by B. B. Reid
I wouldn’t dare have a crush because not only was the thought of us forbidden, it was impossible.
It would be a long time before I was old enough for him. I was only twelve, and he would be nineteen in a few months. Our fathers would forbid it, and I was sure Angel thought I was just a dumb kid. I made it to my bedroom and immediately noticed my favorite lime green sheets had been replaced with crisp white sheets. I stood frozen just inside the door until understanding dawn and dread seeped inside.
There must have been blood.
He must have seen it and changed the sheets.
Oh, God.
Could this get any more embarrassing?
“Here.”
I inhaled until my lungs were full and pivoted, feeling my heart race. He stood beyond the door holding a napkin and tall glass of water. He shoved it toward me and ordered me with his eyes to take it, so I did and found two pills inside the fold of the napkin. “What’s this for?”
“For the pain.”
I fingered the pills from the napkin and swallowed them down with half the glass of water. “Did Trinity tell you this?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” I felt awkward.
He eyed me, and I could tell he was annoyed when he said, “Problem?”
“You didn’t have to do all this,” I said even though I knew if he hadn’t, I’d still be in a ball on the bathroom floor.
“It was nothing.” He noticed me staring and added, “So don’t make it into anything.”
“You’re so confusing.”
“How so?”
I shrugged and looked down at my feet. “You’re just…” A walking, talking contradiction. “Not easy,” I finished lamely.
“Then why are you still here?”
“It’s not like I have a choice.”
“You don’t believe that so why do you expect me to?”
“Why would I lie?”
“Because you and I both know if you told your daddy how not easy I am, he wouldn’t hesitate to bend to your will, would he, princess?”
“What do you have against my father?”
“It’s not your father I have a problem with.” He stepped closer and his eyes darkened. Suddenly, I was very aware of my nakedness beneath the towel. “But I do have a problem with the way you look at him.”
“H—how do I look at him?”
“Like he’s the only man in the world.” I took a step back to escape the heat in his eyes, but he only followed me step for step. “One day, it won’t be your father you’ll look at that way. One day, it won’t be him you belong to.”
“I—I don’t understand.” God, stop stuttering!
Suddenly, the brakes were pressed. He stared down at me as if he was finally seeing me, and I watched as the wildness in his eyes dimmed. He started to back up, but I couldn’t let him go. I needed to know what tamed him. I started to follow, but the tick in his jaw froze me. He left, and I stood in the same spot long after the front door slammed.
Why did it feel as if he’d just made a promise?
Chapter Twenty-One
While Angel’s away, his friends will play.
MIAN
Present
“Rise, princess.”
I grumbled and fought to stay under. Consciousness chased the friendly voice, but my sore ass begged for me not to trust it.
“And shine, pretty girl.” The presence of a second voice rang alarms, and when I felt fingertips trail my spine, they began to blare. I peeked cautiously with one eye open.
Strong legs covered in black denim greeted me. I had both eyes open when I scrambled to sit up, and I very clearly saw Lucas sitting on the windowsill and Z standing by my bedside sporting a grin.
“What are you two doing in here?”
“We need you,” Lucas answered. His gaze dropped to my chest, reminding me I was naked. I shivered and told myself it was because I slept in the cold without so much as a sheet or a pillow to keep me warm.
“Why?” I asked warily. His voice had been far too seductive when he expressed his need for me.
“It’s time for breakfast,” Z answered cheerily.
“I’m not hungry.”
“But we are.” Lucas moved from the window to stand on the side of the bed opposite Z.
“You’re grown men. I’m sure you know what you need to do when you’re hungry.”
“You have a mean mouth for someone so tiny,” Lucas said. His gaze pinned me to the center of the bed. “I look forward to putting it to better use.”
“Excuse me?”
“Mian,” Z interrupted gently. I couldn’t tear my glare away from Lucas. “Mian,” he repeated, this time with a hand on my chin. Gently, he turned my face up until I had no choice but to meet his gaze. “If you want this to go smoothly, you might consider hearing us out. You deny us as if you have power here.”
“I’m not having sex with you,” I blurted. His smile was bright as the pad of his thumb caressed my chin softly.
“Let’s just have breakfast first, and then we’ll talk about it.”
Was he not hearing me? What part of me not wanting our genitals to meet needed discussion?
“I don’t think so.”
He sighed and then climbed on the bed, driving me from the center and closer to Lucas. “Then we’ll stay here,” he said smoothly.
The bed shifted behind me. Lucas had also climbed in bed. “No reason not to get back in bed since breakfast isn’t happening.” His lips tilted. His smile made him insanely hot.
I reached out for covers that weren’t there and felt the chilly air heat up by at least a hundred degrees. Running meant climbing over one of them or exposing my ass to reach the foot of the bed. I drew into myself to keep from touching them, but they just kept pushing closer.
“Guys, stop.” I tried to sound firm, but all I could hear was desperation. Where was Angel?
“Have you reconsidered?”
