by J. M. Walker
For the next hour or so, Angel unleashed something inside of me. He took control, dominated my body, and stole my heart. I loved him. Every inch of him. But that nagging feeling of whether he would hurt me or not kept poking me.
“No man will ever love you the way I do,” Tyler said, his deep voice whispering across my skin. “And you will never open up again. You are mine forever, Jenny, whether you like it or not.”
He was right. With his bruises on my flesh, scars on my heart, and his body inside of mine, the only choice I had was to submit. There was no other way. No out. I was trapped like a rat in a cage. Clawing and scratching until my fingers bled.
The vile man fucking me forced me to look at him. The names he called me.
Slut. Whore. Bitch. Slave.
He loved me.
My mind played tricks on me. Falling in and out of the darkness that I begged to consume me.
A hard slap landed against my cheek.
The sting should have brought tears to my eyes. The burning sensation of where his palm hit should have caused me to cry out. But it didn’t. It had come to this, hadn’t it? He hit. I submitted. He forced me to do things I never would have thought possible. And after a while, I found myself craving them. Him. Tyler Bone.
“I love you, princess,” Angel’s words whispered across my skin, followed by his hand sliding down my side to my hip. “I will show you. With every breath, every inch, every ounce of me that I love you.”
I floated in and out of sleep, listening to his words. Holding onto them like they were the life line I needed to make it through each day.
Memories of Tyler and our dangerous relationship repeated themselves every time I closed my eyes. I thought I loved him, but Angel showed me what true love was.
Our love had been strong, growing intense as each day passed. With him lying beside me, his deep breathing evening out as his peaceful dreams took over, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was real. If it was just a dream. With a click of my heels, this fantasy would end, and I would be forced to go back to a time where abuse was all I knew.
“Whatever happens, I am here,” Angel told me while we were lying in each other’s arms.
“I don’t want anything to happen,” I mumbled, curling into him, grazing my hand down his bare chest.
“I know, baby.” He kissed my temple, letting his lips linger when his phone rang. He answered it, and I zoned out.
All this time, I thought Vega had destroyed that tiny bit of strength left that I had. But I realized that it had been Tyler all along. He promised me that I would never find love again with another man. I did, but the fear of Angel hurting me burned its way into my heart. It was what Tyler wanted.
“I’m with Jay,” Angel told the caller.
At the mention of my name, I looked his way.
He pinched the bridge of his nose which I had come to know was his signature move whenever he was stressed. “We need her in, Asher.”
Meeka. My stomach twisted.
“Well, of course she’s not going to agree easily.” Angel sat up straighter. “It’s not like you’re giving her a choice … I told you to get someone you trust. I assumed it would be her but do not blame this shit on me. Fine … I know … I love you too, brother.” Angel threw the phone on the end table.
“What the hell’s going on?” I asked, a sliver of annoyance rushing through my body.
Angel cupped my nape, capturing my mouth in a hard bruising kiss before leaning his forehead against mine. “I can’t tell you everything yet.”
“It’s work related,” I finished for him. “But why does it have to do with Meeka?”
“I’ll explain when I can.” Or when he would have no choice went unsaid. “Please trust me.” He kissed my nose.
I pushed out of his embrace. “Of course I trust you, but I’m fucking sick of these secrets. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t. You know that.”
“Fine. Don’t tell me,” I grumbled. “See if I fucking care.”
“What the hell is this, Jay?” He frowned. “You know I can’t tell you anything when it comes to my fucking job.”
“I know that,” I snapped. “But these girls are my sisters. When it comes to them, you have to tell me.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Why the hell not?” I threw back at him. “What does Meeka have to do with this?” Not that I overly cared but if what she was involved in effected my other sisters, I would throw her to the wolves and leave her there to rot.
“You need to trust me,” he repeated, shoving a hand roughly through his hair.
“And you need to tell me what is going on.”
He reached for me, grabbing my hand, and pulled me against him.
“Angel,” I attempted to push out of his grip. “Talk to me.”
“Asher is needing Meeka’s help. That’s all I can say for now.” Angel ran his hands down my back. “What are you doing before the meeting today?”
“Stop trying to change the subject,” I mumbled.
He chuckled, kissing my forehead.
“I hate you right now.”
“No, you don’t.”
He was right. I didn’t. But he sure as fuck pissed me the hell off. “I need to hit the shop,” I said, finally answering his question. “I have a couple interviews to set up at some point as well.” Tattooed had been my dream. It was a new business, with me being the only tattoo artist until now. Creena Chan, King’s Harlots newest prospect, kept things in order for me and did what she could. Business was booming for both of us but I needed someone to man the cash and make sure Tattooed didn’t go under.
“Dale said he was working on the new sign for you.” Angel rose from the bed and pulled on his jeans.
“Yeah, but he doesn’t listen well. I told him I wanted classy but bold. He tried showing me flashing signs and wanted to add sparklers at one point.”
