly walking down the long hallway and passing a few doors on both sides with a narrow staircase on my right. The air was chilled, and I wished Iâd worn a coat or a cover-up.
Coming to the end, I stepped over a threshold and into a larger room. I immediately spun around, taking in the rafters crisscrossing through the air high above and the windows lining the walls all the way up to the ceiling, proving that, yes, at one time there must have been apartments here.
Everything was dark and old. The wooden floor creaked under my steps, and the steel beams around the room were the only things breaking up the massive space.
This would be perfect was a dance studio.
Off to the sides of the room sat more doorways, and I also spotted a few hallways with more staircases.
âI love places like this,â I mused to Will. âLots of nooks and crannies to explore.â
I turned to look at him but then my smile fell.
He wasnât there.
Where the hell�
âWill?â I twisted around, trying to search the room in the near-darkness.
My breathing picked up pace. GoddammitâŠ
The rain tapped against the windows, the sound surrounding me like I was in a tunnel, and I shot my head up, hearing the wind howl in the rafters above.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. âWill?â I shouted.
âSo do you like it?â a smooth voice asked.
I whipped around, searching the space behind me. No one was there.
But a flash of movement caught my eye above, and I looked up, seeing a dark figure standing still on the second level as he leaned against the railing.
âKai?â
âItâs important that you like it,â he went on. âYouâll be here a lot.â
His handâthe only part of him to catch the lightâmoved across the railing, and I knew he was walking.
âTurn on the lights,â I demanded.
âCanât,â he replied. âPower went out. So what do you think?â
I squinted, trying to see him, but even more, trying to understand what the hell was going on.
âWhat do I think about the space?â I asked. âWell, I guess it depends on what itâs used for.â
âA lot of good things could go down in a place like this,â a husky whisper hit my ear, and I jumped as long arms wrapped around me, pulling me in.
âMichael,â I gasped out, smiling in relief as his warmth and smell fell over me. âWhat are you guys doing? Someone turn on a flashlight. This isnât funny.â
âFeeling a little dĂ©jĂ vu?â he teased against my neck. âI know you like it.â
I turned my face to him, brushing my lips against his. âTurn on a lights and tell me what all this is about,â I whispered, âor Iâm going to go pick up Alex and she can be my valentine tonight.
Now what are you all up to?â
âWeâre saying we love you,â he replied, turning me around in his arms and holding me close. âAnd we have something for you.â
âOh?â
âYou promised me forever,â he reminded me. âAre you still sure about that? Youâre in this for the long-haul?â
I narrowed my eyes on him, wondering what this was about. âYou donât have to ask that any more than I need to answer it,â I maintained. âThere is no choice. Now what is going on? What is this place?â
âItâs ours,â Will answered, strolling up to us and handing me a flashlight.
I took it and looked at Michael, confused. Ours?
But it was Kaiâs voice that came next. âYou were looking for a fencing club when you first came to the city,â he explained, coming down the stairs and strolling over to us, âso we thought, why not start your own?â
I just let the flashlight sit in my hand as Kai, Will, and Michael surrounded me.
âA fencing club?â
âYou donât like it?â Michael asked.
âNo, I doâŠâ I looked up again, now seeing more than just a big, empty space. âButâŠâ
âBut?â Michael pressed.
âBut I have school,â I continued. âAnd I have FANE and my motherâs house to manage, and weâre overseeing the reconstruction of St. Killianâs, and I donât have any experience teaching fencingââ
âHave you ever heard of Kendo?â Kai spoke up, stepping closer.
I finally caught him in the light and took in his black suit, the way the crisp white shirt and black tie sat against the smooth, olive skin of his neck. His hair was perfectly styled, not that it wasnât always. Kai rarely had a wrinkle on his clothes or a hair out of place.
I called him anal to his face. Alex called him a serial killer behind his back.
âKendo,â I repeated. âJapanese fencing?â
He nodded. âMy father taught it to me. As well as Jujutsu and Aikido. I could teach you.â
Teach me? But what did that have to do withâ
And then realization hit, and I froze.
Why were they all here? Why would Kai offer to teach me martial arts, and why would he offer now?
I held out my hand to Michael. âLet me see the deed.â
âWhy?â
But I snapped my fingers, losing patience.
He reached into his breast pocket and took out a fold of papers, placing them in my hand.
