“I see the way you look at me as if you’re waiting for me to disappoint you. To hurt you. To throw you out. I’m stubborn as fuck, I’ll do whatever it takes to prove you wrong. If that means I don’t get off for a couple days, then fuck it, I don’t get off for a couple days.”
Pulling my lips in, I press them together before I release them. “I only know men who want sex. That is their only goal and I am that purpose,” I whisper.
Drago shakes his head, his hand moving to wrap around the side of my neck. “Not anymore. You’re my woman now. You’re living in my house, branded with my mark, you’re a fucking queen, remember?” he asks with a smirk.
I nod, unsure of what to say. “You’re in a relationship now. Sometimes sex is just that. Just a need for release. Sometimes it’s used as a tool for control. If any of that needs to happen, I’ll tell you about it. I’ll never keep shit like that from you or hide it. I’ll also never search for release just because you’re injured.”
“I don’t think that was meant to be a sweet speech,” I whisper as tears fill my eyes. “But to me, it was,” I admit.
Drago’s smirk turns into a smile before his lips brush mine. He doesn’t move them from my mouth when he speaks again. “We aren’t a regular couple. What is vile to some may be sweet to us. That’s what makes us, unique, my sweet Fragolina.”
I stay in bed, thinking of his words over and over while he helps Kora get ready for school, takes her, then comes home to me. I haven’t moved, still cuddled beneath the sheets, completely naked and wishing that I could feel him inside of me. I miss him too, just as much as he misses me.
“You hungry?” Drago asks before he leaves.
“Yeah,” I sigh.
I don’t tell him what I’m thinking. I don’t explain that I’m indeed hungry, but not for food. Just a few more days until these stitches are out, just a few more days until I can sit astride him and take him deep inside of me again.
Just a few more days.
DRAGON
Taking Kora to school, I pay attention to her body language as I drive up to the campus. She seems a little reserved, maybe a little lost. I don’t blame her. We’ve been through a fuck’ve a lot in the past few weeks.
“Kora, darlin’,” I call out as her hand wraps around the pickup door handle.
She pauses, turning her head and those eyes that are an exact replica of mine, look at me, cutting me straight to my fucking soul.
“Daddy?”
“You okay?” I ask.
She shrugs.
“Wanna get pizza after school, watch a movie just the three of us?”
“Three of us?” she asks, tilting her head to the side, her eyes full of inquisitiveness.
I nod. “You, me, and Bellarosa. She’s livin’ with us now, permanently.”
Kora frowns, then she nods once. “Yeah, okay.”
Without a word, she jumps out of the pickup and hurries off toward the front doors. There is something not right with her. I think that the culmination of everything that I’ve put her through the past few years has finally hit her.
Fuck.
“She’s just unsure of what Bellarosa is to you. She likes her and she’s afraid she’s going to abandon her,” a sweet voice says from my side. Turning my head, I look to see Presley standing next to my truck.
“How do I make her see that Bella ain’t goin’ nowhere?” I ask.
Presley’s gaze shifts from me to the front doors of the school, then back to me. “I think it’s just going to take a bit of time. She’ll come around and she’ll settle when she sees that this is real. It is, isn’t it?”
“It’s what?”
“Real, Dragon. You and Bellarosa, your relationship, it’s real, right?”
My lips press together and I scowl at Presley. She deflects my scowl, pretending as if she isn’t walking a fine fucking line with me. Her lips twitch and she smiles.
“Bellarosa is as hesitant as Kora. I like her a lot, but she’s really young. I just want to make sure this is real, for her sake.”
“What’ll you say if I tell you it’s just for now, nothing permanent?” I ask, arching a brow, daring her to say something that I don’t like.
“I won’t say anything,” she quips.
I chuckle. “Fucking shit, Silver has his hands full with you,” I point out.
She shrugs. “He likes it that way, just like I’m sure you like it that way with Bella,” she says.
