Sweet Venom (Crazy in Love #1)

by Kirsty-Anne Still

  “And if I don’t?”

  “Simple,” I start, leaning in with a demeaning nature. “I won’t bail you out of anythin’. I’m paid to make men disappear, don’t think I’ll stop at makin’ pretty little things like you just vanish.” I lean in, closing the gap between us. “Because I don’t need the extra baggage.”

  “Believe me, I’m no one’s extra baggage,” she disputes, a fire burning in her now. “I’ve been passed around a lot since my eighteenth birthday,” she comments with a tenderly soft tone. “I’m never one to fall behind anymore,” she gloats, another smile hits her lips. “You’ll see for yourself the girl that stumbled from his clutches to yours isn’t what I am at all.”

  I cast a look to Liam. I can almost feel the greed in me. I’ve had men beg to work for me, most becoming closer than my own family, but there’s only ever been one girl who ran at my speed, and the thought of another gets my heart racing.

  So, slowly, I look back at Ashley, a bright smile on my lips. “Are you pledgin’ yourself to me?” I ask her, raising a brow questioningly at her. “Because believe me, I’ll work in my power to get you to disappear if you’re not.”

  “I guess I am,” Ashley agrees.

  “And if you can’t keep up?” I ask, cocking a brow. “What then?”

  “You’re a man that doesn’t bail anyone out, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?”

  And for the second time in my life, the devil never looked so beautiful.

  When my evening started, I never expected this to be happening.

  Bryce is dead.

  His killer far more beautiful than any man who tried to buy me.

  They left Bryce in the trunk of the car, ignoring the blood on their hands as we headed upstairs in the elevator. I noted how Liam hit the button for the penthouse and I looked at Lawson again.

  This time I really looked at Lawson.

  He’s over six-foot-tall, with dark blond hair and thick dark stubble lining his jaw. It’s well-trimmed, as is his hair cut and I imagine his barber takes a lot of time to keep a man like Lawson well cared for. The outfit he’s in gives nothing away. He looks like a normal man on the streets in jeans, a sweater, jacket and combat boots.

  The only thing setting him apart is the blood that stains his clothes and skin.

  He catches me looking, and I blush instantly and without meaning to.

  “See something good?” he asks, giving me a grin. “Didn’t Bryce give you anything’ warmer to wear?”

  “No,” I admit, having not really noticed how frozen to the core I was. “Standing out in the cold wasn’t on my agenda for the day.”

  “I bet,” Lawson muses, turning to look at his right-hand man. “Make sure she’s got proper clothes to wear before we sort all this out, yeah?”

  “On it, Boss,” Liam obeys.

  “So, how does this work?” I ask, pointing at them both. “One minute he’s your boss, then he’s your best buddy.”

  “It’s called a workin’ relationship,” Liam says, his smooth New Orleans’ accent enough to make me melt. I can hear the clipped tone he uses that he doesn’t like me. “I know my boundaries, but likewise, I know when I can take away the professionalism.”

  “We’re just one big happy fucking family,” Lawson says, quite happy with that definition.

  “Ran primarily on testosterone,” Liam quips mirthfully, making Lawson laugh. “You’ll meet them all soon.”

  “How many of you?” I ask, and I wonder if I’m asking too many damn questions – just like I have before.

  “Depends on what day,” Lawson entertains me, not fazed by my questioning. “With what job.” Slowly, a seriousness smothers his features. “Do you always ask this many questions?”

  I shrug. “I’m just curious by nature.”

  “Too many questions could lead you into too much trouble,” Lawson warns me as the elevator jolts to a stop, and I hear the ding to let us know we’re here.

  As the doors open, I’m met with darkly stained vanish oak floorings that run through the entire apartment, spilling off into the various rooms that lead from this main corridor. The walls are kept clean and white, the furniture and décor kept simple and oak to match the flooring.

  “Goin’ to stay in there all night?” Liam asks, dragging me from my shocked state. “Nothin’ special in there … promise. The good stuff’s through here, Suga’.”

