Taking His Victory: (The Men of River City book 4)

by Nola Marie

  I don’t even have to consider the answer. I miss the shop, but not much else is holding me in New York right now. “Of course.”

  “Tell her I’m going to kill her, okay? And – quit fucking football players.” He huffs dramatically making me smile.

  “Don’t know if I can do that big brother. Kind of like him, you know,” I smile to myself when Zane slips behind me with a kiss to the shoulder.

  “Don’t get hurt, Tori. Then I’ll have to kill him. Maddox told me that would be very bad for my health, but he won’t fucking elaborate and I don't care."

  I giggle because I’ve figure out that’s probably very accurate, but I don’t even ask. “I’ll call you later, Dane.”

  I turn around once the call is ended, wrapping my arms around him. “I’m going to miss you,” I tell him.

  “Me too, Baby,” he says kissing the top of my head. “Call me as soon as you get to New York.”

  “There’s been a slight change with that,” I inform him. “We haven’t heard from Cara in a couple of weeks, and since my layover is in Chicago, I’m going to hang around there for a couple of days to check on her.”

  “Then call me when you get there.”

  I land in Chicago at ten that night. I call Cara as soon as I have my luggage, but don’t get an answer. I grab a taxi, giving him the address of the apartment Dane is renting for her. A while later, I’m standing outside the door trying to get her to answer.

  Trying not to panic, I pull out the key I have, letting myself in. Her apartment is a disaster, but that’s not surprising. Cara has never been one to keep things tidy.

  I walk to her sofa, removing probably a week’s worth of laundry then plop down. I call Zane but keep the call short. Then promptly fall asleep on the sofa because I’ve hardly slept any in the last four days.

  It’s breaking daylight when I hear the front door open. My sister stumbles in looking very thoroughly fucked. “Wow, your night resembles my weekend,” I say sitting up.

  She screams like she just found a naked burglar in the apartment. “What the fuck, Tori? You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing here?”

  “Well, when his baby sister doesn’t answer his calls, big brother sends someone to investigate.”

  She rolls her eyes with a groan. “He sent you all the way here to check up on me?”

  I shrug a bit. “I had a layover here on my way back home.”

  She slides onto the sofa beside me with a grin. “Back home? Where have you been?”

  “Oh no. No, no, no. Why haven’t you been answering Dane’s calls? Or mine for that matter? And who the hell is the guy answering your phone?” She begins to chew on her lip without answering me for a few seconds. “Cara, what’s going on?”

  “I met a guy,” she blurts. “He is great, but Dane will hate him.”

  “Why would Dane hate him?” I take her hand pulling her to me.

  “Because he’s a guy.”

  “Okay. You’re not wrong but avoiding him isn’t the answer. So, tell me about this guy.”

  “His name is Stephano DeLuca, and he’s amazing. He’s sweet and fun. We’ve been hanging out every day for the last couple of weeks.”

  “Well, that explains the timeline of you avoiding our calls, but not why he’s answering your phone.”

  Her head tilts slightly to the side. “Answering my phone?”

  “Yeah. Dane called and he answered.”

  “I didn’t know he did that,” she groans.

  “You know what? It doesn’t matter right now. Don’t you have class soon?”

  “My final was canceled this morning and I don’t have anything else. Hence, the walk of shame through my front door at dawn.” I yawn loudly because I am not a morning person and I still haven't gotten enough sleep. “Do I get to meet him?”

  She begins to bounce up and down like a kid at Christmas. “I can’t wait for you to meet him. He’s so hot. Like Zane Valen hot.”

  I can’t do anything but shake my head and laugh.

  “Cara you can’t ignore Dane,” I tell her with a laugh as we eat our lunch. “He’ll leave the tour, and he’s worked too hard to do that.”

  “Why does he think I need to talk to him every day?” she says with an exaggerated roll of her eyes.

  I roll my eyes with just as much drama. “Every day, Cara? Really. He only called every day because you weren’t answering.”

