DESTROYED

by J, Bella

  “You see…if it was anyone else, you never would have risked so much.”

  “But it was you.” I pushed myself from the ground, grabbed her hand. and pulled her against me. “It was you, and I risked everything because it was you. Because I fucking love you, and there isn’t anything in this entire goddamn world I wouldn’t do for you.” My words burned, my heart on the verge of being incinerated. “Even after everything that happened today, if I had to do it all over again…I would. In a fucking heartbeat. Don’t you see, Neon?” I wrapped my fingers tightly around her shoulders. “When it comes to you, there is nothing else—no one else. Only you. My world consists of only you.”

  Squeezing her shoulders in my grasp, I pulled her close, kissing her hard—a desperate act of a desperate man determined to show her that my world now started and ended with only one thing…one person. Her.

  Reluctantly, I tore my lips from hers, afraid my desperation would grow into a desire I wouldn’t be able to control. Already, I was hanging on by a goddamn thread around her.

  Letting out a breath, her shoulders slumping forward, she leaned her head against my lips. “Thank you.” With tired eyes she peered up at me from under thick black lashes. “You gave me something today, something I never thought I’d have again.”

  “Yeah? And what’s that?” I tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Control.”

  My heart swelled inside my chest, and I was sure it would break through bone. Every risk I took for her had been worth it just by hearing her say that.

  I hugged her, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist, and pulling it hard against mine.

  “Stay with me tonight. Please.” Her whispered words brushed against my skin.

  “Babe, if I have my way, I’ll be spending every night of my life in the same room as you.”

  There was a hint of a smile on her face, but her eyes were sad, the radiance of her chocolate irises lost, grieving…just like our hearts.

  I let go of her, gently wiping a lingering tear from her cheek. “Can I shower here, though?”

  “Sure. Yeah. There’re clean towels in the cabinet below the sink.”

  “Thanks.”

  Blood had crusted in the corners of my nails, and I wasn’t even sure whose blood it was. That of my enemy, or the brother I lost. Ever since my path to vengeance started, I had dreamed of my hands coated in Slither’s blood, finding joy at the mere thought of it. But right now, I felt anything but joy. My emotions were all over the place, except high, where it would have been if things had just played out the way I imagined it.

  But that was the thing about life—things hardly ever worked out the way you planned it. There was always some way or another life could fuck you in the ass, prove to you…you weren’t in control.

  Leaning with my arms against the tiles, warm water cascaded down my back, and I watched as streaks of red swirled around my feet, disappearing down the drain. No matter how hard I tried to convince myself the blood I was washing off me was Slither’s, the image of the pool of crimson around Dutch’s body kept flashing before my eyes like a cruel fucking reminder that I got more blood on my hands than I bargained for.

  Mia’s blood had been on my hands for years.

  Countless men I’d killed in the name of the club, their blood was on my hands.

  Slither’s blood.

  Dutch’s blood.

  I was nothing but a monster bathed in the blood of others. And unlike the water from the shower falling off my body, there was no getting rid of the blood on my hands. Ever.

  The shower door opened, and I merely turned my head to the side, watching through a waterfall running over my eyes as Neon stepped in with me.

  Without saying a word, she reached for the sponge, her naked body cold as it brushed against mine.

  “What are you doing?”

  Gently, she eased the sponge around my shoulders. “Taking care of you.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “Yes, I do.” She stilled. “That’s what you do for people you love…you take care of them.”

  My eyes closed, my heart trying to break out of my chest as I finally heard the words I’d longed to hear for so fucking long. It was more powerful than I ever could have imagined, her declaration of love wrecking me in the most beautiful way possible. I had no idea when it happened, but I lost myself to this woman somewhere along the way. All these years, I never realized just how fucking numb I was, until this exact fucking moment.

