I touched his cheek, looking at his face. The small little gristle that I felt against my hand was comforting, and soon, I moved to his shoulders, touching the gorgeous tattoos that you could only see when he was shirtless. It was like a work of art, and as I moved back to his cheeks, I smiled.
“I’m glad too. I was worried that ... it would’ve been the end that night. But, while I don’t understand it, I support you. I don’t want to forget you, forget all of this, forget well … us. And if that means I have to experience a different life and learn about the dark secrets of this city, then I’ll accept that. I swear,” I said.
I meant it. I mean, Stephan was definitely a lot better than my exes, that’s for sure. I definitely didn’t mind that there was a little bit of baggage.
For a moment, I didn’t really mind that things were different between us. I didn’t mind that even though life was a bit chaotic, we made it work.
But, would this last. As I cuddled up to Stephan, touching his body with lackadaisical little caresses, I spoke.
“So, what are we going to do now? how much danger do you think I’m in?”
“I don’t know. In all honesty Laney, I’ll probably know for sure later on. I know that whoever attacked you has something to do with the Balton Brothers, and they have some grudge against both of us. I suggest being wary,” Stephan explained.
“Yeah, I’ll be wary. But I wouldn’t mind a little bit of protection here and there from you too,” I purred.
He chuckled, touching my hair and giving me a kiss.
“Of course, I’m your knight in shining armor, right?”
“Of course, you are.”
We cuddled together that night, both of us feeling happy and satisfied. But, how long would that last? How long would it work out like this? I didn’t know anymore, and even though I wanted to be optimistic, I feared what might happen next.
Maybe things would work out for us. Maybe I could finally ignore the horrors of the past, of the betrayal that happened to me before. But, a part of me felt a feeling of pure dread that I couldn’t fully shake off.
When I fell asleep that night, I realized it was the best sleep I’d had in a while. I didn’t feel anxious or stressed while I slept, despite my doubts and such. I wondered if there was something more we could do, or what we could yet accomplish together. The next morning though, the unthinkable happened.
He wasn’t there.
He had left that morning without saying goodbye.
Chapter 7: Stephan
I was a total idiot.
I knew that the moment I left the room, looking at Laney’s sleeping form. I thought about telling her what was going on, and what was happening. I had to go to the office.
The truth was, she was the first girl to stay over at my house in a long time. Most of the time, I just kicked the woman out, and they’d leave after sex. But then, after a second, I felt the fear start to wash over my body.
I feared what would come next. I feared the truth.
I wasn’t ready for a relationship I realized. I wasn’t’ ready to fall in love, even though I liked her so damn much. I knew that it wasn’t the smartest thing to do, and she’d be pissed, but maybe I’d be able to sort out my feelings sometime soon. The truth was, I started to feel like I had to make a decision concerning my feelings soon. It was easier keeping my mind focused on the impending problems that I had going on.
As I got to the office, I started to feel the nervousness grow. I felt scared to look at my phone since there was a chance I might get some angry voicemail from Laney.
I did like her, but I didn’t know what else to do at this point.
I didn’t know what to do about love or any of that. It made me feel a bit scared. I felt like she’d ask for my opinions on that when I didn’t even know what else to do about any of this.
I started to feel scared, a bit worried, and unsure of the future. I guess it was just my own anxiety since I didn’t normally do relationships.
But, when I finished sending my last report, heading over to the tattoo shop to see a new recruit, I got a mysterious message.
“Who’s that?”
I picked up my phone, looking at the screen, realizing that it was a number I didn’t recognize. After a brief second, I started to open the message, reading the contents.
This is Meryl. I need to talk to you.
That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. What the hell was Meryl, one of my former informants, doing right now? I felt a bit worried about this since it was the first time in a long time she’d contacted me.
I asked her what it was that she wanted. But the only thing that she told me was this.
It’s about that new girl you’re seeing.
So, she knew about Laney? How many people knew about her? I tensed, hoping this didn’t mean anything bad, but then, I typed out my message. I waited for her to respond. Almost immediately, she did.
I’ll tell you about her once you get here. Just listen to me.
Sheesh, not like I had much choice. I reluctantly agreed, leaving the office and heading over to Red Rose, the bar that was run by our local group but often used by normal patrons. She worked at Red Rose, and when I got there, I saw her red lips curl into a smile.
Meryl was a very pretty woman, but she had no interest in men, unless, of course, they offered something of an advantage to her. She cleaned up the glasses, looking at me with a smile on her face, a little bit of a coy look in her eyes.
“Hey there,” I said to her, looking around.
“Hey yourself. Have a seat, what can I get you?”
I looked around. Nobody was in the bar. That’s a sign that she cleared it out just for the two of us.
“Whiskey and coke. You know my poison,” I said to her.
“Well, I was just being friendly.”
I chuckled.
“Anyways, I have to give you some important information. There’s a lot that needs to be said. First and foremost, why do you have someone who isn’t part of the mob around? You know how dangerous that is,” she said.