  I step out, noticing Lawson hovering in the doorway to what looks like the kitchen, but my eyes catch sight of the windows at the far end of the corridor. There’s nothing but a beautiful view beyond the panes of glass.

  “I need to go and make a few calls,” Lawson starts, getting my attention. “Liam will grab you a drink, but feel free to take a tour around. While you’re here, you might as well feel at home.”

  I take note of the tone he uses. He’s still completely convinced I won’t be here much longer than necessary. He’s played into the notion I will be, tried the scare tactics of what his life is about and who he works with.

  He doesn’t know what’s coming for him.

  Giving me one last smile, Lawson slips from the room and disappears into the apartment.

  “What do you want to drink?” he asks me, politely. “Still after that strong drink?”

  “Water will be fine,” I reply with a smile. “Thank you.”

  Liam turns his back as he goes over to the fridge and I start to wander. Mesmerized by the view over the French Quarter of New Orleans from the apartment windows. I walk down the narrow corridor that leads from the elevator doors right through the middle of the apartment.

  Liam takes me by the wrist, spinning me on the spot to thrust me against the wall. His body smothers mine, blocking me from freedom, stopping me from reaching that view.

  “What game is it you’re really playin’?” he asks, his face inches from mine. “Because I’ve met some real pretty little dolls in my time, and most have ulterior motives.”

  “I don’t,” I breathe, my heart palpitating. “This is how it works. Trust me.”

  “I don’t trust you … that’s the problem,” he tells me, his tone darkening. “Lawson might be my boss, but he’s like a brother to me. You mess with him, you mess with me. Do you understand that, Ashley?”

  I gulp hard, finding his nature to be demeaning and scary. I tell myself to brave this moment, so I force my eyes upward, meeting Liam’s with the same ferocity he flung me against the wall with.

  “Yes,” I tell him, swallowing hard enough to force the lump in my throat away. “But if you don’t let me go I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”

  He laughs, his fingers loosen minimally.

  “You’re real hot when you’re fired up,” he tells me, his eyes glisten, and I feel my mouth water. “I could get used to having female blood in the gang if she fights as hard as the men do.”

  “I’m willing to show you,” I murmur softly, my lips curl upward. “I can’t promise to be perfect, but I can promise to be ruthless at it.”

  He chuckles at the comments, but he appears fearless. I look down at the way his fingers curl around my wrist. I could slip free from him now, but I won’t. I won’t give him the satisfaction to tempt me. Plus, I enjoy the heat of his body against mine, the pure look of lust he’s looking at me with. It’s so carnal, so feral, so reciprocated.

  “I think it’s really hot how you protect Lawson … even from a harmless girl like me,” I say, sarcasm escapes me without much meaning for it.

  Again that same chuckle.

  “Ashley, Dawlin’, you’re anythin’ but harmless,” he chides, under no spell at seeing through me. “A harmless girl wouldn’t have come back with such a fire in her after seein’ her man killed in seemingly cold-blood. She’d have been runnin’ scared rather than be in the company of killers.”

  “I’ve been in the company of worse,” I say, finally slipping my hand away from him to toy with the collar of his shirt. “There’s not much I haven’t witnes
sed in this life. Bryce upped the ante by willing to sell me.”

  “Who was the highest bidder?” Liam asks, his eyes set on mine, the intrigue causing a smirk.

  “There wasn’t one … only the guy Bryce paid … Brendan Frost,” I admit sheepishly. “I know he paid the man to have me. Some serial rapist who has a thing for brunettes.” My eyes drop, bashful of what I’m about to say next. I’ve never felt truly grateful to anyone in this life – until tonight. “I should be thanking you and Lawson for saving me.”

  “Ain’t no savin’ here, Dawlin’” Liam tells me, now drawing away from me. “The only thing that exists in this life is survival. You seem familiar with that.” He watches me but doesn’t wait for me to offer any verbal response. Instead, he reaches down, toying with a piece of my hair. “And no one’s a survivor. You’re only a warrior when you work for The Firm.”

  The Firm. That’s news to me.

