Dane

by Michelle Hughes

  “It won’t long term, but it will keep him from trying to get her alone again. We’ll use this shit for blackmail and promise to go to his daughter and every business he has his hand in, including the city council if he fucks with her.” Brandt smirked as my eyes widened in understanding. “The other shit we’ll have to work out with patience. Buying out everything he’s involved in from behind the scenes and then taking control.”

  Brandt was a maniacal sonofabitch when he wanted to be, and it was never good to be on his bad side. Blake had seriously screwed himself and I couldn’t wait to watch his downfall. Ian and Nick both had the skill to wire her aunt’s house for sound, and we could keep her safe if we were there.

  “He puts his hands on her at all, we call the whole thing off. That’s the only way this goes down.” I wanted Blake out of her life for good, but not at the risk of her getting hurt by him again.

  “Agreed. You going to explain this to her, or am I?” Brandt looking worried about confronting Erin was almost comical. If I wasn’t concerned about her being hurt again, I might have laughed. As it was I kept my shit together.

  “I’ll tell her. The sooner that motherfucker is out of her life the better.” We’d ruin him all together eventually, keeping her safe was my top priority now.

  chapter sixteen

  Played

  Erin

  Their plan had seemed like a good one before I walked through the front doors of my aunt’s house getting ready to play it out. The only reason I had the courage to go through with it was because my guys were in close proximity. I would never feel like this home belonged to me, that I knew now with certainty. When all this was finally over, I planned on making it a place of sanctuary for other women. Random thought, but it was better than thinking about Blake’s disgusting hands touching me.

  My aunt would have enjoyed seeing something positive come out of her life’s work, and that’s what this place culminated. Putting a plan together for later, it helped with my nerves while I waited for the jerk to arrive. He’d seemed almost eager on the phone for his visit, and the thought made my stomach roll. When he walked in like he owned the place I had to bite back the fury I wanted to unleash on him.

  “I have to admit I’m surprised you showed up.” His egotistical smile made me want to smack him, but I forced myself to look subdued.

  “It wasn’t like you left me much choice.” Knowing my guys were placed in different rooms here helped tremendously, but I still didn’t like being near him.

  “I’ve waited a long time to have you.” Blake’s eyes moved over me with a disgusting intent, and I bit back a gag on the bile that rose in my throat. His hand reached out to touch me, and instantly I recoiled. Suddenly nervous, I blabbered.

  “Terms. We should talk about how this is going to work out. What is it you expect me to do for you?” I hated that he could make me afraid. Never in my life had I wanted to smash my fist into a person’s face so bad before.

  Running his finger across my cheek, he smirked. “You’ll do what a woman does best, take care of my sexual needs and in return, this house will remain in your possession. Should you ever not please me, obviously our arrangement will be null and void and you’re little boy toys will find their business closed down for improprieties.” The ghastly little man had the audacity to chuckle over the latter, making me hate him even worse.

  “That hardly seems fair to me. Maybe a time frame for how long this, um arrangement will last.” The thought of his hands touching me made physically sick.

  “You seem to think that what you want matters in the least to me. I could have you without offering anything in return.” His grin was pure evil, and I knew what it was like to truly hate someone.

  “The only reason I’m here is to keep my guys safe. This house? It doesn’t even matter anymore. All I want is your word you’ll never touch them.” Blake is truly a disgusting piece of work. How he made such a wonderful daughter I’ll never know.

  “Lie to yourself all you want, but like most women you’re a whore. You’ll open your legs for whatever opportunity you can use that body for.” He brings his disgusting hand up to grope my breast, and I don’t think. Lifting my knee I kick him in the balls. The grunt of pain brings me pleasure, and I allow a smile to find my face before he slaps me hard.

  “You stupid little bitch. I’ll make you pay for that.” Blake grabs my hair and I don’t have time to scream out before Brandt rips him off me, shoving him into a wall where he folds and slides down it in almost slow motion. The violence doesn’t end there. I have to turn my head as Brandt continues to lay into him, leaving him bloodied and barely recognizable. I can’t do or say anything as Dane walks in to pull Brandt off Blake, I knew he had a violent past as a fighter, but seeing it? Much different than knowing about it.

