Love In The Dark (The Dark Flower Series)

by Holt, Leah

  “For love?” Her eyes darted between mine, trying to understand.

  Shaking my head, I looked up at the building. “Yeah.”

  “You can't say it, can you?” Sitting up, she tried to force our eyes back together. “You can't even say the word.”

  “It's a weakness, Berlin. It's not what people tell you, it's not full of smiles and laughs. There's hatred and pain, there are tears and heartache. And when it's gone, there's nothing but hurt that flows through every fucking vein. I don't want to feel that, and you don't either.”

  Letting my eyes float back onto hers, her lips parted as she took in a slow breath. “If love was meant to be full of happiness. . . If it was meant to be easy—” Her voice fell soft, barely audible as she spoke. “We'd have no reason to fear it.” Pulling her hand free from mine, she opened the door and started to climb out of the car. “The only right thing in this fucking world is love. It's the one thing no one can control.”

  Snagging her wrist, I yanked her back inside. I couldn't let her just walk away. Not like this, not pissed off and already forgetting what I had given her.

  What I'm going to give her. Shit has to change, I have to change.

  Wrapping my arm around her back, I pulled her as close as I could, pressing our bodies against the center console. My mouth hovered over hers, unwilling to let her go. Berlin peered up at me, her expression softening as we locked eyes.

  “I can't give promises, but,” I said, running my fingers through her hair and holding her tighter, “this isn't the end of your story.”

  “I've been living in the end for a long time, Salt. I'm ready for my story to finally begin.”

  Driving my lips onto hers, I kissed her. I kissed her as if we were the only two people in the world. I kissed her as if I needed her to survive. I kissed her because I wasn't sure I'd ever have the chance to kiss her again.

  I didn't want her to love me.

  And I didn't want to love her.

  Because I couldn't promise her that I wouldn't break her heart.

  I was about to go to war for her, and there was no guarantee I'd come out alive.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Berlin

  My feet felt heavy as cement as I dragged myself across the lot and up towards the front door. The entire time I kept hoping that he would just grab my hand and yank me back to the car.

  I don't want to go back.

  My eyes fluttered to the surrounding treeline that hid our little evil oasis. Tucked far out of view from the prying eyes Virgo knew wouldn't approve of his ways, the Canary thrived by word of mouth and sour men who had far too much money to spend.

  “Don't even think about it,” Salt said, his eyes wolfish and aware of what was running through my head as he walked behind me. “If you really don't want to die, then don't do something stupid.”

  “Stupid is you kissing me like you mean it, and then actually making me come back here.”

  “No, stupid is you not trusting me.”

  Cocking my head over my shoulder, I eyed him boldly. “You haven't given me a reason to trust you.”

  Coiling his fingers around my arm, he turned me on my feet, causing me to sway. With firm fingers, he held me steady, his voice low as if he was afraid someone might hear him.

  “I've been nothing but straight forward with you. Not once have I led you to believe anything that wasn't the truth. If that isn't a reason for you to trust me, then maybe I should just walk away. I won't stay here and watch you get yourself killed because you're too fucking blind to see it.”

  My eyes wandered around his face, with one heavy brow slanted in disagreement. “You brought me back.” My words were bitter as my voice came out raspy. “I'll never forgive you for this. You had your chance to do something good, instead you let him control you.”

  “Me? I had my chance?” His face spiked in annoyance as he frowned. “I opened the car door and told you to get out, you could have run away at any point last night, but you stayed. You could have called the fucking cops, but instead you called your fucking—”

  Smack!

  “Fuck you.” Balling my fists at my side, I stood up on my toes so I was closer to his face. “You act like you're some fucking hero for giving me one night away, but you're not. You're just another asshole. One night doesn't fix shit, one night doesn't make you a fucking saint.” Storming off, my feet pounded across the walkway.

  He was no different than any other man I had ever met.

  Bentley Saltiana was only out for himself.

  Why am I surprised?

