Sweeter Pleasures

by Lyssa Cole

  “Bree! Over here! Bree!”

  Who in the fuck…? But then I saw her. The long black hair, the tanned skin. Alana. My blood ran cold, fury filling me. Why was she here? Could I not go anywhere without this bitch slut finding me?

  I saw Kyle following behind her like a puppy dog and I rolled my eyes. So pathetic. Alana seemed to know how to get the guys wrapped around her little slut finger. Stupid bitch.

  I didn’t move. I waited until they got closer to me, trying to hold back my desire to punch her face again. When she was finally standing a few feet in front of me, Kyle stood right next to her, smirking at me. Fuck, he was about to get the first punch to wipe that fucking look off his face.

  “Bree, I just came here to make peace. And to tell you the truth about Drake. He’s a cold blooded killer.”

  I felt sick. What? What in the fuck is she talking about?

  I didn’t say anything, just looked away from her. She was lying, she had to be lying. There was no way Drake was a killer. He was an awesome person with a heart of gold. Unless I didn’t know who he really was deep down inside? Do you ever really know someone deep down inside? Their true inner self?

  “I saw it myself, Bree. He murdered the leader of a very high powered mafia. He’s gotten away with it so far but I know they are still looking for him, still very angry about what he did. And to be honest, if you ask me, once a killer, always a killer.”

  I couldn’t look at either of them; I just stared out into the ocean as her words washed over me. Killed the leader of a mafia? What in the fuck? Who was this guy?

  “You don’t believe me Bree and that’s fine. But Drake will pay me to keep me quiet. My father belongs to that mafia and my loyalty remains with him so in order to keep me quiet, I need money. Drake got a huge reward for carrying out the hit so I know he has plenty to go around. Oh you had no idea he had money either? Silly little bitch. Drake sure did fool you. It’s so funny to me how you have now been fucked over by the two guys who will do anything for me. Let’s go, Kyle.”

  I was fuming pissed. I wanted to lunge at her and bash her face in again, her words cutting me like knives. Drake is a killer, Drake has money. Who was this man?

  I sunk down to the sand, my sobs overtaking me, my body shaking as the hot sun beat down on my back. How stupid had I been? I fell in love with a man I hardly knew and now I was left with a shattered heart once again.

  Drake

  I paced my living room, running my hands through my hair every few minutes. I had no idea what to do. Bree not talking to me, not wanting to even look at me, was killing me, more and more every day. I had to fix this, I needed to fix this. Fucking Alana. It was necessary to get her the fuck out of my life as fast as I could no matter what I had to do. I missed Bree so much; I ached inside. I felt like there was a huge void inside me now that would never be filled unless Bree came back to me. I would do anything to get her back. This needed to be done with once and for all.

  I somehow got myself back home in spite of my grief. I called Julie and she was over in minutes. As I poured out what Alana had just told me on the beach, she looked furious. She stood and paced back and forth as the tears slipped down my cheeks.

  “That fucking slut. She couldn’t just stay on her island and stop fucking up your life? I can’t believe her and Drake are involved. I mean what are the fucking odds really? I think she’s lying Bree; she’s got to be lying. Drake isn’t a killer, he’s a good man. I don’t get bad vibes around him.”

  My eyes followed her as she moved back and forth endlessly. “But I thought Kyle was a good person and look what happened.” I blew out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding.

  “Bree, babes, I love you but Kyle is a sleaze. I liked him because you loved him and I love you. I saw that way he looked at other women and I hoped he would never do anything to betray you but his true colors eventually shown through as everyone’s always do. But you were blinded by love and I wasn’t going to burst your bubble. Now if he had cheated on you and I knew, then I would tell you, but I wasn’t going to hurt your feelings just because I thought Kyle was being a pig. Anyways, enough about Kyle. You need to call Drake over here and hear him out.”

  I didn’t say anything as the tears just kept flowing. She thought Kyle was a sleaze this whole time? Why didn’t she ever fucking say anything? What the fuck? And hear Drake out? Why should I?

