by Avril Ashton
“I know she loves you.” Westin drew Dak’s attention back to him. “She’s not the Ghost, neither am I, but she’s doing all this for me.”
“Fuck. I need a drink if I have to listen to this bullshit.” Jayce strode over to the bar and poured himself whiskey, downing the liquor in one swallow.
Westin eyed him. “None for me thanks.”
Dak’s lips twitched. “Okay, start talking. Who are you to Ever?”
“I’m the man she’s putting before you. She’s choosing her love for me over her love for you.’
Dak ached to punch him in the fucking throat.
“Explain,” Jayce barked from his stance in the corner.
Westin shrugged. “There’s nothing to explain. Didn’t that say it all right there?”
“Listen, you little shit, don’t play with me.” Jayce leaned into his face, nose to nose. “Are you fucking her?”
Dak wanted an answer to that question, but apparently not as bad as Jayce.
His friend stared into Westin’s eyes, looking angry, horny, and lost all at once. The two men appeared on the verge of tonguing each other down in a hot second. Westin’s gazed dropped to Jayce’s lips then climbed back to his eyes.
“Would it upset you if I’ve been fucking her, Santana?” Westin’s voice dropped lower, but Dak caught his whispered, “Would you rather I be fucking you?” Jayce jerked away, Westin chuckled.
“Enough already.” Dak grabbed Westin by his collar. Jayce stepped forward and Dak growled at him. “Stay the fuck back, Jayce.” He shook the man in his hands. “I want answers. Where’s Ever?”
“That’s why I’m here.” Westin shrugged away from his hold and handed him the binder. “These were taken from an accident about five minutes away from your estate. Happened last night.”
Dak flipped through the gruesome pictures with a puzzled frown. A black Mercedes had been totaled. Blood and glass littered the ground. Didn’t look like the driver of the Mercedes survived, but—“What does this have to do with Ever?”
“The Mercedes is hers.”
Dak dropped into his chair. “She-she was in this accident?” God, he couldn’t breathe. “She’s not—she’s—”
Westin sat down next to him and placed a hand on Dak’s knee. Jayce shifted over in his corner. “First responders said no one was in the car or surrounding areas when they got there.”
“What?” What the hell was he saying?
“The cops saw drag marks and followed them, thinking maybe the victim got out and managed to get away, but nothing.” Westin’s eyes filled and he swallowed. “The marks ended at the road, they think maybe the victim flagged someone down.” He looked away.
“But you think differently.” Dak clutched his hand.
“I think—I think the man she feared most, the person who blackmailed us into doing this, has her.” A neglected tear rolled down Westin’s cheek. “He’s taken her, and this time, Simon, she won’t survive.”
“Who has her?”
Westin bit his lip, gaze sliding away.
“God damn it.” Dak jumped to his feet. “Westin, tell me.”
“Angus Brennan. You know him as the Ghost.”
“Her husband?” Jayce piped up.
“He’s not her fucking husband.” Westin swung around to snarl at him. “The marriage, like everything else about our life in Ireland, wasn’t real.”
“Wait, hold up,” Dak said. “You were with her in Ireland?”
“We’ve been together since we were sixteen years old. Never been separated.”
“Together how?”
“Damn it, Jayce. Not now.” Dak turned back to Westin. “You say she’s doing this to protect you?”
The man nodded.
“Then tell me the story so we can get her back.”
Westin cleared his throat. “We met Angus at a bookstore in Ireland. She fell in love with his angelic looks and the brogue. A week later, they were married by his brother, a priest.” He used quotations for priest. “I knew it was too good to be true, but she loved him. So I stayed quiet when he raised his voice a little or drank too much and slapped her around.”
Dak growled low in his throat, fists clenched.
“Angus didn’t like our closeness. He was jealous of us laughing and being ourselves. He threatened to send me back to the States more than once, but she’d beg and plead and he’d relent. He hated that I was gay, called me fag a lot.”
Jayce growled.
“Six months after the wedding, she told me she was pregnant.”
A breath shuddered in Dak’s lungs, but he kept quiet.