  “I am a damn adult. He needs to treat me like one," she huffs with a stomp of her foot.

  “Well, he’s definitely not going to when you don’t act like one.”

  Her head jerks back. “What are you talking about? How do I not act like one?”

  “Well, ignoring his phone calls for one. He is your brother and has been raising you for the last several years. Do I always have to remind you what he’s sacrificed for you?”

  “No. But I never asked him to do that. Why do I need to feel like I owe him something?”

  I grit my teeth at the overwhelming urge to slap her. Dane doesn’t ask anything from her except to answer his phone calls once in a while. I wipe my mouth with my napkin then stand to my feet. I need to leave before I say something I shouldn’t. Or maybe I should but it won’t do any good.

  I throw some money down on the table and take off out of the restaurant. “Where are you going?” Cara yells after me.

  I don’t answer. I walk out the door and jump into the first taxi available back to her apartment.

  My phone rings as we make our way down the streets through the heavy traffic. Cara, of course, but I’m not answering her because all I want to say to her is that she is a fucking ungrateful brat.

  Then it rings again. I start to ignore it until I see it’s Dane calling.

  “You didn’t call me when you got there. Is she okay?”

  “She is perfectly fine, Dane,” I snap.

  “Whoa! What happened?”

  “Apart from the fact that she is the most ungrateful, spoiled, entitled human being I’ve ever encountered?”

  He releases a long sigh. He knows he catered to and babied her too much once she came to live with him. “What did she say?”

  “Nothing important. But yeah, there is a guy that she’s been seeing for about the length of time she’s been avoiding our calls.”

  “Did you see this guy?”

  “No, and I’m not going to. I am going home before I punch her in the face.”

  “Tori, please -.”

  I cut him off not wanting to hear his pleas for me to stay and investigate the guy. “No, Dane. As she just informed me, she is an adult. Let her make her own choices. It's her life to fuck up.”

  “So, you think I’m overbearing too?”

  Now it’s my turn to sigh. “No, I really don’t. I think you just want to watch out for your sisters. Just like I watch out for you and Cara. Maybe you’re a little too overprotective but I think it’s exactly how it should be.”

  “But you still think I should back off,” he says sadly.

  “Not because it’s what’s best, Dane, but because she needs to see how much she needs her big brother. I know I do. I miss your dumb ass like crazy.”

  “I miss you too.”

  “I’m back at her apartment now,” I tell him. “Maybe you should start making her be responsible for some of her own shit instead of taking care of everything for her.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right,” he admits with a heartbreaking sadness to his voice. I hate that Cara is so ungrateful and spoiled. I hate that she can’t see that Dane has given her the world because he loves her. That, whether she asked him to or not, he sacrificed his own happiness for her. Because he loves her.

  My brother is definitely an overprotective - and at times overbearing - ass but he has good intentions. His damn heart is so fucking big I'm not sure how it fits in his chest.

  I chuckle because I know he won’t make her grow any time soon. He will continue funding her life until she can take care of herself. I worry someti
mes she may never try for that reason alone. “I’ll call you when my plane lands back in New York.”

  As I walk from the taxi into her building, I get a strange feeling creep up the back of my neck. I turn to look around for the cause then realize I’m probably just being paranoid for no reason at all. I make my way up to the fourth floor to find a guy standing at her door. He’s leaning against the wall looking at his phone.

  “Can I help you?” I ask as I get closer.

  I look him over for a second. He’s probably close to my age. Tall enough with dark hair and eyes. He looks like he’s probably a nice guy and I decide he must be Stephano.

  “I’m just waiting on Cara,” he tells me with a warm smile. Too warm, in fact. A little forced. He offers me his hand, “I’m Stephano.”

  “I’m Tori,” I tell him with a smile. “Cara’s not here right now.”

  “She’s on her way,” he informs me.

  That means I need to hurry if I want to get out of here before she gets back. I don’t want to get into it with her, and I haven’t cooled off enough to talk with her yet.

