by Raven Steele
Heather giggled and licked her bloody lips. “No balls, you won’t do it. Briar’s made you soft.” She glanced at me. “We were going to kill you, tonight, until this asswipe stepped in.”
Her eyes darted back to Luke, all humor gone. “Dick.” She spat a bloody wad in his face.
Every part of me wanted to stomp over there and fifty-yard cunt punt her, but this was Luke’s fight.
Luke reached up and wiped the blood with the back of his hand. Clarity had returned to his eyes. He stood and stepped back from her, the gun lowering. “Briar would turn you into a meat suit.”
“And wear you on Halloween,” I added.
Luke smiled. “I can’t wait to tell Vincent about your plot to take out Briar. The new Alpha won’t like having a killer in the pack, especially a wolf killer. No one will be able to trust you anymore, let alone look at you. Maybe Vincent will lock you in a cell where you can rot and think about how your actions screwed up the rest of your life and got your only friend killed.”
She looked at Leroy, and, for a just a brief second, pain flashed in her eyes.
Luke pivoted to walk away, but Heather sprang to her feet, claws out and fixed in the direction of Luke’s throat.
He whirled back around, gun raised, and fired.
Heather fell over dead, a silver bullet in her head.
Chapter 16
Heather’s body lay broken and bloody in the middle of the dirty alley. Disgust and satisfaction warred within me. I blinked. “Shit. We need to get out of here. Where’s your bike?”
He stared from Heather to Leroy, his face slack and pale. I grabbed Luke’s hand. “Doesn’t feel too good, does it?”
I pulled him down the alley, towards the dumpsters. His feet shuffled, and I practically had to drag him. I pinched his shoulder to snap him out of it. “Luke!”
He growled instinctively, snapping his face towards me.
“Where’s your bike? We need to leave.”
“It’s at your place. I left it there to track Heather and Leroy on foot when they snuck away from your house earlier.”
“What? Were they actually going to try to kill me?”
The distant look in his eyes returned, but he nodded. “And cover it up.”
Ballsy. If they had been successful, which, I snorted, they wouldn’t have, they’d have a powerful witch and a deadly vampire up their asses. I’d like to think Lynx and Samira would get revenge for me.
I threw him my keys. “Here, go around front and take my bike. I need to talk to Eddie.”
“I’ll wait for you.”
“Fine. But stay on the motorcycle.”
He nodded and jogged away, not looking back. I surveyed the scene, searching for any evidence tying Luke to it, but it looked clean. Well, as clean as a dirty alley with two dead bodies in it could look.
I dashed inside Sinsual, wondering if I should tell the pack, or at least my uncle what happened. I thought they would understand, but maybe not. There were still members who hated me for killing Dominic and making my uncle Alpha. They would cause problems for Luke, even if my uncle took my side.
No matter what happened, I had to protect Luke.
I knocked on Eddie’s office door and entered when I heard his voice. He leaned over, resting his elbows on a stack of papers. I glanced down, and he moved his arm over them protectively.
“What can I help you with, Briar?”
“Do you want the good news or the bad news?”
“What did you do?”
“Me? Nothing.”
He sighed. “Give me the good news.”
“Really? Shit. I don’t have any. Usually people ask for the bad news first.”
“Tell me.”
“You have two dead bodies behind the club.” His head tilted, and his eyes narrowed. I raised my hands. “I had nothing to do with it, I swear. I just found them.”
He tightened his hands into fists. “I don’t need this tonight.”
“I’ll call the police. I’m sure they won’t take long, maybe ask your customers a few questions—”
“No. I’ll take care of it. Just go.”
My eyebrows lifted. “It’s not your problem. I’ll do it.”
“And exactly how is it your problem if you just found them?”
“Good point.” I stepped backwards towards the door, jumping at the chance to get out there.
“So even though you had nothing to do with this, do you happen to know who they are?”
“They look like some people I know.”