  I turned, not wasting another second before I slammed my lips against hers, giving her everything I had, everything I was. She owned it. She owned me—mind, body, and soul. I was powerless against it. And having her kiss me back, her desire mirroring my own, now knowing she loved me too—Jesus, it was unlike any high I’d ever felt. Not even the aftereffects of death, loss, and the looming threat of chaos that hovered over all of us could tame the storm of raging feelings powerful enough to bring me to my goddamn knees.

  Her arms wrapped around my neck, and I sucked in a breath when I felt her naked body press against mine—skin against skin, nothing but the satin feel of water pulsing over us.

  Like a savage, I ravaged her mouth, my tongue no longer exploring but taking…claiming, fucking owning. After everything, I just wanted to lose myself in this woman. I wanted to drown out the world, pretend it didn’t exist. All I wanted was her, us, this moment in time to last forever.

  I cupped her breast in my palm, and she whimpered against my lips. There was no hesitation, no fear that she might not be ready. I trusted her. I trusted her to tell me to stop when she needed me to. So, for now, I’d take. I’d take every little fucking morsel she was willing to give me.

  I pushed her back against the cold tiled wall and dragged my lips down the side of her neck, feasting on her flesh like a starved animal. Licking, tasting, kissing, I let go of all my inhibitions, ready to take my woman in a way that mirrored my desire for her.

  I reached between us, and slipped my hand between her legs. It earned me the most beautiful moan from her lips. The sound sang to my blood, feeding the raging desire that made my body crave to be inside her.

  Nails dug into the skin of my back, and I groaned as I flexed my hips, my body ready to claim what was now mine.

  “I’m outta control right now, Neon.”

  “That’s okay.” She weaved her fingers through the hair at the back of my head, pulling me down harder, her lips latching on to mine like her life depended on it. “I trust you, Ink. I trust you with my life. I know you’ll never hurt me.”

  My heart soared, and my body burned while my cock ached with the need to fuck her. Right here, right now, all I wanted was to lose myself in her. I wanted to forget about everything and everyone else, to let the water hide us from the rest of the world until I had my fill of this woman—the woman who owned me in every goddamn possible way.

  I moved my hand around the slippery skin of her waist, cupping her ass before yanking her leg up, spreading those pretty thighs, coming closer and closer to the moment I’d finally lose myself in her.

  Here, in this fucking shower, it was just us. No Slither. No Crow. No Dutch. Just us and the connection that fused our souls together, a desire that would never be extinguished. Ever.

  I grabbed my cock and stroked it a few times then slipped it between her legs. A groan rolled from my lips when I felt her heat, her body already primed and ready to take me.

  She nipped at my bottom lip, and I grunted like an animal finally tipping over the edge, thrusting forward and inside her.

  Her neck craned as she leaned her head back, her lips forming the perfect O. There was no hesitation, her delicate moans a sign of how eager she was to welcome me inside her. As I reached around her waist, cupping her ass, I lifted her feet off the ground. Her legs wrapped around me like she knew it belonged there, my hips locked against hers.

  I placed my hands against the wall above her shoulders, her body positioned perfectly between me and the tiles, wh
ile she held on to me, completely at my mercy. To me, this was her finally letting go of her demons and latching on to me, surrendering herself to me, and only me.

  I pulled out and sank back into her, focusing on nothing but how fucking good it felt to be inside her, how her walls enclosed around me like our bodies had been made for each other.

  “Don’t hold back,” she murmured, her warm breath stroking my wet skin. “Let go. I trust you.”

  Every brick of every wall that still stood between us, hindering her from becoming mine in every way, crumbled to the fucking ground. The slate of the past was wiped clean, renewed, and this time…we fell together.

  My hips moved, and my cock claimed her over and over again, driving deep and slamming hard. Her legs tightened around my waist and her nails scratched at my skull. But nothing could distract me from the pleasure I found between her legs, the bliss of having her inner walls squeeze me, rubbing against my cock as I moved in and out of her.

  To own her in this way and to experience the freedom of being with her without anything looming over us was a high no drug in this entire goddamn world was capable of giving.