  I open her door with my key. Stephano follows me in. I don’t really appreciate him doing so, but I keep my mouth shut. It is her apartment after all.

  “How do you know Cara?” he asks as I throw my stuff into my bag.

  I turn slowly looking at him in disbelief. She hasn’t told him that she has a sister? I wonder if she’s mentioned Dane at all.

  “How do you know Cara?” I counter, not willing to give him any information he’s not already privy to.

  “We met a couple of weeks ago at a party. Don’t you know Zane Valen? I saw your picture online the other day with him.”

  “Yes, I know Zane,” I say casually.

  “You spend a lot of time in River City?” His line of questioning seems harmless, or at least it should but something about it makes my skin prickle.

  “Not really. He usually comes to me.”

  “Have you met Jax McCabe too?”

  Again, the questions seem absolutely harmless. Something I would expect from a sports fan that recognized me from pictures with Zane. But every instinct tells me this guy is fishing for something. “I know Jax,” I tell him. Cara walks in as we continue to stare at each other. I realize that his warm smile isn’t really that warm at all because it doesn’t reach his eyes.

  “Tori don’t leave. I’ll call Dane.”

  “Don’t do me any favors Cara. I need to get back to the shop anyway.”

  “Tori, please don’t go. I haven’t seen you in months.”

  I close my eyes shut. I want to leave, but dammit if I don’t feel bad. With a long breath, I turn to face her. “I’ll stay a couple of more days, but then I really do need to get back to the shop.”

  She throws her arms around me. I hug her back but Stephano’s eyes on me make me really freaking nervous.

  “Why doesn’t she come with us tonight to meet my brother and his buddy?” he says with his eye really studying me in a not so friendly way.

  Cara begins to jump up and down and squeal with excitement. “We’re going to Nirvana. You have to come.”

  Oh, I’m definitely going, but just to keep an eye on her and Stephano.

  The club we go to is absolutely packed. The line goes back several blocks. I can’t help but wonder how they expect us to get in before tomorrow night, but we walk right up to the door to be let in without a cover fee.

  It leaves me with more questions than answers for certain. We are led through the main dance floor with strobes and laser lights flashing among the hordes of dancers. A huge bar lines the back of the club while the front has a stage where a DJ is situated. Lighted swings hang from the ceiling with women doing some form of acrobatics on them. We make our way up a set of stairs to an area that says VIP. I look to Cara questioningly.

  “Stephano’s family are like some sort of bigshots in town,” she yells into my ear.

  Okay then. I suppose that explains a few things. When we arrive in the lounge, there are several women and two other guys in there. Both cause the hairs on my neck to rise.

  “Cara, Tori, this is my brother, Romano and his friend James.”

  I instantly know which one is Romano. He and his brother share a strong resemblance to each other. They both have dark hair and dark eyes, but while Stephano seems able to at least fake warmth, Romano seems like nothing but arrogant, cold, and slimy. Like a snake.

  His friend seems a little nicer, but the DeLuca brothers have me on high alert. I don’t buy for a minute that the other guy is anything but shady given the company he keeps.

  Maybe I’m being judgy, but I spent a lot of years in the foster system. I also spent a few years training and in the ring. I’ve had plenty of experiences with people who pretend to be good people but are anything but.

  Unfortunately, it seems Cara did not pick up the same trait. She hangs on every word that comes out of Stephano’s mouth. It’s a little more than unnerving to watch, and I have the very strong desire to get her away from him as fast as possible. I know I can’t. Those methods won’t work with Cara, but it doesn’t change my need to do it.

  I sit back sipping on a drink as I watch women climb all over Romano and James. Romano leers at the women like they’re objects just for his own pleasure. While James looks bored. The women look suspiciously glassy eyed and most definitely not the type of women these two seem inclined to parade around too much.

  My phone buzzes in my hand.

  Zane: Missed waking up to you this morning

  I bite my lip trying to hold back the wide grin that wants to split my face. I am so fucking happy when I’m with him, and it honestly scares me to death. His preseason has started now which means he will be busy from now until January at least. The thought of not getting to see him as often as I have makes me feel queasy.