He sighed, rubbing his hand across his face. “And who do they look like?”
“A girl named Heather and a guy named Leroy. I think they work for some mob boss named Dominic.”
He visibly relaxed. “Oh.”
“You don’t seem concerned.”
He stood and circled his desk to usher me out the room. “I know who they are and believe me, no one will miss them, least of all me.” He opened the door.
“Well, let me know if you need any help, someone to run interference, dig a hole,” I moved out the door, “grab some donuts, set you up on a date …”
Safely out of his view, I spun and jogged down the stairs, a little confused by his behavior. He acted like dead bodies were as common as finding dead rats, a nearly everyday occurrence for this side of Rouen. Not that I wasn’t grateful for his ambivalence. It had saved my ass, after all.
I made my way out the side entrance, careful to go unnoticed by the club’s many patrons. I didn’t want anyone to notice me in case the police asked questions. Luke had the bike’s engine running, but he was slumped in the seat, paler than ever.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be okay.” I gently pushed him back to climb in front of him. This time his arms wrapped around me. I revved the bike’s engine and slowly pulled away from the curve.
I understood what he was going through, what he was feeling. Killing someone took you to a dark place, no matter the motives. I squeezed Luke’s hand. I couldn’t let him give in to that darkness, not like I had done. Somehow, I’d find a way to ground him.
As soon as we arrived at my house, I pulled Luke inside and up towards my room. He followed me in a daze, and I took advantage of his distracted state to turn on the shower, and strip him of everything. I tried not to stare at the way his muscles clenched as I pulled down his pants or the large, erm, package, he was sporting. At the last second, I decided to keep his boxer briefs on.
Can’t take advantage of the guy while he’s in an after-killing shock. Would be like taking advantage of him while he’s drunk. Except he has blood on his hands. And lots of injuries and stuff, which were already starting to heal.
I shoved him into the shower and grabbed his clothes, tossing them into the washing machine for a quick scrub. It would turn his shower cold at some point, but maybe that’s what he needed to snap him out of this.
I ran back up to my room and threw off my shoes and socks, then opened the bathroom door. “Luke?”
He didn’t answer. I tiptoed to the shower and gently pulled back the curtain. He stared at the wall, blank faced. “You okay?”
His face slowly turned to me, and his pupils dilated, finally coming into focus.
“Luke?” I asked again.
He lurched forward, gripping me suddenly, and yanked me into the shower. I stumbled forward, doused by a spray of warm water, but he caught me and pulled me into his arms. He grabbed my butt, twisting my legs around his waist to push me against the wall. I jerked in surprise, but his hands were clasped tight, holding me to him. Water spattered his back.
“Why did you come for me, Briar? I’ve been nothing but an ass lately.”
His stare burrowed into me, under my skin and into my pounding heart. Pain radiated from him, the same pain that had been a constant part of my life until recently. I knew from bitter experience that killing Heather and Leroy wouldn’t stop the hurt.
> “Because I wanted to.”
“Why?” he demanded, his eyes cold. Water dripped from his dark hair.
“Because I care. Because I won’t give up on you.”
“But you killed Dominic. You’re done. Everything you’ve ever wanted. Why don’t you move on?”
His words burned. Was he asking me to leave? I’d almost given up everything I’d worked for for him when I promised Dominic he could live in exchange for Jake’s location. That compromise always lingered at the back of my mind, torturing me because I’d never trusted anyone as much as I’d trusted Luke. And his words were cruel, bitter and heartless, reminding me that I was taking a gamble on him.
I opened my mouth to say I still planned on leaving, especially now that he’d gotten his revenge on Heather and Leroy. But my mouth faltered, my heart slammed erratically in my chest, and words failed me.
In that moment, I betrayed myself. I wanted to put up my wall, to run away from the intensity of my feelings, to hide from the pain Luke could bring to my life. But I couldn’t do it.