  “You’ll never touch her again. The loan will be paid off in full. If you even attempt to contact her I will make sure next time you don’t walk away!” Brandt is full of adrenaline, shuffling Blake around like a rag doll. Being led out of the room I’m not sure any of what I’ve seen is real. I feel like I’ve been watching a movie and my mind can’t wrap around the truth. When my legs give way, Dane lifts me into his arms and carries me to the car. All the way back to the mansion my dazed mind sinks into itself, not sure I want to come back to the real world.

  Closing my eyes, I don’t open them again until I feel Dane’s hand shaking me and I’m somehow back in the safety of my bedroom again. Not in my aunt’s home, which no longer feels like where I belong, but theirs. “Honey, you’re safe. You know that right?” He’s holding me in his lap, we’re sitting on the bed, and I manage a nod.

  “He beat him.” I’m still in shock I guess. I’d never seen that much violence before. I knew it existed, but having it put so visually in your face? I guess I thought it only happened on television shows. “Won’t he retaliate?” I didn’t care that Blake was beat to bloody pulp, I realized, I only worried someone would try and hurt Brandt or the rest of my Hunks the same way.

  “Probably. You don’t need to worry about that though. We can protect our own.” Dane chuckled like the thought of him being hurt was ludicrous. I didn’t feel that same comfort.

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I held him tightly. The shock of what I’d witnessed, and the fear of someone hurting him, too much for my already overwhelmed mind. “Don’t joke about that. He. You. I.” The words wouldn’t form enough to come out. I pressed my face into the strong muscles of his neck and tried not to hyperventilate.

  “Honey, don’t.” His roped arms wrapped around my waist and held me comfortingly. “Men like Blake, we know how to deal with. You’re safe and I promise we will be too.” His words sounded convincing, but who knew what a man like him was capable of.

  Lifting my lips to his, I needed physical comfort. He seemed willing to give it. Devouring each other, it wasn’t about sexual gratification. Loving him with desperation, it was more about being alive. Pulling his shirt over his head, my hands never stopped moving, learning the contours of his beautiful body while pressing my breasts against his skin, needing the stimulation.

  “Love me, Dane.” The words were whispered against his flesh, I needed him more than air in that moment. Thankfully he seemed to want that too. We loved unrestrained. Two bodies giving and taking until consumed with the passion insanity bred. Breathless and fulfilled I sat seated on his cock, draining him of all the pleasure he offered. “We didn’t use a condom.” The words seemed out of place and maybe a little hysterical so I laughed.

  “A mini us wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen.” Looking into his eyes, still straddling his lap, he meant it. He was smiling, and I thought about his words. In the scheme of things, I guess it wouldn’t be.

  “You want kids?” I’d never thought about it before. Okay. Maybe when I was younger and still believed in fairy tales.

  “Yeah. Think I do. I’d love to give a kid all the shit I missed while growing up.” He chuckled and wrapped hi
s arms around me, holding me close.

  “Tell me about it.” I felt like I knew him better than I knew myself, but the truth was he’d never really talked about his past.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore. Not now, with you here. Never knew my dad, my mom was a worthless piece of crap. I had the guys. You’re all I want. Can that be enough?” His eyes looked back at me, pleading for a reprieve. How could I not give him what he seemed to desperately want?

  “I’m yours. I wouldn’t mind making a baby with you either.” Grinning as his eyes widened, I wondered how he didn’t know that he was now my entire world. “I love you Dane.” Lowering my lips to his, I kissed him, hoping if my words didn’t convince him my body would. Another wild round of lovemaking and I decided I really enjoyed convincing him how I felt.

  Maybe it was crazy to feel so much and be willing to give him my entire life, but sanity was overrated. He was my Hunk, and I had no plans of ever finding out what it was like to live without him. Hours later we showered and join the other guys downstairs. It was like having the huge family I’d never known I wanted, but now couldn’t imagine being without.

