Standing up he leans over the desk. “I don’t give a flying fuck about Susan, I’m talking about Nikki. You’re not good enough for her.”
“Can’t do that Prez.”
“You can, and you will. Have a seat, gonna fill you in on some shit.” He proceeds to tell me his whole messed up life story. And I’m just sitting here, scratching my head in confusion. Shit about a wife and an Old Lady, sisters, Susan ain’t his kid. How they treated Nikki her whole life until she ran off. She grew up thinking he was her uncle, but he doesn’t want me to say shit because he wants to tell her the truth himself. Man. It’s fucked up.
“I don’t get it. Why don’t you want me with Nikki?”
“I didn’t protect her before, I’m rectifying that. Not gonna have her messed up with the likes of you, you wouldn’t know how to keep your dick in your pants. She had enough of that shit in her life.”
“So what, you want me with Susan?” I cringe. Fuck. Please don’t make me be with that cunt.
He starts pacing the room. “No, I wouldn’t wish her on even the worst of my enemies, what you do with her is your business. But just letting you know, even if you go behind my back, and search out Nikki, she won’t have you. She hates Susan, and she wants to be nothing like her mother or what she thinks her mother was like, only I haven’t told her the truth yet, so she won’t touch you anyways, now that she knows.” That’s bullshit, I know I can make Nikki around. “Cruiz is a good man, been friends with Nikki since she was a child, always had a thing for her. And I know when he’s in relationships he doesn’t fuck around. That’s someone I can support being with my daughter.”
“That’s bullshit!” I roar, standing up from my chair. “Nikki is mine, you’ll have to put a bullet in my head because I’m claiming her.”
He leans back in his chair, smirking at me. “We’ll see, it’s up to Nikki, but if she asks me to keep you away from her, I’ll do it.” He stands up, walks around the desk and gets in my face. “Ever speak to me like that again, I’ll cut your fuckin’ cock clean off and shove it up your ass.” He grabs my cut and slams his hard as fuck head into my face, and I feel the blood flowing outta my nose. “Get out, you have shit to see to. Don’t piss me off again, Prospect. You want your patch, you do what I say. If you show me that you can be good for my daughter, I’ll stay outta it. Until then, Cruiz is gonna be making his move.”
I hold onto my nose as I exit the office. That mother fucker Cruiz better stay away from what’s mine.
Chapter 26
Nikki
Sophia is at her new school, so I am out doing some shopping. We both need new everything. The only things I wanted from the house we lived at with Tricky were our photos and her keepsakes. The rest is garbage. As I get out of the cab and start walking toward the entrance, I feel eyes on me. I should have known Happy would have someone tailing me.
“Why are you following me?” I spin around getting up in Cruiz’s face.
He smirks at me. “Maybe I like the view.”
I stomp my foot. “Be serious.”
“I am.” He cups my chin in his rough hand, positioning my head to stare up into his eyes. “You know I have loved you since we were kids and now here we are, both of us single. Nothing to stop us.”
I smack his hand away. “I’m pregnant.”
“Feisty. Just like I remember. I know all about you stepping out on that fucker of a husband you had. Poor choice of judgment, sugar, but I can look past that. You were confused and in a bad way, but you don’t have to worry anymore.”
“You can’t save me, Mateo. Not then and not now. I’m not that girl anymore and I never will be the same again. You’re wasting your time and your breath. So stop following me. You can go report back to Happy that I’m fine. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time and will continue to do so.”
“Keep on acting tough but we both know the truth. Part of you still loves me too. I may have fucked up when we were kids but I’m here now. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
I shake my head. “Fuck off.”
“Nah, sweetheart. I am fully fucked on to you.” He grins and I don’t know if I want to smack him or kiss him, so I don’t do either. I turn around and go into the mall, ignoring his presence. Pretending that he doesn’t get to me. Pretending that I don’t still care about him.
He was the one person I thought I could count on and then I found him fucking Susan.