I quickly opened them up and turned on my flashlight, scanning the papers. I spotted all the guys namesâŠand then I spotted mine.
This wasnât a present just for me.
I looked up at them. âWe all own this building.â
Michael hooded his sexy eyes. âOf course. âWe all go. Thatâs the rules.ââ
And then he smirked, knowing I would remember the words heâd said on Devilâs Night more than three years ago.
âSo itâs not just me starting a business, itâs all of us.â
They all watched me, and I turned in a circle, full understanding dawning of what the plan was. âA dojoâwith fencing,â I said to myself, trying to see how all this was going to work.
Michael had no interest in fencing. Or martial arts. He got plenty of exercise with basketball.
But Kai would be here a lot, taking a vested interest in the business, and Will would be here, the other guys probably trying to keep him busy.
But I still didnât get it. Michael and Kai were already overloaded with projects, so why would they take on this as well?
And then I realized something else.
I turned back around, cocked my head as I handed the papers back to Michael. âSoâŠâI started. âThis place, the dilapidated office building you bought a few weeks agoâŠâ I ran down the list and
then looked to Kai. âYour little hideaway a few blocks away that youâre renovating, and then the lots on Darcy Street Will was scoping out yesterdayâŠâ I looked around, meeting all of their eyes. âWhy are you buying up the East District?
This wasnât just about giving me a place to fence. This was something else.
Michael quirked a smile, while Kai stood next to him, his arms crossed over his chest. âThe Horsemen are building their empire, Rika,â he answered. âWill you join us?â
âWe have an opening,â Will teased as he walked passed me, nudging me with his shoulder.
I hooded my eyes, trying not to laugh. Oh, for crying out loud.
âI was going to save this for tomorrow when we had more time to discuss it,â Michael said, taking out another set of papers, âbut you may as well see it now.â
I took the papers and opened them up, scanning the documents. Again, all of our names were on it, and while the legal jargon was difficult to understand, my heart started to pound harder anyway.
âGraymor Cristane?â I questioned, looking up at them.
Michael just stared at me, waiting.
These documents were the establishment of a partnership between Kai, Will, MichaelâŠand me. Everything was here. Who would manage what. The division of any profits. How decisions would be made, and even the details of the bank accounts that had already been set up to keep everything separate from our personal accounts.
Jesus. They were really doing this? Graymor Cristane was us. Parts of our last names to name the partnership.
I drew in a long breath, not realizing Iâd stopped breathing as I continued to study the papers. âYour fathers wonât like this,â I warned.
Michaelâs father, especially. They had built their own legacies and would expect their sons to continue their work.
âWeâre counting on it,â Michael replied. âSo what do you think, Little Monster? You wanna have some fun?â
I heard Will laugh and I glanced up, seeing the three of them looking amused like they just couldnât wait to jump from one fire to the next.
***
The limo sped through the city streets, the view outside getting brighter and busier as all four of us travelled to the opera house. I sat staring out at the rain with Michael next to me and
Kai and Will across from me, working on their phones.
But the next thing I knew arms were scooping me up, and I gasped as Michael hauled me into his lap.
âMichael!â I whisper-yelled.
âCome here,â he whispered, pulling me close.
But I tried to pry myself out of his grasp. âStop it.â
âI canât.â
I ignored Will and Kai behind me, not caring to look and see any wise-ass grins as I spoke low right in Michaelâs face. âIf you want a partnership with me included, you canât manhandle me in front of them. I wonât be seen as a pliable little girl who bends whenever you touch her.â
âThey donât see you that way,â he soothed, staring at my lips. âThey see me that way.â
His fingers at my back slipped into the side of my dress while the other hand caressed a trail up my leg and disappeared under my dress.
âWhat are you doing?â I charged, trying to ignore the way my skin instantly tingled.
âYou didnât like your present,â he said.
His fingers brushed under my knee, and I ignored the shiver shooting up my spine. I was at least grateful that the dress was long with lots of layers to hide what he was doing.
âYes, I liked it,â I replied.
âWell maybe youâll like this one more.â He dug into a compartment on the door and pulled out a small box, handing it to me.
I forced myself not to smile, but I think a little one escaped. I was mad at him. Not only had he sprung the dojo and partnership on me, putting me on the spot in front of the guys, but I worried about his reasons for doing it, too.
I took the box and opened it up, seeing a beautiful silver case with designs carved into it. I picked it out and opened the lid to find matches. I laughed in surprise.