  I knew I was coming back.

  But I was wishing for something else.

  I wanted to believe so badly that this man had been sent to me as my savior. That finally my prayers had been heard and it was my time for something better.

  I was wrong.

  Because he did do exactly like he said. And for me, it just wasn't good enough. He was a lamb in sheep's clothing, pretending to be confident and powerful.

  A confident man would have saved me. A powerful man wouldn't have let Virgo win. A real man would have known exactly what to do, and it wasn't returning me to this fucking place.

  A new scar had started form, one that wasn't visible.

  It was a gash across my heart where I had stupidly penned his name.

  Chapter Twenty

  Salt

  Grabbing the back of her neck, I held her firmly in my hands. “I told him I would bring you back, and that's what I'm doing.”

  Berlin's lashes swept up as she blinked, her eyes studying me with piercing scrutiny. “You really are a cold-blooded asshole.”

  “No, I'm a man of my word.” Marching her forward, her legs were sluggish. “I just need you to open your ears and listen.”

  “Oh, I hear you just fine. And I think you're a fucking coward.”

  “A coward, huh?” Chuckling, I squeezed her neck tighter. “And why's that?”

  “Because this isn't who you are. I know it's not, you're not this person.”

  “I already told you who I am, so what the hell makes you think that I'm anything different?”

  Swallowing hard, Berlin started to answer. “You're eyes—”

  “Welcome back,” Virgo called out as he opened the door, causing Berlin to stop talking instantly. Stepping out onto the large marble platform at the top of the stairs, his eyes watched us suspiciously as he slanted a heavy brow. “How was my sweet girl last night?”

  “I don't believe our agreement included details, Virgo.”

  Leveling his eyes with mine, he crooked his lips. “Well I hope she was worth it for you. Come, sweet girl.” Waving his hand, he wanted her at his side.

  “She's fine where she is,” I said, wrapping my arm around her neck and holding her close. “I'd like to see she gets in safely.”

  “Safely?” he asked as if he had no clue what I was referring to.

  Lowering my eyes, I glowered, running my hand up and down the outside of her arm. “Don't play games with me, you know exactly what I mean.”

  Clicking his tongue, Virgo perused his eyes between us. “Fine, she's due to go on soon anyway.” Shifting on his feet, he threw his shoulders forward and walked inside. Pointing his finger towards the club doors, he spoke to her as if she was a dog. “Go, Berlin.”

  Berlin reacted, not even thinking twice about how he was talking down to her. Dropping her eyes to the floor, she went to walk, but I held her in place.

  The least he could do was talk to her as if she was human. It wasn't too much to ask. She had already done more than enough to earn that from him.

  Snapping her head in my direction, her big green eyes anchored on mine. I knew what she was thinking, I knew she wanted me to just grab her and run.

  But if I was going to do anything to help her, we had to do it my way.

  “Why don't you try that again, and this time ask her nicely.” Clenching my jaw, I refused to let her go until he addressed her with some compassion, and talked to her as
if she was on the same level as us.

  “Nicely?” His back stiffened as his lips rolled into a deep grimace. “Nicely?” Taking a firm step into me, his arms went pin straight. “You see this?” he asked, grabbing her face and twisting it hard. “This is mine, she belongs to me. I'll talk to her however the fuck I want to.”

  Holding my ground, I lifted my chin higher. “Not while I'm here. While I'm here, she's a woman, and you'll show her some damn respect. I think she's earned that much after what you've put her through.”

  “Okay, I see now.” Virgo let out a cackle that was high pitched. “What I put her through. . .” Pressing an open palm to his chest, he smiled coyly. “Every fucking bruise, every cut, scrape, and fucking scar she has could have been prevented. All she had to do was follow orders, that was it. She asked for all of it, she defied me by not listening like a good fucking whore should.”

  Balling my fists, my voice shot out deep and husky. “What did you just call her?”

  “Bentley, please. This little fucking hard on you have for her needs to stop.”