Angel laughed. “That’s my brother.”
I smiled, getting dressed as well. “He means well, I guess.”
“I’m glad you’re getting along with them.” Angel closed the distance between us and grabbed both of my hands. “It means everything to me that they accept you and take you in. If something happened to me, I need to know that you’re protected.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you. To either of us. No one is getting fucking taken again.” I pulled out of his grip and shoved my top over my head. “No one.”
***
(Angel)
“No one.”
Jay’s words. Desperate and driven by fear and hate.
My chest panged that I couldn’t take that away from her. My soul cried out with the need to make her feel better. Even for just a little bit. I poured those pleas to help her into our love making. I tried so hard with everything in me to let her feel my love for her. I didn’t say it enough. She inspired me. She was a powerful woman in a fucked-up man’s world but she didn’t give up. She made it so other women wanted to follow suit.
“I don’t want to go to this meeting,” Jay muttered a couple hours later. It was supposed to have been at the club, but Asher had asked for us to show up at his place. So we were all on our way, much to my fiancé’s disapproval.
“I know you and Meeka need to work through your shit, but we all need to be together on this,” I told her, kissing her knuckles before letting them drop in her lap. “I need you in on this with me.”
“Why do I have to go? I deal with this shit much better at the club.”
That sentence bothered me. She didn’t say it was her club, and it hadn’t been the first time. “Jay.”
She sighed, her shoulders slumping but she wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“Jay,” I repeated, my voice firm.
She huffed but finally looked my way.
Vega messed with her head. And it destroyed me more than her. When she was taken, I lost a part of myself. We both did. Somehow, she came out stronger in the end, and I was the one who became weak.
> I pulled her into my arms, cradling her head against my chest.
Her back stiffened.
Holding her at arm’s length, I searched her face.
When she raised an eyebrow, the hint of emotion that was there seconds before disappeared when the darkness took over.
Jay pushed out of my hold.
Giving her the space she needed, I stood back and watched her. But it would be over my dead body before I ever let her deal with this shit on her own.
FOUR
Jay
YOU WOULD THINK after getting my sister back, I would spend every chance I could with her. That I would make sure she was safe or have someone watching her every hour of every day. But I didn’t. Something had changed in her. She became hard, falling into herself until she was trapped. She never talked about what happened during the years she was missing. A part of me didn’t want to know the torture she went through for fear that I would turn into the mere monster we were chasing.
Violet and I chatted on the phone as often as possible. Texted, emailed, and so on. But things had been uncomfortable. I blamed myself for her disappearance. I knew the only people to blame were the ones who took her, but I should have been there for her. I should have been there like Tyler was there for me. It was the only thing I had been truly thankful for when it came to him.
“Tyler,” I cried, falling against him. “My sister … Violet …”
“What happened?” he asked, cupping my cheeks. “Tell me.”
“She’s … she’s missing,” I sobbed, no longer having the strength to hold back my tears.
“What do you mean she’s missing?”
Memories of that God awful day would always have a permanent place on my heart. Tyler was an abusive asshole, but he was also the only person who believed me.
As if she could hear my thoughts, Violet’s picture showed up on my phone. It had been on silent but having that twin vibe, I didn’t need it to ring to know when she would call.
“Hey,” I answered.
Angel took that as his cue to leave the SUV and walk around to my door. Opening it, he reached for my hand.
I had almost forgot that I wasn’t alone. Sliding my fingers in his, I let him pull me from the vehicle.
“Hey yourself,” Violet said softly.
“How are you?” It was the same conversation we had every single day. Small talk. Forced questions. It became robotic and scripted.
“Good,” she answered automatically. “How are you?”
“Good,” I repeated. Violet had been brought back to me. It had been weeks since her safe return, but a part of her was still missing. “Listen, Violet. We … I …”
“I know,” she whispered. “I’m selling my house.”
Well, that was new. “You are? Why?”
“Too many bad memories. My therapist suggested it. It’s to help me start over.”
“What about the apartment?” She had been staying at my place for the past couple of weeks.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Her breath hitched. “I’m thinking of renting my own place. I found this cute loft that’s affordable. I just … I need to start over.”
“I understand that but the security Dad set up will keep you safe.”
“I’m fine.”
“Well, I’m not,” I snapped. “I need to know that you’re safe. I lost you for years. I thought you were fucking dead.”
“Jay,” her voice shook. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” My hand tightened on the phone. “Just don’t make any rash decisions. Let’s talk about this first,” I suggested, my heart jumping.
“Okay,” she paused. “I am sorry.”
“I know, Violet. Life has fucking sucked these past couple of years, and I need you to be happy,” I said as my throat burned. “I need my sister back, but I also need to know that you’re safe.”
“I know.”
It was a given that things would be different. She had been taken from me, from us, for years.
We said our goodbyes, and all I could do was stare at the phone in my hand.