It was an antique match safe. An 1800âs version of a match box to join my collection. Only Michael knew me well enough to know how much Iâd appreciate this.
Lifting it to my nose, I inhaled, smelling the phosphorous and sulfur.
âChristmas and fireworks,â Michael mused as he watched me.
âItâs beautiful.â I closed the lid and held it tight in my hand. âThank you.â
âYouâre nervous about the partnership, arenât you?â He kept his voice low, keeping our conversation private.
âNo, not really.â
âThen whatâs wrong?â
I stared down at my hands and then took a deep breath, raising my eyes to his. âIâm worried you bought the dojoâand established the partnershipâto keep me close.â
âWhy would I not want to keep you close?â
âYou know what I mean,â I retorted, glancing over to see Will still buried in his phone and Kai staring at his. I had a feeling he was listening, though. Turning back to Michael, I whispered,
âI mentioned finding a part-time job, and oh look, you suddenly have something for me to do when Iâm not in school. Youâll always know where I am now, and if youâre not there, your friends will be to keep an eye on me.â
He sat back, regarding me. âYou think I donât trust you?â
I remained silent, not sure what to think. A few weeks ago Iâd told him I was thinking of getting a part-time job for experience, and he seemed to get nervous. I donât know if he was just aggravated my schedule wouldnât revolve around his anymore or if he was afraid of me having a life that didnât involve him, but I suspected it was the latter.
He heaved a sigh, eyeing me. âIf I didnât trust you, would I put you in the same space as Kai day in a day out and tolerate him offering to give you private Kendo lessons?â
I frowned, knowing he had a point. We rarely talked about what happened between the three of us, but Michael knew where my heart was, and I was glad he hadnât doubted it.
âThereâs no one I trust more than you,â he whispered.
And then I saw his eyes flash over my shoulder to Will and Kai before coming back to me. âNo one,â he repeated.
Warmth flooded chest, and I felt relieved. I knew he cared about his friends, but it was important to know that I came first.
âBut youâre right,â he continued, his hazel eyes hard on me. âI want you close. Iâm gone a lot, youâre alone a lot, and if I canât be there, I feel a lot better knowing they are. Damon is still out there, after all.â
I let out a breath and nodded. âI know that, and I understand, but you donât micro-manage their safety.â I jerked my chin to the guys behind me. âAnd if you want Graymor Cristane to work, I canât be coddled.â
âOkay,â he allowed. âIâll lay off.â And then he leaned in to kiss me, whispering over my lips, âJust as soon as Kai teaches you some Jujutsu moves.â
I snorted, pulling away, but he wrapped his arm around me tighter, his hot breath growing heavier.
âStop,â I scolded quietly.
His other hand trailed up the inside of my leg again, disappearing under my gown as he caught my bottom lip between his teeth. âJust a taste,â he breathed. âPlease?â
His hand snaked up my thigh as his lips and tongue took over my mouth.
âMichael, no,â I whisper-yelled, trying to push his hand down through my dress.
But his fingers suddenly met skin and a stunned look crossed his face. He continued to trail his hand up, up, up, near the now very wet heat between my legs, and I whimpered, his fingers caressing my bare skin.
Heat filled his eyes as he glared at me. âLace stockings and nothing else?â he charged. âThat isnât very nice, Rika.â
Shit. I felt his bulge underneath me thicken and harden, and he pulled me in, our lips grazing each other as his fingers curled around the inside of my thigh, so very close to where they shouldnât be right now.
I thought it would sexy to tease him a little tonight by not wearing anything except the stockings underneath the dress, and while I was surprised that we were meeting up with Will and Kai, I didnât think heâd try to finger me five feet from them.
âGoddamn,â he gasped, baring his teeth as I tasted his breath. âThis is a problem.â
He closed his eyes, grazing the tip of his nose over my cheek and down my neck as he inhaled deep. He left a trail of small, soft kisses over my skin, and heat pooled in my belly as my
breathing turned shallow.
I quickly glanced over my shoulder, seeing Will still clueless about what was going on as he poured himself another drink and Kai still staring at his phone. But the curl to his lips told me he wasnât at all clueless as he respectfully averted his eyes.
But just then Michaelâs fingers brushed against my pussy, and I sucked in a breath as I turned my eyes back on him. âStop,â I mouthed, my heart racing.