  “You’re gonna to be privy to an entirely new world, Sweethawt,” he tells me, keeping the idea cryptic enough to make my mouth water with anticipation. “There’s no forgiveness. There are no second chances. There are no liberties.”

  “Then what is there?” I ask, lowering my tone, meeting his gaze with ample attention. “What have I got to look forward to?”

  “Total depravity,” he tells me, a twisted smile curls his lips. “Is that somethin’ you can handle?”

  “I know I can,” I tell him, practically licking my lips with the desire.

  “Christ, you’re so fuckin’ hot,” he says, leaning ever closer. “You know, a woman willin’ to fight dirty can go a long way regardless of the enemies she’s willin’ to make. They can weaken men in the most primal way possible, draw them in,” he says and as if to show my effect on him he comes closer, his lips barely touching mine. “They can make their victims beg for more when they know they’re playin’ with fire.”

  There’s a moment, a chaste yet heated moment, where Liam looks almost ready to kiss me. We’re mere inches apart, our chests ready to meet in a tender embrace and I feel my lungs struggle to breathe normally as anticipation starts to riddle me whole.

  “But not for me … brunettes aren’t my type,” he says, pushing away from me entirely, leaving me pressed against the wall. “Sorry, Sweethawt.”

  “You bastard,” I swear, catching my breath as I stand up straighter. “You led me on.”

  “It was fun, wasn’t it?” he asks, winking playfully at me. “It’s all foreplay and wet panties in this life.” He steps closer to me, forcing me to step back against the wall. His head leans down, his lips closer than they were before. “See, killin’ a man is a lot like workin’ a woman up. The way your heart races and your body temperature sky-rockets. It’s the endorphins.” He lustfully looks me over, his eyes trailing over every curve of mine and as his head comes back up, he uses a hand to gently lift my head. “And just remember, when you feel that on a job, you’ll remember this moment… with me.”

  And then comes the kiss.

  His hand covers my jaw, using it to draw me closer, and I sink into the kiss, letting the forbidden surge of lust hit my bloodstream. I allow myself to fall victim to total abandon and don’t give a fuck to the consequences.

  Just as my blood pressure starts to rise, Liam leaves me cold by stepping away.

  “Welcome to the family, Dawlin’,” he tells me, giving me another wink.

  He starts to walk away, looking over his shoulder to give me a look. I can tell he’s not entirely happy to welcome me, but I can tell he’s noticed how ready I am to join the wolves. While he disappears into the kitchen, I stay there, pressed against the wall, regretting myself for being the fool. I’m unable to deal with this sort of affection. It’s something I’m unfamiliar with, something I have no mechanisms to deal with.

  Slowly, I dare myself to check my cheeks, feeling them burning with shame.

  I go over to the window finally, looking out at the world beneath us.

  Bryce once promised the world would fall at my feet. I now see that he was right. I just never knew it would be the world he created for me to believe in. I always thought that someday we’d just realize we could be together and be happy. Instead, he brought a world of crooks and criminals to bid over who would have me next.

  However, here I stand overlooking the world as I know it, with the lights twinkling right back into the distance. I could stay here, stuck in this spot with no care in the world but the wonder of waiting for the sun to rise.

  “There’s been a delay,” Liam calls out, coming into the main living space.

  “What do you mean?” Lawson asks, notifying he’s been in the room longer than I was aware. “What sort of delay?”

  “Harrison said your father got caught up with somethin’, needed Mac urgently. We have to take the body to them now.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “I wish I was, Boss,” Liam says, acknowledging his place once again.

  “Why do I pay for backup?” Lawson asks, exasperatedly. “I mean, seriously?!”

  “You know your father,” Liam remarks with a cautious tone. “He always had and always will pull rank.” There’s a brief moment of silence, Liam steps closer, and while his eyes watch me, his voice lowers as he talks to Lawson. “Something’s going on downtown, too. Apparently, there are road blocks up.” I catch him say to Lawson. “We can’t leave Bryce in the back,” Liam states, gulping. “Boss, we need to clean him up and put him in the back of the car and get him to Mac.”

  “And what about her?” Lawson asks, pointing over at me.

