Murderer appeared in the doorway, blocking my way. Ignoring me and Clara, he yanked Jade to his side, muttering something into his ear. Jade nodded and rushed off towards the kitchen like a good little housewife, Murderer obviously having him under his thumb.
Murderer then turned his attention to my dad, giving him a lewd smile. “You gonna gimme a reward for a job well done?”
My dad rolled his eyes. “You did shit, Kara wuzn’t even there.”
“Me and Nike still stormed the grounds, tied Ant up and tortured him to get him to talk ’bout Kara. It’s not our fault it wuzn’t him who took her. We could’ve gotten hauled in by the coppers.”
“That prick wouldn’t have phoned the pigs on you, he hates ’em even more than us. Still, you needa watch your back for a bit, make sure he doesn’t come for retribution.”
“He won’t, he knows my rep. Though, I still want my reward.”
“Fine, I’ll get some cash offa Jade.”
“I don’t want cash; I want your arse.”
My dad tensed. “You ain’t gettin’ it!”
“Oh, c’mon, you’re a whore, so I don’t get why you have such an issue with receiving.”
“Cos I’m a man, not a pussy!”
“I’m a man too, and even I’m willing to let you have a piece of my arse if you lemme have yours in return.”
“I don’t wanna hear that!” I snapped, pushing past him, carrying Clara into the lounge. My dad stormed after me, muttering a stream of foul language, clearly not wanting to hear it either. I sat down on the couch as Jade rushed through the door that led to the kitchen, handing my dad a beer. Jade looked over at Murderer as the arse-hungry psycho entered the room. He held another beer out for Murderer, his hand shaking like he had Parkinson’s disease.
Murderer shoved it back at him. “I said water, not that poison.”
“But Tane likes—”
“I don’t give a shit what he likes, get me some water.”
Jade rushed off.
Murderer sat down next to my dad, slinging an arm over his shoulders.
Dad shoved it off. “Don’t touch me.” He got up and moved to a single chair.
Murderer grunted and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring across at me as I slipped my arm around Clara. I pulled her in close, giving him a smile just to rub it in. I dropped the smile a second later, what had happened earlier nothing to smile about.
I gave Clara a squeeze. “You all right, babe?” I asked, still concerned for her. Yeah, Simon hadn’t touched her sexually, but sexual shit had still gone down between her and Kara, what she’d told me clearly freaking her out.
She looked up at me, her silvery-grey eyes like two large moons. “I’m fine. What about you? You fine?”
“I am with you next to me.”
A hesitant smile pulled at her lips. “Me too. And I’m relieved it’s over. I can’t believe Simon was behind those break-ins, along with Andrew.”
“Andrew?”
“The security guard. Still can’t believe they took things this far. Though, finding out that Andrew was a convicted felon isn’t a big surprise now,” she said. “Looks like Simon liked to hire ex-cons so he could keep them under his thumb, making them do what he wanted.” She shook her head. “I never even considered it was Simon who’d left that message by my bed, though I should’ve, since he knew all about me, but...” She shook her head again. “I thought he was nice back then.”
“Well, he’s gonna get what’s coming to him. My mates will make sure justice is dished out to that bastard.”
She grimaced. “They won’t kill him, will they?”
“No, just make his life a misery.”
She nodded her pink little head. “I can live with that.”
I chuckled. “Oh, you can? What ’bout livin’ with me? Can you live with that?”
She nodded again. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“Good, me neither. I’m really lookin’ forward to gettin’ to know you more, Miss Hughes.”
She smiled. “Miss Hughes, ha?”
I tightened my grip around her. “You bet. I like how that sounds on my tongue, but not as much as your wet pussy tastes on it.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Murderer muttered. “Gimme a hetero break, female cunt is rank.”
“Said the arse licker, Killjoy.”
“I’m not Killer.”
“I already know that.”
“Yeah, you should, cos I don’t get fucked like that pussy, I fuck.”
“You just said that you’d let my dad fuck your arse if he lets you do his.”