“She hadn’t told Angus yet, but she just knew he’d be thrilled to be a father.” He shook his head. “She hadn’t told him because they got into a fight. He thought she was sleeping with his twin.”
“He’s a twin?”
“His brother coveted what he had, even if Angus didn’t appreciate Ever. She’s beautiful. Men looked at her. His brother wasn’t immune. Ever ignored him, thinking he’d stop, but Andy didn’t. In fact, he decided to force himself on her.”
Oh God, Dak couldn’t listen. He jumped up and paced the floor.
“I walked into the house to her screams. She was begging and pleading, but he wasn’t listening, so I grabbed a rake from the front lawn and stabbed him in the back.” A far away look came into Westin’s eyes. “Plunged straight through to his heart, killing him. I’d stopped him in time.” His watery gaze locked on Dak’s. “He didn’t get to do any real damage, but his brother came in and didn’t believe our story.”
“Jesus,” Jayce swore.
“I don’t remember what he did to me. I only remember waking up days later, my entire body in pain. Ever was next to me, locked in a tiny room, black and blue. Swollen all over.” His voice shook. “Bleeding. I-I held her hand as she lost the baby.”
Tears burned Dak’s eyes. His heart breaking for what Ever had gone through.
“She promised we’d leave, she promised to protect me from him. She owed me, she said.” Westin wiped his eyes. “I never cared about that. I cared that she was hurting, in pain, and I couldn’t help.” He got to his feet. “He let us out about a week later, said he was sending us back to the States, and oh, they weren’t really married. His brother hadn’t really been a priest.”
Fuck.
“I’d never been so relieved to arrive home, but we should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy. Two months after we came back, he called. No idea how he found us, but he has friends in high places.”
“What did he want?’ Dak asked.
“He wanted Ever to meet with some business associates, take money from one and give it to the other in exchange for a package.”
“Christ,” Jayce swore.
“Yep.” Westin chuckled humorlessly. “She said no, and no, and no. Then I was grabbed while jogging one morning. I didn’t know who had me until they removed my blindfold and forced me to tape a message to her at knifepoint. Do what her husband asks, or the fag dies. She agreed and here we are.”
“But why bug me and all this?”
“He sent us a message—he stopped calling our phone, started sending ‘friends’ with messages. A man named Ian Dakota wants in, get information on him we can use.” He shrugged. “I have the schematics to your buildings, including this one. Ever had properly cased you by the time you invited her into your office. She had many ways to plant the bug without sleeping with you. She did because she wanted you as bad as you wanted her. Nothing about what you shared was false or made up. She wanted you and agonized over it.”
Dak rubbed a hand over his face. This was way too much to process.
“You heard them having sex?” Jayce growled.
“I did and I chewed her out for jeopardizing us. When she listened to the bug and realized you were a Fed, she was devastated. You suddenly stood between me and my freedom. If Angus is arrested, he’ll turn me over to Irish authorities for murdering Andy, and she wasn’t letting that happen. She o
wed me or so she thinks. I only want her happy.” He stared at Dak. “You make her happy.”
“We need to get her back.” Dak’s voice shook. “Do you know where Brennan might take her?”
“When she didn’t show up I checked the GPS on her phone.” Westin pulled his phone from his jeans pocket. “I tracked it until it went dark. Guess Angus finally realized he could be tracked that way.”
“So where is she?’ Dak demanded. He clenched his wrist against the itch to grab the talkative fuck by his throat.
“‘The abandoned wharf downtown.”
“Let’s go.” Dak grabbed his jacket and checked the clips in his SIG.
“Wait.” Westin stared at him wide-eyed. “Just like that? What’s the plan?”
Jayce laughed. “Kill Brennan, what else?”
“Okay, you two need to slow the fuck down.” Tiny lines creased Westins fair features. “You can’t just run up in there blasting. You’ll get Ever killed, then I’ll have to kill you.”
“Are you kidding me?” Dak glared at him. “How much longer can she hang on with Brennan? We need to get her out. She’s been in an accident, she’ll need help.” He shrugged on his jacket. “I’m going with or without you.”