  “He hasn’t even tried to contact me, Jules. He doesn’t care obviously. And bitch, next time you think the guy I’m in love with is a sleaze, please fucking tell me!” I flipped her the middle finger and she gave it right back.

  “You’re wrong Bree. Drake does care. He’s been a sad little puppy all week at the bakery. I asked him why he doesn’t try to talk to you and he said he was giving you space. He feels horrible though, babe. You need to talk. You can’t just ignore the situation and think it’s going to all be okay. Because it won’t be. Things don’t just go away.” Julie sat down next to me on the couch and took my hands in hers.

  “Listen to me, Bree. The love you shared with Drake-that’s a one of a kind love. It doesn’t come to you often in your life, hell, probably not even more than once, but when it does you need to grab onto it and hold on like your life depends on it. You didn’t have that love with Kyle. I know you thought you did because you were young and it was your first love. But what you share with Drake is much deeper and I know you know this because you told me. And I can see it in the way you both look at each other. It’s what I have with Blake. Blake isn’t perfect; he has flaws. He did a few bad things in his past. But no one is perfect. You have to love that person for all of them-flaws, bad habits, you name it girl, you have to accept it all. You may not like some things but you just have to accept it.”

  Julie’s words sunk in and I knew she was right but how could I let something like killing someone be okay? Performing a hit job for money? This was a crime right here and I didn’t know if I could be involved with someone like that. The right thing to do was to stop judging and hear him out. Then I would be able to decide once I knew the truth.

  I nodded, pulling my hands from Julie and wiping my tears away. “Okay Jules, okay.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  I never called Drake that night. I tried but never could bring myself to do it. Julie only stayed for about an hour, her family needing her for their nightly routines. I wanted to hear Drake out before I decided anything, but tonight my nerves just took over. Instead, I lit candles in my bathroom, ran a hot bubble bath, poured a chilled glass of sangria, and soaked for a long time while reading my latest smut read. I’d have to deal with Drake at work tomorrow and that was enough for right now.

  Drake

  I was racked with nerves, knowing Bree was coming in today. My bread came out burnt and my pastries seemed smaller and they looked off somehow. My body froze the moment I felt her enter the room. She didn’t say anything, just brushed by me and into her office, her perfume and sweet smell filling my nostrils. God, how I missed her. I missed her so badly, I ached inside. Closing my eyes, I headed out the back door for a much needed break and some fresh air. It was time to fix my shit.

  I didn’t say anything to Drake when I came in, heading straight to my office. I stayed in there the entire day, only the girls popping in at various times throughout the day. I didn’t really intend to stay in there but after being out a week, the paperwork was overwhelming and very overdue. By six pm, I was exhausted after having been there since the opening at six am. Everyone was gone now except Mackenzie and Lexi, who just finished closing.

  Lexi bounced in, giving me a quick hug. “I got to run as we are having dinner with my parents tonight, but hang in there okay Bree? And I really like Drake, I would definitely hear him out.” With that she was gone, Mackenzie breezing her way in.

  She plopped her thin frame into the chair in front of my desk, crossing her legs and leaning forward. Her face was filled with concern and I looked away. I didn’t want her pity; I didn’t want anyon
e’s pity.

  “Mack, please. Don’t look at me like that. You of all people.”

  She stuck her tongue out at me and then reached out, grabbing one of my hands with her own. “Listen, I just feel bad is all. You were so happy with Drake. And to be honest Bree, that happiness you had with Drake-that isn’t something that comes along every day. That’s something that only comes along once in a lifetime. And if that came to me, you can be sure as shit I’d be holding on to it as hard as I could.”

  She threw me a sympathetic smile and then she stood. “I’ll always be here for you Bree, with whatever you decide to do, as will all of the other girls.” Mack blew me a kiss and she was gone, leaving me alone to my thoughts, the silence deafening.