  Harder, faster, my body moved against her while she clung to me, the expression on her face painted with nothing but pure, undiluted lust woven with a burning need to be satiated.

  I wiped wet streaks of hair that clung to her face, my body’s rhythm never faltering as I carried us both to the edge, too impatient to take my time and drag it out as long as possible.

  The sound of my hips slapping against her ass echoed around us, fueling the sexual tension with the promise of ecstasy.

  “Ink, I’m going to come.” Her voice sounded breathless, desperate, and I knew my woman needed more.

  I reached between our bodies and found her clit. Her arms and thighs tightened at once, and I could feel her inner walls contract as she came around my cock, her perfect melodic moans filling the room and giving me the last push I needed to find my own pleasure while buried balls deep in the woman I’d loved for so fucking long.

  My hips flexed while my cock jerked inside her, filling her to the brim and fucking marking her. The release that tore through me slammed against every bone in my body, The rush was indescribable, every muscle tensed with rapture.

  My body went lax against her, and I let her ease down the wall until her feet touched ground. Our breaths came out in rapid exhales, and we leaned our foreheads together, basking in the moment that belonged to only us.

  Neon placed her palms against my naked chest, my skin welcoming her warm touch. “I love you, Ink,” she whispered with a shaky breath. “I love you.”

  If I could bottle a moment in time to keep forever, this would be it. This would be that moment I’d want to keep and cherish until I took my last breath on this earth.

  23

  Ink

  It had been forty-six hours, and we only had two hours left until Crow came knocking on our fucking door.

  Manic had been gone most of the time, not telling anyone what kind of contact he’d had with Crow—if any. If you asked me, Manic had been too damn quiet, and it was making me edgy. Something was up, and Manic wasn’t talking.

  Onyx and Granite were already in their seats when I walked in. “Where’s Manic?”

  Granite shrugged. “Fuck me if I know.” He leaned back. “Still can’t believe Manic is related to Crow.”

  “Yeah. Talk about a motherfucking conflict of interest.” Onyx tapped a finger on the armrest of his chair. “Amazing how some shit in life can go full circle.”

  I frowned. “What in the name of ever-loving fuck did you just try to say?”

  Onyx snickered. “Nothin’ man. Nothing.”

  I sat down and lit a cigarette. Judging by the cloud of smoke hanging like a goddamn cloak over the room, I’d say Onyx and Granite had been here for a while now, smoking up a storm.

  Dutch’s empty seat across from me was like a goddamn crucifix—a reminder of what he had done by saving Granite’s life. It was also a reminder of what we had lost, the kind of loss you never got over. You merely learned to live with it.

  I shifted and took a drag from my cigarette. “Listen, just so you know, I don’t plan on shit hitting the fan with Crow. I’m not going to let this club carry the shit I started. If the man wants me, he can have me.”

  “Over my dead body.” Onyx leaned back casually in his seat. “That ain’t happening.”

  I shrugged. “We have two hours left before he walks in here, and when he does, he’s going to roll those freaky fucking dice of his. I don’t think we have much of a choice.”

  “Yeah, we do.”

  All three of us turned toward Manic, who closed the door behind him. When I saw him holding his cut in his hands instead of wearing it, I knew he was about to do something really fucking stupid.

  Manic rounded the table but didn’t take his seat, still clutching his cut in his hands.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “What the fuck you doing, man?”

  He gave me a knowing look, reminding me of the private conversation we had a few days back about him and Crow having family ties. Warning prickled my skull, and my gut had me feeling something totally shitty was about to happen.

  I clenched my jaw. “No. If you’re about to do what I think you are, don’t.”

  “It’s the only way, man.”

  “No, it’s not. I’m giving myself over to Crow, and that’s it.”

  Manic shook his head. “This is not about you, brother.”

  “Then what the fuck is this about?”

  Onyx slammed a palm on the wooden table. “What the fuck is happening right now?”

  Manic and I kept our gazes pinned on one another, a thousand words spoken within a few seconds of silence.