I winced. She was really cold with her words, and I could tell that she was a bit annoyed with me too.
“I was going to talk to her about that and…”
“Come on, Stephan, you’re the leader. Robert told you about getting people who are not part of the gang involved. It’s dangerous. You’re the leader.”
“I know. I’m supposed to be the leader, but I’m worried.”
“You’re worried about pursuing this because you know that if you fell in love with her, you’d fail. You’re scared because of what Robert said,” she snapped, slamming the drink down on the ground.
I nodded, agreeing with her.
“If you called me all the way out here for a lecture, Meryl, I’m leaving. You should know by now that I don’t like being called away from work for no reason,” I told her.
She put the whiskey and coke down in front of me, turning around and cleaning the mess she’d made.
“I wouldn’t clear out the bar just to berate you, you know that. I came here to warn you,” she said.
Warn me? About what? What did I need warning about?
“What do you mean?” I asked her. I didn’t know what Meryl knew. I felt like she was being overly cryptic on purpose.
She threw her head back, laughing at my words.
“God, you’re stupid. I don’t know how people deal with you. How did you become the leader again?” I asked.
“Because Robert saw me as the strongest person in our group. You need to work on being emotionally strong, Stephan. Seriously, it’s a bit sad how easily you let your feelings control you.”
“It’s not like you’re any better. You act the same way around pretty woman,” I retorted.
She frowned, but then, she clicked her heels over to the little doorway between the bar and the main area.
“Well, you may be right there, but this is about you. I’m your informant, and I’m here to tell you that if you don’t do
something about this, it’ll get bad,” she said.
I looked at her, concerned about what this meant. It certainly was something that worried me, especially since her voice seemed to become serious the moment she mentioned Laney.
“What’s the matter? What do you mean?” I asked.
“It’s simple, Stephan. I know the guys who were following her,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“The ones who attacked her the other night. I know who they are.”
She knew who attacked Laney? I hesitated, feeling a little bit nervous about the words that came from her mouth.
“Yes, I know who attacked her. They’re a dangerous group. Stephan, you need to protect her. If you don’t, the next time she’s left alone and they know she’s there, they’ll kill her. I’ve seen them do it before, and they’ll do it again,” Meryl snapped.
I realized the trouble I was in. but, there was one thing that I had to ask, that my mind kept wondering about.
“Are these the same people who killed Robert?” I asked.
The sting from those words hit me, but I kept a straight face. I then looked at her, and soon, she spoke with that same serious tone she used when she didn’t want me to fuck around.
“Yes Stephan. These were the same men that killed Robert three years ago, and they’ll stop at nothing to destroy not only you but everything you love.”
Book 3 : True Feelings
Introduction
For Laney, she knows that whatever the future will bring her will change everything. But, with how elusive Stephan has been, is it even worth looking into a future at all? This is the question which plaques Laney as she continues to fight her feelings. But, when an ulterior force comes in and tries to destroy Laney and kill her, she begins to realize that maybe choosing a side would benefit her more than it should. But, will Laney end up making the right choice? Or will her fear or foolishness dictate exactly what it is that she wants to do from here
For Stephan, the choices have more at risk. If he chooses to go with Laney, that could mean that his life will change, that things won’t get easier, and for Stephan, he knows that with this choice comes great responsibilities. But, when he starts to realize his feelings for Laney are growing, he knows he must make the choice. Will he tell her the truth about his life as a criminal and the tumultuous past? Or will he keep this under wraps, no matter what?
Find out in the third book of this bad boy alpha romance series!
Chapter 1: Laney
I couldn’t believe this fucker.
I tried so hard to make this work, and there I was naked and alone once again in a bed. But, a part of me shouldn’t be surprised. I mean, that’s just how it is with guys like him.
It was always the same with guys. They’d take what they could get, and then leave, forcing me to have to continue with this goddamn charade.
But, why did he leave? Was he scared? I mean, I’m over here at his goddamn house, he shouldn’t be so worried about that. I don’t know though, maybe he was worried about something else.
I tried to call him a couple of times, but each time, it just went straight to voicemail.
I sighed, closing my phone, as I looked around. He didn’t seem to be coming back anytime soon, right? I guess that settles it.
I’ll just go to work or something. I grabbed all my stuff, packing my shit up and leaving. I didn’t even bother to make his bed or anything. I went to one of the local coffee shops nearby, and the guy who prepared my drink looked at me with a slightly somber look.
“You’re worried about someone. I can tell,” he said.
“It’s really none of your business, but yeah, I am,” I snapped, immediately feeling bad because of my emotional outburst.
But judging by the way this person kept looking at me, I knew that he wanted to make conversation, but it was super awkward. I had absolutely no desire to tell this guy that I had recently slept with a gang leader and one of the most powerful ones at that, and the fact that he kept running out on me. I mean, who wants to share those kinds of details with a complete stranger.
“You should be careful. They do care about you, but I can tell from the energy you have that they are dangerous. Are they really worth it?”