I was just a kid really, but I thought we were in love. I thought he would be the one to save me from the hell I was living at home with Susan and Crystal. Then I saw them through the cracked doorway of Susan’s bedroom. They were fucking and I was devastated. I was going to give him my virginity and he broke my heart. All men are shit and I am done with them. Too bad I love dicks so much or I’d go for women.
I get to the department store and grab some maternity clothes to try on.
Cruiz holds up a nightie. A red lace one. “You can model this for me.”
“Seriously. I am going to call security and report you for stalking me.”
“You know you’ve missed me.”
“That’s beside the point.”
“So, you admit it. You do think about me.” He steps into myspace and I can smell his cologne. All fresh but manly. His piercing blue eyes stare me down. Daring me to move from this spot.
“I think about how annoying you are.” I smirk and he leans down angling his head toward mine. I don’t know what is happening. Maybe it is my hormones being fucking crazy or maybe part of me still does love him. Him and his stupid good looks. That honey kissed skin that looks like he’s had too much sun. His strong jawline with a days old stubble growing on it. The sexy as sin colorful tattoos that cover his hands and sleeve up both arms. His height as he towers over me are all things that attract me to him.
“You wanna know what I’m thinking?” I stay quiet so he drops his voice down low and whispers in my ear. His lips brush the shell of my ear. “Thinking I wanna take my time with you and do things right this time. Thinking that I really want to kiss you right now but I’m going to make you wait for it because I haven’t earned it yet. But mark my words, Nikki, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be right here day in and day out reminding you of what we had. What we should have had and what we will have. I’m gonna be your man.”
I shake his words off and the attraction I was feeling for a mere second. “I’m getting really sick and fucking tired of everyone telling me that they’re my man.”
His gaze darkens. “That cunt been giving you shit?” He’s referring to Susan or Crystal I’m assuming.
“Nothing I can’t handle on my own.”
“You’re not alone, Nikki. I’m not going anywhere and if anyone is giving you a hard time all you gotta do is say the word and I’ll stomp their ass.”
I bite back the tears that are threatening to fall. I’m so lost and confused. My head and my heart are pulling me in a million different directions. The girl I used to be misses Cruiz. The pregnancy has me wishing I could be a family with Grady and our baby. Neither option is reasonable but yet I want them both.
“Cruiz…”
“Don’t fight me, Nikki. You and I both know you never stopped loving me. We both know it shoulda been me you married and my baby you had. I shoulda been the first man to sink balls deep in that pussy and fill you up over and over again, but I’m here now and I want what’s mine. I want you, Sophia, this baby…I want it all and you’re going to give it to me because you know you want me.”
He pushes me into the dressing room. Before I know what I am doing, I am giving in to him. His mouth is hot on my neck as he presses me against the mirror. “This is gonna be fast because we don’t have much time, but later I am gonna take you home and eat your pussy and fuck you until you can’t walk. It’s gonna be my name you cry out. It’s gonna be my cum filling this cunt like it always should have been.”
I should want to tell him to fuck off. I should scream, but instead I turn into to him like
a horny little bitch and we fuck against the wall. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like I can’t fucking think straight around these men but as he thrusts inside me and my head bangs against the wall of this dressing room, I know one thing, Mateo Cruiz is still in my heart and I don’t know if I am strong enough to stay away now that I have him back.
“After you have this kid, I’m going to knock you up again. Want my baby inside you, Nikki. Want you tied to me in every way possible.”
His words shouldn’t make me orgasm, but they do. The idea of having his baby and doing things the way we always talked about makes me hot and bothered. However, then there is Grady creeping into my thoughts and in my head, he joins Cruiz and me. The two of them penetrate me together. They double stuff my pussy with their dicks and I let out a cry as another orgasm quakes through my body.
Chapter 27
Cruiz
“What are you doing here, Cruiz. I told you that I need space. Showing up at my door unannounced is not giving me space. Why does everyone keep showing up here expecting a welcome wagon?”