  Manic was first to look away, focusing his attention on Onyx. “I’m leaving.”

  “You’re what?”

  “I’m turning in my colors. I’m leaving the American Street Kings.” He tossed his cut on the table, the thwack of leather against wood sounding louder than it actually was in an atmosphere thick enough to cut through.

  Onyx pulled a palm down his beard. “Say that again, because I’m not sure I heard you right.”

  “You did.” Manic remained unmoved. “I’m leaving the crew.”

  “Why?”

  I noticed Manic’s throat move as he swallowed. “Because I’ll be joining another crew.”

  “Jesus Christ,” I mumbled under my breath, shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

  Onyx remained calm, his expression stone. “What crew?”

  “Mine.”

  I was on my feet in a nanosecond, facing Crow, who stood in the doorway like he was fucking invited to the party. “Manic is joining the Gods of Six.” He glanced at Manic. “Ain’t that right?”

  “Like fuck, he is.” I glared a goddamn hole in Crow’s forehead. “And who the fuck let you in?”

  “I did.”

  I cut my gaze to Manic. “You what? Are you fucking insane?”

  Onyx got up and focused on Crow while I silently kicked Manic’s ass with my mind.

  “Crow, even though we have a mutual respect for one another, you know the rules. This is a private meeting.”

  “Yeah,” I chimed in without taking my eyes off Manic. “So, kindly remove your ass from this room in an orderly fashion.”

  Manic shifted under my gaze, clearing his throat. “I’m leaving the Kings to join the Sixes. My decision has been made.”

  “Manic, what the fuck, man?” Granite stared at him with a thousand flashing question marks covering his face. “What’s going on?”

  “Yeah, Manic,” I sneered. “What the fuck is going on?”

  The annoying sound of Crow’s dice knocking against each other as he played with them in his palm grated against my bones. I didn’t have to look at him to know he was probably standing with a huge, arrogant smirk on his ugly motherfucking face.

  Manic’s lips straightened, and I could practically hear the
wheels turning inside his head. “Ya’ll know Crow and I are related.”

  “Yeah, but that don’t mean shit.”

  “It does. To me.”

  “Bullshit.” I slammed my fist on the table. “You might share blood with Blackwood, here, but you are our brother. My brother,” I bit out between clenched teeth while leaning forward. “If you’re doing this to save me, don’t.”

  Manic glanced from me to Granite to Onyx. “I’m taking Ink’s place, and I need you to understand and respect my decision.” His gaze snapped back to me. “This club needs you, man. And so does Neon. She needs you more than anyone, and I’ll be damned if I stand by and watch you get taken from her.”

  “We can find another way.”

  “No, we can’t. It’s done.”

  “Bull-fucking-shit, it is!”

  “Back off, Ink,” he warned. “Don’t cause trouble. Not today.”

  I tilted my head. “Then, clearly, you don’t know me very well, since I thrive on causing trouble.”

  “I know, which is why I’m warning you.” He too leaned over the table, his frozen stare fixed on me. “Back the fuck off. I ain’t changing my mind.”

  “Manic,” Onyx interrupted, “we can talk about this.”

  Manic retreated slowly, not breaking my glare. “There ain’t nothing to discuss.”

  “Is he making you do this?” Onyx pointed at Crow. “Is he forcing you to leave our crew?”

  “You know,” I heard Crow’s footsteps behind me as he walked farther into the room, “we can always let the dice decide the fate of two of your crew members if you think my cousin’s decision isn’t his own.”

  “Two?” Onyx narrowed his eyes.

  “Yeah. Your SAA and road captain. See, I’m willing to settle the debt your SAA owes me by accepting your road captain into my crew.” He shrugged. “The position as road captain for the Gods of Six just opened up.”

  “I’m sure it did.” Sarcasm coated Onyx’s every word.

  “So, what will it be?” Crow held up his closed fist while shaking the dice in his palm. “You feeling lucky enough to test fate, or are we accepting Manic’s resignation as road captain for the American Street Kings?”