“Anything is worth sacrificing to get into your dad’s gorgeous arse.” His attention shifted to Jade as he re-entered the lounge. Jade walked over with a tray of food and water, placing it on the coffee table. Murderer smacked his arse, cackling at Jade’s loud yelp.
Murderer’s smile turned wicked. “Come closer, Jade.”
Jade rubbed his arse, looking warily at him.
“I won’t ask again.”
Jade swallowed and stepped closer. Murderer crooked his finger, indicating for him to lower his head. When Jade did, he whispered something into his ear. A shiver went through Jade, but he still nodded.
Murderer’s hazel gaze moved to my dad. “You up for fucking Jade today?”
My dad’s upper lip twitched, anger still simmering beneath his tattoo. “As long as you don’t touch me.”
“All I’m askin’ is for me to watch. I also wanna tell you what to do to Jade.”
“Within reason.”
“Sure.” Murderer rose up and patted Jade’s head condescendingly. “Can’t break our cash cow, now can we?” He adjusted his crotch, then walked off, heading upstairs.
My dad shook his head, muttering, “Cunt,” but still followed him out, snapping at Jade to follow too.
Jade went to do just that, but I grabbed his arm, stopping him. “You really should quit it with those two,” I said.
He jerked his arm free. “This has got nothing to do with you, I’m allowed to do as I please in my own home,” he said haughtily, although there was a distinct tremble in his voice.
“I’m not sayin’ this to be an arsehole, I’m sayin’ it cos I don’t want you gettin’ hurt.”
Jade relaxed a touch. “I’m fine. I take care of my business, while you take care of yours,” he said, indicating to Clara.
“Your biz is mine, man, cos you’re not only my boss, you’re my mate. And I look out for my mates.”
A small smile pulled at Jade’s lips. “Really?”
I nodded. “And I wouldn’t be a good mate if I didn’t warn ya ’bout those two. My dad isn’t me, he’s dangerous, while Murderer is a hundred times worse. If you’re not careful with him, you could end up with a bullet in your head. Have fun with ’em today, get it outta your system, then tomorrow tell the bastards you’re gettin’ back with an old boyfriend or some shit like that. My dad will find some other poor schmuck to mooch off, while Murderer and his entourage of personalities will follow him. You clear with that?”
Jade grimaced. “I’m not sure it’ll be that easy. Your dad is talking bank accounts, wanting me to set one up for him, so I can put his pay in there. And...” He blushed. “He’s incredible in bed. I like looking at Murderer, but he’s too rough, but your dad...” He groaned. “That man is addictive. I can see why Murderer follows him around.”
“You do know he needs Murderer, or more precisely, Killer to get hard with you. He’s practically straight.”
“That’s not true, he got hard for me when Killer was downstairs this morning. Maybe if he dumps—”
“Jade, my dad is a whore. He’s only doin’ you for the cash. As soon as that dries up, he’ll move on. And he loves Killer, he always goes back to him no matter how much of a shithead Murderer is.”
Jade frowned. “I’ll see.”
I shook my head. “No, you won’t see, you’ll do, and not my dad or Murderer. I’m tellin’ ya, just cos
they’re family doesn’t mean they won’t hurt ya.” I indicated for Jade to lean closer.
He did.
“Don’t tell anyone this, but Murderer offed his sister. If family ain’t safe, you most definitely aren’t.”
Jade paled. “How come he’s not in jail?”
“No proof. The cops have given up on lookin’ for it. So, enjoy one last fuck, then tie shit up with ’em. Give my dad a bonus to make him happy, then back away.”
He nodded, a look of fear colouring his dark eyes.
A yell came from upstairs. “Stop it, you motherfucker!” my dad hollered.
A hyena cackle followed, Murderer no doubt being a prick.
“Jade!” my dad hollered. “Get your arse up ’ere!”
Jade swallowed, but still left the lounge, heading into only God knew what.
“Is that really true about Murderer killing his sister?” Clara asked, still snuggled against me.
“Yeah, remember I told you in L’s office?”