Nodding, I lift my hand and scrub it down my face, tugging on the end of my beard when I do. Presley is watching, waiting for me to say something. I let out a sigh, lifting my gaze to the ceiling of the truck, then look back down at her.
“Darlin’, this is the only time I’m going to talk about my personal life with you. Just know, Bella was mine the second she landed in the clubhouse. Jaguar knew she was for me which is why he brought her straight to me. I could list a dozen reasons for why she’s mine, but I won’t. Just know the brand on the back of her thigh is real. Soon she’ll have my last name and shortly after that she’ll be legally adopting Kora as her own. It’s real, Presley.”
Without another word, I start my pickup’s engine and shift it into gear. Driving away, I look in my rearview mirror and am treated with a gigantic smile on her lips as Presley watches me drive away from her.
Fucking hell, how’d we end up with these bitches? Why in the fuck did we fall in fucking love with them? And fucking why do we love it so goddamn much?
Guiding my truck toward the diner in town, I shift it into park and head inside to get breakfast for me and Bella. I don’t cook much and I already know Bella cooks less than me. I thought that I wanted a Suzie Homemaker kind of woman, all my life I wanted a woman like the ones you see on television.
Never having a mom, I wanted everything that I didn’t have, especially for my own kids. Margot tried to be that, but she wasn’t for me. Aside from her being batshit crazy, I was just never attracted to her like that. Journee, I was physically attracted to, but fuck she was such a train wreck that there could be nothing more than sex between us.
Bellarosa is kind and loving, caring and considerate but definitely not a housewife. I don’t even fucking care though. She’s everything that I never thought I wanted, and everything that I’ve needed. I just had to wait for her, just had to live through years of hell to appreciate her.
“Can I help you?” the waitress asks.
“Stack of hotcakes and a Denver omelet plate to go, please,” I order, my mind still so fucking filled with my past, my present, and what my future holds that I don’t realize what’s happening around me. I’ve completely let my fucking guard down.
“You fucking asshole,” a woman’s voice sneers in my ear.
My eyes fly to the waitress who is pale as fuck. I start to turn to my side, toward the woman’s voice but something sticks me in the neck and everything begins to go dark. Before blackness takes over, I think that I see Journee standing next to me.
Chapter Thirty-One
BELLAROSA
Something isn’t right. I groan as I attempt to climb out of bed. Glancing at the clock on Drago’s nightstand, I frown at the time. It’s well after eleven in the morning. He promised he’d be home right after taking Kora to school.
My stomach twists with unease. Making my way to the bathroom, I slowly take care of business and attempt to wash myself as best as I can. I’m sure I’ve missed spots, but the important places are clean.
Drying off, I pat down my legs, hissing as the towel catches on my already long leg hair, causing pain to my stitches. I decide against any kind of pants or jean shorts. Instead, I find a pair of short cotton sleep shorts and slip them on, practically groaning as the material slides over my skin.
Now that I’m dressed and a bit more awake, I realize that something is really, really not right. Hobbling to the living room, I continue to the front blinds and look out. Drago’s pickup is gone, but his bike is parked in the driveway.
I bite the i
nside of my lip, unsure of what to do next. I don’t have a cellphone or anyone’s numbers. Even if I did, I’m not sure what I would ask. I pace for a moment, my body trembling with fear. As each hour ticks by, I know that something is not right.
Unable to move very quickly, I pace slowly. The hours pass, one by one and my anxiety climbs with each passing minute.
I feel stuck. Lost. Scared. Helpless.
When four-thirty rolls around, I hold my breath and hope that he’s going to walk through the door with Kora any second. I’m unable to look anywhere but the front door, my body frozen in anticipation. Then there’s a knock, my entire body jumps and I whimper in pain.
I hurry, not even looking through the peephole before I wrench the door open. Presley is standing at the front porch, Kora on one side of her, Buster on the other. I lift my gaze past hers, hoping to see Drago behind her somewhere.
“Where’s Drago?” I ask, unable to even say hello, I’m that upset.
“You don’t know?” Presley asks.