“You’re not going to bully me into doing what you want.”
“Why not? It’s worked so far.” I glared at Lucas.
“What we’re trying to say, pretty girl, is that you’re still fighting when you’ve already lost.”
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Say nice things and threaten me at the same time. I’m not sure if you’re worse than this one.” I threw my thumb over my shoulder at Lucas.
“Does it matter?” Lucas questioned. “We’re both dangerous, and we’re not here to protect you. We’re not your friends, and we never will be. Does that clear things up for you?”
“It certainly does. Gentleman, I’m naked. I don’t know what you want from me, and I don’t care. What I want is my son and to be shown to the door. Where’s Angel?”
“Business trip to the city,” Z answered.
“Why?”
“He left to find answers since he wasn’t getting any from you.”
“Wait… He left me here? Alone? With you two?” My voice rose with each question.
“Shhh,” Z soothed. “He’ll be back in two days.”
Two days… Angel left my baby and me alone with strangers for two days. The room started to spin. “Oh, God.”
Lucas’s expression shifted to concern. “Are you alright?”
Fuck no! “Where is my baby?”
“He’s fine.”
I pounded my fist on the bare mattress and snarled at Z. “He’s not safe from you three, so no, he is not fine .”
“He’s safe, Mian. And if you do as you’re told and don’t try anything idiotic, you will be too.”
“Take me to my son.” There was no way in hell I would trust anything either of them ever said. I needed to see him and feel his warmth against my skin.
“We can’t do th
at. When we get word from Angel, he’ll decide where we go from there.”
“Listen to me,” I pleaded. “He’s not well. I needed cash to pay for a doctor’s visit. I don’t know how sick he is and I’m worried.” When they didn’t respond or move, I added, “ Please .” They exchanged looks over my head, and my stomach plummeted.
After another heavy silence, Lucas scratched his head and said, “We thought he might be sick.”
“Please, you have to do something.” They exchanged another look and my stomach knotted this time. “He could die!”
“Part of Angel’s business trip is to arrange for a doctor—one of the best—to look at your son.”
I scrambled for the bed and faced off with them. They still sat on the bed wearing shock on their faces. “Are you telling me my son isn’t here? He took my son?” I roared.
“He’s trying to help him, Mian.” Lucas’s voice deepened. I was approaching a danger zone but fuck that. My son will always be worth any battle.
“He could help him by letting us go!”
“So you can do what?” Z snapped. “I’m willing to bet you don’t even have the money to make it back home, let alone keep you both fed. He would be dead by the end of the week, and you wouldn’t be able to live with that. You’d be dead, too.”
I tore my gaze away because I couldn’t stand to see the truth in his eyes. “I’m going to kill you both.” My vow was made quietly and aimed at the ground.
“That may be, but for now, let Angel help him.”
I did look up then. “After I’m done with your ring leader, I will kill you both.” I was sure my promise made its mark this time. They both nodded, seeming to take it in stride. They were men who likely dealt with death threats on a daily basis and still managed to continue breathing.
Not for long.
“Maybe we shouldn’t trust you to make us breakfast,” Z joked to break the tension.
“Why would I make you breakfast?”
“Angel wanted us to keep you busy while he’s away so you’ll be seeing to our needs.”
My stomach tightened at the thought of their needs. “Like a maid?”
“Titles can be tricky,” Lucas said and grinned. I didn’t return it.
“Your needs aren’t my problem.”
Lucas shook his head, took my arm, and steered me toward the door.
“Battles already lost, Mian.”
* * *
“ So you worked with my dad and Uncle Art? Why haven’t I ever met either of you before?”
After Lucas had led me to the state-of-the-art kitchen with Z trailing behind us, I refused to perform any culinary action. My defiance lasted up until Z calmly worked his belt from the loops of his pants while maintaining eye contact. The threat was clear. I barely knew Z, yet somehow, I was surprised but smart enough to know he meant it.
“Maybe he didn’t trust us with you,” Z leaned in and whispered.
“Makes sense. My dad didn’t really trust anyone with me.” He would have told Angel not to bring anyone around.
Lucas chuckled from his perch beside Z at the bar. “He’s not talking about your pops, girl.”
“Oh…” They were silent but watchful, letting it sink in on its own. “I think you’re wrong. Angel didn’t even know I existed.”
Z rolled his eyes and leaned back. “If you truly believed that, your sexy body wouldn’t be so flushed right now.”
“It wasn’t always tense between us,” I admitted.
“You want to fuck him, don’t you, pretty girl?”
“No, Zachariah. I do not. I want him to die.”
“I call bullshit.”
“You can call the press, too, if you’d like. My answer stays the same.”
“You like lying to yourself?”
“It’s not a lie to say I’m not attracted to the man who kidnapped my son.”
“So you feel nothing?”
“Not even a twinge. Eggs are ready.” I picked up the hot skillet from the flat top stove and spooned the scrambled eggs onto their waiting plates. Bacon, toast, and fresh fruit were already waiting along with tall glasses of orange juice. “Enjoy,” I said, not meaning it.