âLook at me, baby,â he whispered, taking my lips in short, quick kisses. âGod, I love you.â
âMichael, please,â I begged, closing my eyes and groaning when his fingers, hidden in the layers of my gown, started rubbing my clit in taunting circles.
âPlease what?â he teased, nipping at my lips again. âYour mouth says ânoâ, but your body is saying something else. Iâm confused.â
Asshole.
The pulse between my legs throbbed harder and harder, and I wanted to spread my legs so fucking bad.
âWeâre. Not. Alone,â I growled.
âI know.â He grinned, loving my distress. âAnd I can feel how much thatâs turning you on right now. Cut me some slack. Itâs been days since Iâve had my tongue and cock buried in you.â
I winced, trying to hold back the moan wanting out. The memory of waking up four mornings ago with my legs spread wide and his tongue going at me like a he was starved was still so damn vivid I could feel it.
âKeep whimpering like that,â he taunted. âItâs so fucking hot.â
His fingers swirled around and around, and I was so wet and frustrated.
I licked my dry lips and fisted the lapels of his jacket. And then I shouted, âPull over, please!â
Michaelâs chest shook with a laugh, and I glared over my shoulder at the driver. âNow!â
âYes, maâam.â
Kai and Willâs eyes were on us, Will looking confused. Michael buried his lips under my ear as the driver pulled over to the curb, and I looked to the guys. âThe opera house is only a few blocks away. Walk.â
Michaelâs breath was in my ear as Kai chuckled to himself before shaking his head and sitting up.
âHurry up,â he urged and opened the door, both he and Will climbing out. They slammed the door and Michael pushed the button, drawing the privacy glass between us and the driver.
âDrive around until I tell you to stop,â he ordered before the window closed.
âYes, sir.â
As soon as the glass was up, Michaelâs lips crashed down on mine, and his hands were already out of my dress and around my back, working the zipper.
âFuck, I missed you,â he growled, pulling the zipper down and opening the back wide.
I pulled away and stood up, leaning over him as I squirmed out of the gown. It fell to the floor of the limo, and Michael pulled me in, kissing and nibbling my stomach before taking one of my breasts in his mouth.
I groaned, not bothering to keep my voice down this time. âI missed you, too.â
He ate me up, biting my nipple and making it hard as he drew it out with his teeth. I shivered, feeling a cyclone swirl in my stomach as he ran his hands up and down my thighs.
âThese stockings are killing me,â he said, squeezing my ass and yanking me in. âLay down.â
âNo, I want to ride you,â I told him, climbing on and straddling him.
âAre you sure?â he asked, unfastening his belt and opened his suits pants.
I nodded quickly. The windows were tinted, but he knew Iâd still feel exposed. I was too excited to care, though.
He pulled out his cock, and I sucked in a breath as he took the head in his hand and rubbed it around my clit, teasing me.
âReal fuckinâ romantic, huh?â he chastised himself. âIâm sorry, babe.â
âDonât apologize.â I stilled, easing myself down on him and loving every fucking second of him sliding inside of me. âThatâs not the guy I fell for. I donât need sweet. I just need this.â I rolled my hips back and came in again, feeling his groan vibrate though my hand on his chest.
And then I kissed his lips, tasting the first time he ever touched me down in the catacombs and the first time he kissed me in the warehouse. The first time he held me in the cemetery when I was thirteen, and the first time he was inside of me. âDonât ever stop.â
I moved faster and faster, rolling my hips into him and both of us groaning and grunting until weâd worked each other up into such a frenzy that I felt a drop of sweat glide down my back.
âCome on, baby,â he growled, gripping my ass so hard I thought Iâd have bruises.
His mouth caught one of my breasts, and I rode harder, feeling him hit that spot so deep I just wanted it to go on forever. Nothing felt better than him.
âDonât ever stop,â I gasped, feeling the pressure and heat and need building up that I couldnât stop even if I wanted to.
âNever,â he said through bared teeth, pulling my hips in harder. âI want your pussy more than I want to fucking breathe.â
I smiled, unable to keep myself from laughing. âNow THAT was romantic.â
He broke out into a laugh, too, his whole body shaking and breaking our rhythm. âScrew you, Little Monster. I tried.â
I shook my head, wrapping my arms around his neck and looking at him. âDonât,â I instructed. âYou know what I like. Just slap me on the ass and wrap a hand around my neck in my morning shower.â
He grinned, leaning his head back and closing his eyes I picked up pace. âThatâs my girl.â
***
KAI
Where the hell were they? The show was going to start soon.