I shake my head, shifting my gaze back to her. “He said he was going to drop off Kora, then be back. I’ve been waiting all day,” I explain. “I don’t have his phone number or anyone else’s and I don’t have a car. I’ve been so worried,” I whisper.
Presley’s eyes widen, she licks her lips then ushers the kids inside. “Go and watch TV for a little bit, we need to make some calls.”
Buster looks from me to her. “You callin’ Papa?” he asks.
“I am.” Presley nods.
“Good.” I watch as Buster wraps his fingers around Kora’s hand and tugs her behind him into the living room.
Presley already has her phone to her ear by the time I turn my gaze back to hers. “Have you seen Dragon?” she asks as her greeting to Silver. “I talked to him this morning. Bellarosa said he was supposed to come home after dropping Kora off at school, but he isn’t here, Silver. He hasn’t been here at all.”
“Okay,” she says with a nod, her eyes slicing over to me. She touches her phone, dropping it back into her purse and then lifts her gaze to me.
“He said to stay here. He’s going to get some guys together to look for him. They haven’t seen him all day, assumed that he was staying here with you today. Nobody even tried calling, they didn’t want to bother him,” she explains.
My stomach falls, my legs grow weak and I start to fall to the floor. Presley hurries over to me, sliding her hands beneath my armpits and helps me over to a chair in the dining room. I collapse immediately, crying out a little when I do.
“They’ll find him,” Presley states with a nod.
I shake my head. “Haven’t we had enough?” I whisper.
She pulls her lips in, her eyes softening as she watches me. “You’ve had more than your share, but this is just growing pains. These men, it’s just the way it is. Silver and I had a bumpy road in the beginning and Wolfe and Esther, they practically went off-roading.”
My lips twitch into a small smile at her words. “I feel like this is more than normal bumpy roads,” I murmur.
Presley reaches for me, wrapping her fingers around my shoulder and giving me a squeeze. “It is, but I think that just comes with the territory in this lifestyle.” She shrugs. “Have you eaten?”
I shake my head. I haven’t eaten all day long. I’ve been too worried to even try. My stomach growls and she smiles.
“I’m totally a mom, food is my thing. Let me make you something,” she offers.
Presley walks into the kitchen, but I don’t watch her go because the front door swings open and Mountain is standing in the doorway, a frown on his face. His eyes meet mine and I watch as he grimaces. He passes by the kids and walks directly to me. Slowly, he crouches in front of me and wraps his hands around mine.
“Tell me,” I whisper.
He shakes his head a couple of times, as if he’s trying to gather his thoughts. “His truck is at the diner. Waitress said he was ordering breakfast when a real skinny woman and a man appeared. They had an exchange and then they drug him out of the diner. They threatened her, which is why she kept quiet.”
“Who was it, why?” I murmur.
He shakes his head, but his eyes, they tell me that he knows or at least suspects. “No clue,” he lies.
I narrow my gaze on his. “Well, it’s not Margot or Gavino. That’s all been dealt with,” I point out. He nods once. “Journee, that woman who is Kora’s mother. It’s her?” I guess.
I see the change in his gaze before he answers. “I don’t know, maybe,” he lies again.
“Take me to the clubhouse,” I demand.
He shakes his head, then looks over his shoulder at the kids before he brings his gaze back to me. “Need you here with Kora, babe.”
“Take us all. Isn’t she in danger if it’s her mother? Isn’t that why you rushed here?” I ask, arching a brow.
He snorts, his fingers squeezing mine. “Thought you were just some dumb young call girl, you ain’t though, are you?” he asks, not a single mean inflection in his voice.
Though his words could be taken badly, he’s saying them so warmly that I know he has nothing but respect for me, at least in this moment.
“You don’t become the woman I was, at the age of nineteen in that house in New York if you’re stupid. You also don’t escape that life and live if you’re stupid,” I point out.
His lips twitch into a smile, his eyes nothing but soft as he stares at me for a moment. “Fuck me, but you’re good for him. Let’s get everyone to the clubhouse then,” he sighs.