  “She’s going to have to ride with him.”

  “No!” I say, shaking my head. “I can’t sit next to a dead body.”

  Lawson turns on the spot, spinning around with a ferocious expression. His blue eyes burn with a fire I’ve not seen before. The intensity behind them is enough to shake the ground I stand on.

  “You signed on for this, Princess,” he remarks, putting his hands in his pockets. “You said you were mine and until I can find a way to unmake that statement, you’re part of the family.”

  “But…” I start, a lump forming in my throat.

  “And family sticks together,” Lawson interrupts me. “Always. Either you’re one of us, or you’re not.” I watch him – the stoic leader. “The choice is yours.” His entire demeanor has changed, and I wonder if this is the man that met Bryce in that dark alleyway. He starts to take his hands out of his pockets, preparing to leave. “I’ll warn you now, though,” he says, stalling for only a second. “A fake will always be caught, and no one appreciates a fake.”

  We sit in relative silence.

  The two men in the front, me squeezed into the back, Bryce’s body next to me creating a fourth passenger.

  I hate you, I think.

  I hate you.

  I hate you.

  I hate you.

  I move my gaze away from Bryce’s lifeless eyes and face forward, my eyes burning into the seat in front of me. Liam drives as he did before and I saw the smarmy smile he wore when he shut the door after putting Bryce next to me. He took enormous pleasure like a fucking sadist.

  He did, however, question Lawson’s sanity on bringing me along. For a tense few minutes, they argued it out, rivaling a debate of pros and cons, but in the end, Liam saw the pleasure Lawson was getting from dragging me along for the ride.

  Questioning his boss’ sanity was all for nothing apparently.

  We hit a bump in the road, no doubt a pot hole, and Bryce’s lifeless body falls hard against me. I yelp a little, not prepared for his dead weight to fall into me. I push him hard, moving his stiffening body back to his side of the car. I also do as I was told and move the baseball cap to hide the hole in his head. To anyone looking in, Bryce looks like any other sleeping traveler.

  “Urgh,” I groan, shuffling over more.

  “He’s just saying hello, Princess,” Lawson teases, twisting around in his seat to look at me. That little grin causes a stir i
n me, an attraction deepens. “How long did he have you for before I came into the picture?”

  “Almost fourteen months…”

  “And before him?” he enquires.

  “Some guy named Harvey King. Barely even six months.” I shrug, playing down the details, but I see a look of knowing gather on Lawson’s face. “You know that name I take it?”

  “Seems we run in the same circles, Princess,” he tells me, a smug smirk growing on his lips. “Have to admit, they all kept you well quiet.”

  “Not many of them took pride in having me up front and by their side,” I reply, offering a small smile to cover the pain years of captivity has inflicted. “Guess none of them trusted me.”

  “Shouldn’t we then?” he asks, his lip twitching on the side.

  “Depends,” I say, trying to act innocent, but the wicked smile on my lips is a dead giveaway.

  “Princess, you can drop the angelic act, I saw through that the moment you walked out of the fuckin’ shadows,” he tells me, and admittedly, I’m impressed. “Now, why wouldn’t you be allowed up front to play?”

  I sit forward, leaning in as much as my seatbelt will allow and allow the wickedness to overtake. After all, if he’s seen through my innocence what’s the point in holding back?

  “Let’s say; I never used to be so courteous.”

  God, it’s so fun not to have to hide who I am. My soul almost takes a sigh of relief as my shoulders sag. While I have suffered in this life, I maintained that no man would ever take my fight from me. I vowed to never lose my fight, no matter what life handed me. Bryce very nearly ended that for me when he tried to sell me.

  Now, however, I haven’t felt myself relax in the presence of strangers in so long. After what Liam pulled earlier, I feel like I can play with the devil and enjoy being burnt.

  “Girls who play dirty are a fucking turn-on.” He turns back, looking at Liam with that playful smile. “Hey, Liam?”

  “Ain’t no point being in this world if you’re going to fight clean,” Liam chides, giving me a look through the middle mirror. “It’s the only way anyone will take you seriously in life.”