  Me: I missed fucking you this morning

  I kind of hate when he’s being sweet, telling me how he feels, I always deflect with sex. I don’t know why other than the fact it keeps me from thinking or talking about what I’m really feeling. Because what I’m feeling? It makes me want to run to the other side of the planet.

  Zane: Now I’m hard

  I giggle eliciting stares from the people around me. “Sorry,” I apologize. Cara catches my eye her own lighting up with intrigue and excitement.

  Me: I’m out with Cara and her new boyfriend.

  Zane: Sounds like fun.

  Me: Not really. He gives me a weird vibe. We met up with his brother and another guy. They are all giving me the creeps.

  Zane: So, you’re telling me I don’t have to worry they may be competition?

  I shake my head with another laugh.

  Me: Absolutely none. I’ll call you tomorrow.

  Zane: Tomorrow baby.

  Cara waggles her eyebrows at me as I put my phone away. I shake my head, trying my best to discourage her. I don’t have to try long. Soon enough she’s dragging Stephano down to the dance floor.

  “Want to go down for a dance?” James asks me.

  Fuck no is what I want to say, but I try to be nice. No need to cause a scene. “I’ve had a long few days. Not really feeling dancing.”

  “Ah. Just trying to relax then?”

  I nod without looking at him. I search the dance floor looking for Cara. I spot her grinding herself on Stephano. I force myself not to cringe at the sight.

  “Still fighting?” he asks.

  I give him a questioning look. "With Cara? No. We're not fighting anymore."

  He gives me a grin that makes my stomach sink with dread. "I meant in the ring."

  That causes me to look at him with surprise. “You know who I am?”

  “Gotta say, I was pretty disappointed when you quit fighting. I made quite a bit of money off of you.” I cringe. I hated that part of fighting. Knowing that someone could possibly lose everything. He laughs at my reaction. “I take it, you don’t approve.”

  “No. I fought because I lik
ed it. Not to make or break someone financially.”

  Moaning from across the seat draws my attention. I watch as one of the women goes down on Romano. I quickly avert my gaze, not because I’m embarrassed as much as I am still getting a very slimy vibe from the guy.

  “Maybe you should fight again,” James suggests. “It would be a lot more lucrative than tattooing.”

  I narrow my eyes at him as I wonder exactly how he knows what I do now. How does he know so much about me? He flashes a toothy smile at me that is a little more than suggestive. “I’m doing just fine,” I tell him.

  “She thinks she’s too good for you, James,” Romano calls from across the seat, grabbing the girl with his cock in her mouth by the hair and thrusting. I gag a little from the sight.

  “Is that right?” he hums. “You think you’re too good for me?”

  I look him dead in the eyes. I am not intimidated by him whatsoever and I won’t let him think that I am. “Did those words come out of my mouth?” I snap.

  Romano shoves the girl off of him. He stands from his seat not even bothering to put his dick away and walks to me. He leans over until his mouth is right next to my ear. “Watch your tone before I shove my cock in your mouth,” he growls.

  I turn until we are looking eye to eye. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but if you like your cock then I suggest you keep it far away from me.”

  The man’s dark eyes flash with anger. He raises his hand to hit me but I’m too fast for him. I quickly out maneuver him then knock him to his back.

  James is quick to grab me before I can launch an attack on the bastard. “Easy there, love. You don’t know who you’re playing with.”

  I yank from his grip. “Neither do you.”

  “Oh, I know. It’s why I’m stopping you.”

  Romano stands to his feet. He is back in my face. “You should watch yourself little girl. I’d hate for something awful to happen to your sister.”

  I turn red as I realize they know entirely too much about me. “Who the fuck are you?”

  “Let’s just say we need your assistance,” James says behind me.

  “With what?”

  “We need a fighter, and we want you. If you help us, we will make sure your sister’s pretty little head and tight body stay perfectly safe. If you don’t, then we might just have to find some other use for said head and body.”