  Alana

  Drake found me sitting on the beach today. Said he was done with me, with my empty threats, with giving me money. He claimed to have put in some calls, having found out my secret, and he was ready to spill now. How did he find out that type of information? He must have had his own connections he wasn’t telling me about. Fucking asshole. There was now going to be payback. Bree was going to get it.

  The next day at work, I arrived before opening, wanting to take account of the stock, and how well Drake had been doing. Secretly, I wanted to be there alone with Drake. When I arrived, he was already busy making the morning bread and pastries, and his face looked surprised when he saw me enter. The air crackled and all the feelings came back, hitting me in gut full force. I looked away, heading to my office, unsure what, if anything to say.

  “Bree?” Drake called out, his voice halting me to the spot, the sound filling me with emotion.

  I turned and faced him, our eyes locking. So much was said without being spoken, the air growing thick.

  “Can we talk? Tonight? I’ll bring you dinner.”

  I nodded quickly, then turned and hurried to my office before he could see my unshed tears.

  Drake arrived around seven that night, bringing dinner and a couple of bottles of wine with him. As soon as I opened the door, my mind whirled with everything I felt for him-love, passion, anger, confusion. Why was love so fucking complicated?

  Drake looked tired and worn out, sadness etched around his eyes. I felt a ping of regret for not talking to him sooner but I had just needed time. We both murmured a small barely heard hi. He headed straight for the kitchen, beginning to set up the food, and poured us some wine. I slid into the bar stool I had at my kitchen island, watching him, neither of us saying anything.

  God this was awkward. Just get on with it Bree.

  “Drake…I…” He turned towards me, his mouth opening as if he were about to say something. We smiled, some of the tension easing.

  “Listen, Bree.” Drake handed me a glass of wine and began dishing out some salad. “Let me just explain everything, okay? I know Alana told you shit but you need to hear the whole story, not just what that fucking troublemaking bitch is telling you.”

  He sat on the bar stool across from me, handing me my salad and fork. We both sat there staring at each other without eating. I wasn’t hungry honestly but the wine was delicious and Drake didn’t seem to be touching the food either.

  “You know a bit how my childhood was, moving around a lot. And my father is now in jail for being a drug lord.” I nodded as he continued, “Well he was also the head of a big mafia group.”

  I swallowed, anxiety filling me. Shit. I didn’t know if I could handle those types of people in my life. Drake must have sensed my nerves because he reached out to grab my hands in his. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

  I nodded softly, my eyes meeting his, both of us feeling so melancholy over this whole sordid situation. Drake squeezed my hands, “When my father went to jail, he had unfinished business with a rival mafia. Therefore, they wanted revenge. They would send their men out to bother my sisters, harass them, scare them.” He closed his eyes in pain as the memories filled his mind. “I knew he was never going to leave us alone so when my father’s men offered me a deal, I took it.”

  Drake just took the deal. To kill a man. A high powered mafia criminal. I sighed, pulling my hands out of his so I could scratch my neck. Anxiety was filling me and I suddenly felt very nauseous. “You…you…you just take a deal to kill a person?”

  Drake nodded, as he pulled my hands away from my neck and back into his. “Yes but it wasn’t like that. He was harassing my family and he wasn’t going to stop. I was carefully trained and we carried out the perfect hit, never being caught. And now they don’t fucking mess with my family anymore. We sent them a clear message.”

  My mouth dropped open. “They fucking know it was you?”

  Drake nodded, then shook his head. “Not me, per say, but our mafia.”

  I let the information sink in as I gulped my wine. I poured myself more and drank it down quick. I needed to get drunk. This was all too much for me.

  “I know it sounds horrible Bree, but it’s that way of life. I wouldn’t just kill a random person for no reason. And I’m not going to do something like that again. There is no one else I would kill for any amount of money or fame that came with it. That was just something that needed to happen and now it is over and done with.” Drake sounded dead serious. He must have worked through this for a long time already, accepting it as he did what he had to do for his family. It made me feel more compassionate towards him, his protective side was attractive.

  My anger was slipping slightly as I began to hear what he had to say. I played with my wine glass, my fingers finding his on the counter. “Did you get a payout?” I asked softly.