  “She's not going anywhere until you do what I'm telling to you to do.”

  Huffing loudly, Virgo rolled his eyes. “Berlin, sweetie, can you please go get ready for tonight?” His voice was high-pitched like he was talking to a child, as the muscles in his face twisted like he was sucking on a lemon.

  The way he said it made me want to hit him in the face. But I didn't, I stayed strong, keeping my composure.

  Berlin looked between us, her eyes steadying on mine as if she was looking for approval. Giving her a nod, I released her arm, letting her walk into the club. I watched her for as long as I could, until she finally disappeared into the back room.

  Virgo shifted angrily beside me, obviously annoyed that it was me she was responding to and not him. It was like I had stolen all of his power, knocking him down off his mountain that he thought he claimed.

  Shooting my gaze back to Virgo, I growled. “We need to talk.”

  “Bentley, we're done talking. You got what you wanted, I got what I wanted. Why do we need to ruin that with more words?”

  “I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. We have more business, and I think you might just like what I have to offer.”

  Wrapping his arm around his ribs, he tapped a single finger against his lip. Cocking a brow, a smug grin filled his face. “I'd be lying if I said you didn't have my attention. What are you offering?”

  “Can we do this someplace else? You know I don't like drawing any attention to myself. The less I'm seen the better.”

  “You know, Bentley, I wouldn't tolerate this from anyone else but you.”

  “That's because I'm the one you call when you have an issue. Who the hell are you going to call to save you from me?”

  Virgo let out a hearty laugh as if what I said was an honest joke. It wasn't. I was serious as fuck. “Follow me.”

  Bringing me to the same room we had met in the night before, he strolled around the table and stood behind his chair. “Well?” he asked, laying his arms over the back of the chair and folding his hands. “What is this offer you have for me?”

  “I want to buy Berlin from you.”

  “Didn't I already tell you no?”

  I didn't move further into the room, choosing to keep the door in my peripheral vision. “But you haven't heard my offer yet.”

  “Go on,” he said, rolling his hand. “It won't change anything, but it might give me a good laugh.”

  “Tell me a number, any number and it's yours. And, because I want to be fair, I'll take care of the next five issues you run into. No questions, no fee, all I ask is that after I'm done, we cut ties.”

  “So you want to take the one girl I don't want to sell, and then end our contract completely?”

  “It's a good deal, Virgo, you know it is. Who else would tell you to give a price and not care what it was?”

  “It's fucking bullshit.”

  “I'm trying to make this work in your favor so there's no problems between us. I don't want to have to kill you for her.”

  His eyes lit like liquid fire, nostrils flaring wide. “You'd kill me for a piece of ass?”

  “I'd kill you to save her life.”

  Chuckling, Virgo's lids turned to slits. “Are you fucking Robin Hood now? Rob from the rich and give to the poor?”

  “I want to do the right thing, that's it. I want to pay you for her, give you some time to find someone else to do your bidding, and then go on with my life. I don't want you to contact her, I don't want you to look for us, I want you to forget that either of us exist. It's a win win for you, you should take it.”

  “Do you hear yourself? You're talking fucking crazy. What has that girl done to you?”

  Grunting, my lips drew taut. “I'm taking her whether you agree or not. It's up to you how we get to that point.”

  I watched as his eyes glanced behind my back. It was quick, but enough for me to sense something was about to happen. Before I could turn, someone wrapped a cord around my throat, pulling it tight.

  I didn't hear or notice anyone else come into the room, but I wasn't exactly listening either. Like a fucking idiot, I let down my guard, focusing on one man.

  Digging my fingers into the cord, I tried to pull it free. It was too tight, forcing me to my knees as the air became thin, barely making it into my lungs.

  “I was ready for this, Bentley. I'm not fucking stupid. But I was hoping that you'd just let her go and walk away.” Pulling his phone from his pocket, he smiled, tapping the screen and putting it back. “You're not taking her.” Taking slow steps around the table, he worked his way closer to me. “Does she know?”