“I remember, I just find it hard to believe, even for him.”
“Well, he definitely did it.”
“Good.”
I raised a brow. “I didn’t expect to hear that from you. Thought you didn’t like violence.”
“That horrid woman deserved to die for what she did to you. I hope she rots in hell.”
I gave her a squeeze, not opposed to Simon receiving the same fate, although I knew prison would be more punishment.
Another yell came from upstairs, then a loud, “Fuck yeah!”
Clara grimaced. “You want to go back to my place? Because I really can’t listen to that again.”
I pushed her onto the couch, laying on top of her. “How ’bout we lose ourselves in each other, like we used to at the beach house. We won’t hear ’em then.”
Her face went slack. “You remember the beach house?”
“Not really, but you can describe it while I’m balls deep inside of you.”
“Only talking please, especially after today.”
I quickly climbed off her. “Shit, sorry, I didn’t think.”
She sat up and leaned over, hugging me. “Don’t worry, we can still hug.”
“Definitely.” I wrapped my arms around her, her comments about Kara coming back. “And don’t worry ’bout what went down with you and Kara. I understand it meant nuthin’, wuz only a stalling tactic.”
She stiffened. “I didn’t want to do anything with her, and I know she was only doing it so the men didn’t touch us, but...”
“But what?”
She grimaced. “What we did was still sex. She was even purposely trying to get me off.”
I frowned. “She’s into men, but will do anything to survive.”
“Regardless, she could’ve pretended. Simon and Andrew wouldn’t have known. I just don’t get why she did what she did.”
“Kara’s a paradox, don’t even try to understand her motives. I lived with her, and I never fully understood some of the things she did.”
Clara swallowed. “So, you’re really not angry with me for what I did with her?”
“Of course not, you didn’t have a choice.”
Her face went red. “My mind hated it, but my body reacted to what she was doing, so I closed my eyes and thought of you. All I want is you.”
I smiled at her. “All I want is you, too.”
She beamed in response. “God, I love you.” She hugged me tighter, appearing unconcerned that I hadn’t said it back, although I knew I would eventually, the woman beyond perfect.
I returned her hug, looking forward to falling in love with her all over again.
Epilogue
Dante
Eleven Months Later
Outside the limo the crowd was going nuts, my name being screamed so loudly they probably could hear it all the way back in New Zealand. We were in Sydney, arriving for a concert, my opening show in Australia sold out. Clara shifted about next to me nervously. She was dressed in a floral baby-doll dress, the type she’d taken to wearing during her pregnancy. Though, she didn’t need to hide her belly anymore. She’d lost all of her pregnancy weight almost as soon as our child had popped out. She’d given birth to our son just over two months ago. The nanny was babysitting Tyson for the night so that Clara could sing backup for me. My li’l bro had been ecstatic when we’d named our boy after him, Sledge’s birth name being Tyson.
I gave Clara a kiss on the head, her new lilac locks suiting her even better than her previous pink hair.
She smiled at me, her gunmetal eyes surrounded by black-eyeliner, making them stand out even more. “Who would’ve thought you’d get your own show in such a big venue this quick? It’s crazy!”
Jade chuckled almost haughtily, looking well-pleased with himself. He was sitting across from us, dressed to the nines in one of his favourite Armani suits. “I knew,” he said. “I may not have expected it to happen so fast, but I knew it eventually would. After all, you are fucking hot.” He gave me a slow eye-fuck, not even being subtle about it. “Every woman and girl wants a piece of you,” the unspoken me too left unsaid. Though, he also wanted a piece of my dad, the idiot still paying my old man to fuck him, just on the sly so that Murderer and his entourage of Killer and Pain, didn’t find out. Jade was terrified of Murderer after the psycho had stuck a gun in his mouth, threatening to pull the trigger if he didn’t stop phoning my dad. Jade had done what he was told, keeping away from my dad, until my dad had turned up on his doorstep, begging for cash. He’d offered Jade a wild night of sex if he bailed him out of some gambling debt. And the bloody stupid bugger had said yes, getting reeled in by my old man once more, who was now doing his best to drain Jade’s bank account, not caring that the poor bastard was falling for him. All my dad saw when he looked at Jade was a job, his cock getting hard for cash.