Lucas smirked and fixed his gaze on mine. “You didn’t poison the food, did you?”
“Oh, how I wish I could.”
“Ease up, Sprite. Let’s have a truce for now and just eat.”
“I told you I wasn’t hungry.” It was a lie, of course. I was starving but eager to get away from them. I was still naked, and the apron Z gave me to cook in didn’t preserve much of my modesty.
Lucas’s nostrils flared. “And I said to eat.”
“There’s no food left.”
“There’s plenty here, princess.” Z patted his lap with a grin.
“I’m not sitting on your lap.”
“Then you can sit on mine,” Lucas offered.
“But there’s a seat between you.”
“Since you share our food you sit where we want you.”
“But I don’t want your food!”
“Battle’s lost.”
I pulled my wild card. “What would Angel say?”
He smirked. “He would insist.”
“You’re lying.”
“Should we call him? He’d be very interested to know that you refuse to eat.”
“God, you’re both assholes.”
“Comes with the job description, babe.”
“Yeah, I bet.” I grabbed a fork and walked around the counter and because Z was closer and Lucas scared me, I chose his lap. He wasted no time settling me in with an arm around my waist.
“You feel good.”
“Yeah, I’m not sitting here so you can sample me.” The trill of Lucas’s phone sent him away from the bar and into another room. “Can I have some eggs please?”
Z’s chuckle was low and deep. “Thought you weren’t hungry.”
“I guess all this banter has worked up an appetite.”
“What’s mine is yours,” he whispered seductively. “Take what you want.”
“Yeah, I’ll just take the eggs, buddy.”
His sexy chuckle caressed my neck and then we ate in silence until his plate was cleared. “Damn, princess. You can really put it away.”
“Do you have any idea how to talk to a girl?”
I felt a fingertip trail down my arm. “To be fair, I don’t really do much talking when I interact with women.”
“And you’re proud of yourself?”
“I’ve had no complaints. You’re welcome to take me for a spin.”
“Ok. Breakfast is over.” When he didn’t unlock his arm from my waist, I added, “May I be excused?”
“You learn quick.” I could hear the grin in his tone and gritted my teeth but said nothing. After feeling up my naked hip, he released me from his hold. I wasted no time jumping from his lap and turning my bare ass from his view. Of course, he noticed. “You’re making this enjoyable.”
“How so?”
“You’re hiding yourself from me when I’ve already seen it all.” His gaze drifted to my breasts that were still covered by the apron. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I’m not ashamed of my body. I simply don’t want strange men taking my clothes off without my permission.”
“You’re going to have more things to worry about before this is over.”
“But Angel will clear me and let us go.” He didn’t reply. Z was the easiest to talk to. Maybe I could use it to my advantage and charm him into talking. I leaned toward him and whispered, “What do you know?”
He looked surprised for a moment before his lip curled. “I’m on his side, Mian. Don’t take my kindness for weakness.” He shoved his empty plate to the end of the bar. My hand flew out to keep it from crashing to the floor. “Clean up.”
Shit.
I might have screwed up the only possible ally I had. He didn’t talk to me again as I cleaned up. By the time I was finished, his mood hadn’t lifted. He wordlessly led me back to my cell and moved to leave once I was inside.
“Wait!” He stopped and lifted his eyebrow but said nothing. “Can I have some clothes?”
“Afraid not.”
“Why not?”
He smiled, but it wasn’t like the others. It was cold and mocking and meant to unnerve me. “Angel wants you like this.”
“Why?” What benefit could Angel possibly get from keeping me like this if he wasn’t even here to see it?
“So you can’t hide.”
“You mean, so he can humiliate me.”
“People hide behind dignity… so, yeah.”
I’d had enough. “Angel’s a creep, Lucas is a creep, and you’re a creep.” I crossed my arms and waited.
He simply shrugged. “A creep with a nice view.” He jerked the door close in time to save himself from my fist.
Chapter Twenty-Two
She’s a girl you take home to mom.
MIAN
Five Years Ago
Why does he have to be so hot?
My secret crush turned his shirtless body from the refrigerator with a Gatorade in one hand and a sandwich in the other. His dark eyes glowed with irritation when his gaze met mine. “What do you want?” he snapped.
“I think you mean hello . It’s how people politely greet one another.”
“Where’s your father?”
“Why?” I mocked. “Do you need adult supervision?”
He stared at me and then slowly lowered his sandwich and drink to the counter. I thought I heard him mutter, “With you, maybe,” before he took a wide path around me and bellowed for his father.
I don’t know why, but I followed after him and peeked inside. He was pacing Uncle Art’s office with his fists balled and swinging in rhythm with his angry steps. “She can’t stay here anymore.”
“I don’t have time to pacify you. You telling me you can’t handle one girl?”
“You know it’s not safe for her here with me. Why are you trusting me with this?”