  I could hear myself wheezing as I focused on breathing. But there wasn't enough air for me to talk. My eyes began to bulge as the cord cut into my throat.

  “Does she know?” Virgo looked at the man behind me, giving him a light nod. The cord suddenly loosened a hair, just enough for me to say a few quiet words.

  “Does she know what?”

  “Does she know who you are—does she know what you are?”

  “She knows enough.” My voice was scratchy, holding half the baritone it normally had.

  “I don't think she does.” His smile thickened to a devilish grin. “I don't think she knows enough about you. If she did, she would have run back to me.”

  “I'm not playing your fucking games, Virgo.” Wriggling my fingers, I was able to get just the very tips under the rope.

  “It's not a game, Bentley, it's the truth. Does she know who your father is?”

  “She knows enough,” I snapped, baring my teeth. Sweat was dripping down my forehead, stinging my eyes as I tried to figure out a way to get free.

  I wasn't sure where he was going with this. She knew I killed people, she knew my father killed people, she knew enough to paint her own picture. What more was there?

  You know what he's talking about.

  But she's not strong enough to hear it.

  She didn't need any details of how we did our job or the names of the people we killed. Berlin was smart enough to understand everything without all the morbid details. And the real truth, she couldn't handle that yet.

  “I don't think she does.” His voice was smooth and confident. “But she will. Any last words you want to tell her?”

  Following his eyes, I turned slightly to look at the door. In the back of my head, I knew what he was doing. He was going to fucking kill me.

  You can't fucking kill me, not when I'm already dead inside.

  The door opened slowly, and Vin walked in holding Berlin by the neck. Her face was beet red, her lip was split, trickling blood down her chin.

  She's a fighter. That's the only reason she's still alive at all.

  “Here she is boss.” Giving her a gentle nudge, he let her go. “Anything else?”

  “No, you can go, Vin.”

  Berlin had this look on her face. She was fucking pissed. Her mouth was tight, rolled down in
the corners. Her eyes were jagged, shooting razors in Virgo's direction. She didn't even look at me, her gaze anchored on her enemy.

  “Where's Aubrey?” she asked through clenched teeth.

  “Who?”

  “Don't play fucking stupid. Where is she?” Balling her fists at her sides, her breathing became faster as she clutched the flower in her palm. “Vin said she's gone. What the hell does that mean?”

  “Oh, her,” he mocked, arching his brows high. “You two were trouble together, so I sold her.” Looking down at her hand, Virgo smiled. “What do you have there?” Stepping forward, he snatched the flower from her fingers.

  “I gave her that. It's for her to keep, not for you take away from her.”

  The sound of my voice forced Berlin to whip her head in my direction. Our eyes met, hers growing wide and full of tears as she absorbed the sight of me on my knees.

  “What's happening? What are you doing to him?” Taking a small step forward, she clutched the side of her head, pulling her hair tight against her scalp.

  “It's so sweet he gave you a flower.” Bringing the flower to his nose, Virgo inhaled a deep breath. “You're in love, Bentley. I wish your father was here to see this.”

  “Leave my father out of this.”

  Berlin growled, lunging at Virgo. With wild arms, she clawed and raked the air, blindly striking his body. “Let him go! I won't let you do this! You're a fucking monster!”

  Letting out a loud grunt, Virgo swung a heavy backhand, smacking her across the face.

  My body tensed, eager to jump up and help her. But the unknown man behind me tightened the rope, keeping me in place. It killed me that she was so vulnerable, that Virgo could hurt her and there was nothing I could do.

  Stumbling backwards, Berlin clutched her jaw as her eyes turned to pinpricks. But she wasn't done. Her strength overpowered her pain, her will to fight out shined her sorrow and sadness.

  Running at him again, she landed a punch to his chest and an open palm to his cheek. “I hate you! I fucking hate you!”