  I knew Blake would not let things go. Brandt had hurt more than just his pride by taking him down. None of the guys seemed worried about what would happen next, and I could only assume they had a plan. For now I would enjoy this slice of heaven I’d been given, and spend all my waking moments with the man who’d shown me what it was to feel, to love, and for the first time in my life, live.

  Brandt acted like he was walking on eggs shells around me, almost afraid I’d disown him, or that’s how it felt. No matter how many smiles I sent his way, he still seemed closed off. For days I gave him that space, but living in the same house made it awkward when he walked the other way whenever I entered a room.

  Tonight he was staying home while Dane worked the restaurant and I was determined to end it. He checked in on me they’d decided I didn’t need to be alone for long periods of time, and I grabbed his arm as he attempted to leave again. “You can’t keep avoiding me.” My grip was gentle on his large arm, but from the look on his face it seemed almost painful.

  “I figured you probably didn’t want to be around me after what you saw.” The man was a giant but his words and the way he lowered his head, as if in shame, made him seem almost small. It broke my heart to see him so humble.

  “You saved my life. Why wouldn’t I want to be around you?” Of course I’d been freaked out by all the violence, but I’d never stop caring about him. “You did something for me that no one’s ever done before.” Whispering the words, for the first time in days his eyes met mine and the confusion there broke my heart even more.

  “I almost killed him.” His tone was gruff, the look he gave me spoke volumes.

  “What do you think he would have done to me if you hadn’t been there?” I didn’t want to think about it, but I knew he needed to see he was the hero.

  “Don’t remind me. I’ll go finish what I started.” His large hands balled into fists, and the look on his face filled with a rage that made me step back. The instant I did that he looked horrified. “I’m no good for you.”

  Didn’t he know? Walking up to him, I wrapped my arms around his neck, standing on my tip toes to do it. “I love you Brandt. You and the guys have finally given me the family I’ve always longed for. Yeah you’re a little rough around the edges.” I couldn’t stop the smile that found my face as I spoke the truth. “But, I wouldn’t have any of you, any other way.”

  He looked down into my eyes like I was an enigma, studying me before finally lifting me into his arms, holding me tightly. “So you’ll take us, warts and all?” He grinned broadly, like he had just been given some great prize. I knew I was the winner here.

  “Of course I will. You’re my Hunks. I dare anyone to try and keep us apart!” The thought made me livid and I knew it would be a cold day in hell before anyone came between us. This was my family!

  “We’re never going to let you go now. Just remember you sealed your own fate, sweetheart.” He spun me around before allowing me to find my feet again. Shaking my head at ever wanting to be anywhere else, I was finally happy.

  There were plenty of uncertainties out there. My friendship with Gabby, I still hadn’t talked to her since Brandt beat her father. The house, which I no longer wanted for myself, but would love to turn into a halfway home for abused women or something similar. The lingering question though was what would Blake do to make our lives a living hell? I knew it wasn’t over, and until it was? None of us were safe.

  MICHELLE HUGHES

  From an early age I was fascinated with Harlequin Romance Novels. I would sneak them from my Granny's bedroom and hide in the bathroom to read them at eight years old. There was never a time in my life when I didn't want to entertain people. I started singing at three, the insurance man would pay me a quarter to sing Delta Dawn and I was hooked! My world has always been about the dream of someday making it big.

  These days I'm a mom to five wonderful kids, wife to the greatest fisherman on earth (with a real job) and an author. It still amazes me when people buy my books. I began my writing career by roleplaying on Twitter. After I grew tired of making up stories for the world of True Blood, I sat down and decided to write my own vampire love story, and it's been non-stop since. I created the Tears of Crimson series, then moved on to contemporary romance.

  No matter where this writing dream leads, I've had a blast learning the publishing industry. I can honestly say that I've loved every minute of my life because I followed my dreams. I wish you all the luck in the world living out your own!

  I hope you’ve enjoyed the beginning of Hunks! These guys stepped into my mind and took over, demanding their story be told. I can’t wait to share the other’s stories as well.

  Website: http://www.tearsofcrimson.com

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormichellehughes

  Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MichelleHughes_