Luke had been there for me. When I killed Silas, when I was high on Scorpion’s Breath and reckless with other people’s lives. When I was a bitch to him and tried to push him away.
He was there, sure and steady, the rock to hold onto before slipping into the darkness. The strong hand to pull me from the ocean of despair.
There’s no way I could leave him, not now. Not when he needed me the most.
Not when I still needed him. The fear of being vulnerable was nothing compared to the thought of losing him.
“Because I can’t move on from you.” I swallowed the suffocating fullness in my throat and said something I’d never said to anyone in the past fifteen years. “Because I need you, Luke. I can’t let you go.”
He sucked in a breath and his eyes stared into mine. His arms flexed and his jaw tightened.
I wanted to brace myself for the words, for the rejection that would break me into pieces. Instead, I leaned forward, and brushed my lips, ever so softly, against his. When he didn’t react, I covered his lips with mine, grasped the side of his face, and, for the second time this week, I dived in. Gave everything to him in that moment, knowing if he rejected me, I would crumble into nothingness.
I tore my heart out of my chest in that kiss and handed it over. It was a bloody, pulpy thing. Not very pretty, covered in the grime of rage and fear, and parts of it were hardened and torn.
But it was mine; it was all I had to give.
He stiffened, and I prepared for his rebuff. Milliseconds turned into an eternity, stretched out in front of me. The second hand took forever to move. And then his hands moved up my wet side, his thumbs pressing up into my shirt to dig into my skin, until they reached my face. His lips seared into me, his fingers clawing through my damp hair at this sides.
He clung to me as much as I was clinging to him. His lips crashed into mine, taking everything and devouring my kiss. His tongue claimed me, my heart and my soul. And I wanted it. I wanted all of him.
With his mouth on mine, his movements becoming tender, he took my heart and cradled it gently, making promises to protect it. He gave me devotion and love in that kiss. An explosion of passion and tenderness flowed through him into me, so heart wrenching, I nearly choked on it. My eyes stung with unspent tears as powerful emotions rushed through my body, into my bones and my very soul.
And then I laughed, so unexpectedly he leaned back, a look of surprise on his face. His body shifting slightly, allowed part of the shower’s spray to catch me.
“Oh, shoot.” I covered my mouth with my hand. “Sorry.”
I couldn’t help it. My shoulders eased, and I breathed out. My chest wasn’t so tight, the constant pain more bearable. I sighed in relief.
Laughter danced in his eyes, and he kissed my nose. “It’s okay, Briar.”
He grabbed my hands, using his knee to keep me balanced against the wall, and pushed them over my head, pinning them to the tiled wall. Steam filled the small space and warmed my flesh. His lips danced over my face, giving me small kisses on my cheekbones, the tops of my lips, all the way down to the crook of my neck, causing me to writhe under his touch.
I leaned forward to bite his shoulder, feeling the sudden urge to mark him. And then the water turned ice cold. He straightened in shock. I laughed and used his large body to shield the water from me.
“You think this is funny, do you?” A light teasing entered his eyes, something that should’ve had me worried.
I nodded, biting at my lip.
He stepped aside, letting the fullness of the icy water blast my face. I yelped and scrambled to the edge of the shower. He grinned, revealing that carefree smile I loved so much.
I hit him in the chest. “Asshole.”
“Maybe.” He shrugged, his grin only growing bigger. “But you like it.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” I traced my fingers across his chest and walked into my bedroom to change into dry clothes. When I was finished, I hurried downstairs to switch Luke’s clothes into the dryer, along with my wet ones, then returned to my bedroom. I froze.
Luke was sitting on my bed, wearing my clothes. He’d managed to find an old pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt I sometimes slept in. The shirt read, I’m not always a dick. Just kidding, go screw yourself. They were both tight on him, revealing every valley and hard ridge.
I laughed.
“Come here, Pup.” He patted his thighs, his hungry eyes burning into me.