“Are you okay, princess?” Angel wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
“No,” I whispered. But I refused to cry. I was sick of this shit. I would help Violet find herself again. I would get back my sister, and I would put an end to the motherfuckers who threatened to destroy the lives of innocent girls.
“You will get through this.” He cupped my jaw, brushing his thumb over my bottom lip. “I promise you. And I will be here every step of the way.”
I wasn’t a woman who depended on a man. I never had been and never would be. But with Angel by my side, I felt like the strongest person ever and that I could take on the whole fucking world. He didn’t complete me. He complemented me. We were strong apart but even more powerful when we were together.
“Remember who you are,” he told me, brushing his mouth over mine. “You’re Genevieve Gold, and you’re the strongest woman I know. I don’t tell you that often. You inspire me, Jay. To be a better man. To be a better fucking person. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for you.”
His sweet words slid over my skin, piercing me straight in the heart and forcing it to skip several beats. “I’m not strong,” I admitted.
There was a battle raging inside of me. So many things needed to be said. I wanted to rip off Meeka’s head for keeping Violet from me and for using me as fucking bait. I got in her face once, but it wasn’t enough. She didn’t fight me. I wanted her to fight me. I wanted her to yell back that it was needed. That all of this shit was needed. That there was a reason for all of our mistakes. I needed to hit something. “Angel.”
“Yeah, princess?”
“Let’s get this meeting over with. I need to hit something, and I need you.”
He kissed my head. “You have me. Whatever happens, you will always have me, and I will give you anything that you need.”
Angel loved me. I knew he felt guilty for not telling me often how he felt about me but I didn’t need him to say the words. He showed it, and that was enough for me.
He never knew how to love, and now that something had been opened up inside of him, he couldn’t stop the words from leaving his mouth every chance he could.
When we stepped into Asher’s house, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Meeka was standing with him, talking amongst themselves. He glanced at her with affection in his eyes. Her cheeks would redden. There was something there, and they didn’t even know it yet.
“You need to talk to her, princess.” Angel brushed his hand down my back. “Before it’s too late.”
“It’s already too late,” I mumbled, crossing my arms under my chest.
“You know you want to talk to her.”
“What am I supposed to say, Angel? Should I tell her how mad I am? She already knows that. Should I tell her that I want to forgive her but I can’t?”
“You will forgive her,” Angel said gently. “You just need time. I know you two have never been close, but I also know that you need her. Just like you need the other girls.”
I huffed. “Why do you always have to be right?”
He chuckled, kissing my head. “I don’t expect you to forget or even to forgive right away but it’s been weeks since Violet was brought back to you.”
“They used me as bait, Angel. Aren’t you pissed over that?”
His jaw clenched. “You have no fucking idea.”
***
(Angel)
I knew Asher meant well. I knew the situation involving the girls forced everyone to become desperate. We were all driven with the need to save them, and we all had our own personal reasons as to why.
There was a force behind this operation and whether it was human or the business itself was yet to be determined. Either way, we would end it.
We had been looking into who was the front runner, the leader, the fucking Master of this shit but all roads led to nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. It was beyond frustr
ating, and it was putting a wedge in our group. Of course, Vice-One brushed it off like it was nothing but our eyes told all. Especially Coby’s. My brother had been through shit, seen shit, and lived to not talk about it. He was a vault.
The fact that Asher, a man I trusted, took the woman I loved to bring home her sister forced a rage inside of me I had never felt before. It was consuming, and if I didn’t unleash it soon, it would take over. I knew it. He knew it. Every time he looked at me, I could see the questioning glance of if I would hit him or not. I wanted to. I wanted to drive my fist into his face and demand for him to tell me what the hell he was thinking. But instead, I told him to go undercover to bring Charles Brian down. And I convinced him to bring Meeka into it as well. What did that say about me? I was an asshole. I lived up to that name, but at that moment, I didn’t care.
“What are you thinking about, Angel?” Jay asked, raising an eyebrow. She wrapped her arms around my waist and kissed my cheek.
“I’m thinking about how much I love you.” I brushed my mouth along hers, igniting a soft purr to leave her lips.
“Funny.” She pulled back. “Too bad I know you and know that you were thinking about this … about everything.”
“We’ll talk later.” Because in all honesty, I didn’t want to discuss our shit in front of our friends. I didn’t want anyone knowing that there was a problem. That I was so pissed off I forced my brother into this mess.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Meeka said, approaching us. “Can I talk to you for a second, Jay?”
“No.” Jay frowned, turning back to me.
“What the hell was that?” I demanded, my brows narrowing.
“I’m not ready,” Jay cried.
“Meeka,” Asher grit out, leaning against the wall. “Come here, hummingbird.” He reached a hand out to her.
She walked into his outstretched arms, curling against him.
They talked amongst themselves, with Asher consoling his best friend.
“What was that, Jay?” I asked, lowering my voice so only she could hear.
“What, Angel? What do you want me to do?” Her eyes darkened. “I’m not ready. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.”