Jayce walked over to the door and held it open with an eyebrow raised in Westin’s direction.
“Do I get a gun?”
“Fuck no.” Dak and Jayce spoke in unison.
“If anything happens to me, Ever will be very upset.” Westin grinned. “That’s why I’m looking out for you when I say ta-da!” He pulled a .38 from his waistband and waved it at them. “Carry on, gentlemen. Let’s go save my best friend.”
****
Loud voices pulled Ever from a dark, painful void. She shifted her body, a deep moan shuddering past her burning lips. Pain sliced through her body, stealing her breath and reminding her of the car accident and—
Angus.
She opened her eyelids slowly. Bright light blinded her. “Umm.” She snapped them shut and tried calming her breathing. She lay on her back on some kind of bench, the hard wood poked into her shoulder blade. She couldn’t move her left hand and foot; the two were shackled to something. All those things registered, along with the knowledge that Angus had tried to kill her last night…or whenever. How long had he been back in the States?
Wes! God, did he hurt Wes?
Tears burned her eyes, the hot liquid sliding out from under her lashes. She should’ve confided in Dakota—Simon. If she’d confessed, maybe he would’ve been able to help. Done something, anything, to keep Angus as far away from her as possible.
“I know you’re awake, wife.” A cold boot nudged her leg and she jumped. “Go on, open those pretty green eyes for me. Look at your husband.”
She did, gritting her teeth when the left side of her face throbbed. The face of the man she’d once called husband came into view. Same eyes, skin, and hair. He was, as always, impeccably dressed in an expensive looking suit and tie.
He snapped his fingers in front of her face. Ever flinched and shot a glare at him. “Yes, that’s it. Did you miss me, Ever Mine?”
“Don’t call me that.” Her dry lips burned when she spoke. “You’re not my husband.”
“No?” He grabbed her hair and yanked her upright.
She cried out as her body protested. The pain in her head and back blurred her vision.
“I was your husband in Ireland,” he snarled. Spittle flew into her face and eyes. Ever grimaced. “You called me husband then, shared a bed with me.”
“And you pissed on it.” She coughed, chest aching. Her vision cleared and she made out the nasty cuts and bruises on her arms. She remained clothed, but her boots were gone, and with them, the information she’d stolen from Simon. Tugging at the shackles on her hand, she spat, “You were a monster then and you remain a monster today. I pity you.”
Angus backhanded her. The force sent her neck jerking. Ever cried out, water filling her eyes.
“You pity me, bitch? I own you, and I hold the freedom of your little fag in my hands.” He grinned evilly. “You really should’ve thought of that when you were spreading them for the Fed.”
She blinked. He knew about her and Simon? How? She pulled harder at the chains holding her.
Angus’s laugh sent chills down her spine. “Yes, I’ve had eyes on you from the start. And if you’d continued like you had been, I doubt we’d be here. But you had to fuck Simon Dakin, of all people.” His voice rose. “I saw the pictures of you two together, inside his club. Disgusting, Ever. You were someone else with him. Someone I didn’t recognize. He turned you into a wanton whore.”
“He loves me!” she screamed. “He loves me. Something you know nothing about, you crazy bastard.”
“Love?” He lowered is face to hers, his nose bumping hers. “Love, Ever Mine?” Voice overly soft, he said, “I loved you. My evidence of that is I didn’t kill you for seducing my brother. I didn’t kill your pet fag for sticking a garden tool through my brother’s heart.” He brushed her hair from her nape. Soft fingers dug into her flesh. “I showed you my love by sending you back here to run my operation.”
“You blackmailed me, you bastard. I didn’t have a choice after you kidnapped Wes.”
His cold fingers sank deeper into the back of her neck. “Wes.” He spoke the name as if it tasted foul. “I think Wes’s usefulness to the Ghost has run its course. He’ll be made to pay for killing Andy.”
“No.” Ever struggled against his hold. “Don’t hurt him. Please. You have me.”
“And I intend on keeping you, but I have to avenge Andy.” Angus walked away. Ever remained tense and on alert until his heavy footfalls faded away.