I brought he glass to my lips and let my eyes slowly drift around the room, far from interested in who was here and more interested in noting the people I wanted to avoid.
Women held on to the arms of their husbands, while the menâs laughter and burly voices filled the lobby of the opera houseâwhich was really just a poor imitation of one of the old Paris theatres. Much smaller, much cheaper, and a whole lot tackier.
I sipped the vodka and soda, but my lips touched something soft, and I stopped, pulling the glass away. Looking down, I spotted a wedge of lemon in the drink, and I immediately picked it out, flinging it into the garbage on the side of the bar.
Thatâs not a twist.
I sighed, checked my watch again and wondering if they had just decided to blow us off. Will was chatting up some young college girl off in the corner, and while I didnât mind being alone, Iâd rather be alone at home.
The more time I spent trying to rejoin the rest of the world, the more time I spent wondering why. I was growing more and more impatient with their eyes and their questions. I was sick of playing of nice to people who really didnât want to have anything to do with me but only tolerated me for my father.
But noâŠMichael wanted us to come tonight, so we came.
âWhereâs Will?â
I turned my head and looked down to see Rika at my side, flushed and glowing as her bright eyes smiled up at me.
My heart skipped a beat, but I ignored it, jerking my chin over to the far corner.
She followed my gaze, spotting Will exchanging numbers with the girl.
âYouâre blushing,â I teased, taking another sip.
But she just laughed, sounding beside herself. âIâm shameless.â
I peered back down at her, seeing only a few hairs out of place as she bowed her head and smiled like she couldnât help it.
âDonât change.â
She took my arm, holding it with both of her hands as she blew out an exasperated breath and flushed with embarrassment. âI wonât. Iâm too happy,â she said sweetly.
Yeah.
If I ever considered trying to steal her away, I couldnât. She was head over heels for him.
âWe were over there waiting for you to come over,â a womanâs voice, all too familiar, said, âbut the show is starting soon, soâŠâ
I looked over, seeing my mother approach and holding onto the arm of my father. She leaned in, and I kissed her on the cheek.
âI was working up to it,â I said under my breath.
She pulled back, offering me a kind smile, and I quickly glanced at my father, seeing him regard me in his usual manner. Silent, observing, and as if he were trying to figure out a puzzle.
âGood evening.â My mother held out her hand to Rika when I didnât make introductions.
âHello,â Rika greeted back and then held out her hand to my father.
âRika, this is my father, Katsu Mori,â I said as they shook hands. âAnd my mother, Vittoria.â
âOh,â she replied, sounding surprised. âItâs nice to finally meet you.â
âYouâre Schrader Faneâs daughter.â My fatherâs eyes studied her under a stern brow.
âYes. You knew my father?â
He nodded. âVery well. He was a good man.â
âThank you.â Rikaâs hand returned to my arm, and I saw my father notice.
But then she glanced behind my parents, saw Michael talking to Will, and politely excused herself, squeezing my arm one last time before walking off.
My father leaned in, kissing my motherâs forehead. âWould you give us a moment, please?â
My mother looked between us, her deep brown eyes hesitant as I braced myself. My father and my relationship hadnât even come close to returning to what it was three years ago, and I knew she was worried. Every time we talked, it didnât end well.
But she trusted my father, because he was almost always right. So she nodded and shot me a quick smile before walking up the stairs, probably to their private box.
As soon as she was gone, he moved to my side, standing level with me. âSo Erika Fane?â
âDonât.â I shook my head, hooding my eyes and knowing exactly where this was going. âSheâs not for me. Sheâs taken.â
He crossed his arms over his chest, shrugging. âSo was your mother when I met her. That didnât stop me from getting what I wanted.â
Yes, Iâd heard this story many times. How he had nothing, not even a ring to put on her finger, and how he still stole the Italian girl away from the wealthy fiance her family had chosen for her. And how together they built everything from nothing.
Yeah, my father was an amazing man, and I was nothing. Iâd dishonored him when Iâd been arrested.
Iâd dishonored my whole family, and they didnât even know the half of it. Not even Michael knew the half of it.
I was the worst of us. Not Damon. I was the worst, and I hid it the best.