  “Yes I did. Ten million dollars.”

  I gasped my eyes flying up to meet his. “Ten million dollars! Fuck Drake!”

  He nodded. “Yeah, it’s a good chunk of change. But money isn’t everything. I would never do something like that again no matter how much money I was being offered.”

  My curiosity and the wine was making me ask whatever I wanted and the questions kept on coming. “Do you still have a lot left?”

  He nodded again. “Yes, almost all of it.”

  Holy fucking shit. This man was pretty well off, even rich almost, depending on how long the money could last.

  “I paid my debt off which was around one hundred and twenty-five thousand and then I’ve just saved and lived as cheaply as I could.”

  I admired him for not spending the money. A lot of people wouldn’t be able to do that. It takes willpower to not spend that kind of cash and it makes me appreciate him in a new way.

  My eyes met his and I took a sip of wine before asking, “How does Alana come into play then?”

  Drake sighed heavily. “That fucking bitch conned me.” He took an angry sip of wine and I was glad he was pissed off at her. That meant he didn’t want her in his life and she was being a pain in the ass. “As soon as I had left the building where I had stationed myself to carry out the hit, she followed me as she had supposedly been watching me the entire time. She followed me into a bar and seduced me. I was so drunk and in a bad state of mind, that I didn’t realize what I was doing until it was too late. When I tried to kick her out of my bed the next morning, she claimed she knew what I did. And that her father was in the rival mafia and she could easily turn me in unless I gave her cash.”

  My anger came back hot and quick. That fucking slut. Who did she think she was demanding money like that? I stood up, my anger getting the better of me. I wanted to strangle that bitch.

  Drake was by my side moments later. “Bree, calm down, it’s okay. She will be gone for good, don’t worry.”

  “How?” I asked, my eyes snapping up to meet his.

  He shook his head. “I already took care of it. I had a little secret on her too. I got some inside information through my father’s connections and found out her father was still giving her an allowance to live on, one that she gets until she is married. But it was under one condition. That she kept her virginity.” His eyes met mine and we both burst out laughing.

&
nbsp; “Are you fucking kidding me? She’s a fucking slut!” I choked out, the laughter taking over.

  “I know, right? And now if she doesn’t get the fuck out of my life, our lives, daddy is going to learn that little secret. I want to move on. With you. If you will still have me?”

  Drake wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tight against his chest. I melted into him. God how I missed him, missed this. It had only been a week and it had felt like an eternity. I didn’t say anything, keeping my head pressed tightly against his chest.

  “Please, Bree. I’m sorry. I have to protect my sisters. It’s in my nature. I would’ve even protected my mother and grandmother, putting aside the fact that abandoned us after dad went to jail. And now I want to protect you. Because I love you, Bree. I am madly in love with you. This time apart has killed me. I felt like I lost apart of myself.”

  I pulled my head back to look up at him. My eyes were brimming with tears but this time they were happy. My heart felt complete again. The man I loved was back with me and he wasn’t a bad person at all. We would start a new life together. Somewhere new, somewhere fresh. Together.

  “I’m sorry too. For not hearing you out. I was just so angry and disappointed…I…I don’t know. I’m damaged goods, what can I say?” I shrugged and Drake chuckled.

  “But you’re my damaged goods, babe, mine.” He pressed his lips against me gently and I inhaled his delicious scent.

  “I love you too, Drake.” I whispered against his lips and then he lifted me and carried me to bed, our dinner long forgotten.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Drake

  Heat flooded my body as I carried Bree to the bedroom. Tonight she was getting the ultimate treatment, as my mouth was going to worship her like she deserved to be. I felt so bad for everything I had put her through. I didn’t want her to find out that way, by not hearing it from me, but especially not hearing it from that fucking bitch. Alana was more of a bitch than I could ever have imagined. She caused me shit since she strolled into my life and I couldn’t wait for her to be gone for good. I hoped she would listen to the words I spoke to her and she would be out of this town soon.