Grossed out by the thought, I looked out the window at the crowd, preferring not to think about my dad’s fucked up life. Or the fact he couldn’t be here tonight, his convictions stopping him from entering Australia.
“You sure you have enough security guards this time?” I asked Jade. “The crowd in Auckland tried to tear my fuckin’ clothes off.”
“They didn’t just try,” Clara interrupted. “They literally ripped your shirt right off your back. One woman even tried to take some of your hair.”
“Yes,” Jade said, looking guilty. “I’m sorry about that, I won’t make the same mistake twice. I just didn’t expect that level of hysteria.”
“It’s your job to expect it,” Clara said in her teacher voice, sounding like she was giving him a dressing-down.
“Not at this level,” he replied. “I have some popular artists on my book, and nothing like this has ever happened to them. It’s you,” he said, pointing at me. “You make women lose their minds. And those porn leaks quadrupled the hysteria.”
I grunted, more than a little pissed about that. It might not have damaged my career, if anything it was probably the reason why I was sitting here right now. The thirsty bitches outside were no doubt wanting to see me in person after frigging themselves raw to all the images of me fucking on the internet.
“Dante’s not getting out unless there’s enough guards this time,” Clara piped up. “Because if any harm—”
Jade cut her off, “I have three times the guards out there, so no one will get near Dante. I also have fencing.”
“You still need to get Dante a personal bodyguard.”
“I’ve arranged that already. I’ve decided to go with Ash’s recommendation of his friend. I’ll get Mr. Daniels to sign a contract when we return to New Zealand.”
“Good,” I jumped back into the convo, “and what ’bout Ash?”
“What about Ash?”
“Have you given him guards tonight?” I asked, not happy that my bro was getting chased by females. People were constantly mistaking him for me, the stupid bitches not caring that we had different tattoos. If anything, they probably thought they were fake, pain
ted on just for show.
Jade nodded. “Yes, I have guards covering him as well as your other siblings, and of course Corey,” he said, mentioning Sledge’s now famous boyfriend. Corey had somehow managed to get a major modelling contract, the skinny li’l bastard thinking he was Kate freaking Moss with the way he trounced about.
“They’ll also be safe up in the box seats,” Jade added.
“Tiana, too,” I said, Jade forgetting to mention Ash’s partner.
He shook his head. “She’s not coming.”
“Why? The Connors are babysitting the kids,” I growled, annoyed with Tiana, “so there’s no excuse for her to skip out. She bloody accepted the flight and concert tickets.”
L piped up, answering for Jade, “She’s not coming because Ash walked out on her last night.”
My eyes snapped to my lead guitarist. L was dressed in red leather pants and one of her trademark flowing blouses, just a see-through version this time, her red bra clearly visible. She looked hot as hell, which was why she was acquiring quite a following of her own, people not caring that she was intersex. If anything, they loved her uniqueness, both females and males clambering for her attention. She also had a massive following in the LGBTQI community. Though, even with all of the attention, she was as celibate as a nun, the poor chick still mooning after my brother.
“I thought Ash and Tiana had worked things out,” I said.
L shook her mane of ginger and golden hair. “They had a massive argument last night.”
“Over Lily?” I asked, mentioning Ash’s baby with Beth. My ex had been taken off life-support months ago, her death inevitable, though no less painful.
L pulled a face. “No, over me. Tiana thinks he’s cheating on her with me.”
“Why would she think that? She knows Ash hates cheats.”
“Kara,” she growled. “Ever since Ash let her move in to help pay the mortgage, she’s been working to split him and Tiana up, using me as a scapegoat.”
“Why the fuck would Kara do that?”
“She said if she can’t have you, she’s going to have Ash.”
I blinked at her, not believing what I was hearing. “You have gotta be pullin’ my tit.”
Love Drunk (Broken Lives Book 4) Page 29