âSheâs Michaelâs,â I clarified, sipping my drink.
âYes, of course she is.â
âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â
I heard him draw in a long breath before turning his head to look at me. âIt means Michael always takes the prime cuts of meat first, doesnât he?â
I tightened my fist around my glass, feeling the muscles in my hand ache as my father walked off, following my mother up the stairs.
He always stayed just long enough to remind me how much I didnât measure up and then left.
Yeah, Michael always takes the prime cuts of meat first. Thatâs what my father said, but it wasnât what he meant. No, what he meant was Michael always âgetsâ the prime cuts of mean first, because he doesnât waste time hesitating, Kai. He knows his mind.
And that, above anything else, was what my father tried to always teach me. The one thing I never seemed to grasp. âWhere thereâs clarity, thereâs no choice, and where thereâs choice thereâs misery.â
Itâs written on the wall of the dojo at my parentâs house. Making choices meant always being slightly disappointed that you had to give up one thing to have another, but if you know yourself well enough, thereâs never any choice to make. You already know what youâre going to do.
Michael chose Rika over us in that kitchen that night, and when the choice was forced on him, it wasnât hard. He knew what he wanted.
Everything for me was difficult.
The lights dimmed, and I caught sight of Will, Michael, and Rika making their way up the stairs, Michael looking down and finding me, motioning for me to follow.
Reluctantly setting down my drink, I moved across the lobby and climbed the stairs, ignoring the eyes following us as we made our way upstairs.
My parents had a box on the other side, but Michael had reserved a lower one to give Rika a better view. She had never been to the opera.
Walking quickly down the hallway, I followed them onto the small balcony, alight with the soft light coming from the wall sconces. We all neared the balcony, looking down at the crowd and taking in the view.
It didnât take long for curious eyes to find us and whispers start to spread from one clique to then other. Most of these people probably knew Michael, given his status, but theyâd only heard of Will and me and what they knew had been whispered into their ears.
And then all attention eventually fell on Rika. They looked at her, whispered about herâŠ
Who was the beauty with three men in tow? I smirked, looking over at her and seeing her amused expression as she looked down at them, unafraid.
I took my seat, placing Rika between Michael and me, while Will sat down on my other side. After several minutes, the lights lowered, shrouding the theater in black, and the performance began.
I didnât really enjoy opera as much as I enjoyed symphonies and concerts, watching the skill of dozens of instruments working in sync to create something beautiful, but I couldnât help but watch the look of wonder on Rikaâs face out of the corner of my eye. The way her lips parted and she sucked in a tiny breath when the music hit her, and the way she watched so intently through her theater glasses.
She was mesmerized, and I had to admit, I liked living vicariously. It was better than nothing.
But then something hit my foot, and I looked down, seeing that sheâd dropped the glasses. She let out a small gasp, and when Michael and I turned to her, her eyes werenât on the performance.
âThereâs someone watching us,â she said.
I followed her gaze, seeing boxes across from us filled with people, but I had no idea what she was seeing.
âWho?â I asked, swiping the theater glasses back off the floor.
âI donât know,â she answered, standing up. âThey were in that empty box up there.â
I raised the glasses to my eyes and found the empty box she was talking about. But it was empty.
âThereâs no one there.â I handed the glasses to Michael who quickly took them.
âI think it was a woman,â Rika told us. âAnd she was wearing a mask.â
She spun around and left the box, all of us quickly jumping to our feet and following her.
âRika, where are you going?â Michael demanded as all of us chased after her.
She lifted her dress off the ground and powered down the hallway, calling over her shoulder in a stern voice, âShe was slender. Dressed in black with a ski cap covering her hair. Will, scope out the Mezzanine. Kai, check the lobby.â
Will breathed out a laugh. âYes, maâam.â And he took off to the right, heading up a flight of stairs.
âRika, are you sure?â I prodded. What this really necessary?
âThey were wearing a mask,â she pointed out again as if that meant something. She continued down the hall with Michael to the elevators while I stopped at another flight of stairs.
A mask? Half the cast in the opera were wearing a mask. It couldâve been anyone.
Nevertheless I trailed downstairs, heading back down to the lobby as she and Michael disappeared into the elevator, probably heading up to the empty box where sheâs seen the mysterious person.
But after searching the entire lobby, watching the front doors, and waiting to see if anyone came out of the restrooms, I eventually just shook my head and climbed the stairs to search them out.