Her heart raced a mile a minute as she imagined the horrors Angus would visit on Wes, all because of her. All because she’d let a smooth talking, pretty-boy use and abuse her. Simon would never know she loved him, only that she’d betrayed and drugged him. She kicked herself for not taking the leap and trusting him enough to tell him the truth. Angus had severely skewed her perspective on trust. After him, she’d adopted the mantra her and Wes against the world, but Simon crept in under the radar.
She couldn’t sit back and have Angus ruin Wes and Simon. She’d do whatever she had to. Ever closed her eyes and drifted back to the last time Simon touched her. The look in his eyes spoke way louder than his words. His love shone through clearly; and fool her, she chose to deny it, deny him.
“Okay, wife.” He appeared as if out of nowhere. “Let’s get you up; we’re moving.” Grasping her elbow, he pulled her to a sitting position and produced a knife that he pressed to her throat. Ever gasped. “If you even twitch, I’ll cut your fucking throat. Nod if you understand.”
Ever licked her dry lips and jerked her head. One hand at her throat, he pulled a set of keys from his pants pocket with the other and unlocked the chain from around her wrist. “There, isn’t that better?” He stared, waiting for a response.
“Ye-yes, thank you.”
“You’re my wife. It’s my job to take care of you.” He held up the keys. “Use the silver one to unlock your foot. I’ll supervise.”
She took it with shaky hands and quickly did away with the chains on her foot.
“Good girl.” He held out a hand, palm up, and she dropped the keys into it. “I always loved when you obeyed me, Ever Mine. I only get mad when you don’t. You understand, don’t you?”
“I do.” The idiot had lost his freaking marbles. She did a quick check of the large, spacious room they occupied, but no kind of weapons stood out. The only thing was the bench she sat on.
“Good, good.” He leaned toward her and she scooted backwards.
“Wha-what are you doing?”
“A kiss. I want a kiss, Ever Mine, for old time sake.” His wild eyes bored into her, the huge pupils dilated.
“No, no.” She flattened her palms on his chest and pushed, but he didn’t budge. He only drew closer, his hot breath fanning across her face. “Get off
me!”
He grabbed her by the throat, garbling her screams. “I remember when you couldn’t get enough of my kisses. You couldn’t get enough of me.” Something cold and sharp pricked her throat.
The knife.
“I want a kiss, Ever.” He snarled the words though clenched teeth.
Cold horror made its way down Ever’s spine. Not again. She wouldn’t go through it again. She leaned forward, eyes closed, waiting. His lips met hers. Dry. Cold. So unlike Simon’s heat and softness. Her body shook in revulsion and her face scrunched up as she fought her fight or flight reflexes.
Angus stabbed his tongue inside her mouth and she bit down. Hard. Until her jaw and head ached from the pressure and she tasted blood. He yelped. His fingers twisted in her hair, yanking her head back and away from him. She arched, spitting and clawing at his hold.
“Bitch, I’ll kill you.” He jabbed the knife’s blade into her neck, sinking in. The warm gush of blood slid down her throat and chest. She closed her eyes tight, surrendering to the inevitable.
“Simon.” Tears fell as she thought of him, darkness closing in.
“Federal Agents! Let her go, Brennan.”
Ever smiled, she’d die with his voice in her head. “Simon, I love you.” The darkness claimed her as bullets rang out.
Chapter Eleven
Three weeks later
“Would you stop fidgeting, already?” Wes crossed his eyes at Ever as she sat in his lap on their living room couch.
She chuckled at his putout tone. “I can’t help it, take them off already.” Today she got to remove the last of the bandages that had decorated her body for the better part of a month. The last bandage on the most severe wound, her throat. All her other cuts and scrapes were superficial. And while Angus hadn’t done major damage with his blade, he’d still managed to cut her pretty deep.
“Okay, ready?” Wes met her gaze and slid two fingers under the edges of the bandage.
She nodded. “Ready.”
He tore it away in one move.
“Ow.”
“Hurts?” He swiped at her throat with an alcohol pad.
“Only a little bit, itches more.”