I watch as he stands, then he helps me to my feet as well. He instructs both me and Kora to pack a bag, heavily, just in case we have to stay longer than just one night. I quickly grab an empty duffle bag from the bottom of Drago’s closet and start to pack my things.
It’s slow going, but I throw some clothes in there along with all of my bathroom things. Mountain appears just as I’m zipping the bag and he reaches down, grasping it in his large hand.
“I’m going to check on Kora’s progress,” I murmur. He dips his chin then turns and walks out of the room.
Kora is just zipping up her bag, Presley standing to her side. “I helped her. I hope that’s okay. I know with your injuries you can’t do as much,” she quickly explains.
My lips turn up into a smile and I nod. “Thank you, Presley. I appreciate it,” I say, and that’s no lie. I truly appreciate her help.
“Something happened to Daddy?” Kora asks as soon as Presley is out of the room.
“We don’t know,” I admit.
She nods, tears filling her eyes, then within seconds she runs toward me and wraps her arms around my waist. I grunt with the pain, uncaring and accepting it all. Touching my palm on the top of her head, I inhale a deep breath before I release it.
“We’ll find him though,” I whisper.
Kora tips her head back, her watery eyes looking up at me. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
Wrapping my arm around her back, I squeeze her. “I’m glad you’re with me too. I couldn’t do this alone.”
“Do you love my daddy?” she asks, her big gray eyes wide and watery.
“Very much so,” I admit without hesitation.
Her lips smile widely, showing me her sweet, but crooked smile. “He loves you too. Never seen him smile like he does when he looks at you, Bella.”
“Let’s go to the clubhouse and wait for him. I bet when they find him, he’s going to want lots of hugs and kisses from his girl,” I say.
She shakes his head. “From his girls,” she states, emphasizing the S.
My own eyes water at her words and I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “Yes, from his girls,” I whisper.
DRAGON
“I thought you said he had all kinds of the good shit,” a man’s voice shouts.
There is a rustling sound, then Journee’s unmistakable voice sneers. “He does, but it’s not like he carries it in his fucking pockets.”
I try to
keep from moving, try to keep from letting them know that I’m awake. The more they talk amongst one another the more information that I can learn, and the more time that I have to try and devise a plan to get out of this ridiculous fucking situation.
“Well how do you propose we get it, then?” the man asks.
There’s a moment of silence, then Journee speaks again. Her brain is so fucking fried I’m surprised she can even form sentences at this point.
“We’ll hold him for ransom. They bring us the shit or we kill this big asshole.”
Inwardly, I roll my eyes at her shit plan. No way in fuck are my brothers going to just waltz in here with a bunch of dope that isn’t even ours and hand it over. Not when they can just end this cunt and whoever she’s working with.
Deciding enough is enough, I begin to stir. “Oh look, he’s awake,” Journee laughs.
Lifting my head, I narrow my gaze on her smiling face. I notice immediately that she’s lost even more weight. She looks frail. Her lifeless eyes watch me for a moment, then she shakes her head as if she’s attempting to refocus on the mission at hand.
I choose to stay quiet, not willing to get into a fight with her. “Heard you had a new bitch in your bed. Livin’ in my house, taking care of my kid, and usin’ my drugs,” she sneers.
Unable to keep a straight face, I burst out laughing at her. “Got an Old Lady. My house is not yours, never was. Kora may have come from your body but you didn’t take care of her, not ever. Bella doesn’t put that nasty fuckin’ shit in her body, so don’t worry, it’s saving me a mint not to have to keep you or your boyfriends high on a regular basis.”
“Shut up,” she screeches. She turns her head and for the first time, I lay eyes on the man that she’s duped to be her muscle. “Shut him up,” she orders.
He’s tall and strong, fit and doesn’t look like he’s two seconds from crumpling into a rotting pile of flesh like Journee. Basically, he’s me from eight years ago.
UNCHAIN ME: SAVAGE BEAST MC 3 Page 24