Rika was on edge. Thatâs all this was, and it was our fault after weâd fucked with her head so much. She was diligent about not letting it hold her back, but she was paranoid, seeing things that werenât there.
Making my way up to the top floor, I noticed that the entire level was closed off for renovation. Every box was vacant, and I finally found Rika, Michael, and Will in a large room which sat off to the back of the balcony where sheâd seen the masked person. The room was filled with crates and boxes, and a massive circular window covered the far wall with only the moonlight pouring in.
âDid you find anything?â I asked them.
But no one answered me.
I looked around at all of them, confused, and finally noticed Michael, holding a mask in his hands. Rika and Will stared at it like it was a bomb that would go off at any moment.
âWhereâd you get that?â I questioned.
âThe chair.â Michael tipped his head toward the balcony where two chairs sat.
âWell, thatâs not one of ours.â
âItâs mine,â Rika piped up.
Michael narrowed his eyes on her. âWhat?â
A thoughtful look crossed her face, and she reached over, taking it from him. âI made my mom buy it at the sporting goods store in Thunder Bay when I was fourteen.â And then she smiled small, looking up at him. âI wanted to be like you.â
She turned the mask over in her hand, thinking. âBut no one knew about it, and I kept it stashed away in my closet at home. Iâve never used it.â
âWell they mass produce those things,â I explained. âIt might not be yours.â
But she raised her eyes and flashed me the inside of the mask, showing me her name written inside.
Her name that she mustâve written.
âWhenâs the last time you saw it?â Will asked, moving in.
She shook her head. âNot sinceâŠbefore the fire, I guess.â
And she looked up, all of us probably drawing the same conclusion.
The fire. My body tensed, and every muscle felt on fire.
âYouâre sure it wasnât Damon you saw?â I gritted out.
Damon, Will, and I had all been in her house that night. Maybe he found it?
âIâm positive,â she said, still looking worried. âShe was petite. It was a girl.â
I took the mask from her hands, inspecting it. âWell, who the hell was she?â I said more to myself. âAnd why was she in your house?â
But she didnât answer, simply turning for the door. âI need to call my mother.â
Will and Michael hesitated only a moment before following her out of the room. âLetâs go,â Michael urged.
I stared down at the mask, nearly identical to ours, only white with a small red heart on the forehead. A million ideas ran through my head as I searched my brain for an explanation.
There were plenty of people weâd pissed off over the years, but I couldnât think of a woman that had issue with us.
Or maybeâŠshe was working for someone else. Someone that wanted us fucked with.
Damon immediately popped in my head, but I quickly dismissed the idea. No, he wouldnât work with a woman or hire one.
But his father might.
Gabriel Torrance was ruthless but clever. Iâd already had a run-in with him where he made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that he wanted his son back.
And I told him that his son was as safe as could be.
Unless he stepped a fucking foot in Meridian City or Thunder Bay.
And I almost hoped he would. Life was getting a little sedate for my taste.
I made my way for the door, bringing the mask with me, but just then I heard a shuffle from somewhere behind me, and I halted.
The floor creaked, and the corners of my lips curled in a smile.
She was still here.
I inhaled a deep breath, smelling a hint of her. The adrenaline heated my blood, and I debated going after her, but for some reasonâŠI remained still.
Maybe I wanted to draw her out. See who was behind her.
Or maybe I wanted something to look forward to.
But I didnât want to move. Not yet.
âAre you sure you know what youâre doing, Little One?â I called out, not turning around. âWhoever hired you shouldâve warned you. Once this starts we wonât stop until we say itâs over.â
The music from the opera drifted in, but the room was eerily silent as I felt her watching me.
âWell, if youâre sureâŠâ I taunted, loving the rush of fucking power coursing through my chest.
If she was in this, so were we. But I wasnât going to act. Not yet. Showing up at the opera, the maskâŠshe was playing with us. Let her surprise me.
No one knew how bad I could be, but sheâd find out.
I stepped forward, continuing for the door. âI would stop wearing that perfume,â I advised, âIâll be able to smell you coming next time.â
THE END
*If you’d like to see my visual inspirations for Kai’s parents, Rika’s dress, her mask, Kai’s hideaway, and the new fencing club, go here!!
—> https://www.pinterest.com/penelopedouglas/hideaway-2016/