Holy shit, was this guy trying to read my fortune or something? Or was this some shitty attempt at flirting. I quickly withdrew my hand, looking at this person with fear in my eyes.
“Please just give me my fucking latte. I’m not here to make conversation. I’m here to get my drink and leave.”
Maybe I was too hard on him, but I didn’t like being put in the spotlight like that. And his cryptic behavior made me feel on edge.
“Honey, I’m just trying to warn you. The game that you’re playing is a dangerous one, one where pain and suffering might be the final result,” he continued, unperturbed by my hostility.
Pain and suffering? What the hell did this person know about that? Who were they? Did they know me because of Stephan? I felt a lingering fear within my body as I looked around.
“I’m going to take my latte and leave. You’re definitely creeping me out their dude,” I said.
“I’m just warning you. By the way, nice tattoo.”
I looked at my arm. Shit, I forgot to cover that up.
“Thanks. A friend did it for me.”
“Well, that friend must mean a lot to you then.”
“Yeah… he does,” I said, lightly gripping my arm in a forlorn attempt of hiding it. Why did I feel like I was being watched? Why did this guy give off that vibe that he was trying to make me feel this way? I looked at him closely and noticed that his gaze hadn’t shifted for one second. He had been continuously staring at me as if he was waiting for me to do something.
Honestly, it kind of weirded me out a little bit. When I left, I felt his eyes bore into my back. Did this man know me? Or did he know Stephan?
Whatever the case, I thought it better not to get involved with him. I should definitely stay away from this place in the future. But, it’s hard to do when you’re the poster child for pretty much everything. I grimaced just realizing this. As I made my way over to the park, heading into work, I immediately realized I was being followed.
I spun around but there was nothing untoward. I grimaced, realizing that this person, whoever it was that was following me, had some sort of ulterior motive. I immediately shook my head, realizing that maybe it was just my brain being stupid.
“I’m just overreacting.”
I felt scared. I didn’t know if this person had something to do with Stephan or not, let alone if they were friend or foe.
I continued to walk through the park until I turned a corner, heading to a pathway. I then noticed that the person I’d recognized before was also taking the same pathway.
“Shit, are you serious?” I muttered.
I didn’t have to work today, but at least at work I could hold myself up in my office for a bit and feel safe. Maybe then I could also shake them off. But before I knew it the person who had been following me was standing right before.
“What are you…doing?” I asked.
The person smiled, immediately making me feel on edge.
“There you are. So happy to find you, Laney. We’ve been looking for you,” he said.
“Looking for … me?” I said, my eyes widening in shock and worry. I could tell this wasn’t going to be good.
I tried to leave him behind me, my heart racing. I wasn’t a fast runner by any means, and I wasn’t in the world’s greatest shape. But as I turned around, whipping my head to the left, there was another person there. As they got closer, I realized in horror that these people were here to take me away.
They were here for me, and they had followed me around to get to me. I could feel my heart racing, panic setting in, and my body screaming in fear.
“Shit!”
I tried to run, pushing my weight and body forward, but one of them grabbed me. Soon the second man joined his companion bec
ause I was really struggling hard to get free. But they soon held me in check as I kicked and screamed in vain in a desperate attempt to get away.
“You won’t get away with this!” I cried out.
One of them laughed and then forced something into my mouth. I tried not to breathe it in. I knew what it was. But it was no use. The chemical immediately permeated my senses, and although I tried to fight it, I couldn’t. I was stuck there, at the mercy of these chemicals, and as I started to feel my conscience slip away, I noticed the outline of a tattoo on their hands.
It was a tiger and then blackness overcame me.
Chapter 2: Stephan
I heard Meryl’s words, looking at her with shock in my eyes.
“No way, they’re … Robert’s killers!? From three years ago?”
“Yes Stephan. I know it’s shocking, but they bear the same tattoo,” Meryl explained, sighing as she cleaned one more glass and casually placed it on the shelf.
I looked at Meryl. She wasn’t lying. I knew when she lied, but here she was, spilling the truth, and I knew for a fact that this could make everything much worse.
“What should I do. What can I do about Laney then? I don’t want her getting hurt and—”
I was silenced by her hand as she pressed it against my lips.
“That’s for you to decide. Are you willing to look after her, Stephan? I have a feeling they’ll make their next move sooner or later. The truth is, Stephan, you both are targeted. I know of the group that’s attacking you. I’m still looking for information, but their goal is to kill you and take everything.”
I listened, nodding.
“I see. What do you know of them?”
“Just their profiles. I know most of them are young. Apparently, Robert’s killer was a very young fellow. But worse, I also know they’re watching the both of you. I’m glad I got to you when I could, and I checked behind you when you came in to make sure no one was following you. Thankfully, there was nobody, but I’m worried it may not be the same for Laney. I also know that they all sport a tiger tattoo,” she explained.
Inked MC Boxset: Books 1-6 Page 7