“Who is giving you shit? I’ll take care of it. Just give me a name.”
Nikki shakes her head. “It’s nothing. The past just won’t leave me alone is all.” She rolls her eyes and steps aside to let me in when she sees I brought her and Sophia a pizza and salads.
“Figured I’d save you from having to cook. You mentioned being tired. If you want me to keep an eye on Sophia while you take a bath and nap or whatever I will.”
“Thanks, but we can manage. She’s eleven not three.” She laughs under her breath as I sit the food on the kitchen table.
“I know but I want to get to know her too. She’s a part of you and that makes her important to me. The shit Tricky did and the plans I heard that he had for her. I could dig the bastard up and kill him again.” I grind my teeth getting angrier just thinking about the piece of shit.
“Yeah well he’s dead and I don’t like talking about him unless I have to. I only do if Sophia brings him up.”
I take the hint and change the subject. “You still like bacon and hot peppers on your pizza?”
Nikki opens the lid of the pizza box and grins. “You remembered.” A smirk stretches across her full lips.
“Of course. I remember every fucking thing about you, baby. How could I ever forget the only woman who has ever had my heart. The only woman I ever wanted to make my wife.”
She shakes her head, tears filling her eyes. “I must not have meant all that much to you since you had to go and fuck Susan behind my back.”
Fuck, I knew she’d bring that up, but I was expecting it at least. “Baby, I was a dick, I was drunk, and I regretted that moment ever since. I’m gonna make it up to you, Nikki. I can say sorry until I blue in the face, but actions speak louder than words, I promise, right now, you and me. Always,” I vow to her.
“Mateo,” she whispers. “Please don’t do this right now. Let’s just enjoy the pizza.”
“Just stating the facts. I finally have you back and you called me Mateo. I like that shit. Keep it up, sweetheart.” I wink at her and she blushes.
Sophia comes into the kitchen. “Cruiz!”
“Hey, baby girl. Brought you and your mom some dinner. Got you a salad. I remembered you having me get you one the other day. Ranch dressing and extra croutons too.”
“Thanks.” She smiles at me and it sets my heart on fire.
This little girl has been through hell and I will do any damn thing I can to give her the best and show her that not all men are evil bastards and that I want to be a father figure in her life. After I lost Nikki, I never thought I would have kids or a family life but now things have changed. I have my woman back in my life and I will fight tooth and nail for what’s always been mine. There’s never been any woman but her in my heart. Sure, I have fucked around and dated a few bitches, but I always made sure I kept my shit wrapped up tight. None of them were women I wanted to chance getting tied down to.
We all get our plates and Nikki herds us into the living room to watch some show she likes about the zombie apocalypse. It’s not my kind of program but I’ll watch anything if it means spending time with her.
“How are you liking your new school, Soph?”
“It’s good. None of the kids know who I am. They don’t know my dad was a monster. Everyone wants to be my friend and I am trying out for their cheerleading squad next week.”
“Good. If you ever need anything you can call on me.”
“Thanks.”
Nikki gives me a back off look, but I just smile and keep making conversation winning Sophia over. “I brought you a new game over for your game system. I thought if your mom doesn’t mind, we can play it together.”
“She has homework,” Nikki snaps.
“No. I don’t. I finished it in study hall,” Sophia says.
“Cool. I’ll go get it unless you want to go with me to get ice cream first.”
“Yes! Please, Mom. I really want a double fudge cone.”
I look at Nikki wearing a smug expression on my face. “You can come too, that is if you still like sea salt caramel waffle cones.”
She groans. “Ugh. Why do you have to know me so well?”
“It’s what I do.”
We all get into my cage and head out to the ice cream shop. Nikki complains the whole time, but I can tell she is warming up to having me around, especially when I tell her Sophia and I will do the dishes before we play our game.
“Don’t think I don’t see what you are doing,” Nikki seethes.
“What? Spending time with my girls.”
“We are not your girls,” she warns.