After closing the door, I crossed the room to him and straddled his waist. He drew me closer and rested his chin on my shoulder, arms slipping around my back. He sucked in a slow breath and let it out just as slowly. Drops of water fell from his wet hair onto the sides of my face, but I ignored it. Being here with Luke like this, entwined together, felt right. Felt real. I closed my eyes to savor the moment.
“You don’t know how much I’ve wanted this.” He leaned back and slid his hand between us to rest it on the space above my heart. “So many times I wanted to rip apart any guy who looked at you.” His fingers curled around the top rim of my shirt. I was sure he could feel the erratic beat of my heart under his fist. “Every time I saw you, I wanted to break down your defenses, tear you apart, inch by inch, and own every single piece of your body.”
I hitched a breath and held it, waiting to hear what he would say next.
His eyes darkened, enforced with determination. “But I knew a woman like you couldn’t be contained or controlled. You had to make your own choices. I couldn’t pick you. You had to choose me.”
His gaze held mine, staring into them so fiercely I couldn’t break away. I wanted to dive into the depths of those eyes and let him swallow me whole. He owned me in that look. “Is this what you’re doing, Briar? Are you choosing me?”
“Yes.” I placed my hands to his cheeks to clasp them tight, showing him with the sharpness of my gaze that I was serious.
“If I do this, if I give myself to you, then you belong to me. Not Angel. Not your revenge, or the pack. You are mine. Are you willing to make that kind of commitment? To give yourself fully to me? Because I don’t fuck around. I will give you everything I have, but I have to know you will do the same.”
I swallowed the growing thickness in my throat as the Abydos came to my mind. It was the only thing holding me back. I would put it before him. Hell, I put it above my own life. I protected it because the Abydos was the most powerful blood in existence; the power of a god in one tiny vial.
He saw my hesitation and pulled back, hurt etched in his eyes. I grabbed his shirt to keep him from moving away. “It’s not that, Luke. There are just things that I’ve never told anyone. Things that are more important than you and me. More important than any one person. Things that got people killed and still could.”
My family died because of it, I wanted to say.
Those unspoken words lay between us, like a rotten fetid creature keeping us from each other.
His Ad
am’s apple bobbed in his throat. “So that is the question, Briar. Do you trust me?” He paused and looked towards my window. “Because I don’t think I could handle your rejection. Not after Jake—” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
The gears of my mind ground together as I stared down the barrel of his emotional gun. Did I trust Luke with my biggest secret? Could I reveal the one thing that kept me on edge my whole life? Why I didn’t sleep well at night because I was worried someone would find it?
It could put his life at risk. And not just knowing about it. One drop of the Abydos blood upon his lips could give him absolute power in the city. It might even make him a monster. Could I trust that he wouldn’t take it? Wouldn’t betray me?
I nodded with absolute certainty. Ever since I saw him digging up the grave of his dead brother, I knew he would do anything for those he loved. He put his whole heart into finding his brother, making certain beyond belief that it was Jake in that grave.
There was also the fact that Luke was strong enough to be an Alpha. And yet, he’d worked like a dog for Dominic, all to keep his brother protected. Without seeing Jake, without hearing from him, for four whole years. He didn’t crave power like so many other strong men. He craved devotion and love.
His gaze left the window and returned to me, searching my eyes. Despite what he was asking, I didn’t doubt his devotion was the same as it had been since that day he cut me loose from the tree. Every single thing he’d ever done for me was to protect me. Even if it was protecting me against my own stupidity.
I could trust him. With everything.
And so I prepared to tell the biggest secret of my life.
Chapter 17
“I trust you, Luke.” I brushed my thumb over his lips. “I have the Abydos. I’ve been protecting it alone since my pack was slaughtered. If it fell into the wrong hands, the power it contains could destroy the world.”
I hardened my gaze. “And I will kill you if you ever try to take it from me. I made a vow to guard it with my life.” I paused to let the gravity of my words sink in. “I’ve never told another living soul. That’s how much I trust you.”