“We’ll see, ball breaker. We’ll see.”
Chapter 28
Nikki
After I drop Sophia off to school, I notice my cell vibrating, letting me know I have new texts. Sighing, I pull it out of my pocket and see that Happy wants me at the clubhouse to talk. He does realize I don’t have a car yet, right? How does he think I’m gonna get there?
That’s something I need to sort out. After Tricky’s death the police took everything, and even though it was finally ruled self-defense just last week, I apparently still wasn’t getting anything. That bastard had an airtight Will, that left me out completely. Though the asshole had the decency at least to name Sophia in it, so there is that. Can’t touch a dime of the money until Sophia finishes high school.
When Tricky’s lawyer called me last week to let me know everything was to be sold off and put in an account for her, I was shocked. I thought Tricky hated our baby. Although when the paperwork came in and I looked it over, I noticed a large chunk of the money had gone to someone else. I didn’t even want to think about who it could have gone to, not with finding out Tricky had bids for Sophia’s virginity. The thought alone makes me sick.
I go to text my Uncle Happy back about not being able to go there so he’ll have to come here when I hear a bike pull up.
Looking over my shoulder I see Grady, and my jaw clenches. Why the hell does he have to look so good on that damn bike. “Get on,” he orders.
I square my shoulders and glare at him. “No.”
“Not asking, babe, takin’ you to the clubhouse.” My shoulders sag and I let out a sigh. Of course, he would send a prospect to come get me. But did he have to send this one?
I slowly make my way to him and as I’m about to get behind him on the bike he grabs my waist, yanking me to him and slams his mouth to mine. I let out a small moan that makes me want to punch myself in the face. I pull away and glare at him. “You have no right to do that.”
“You’re mine.” He shrugs turning around. “Now get on. Even put a bitch seat on the back just for you, baby. Never done that for a woman before until you.”
“No, you’re Susan’s,” I mutter as I climb on the bike behind him. Stupid asshole is not gonna keep declaring I’m his. Already got Mateo saying that shit too. Both of them need to stop, it’s giving me a h
eadache.
His body stiffens and for a moment I think maybe I blurted all that out instead of thinking it, but he relaxes moments later. “Susan ain’t mine,” he replies gruffly and guns the bike.
We drive through the town I grew up in. The town in which I was known as the child of a no-good whore and my stomach drops. My Mom was a good woman with a gypsy soul. She was misunderstood by everyone. She had a free spirit. I was a child who belonged to no one when I was growing up after she passed away. Crystal and Susan made sure of that. Walking into the clubhouse I tense up as uneasiness washes through me. Memories hit me of when Mom would bring me here and it sends a pain into my chest. She’d sit me on a barstool and Con, the guy working the bar, would make me a root beer float with a cherry on top. Mom would always take the cherry and pop it in her mouth. God, I miss her. She was always wearing belly tops and billowy skirts with white heart shaped sunglasses on. She was so beautiful. Happy says I look like her and at times it hurts him to look at me. I guess I should say it used to hurt him, and I never understood why. He was happily married so why would seeing my face pain him? He’s not seen much of me since I ran off. I can’t help but wonder if coming back is a mistake. I don’t want Sophia to suffer the same hurts that I did.
An arm snakes around my stomach and I’m pulled flush with Grady’s body. “Find me when you’re done with Happy. We’re gonna chat.”
I see Mateo off in the distance staring us down. I know it’s wrong of me to taunt him, but I turn into Grady’s embrace and touch his cheek momentarily. “Yeah. Sure.”
I walk down the familiar stairs to the basement where Happy has his office. The same pictures still line the walls. Club members present and past. There is a picture of my mother; she’s standing back behind Happy and Crystal looking so damn sad. I stop mid-step, tracing my fingers over the planes of her face wishing I could wipe that expression from her face. One I never saw her wear but one I have worn like a mask most of my adult life.
You Break Me (The Prospect Series Book 2) Page 8
