by Zoey Parker
Pulling her closer to me, I tucked her beneath my chin into the crook of my arm. Her head lay against my chest, her face turned away from the bodies that would soon stop breathing altogether. Holding her, I whispered softly, sweetly into her hair, “I’m sorry for this, Madeline, but it must be done.”
I felt her tremble in my arms, but she didn’t protest as I lifted my right hand that still held the gun lightly. It was warm from being fired, the metal’s heat seeping into my skin. Madeline didn’t say anything as I aimed for her brother first, deciding to put him out of his misery—and to get rid of his continued moaning.
I aimed for his head, both for the sake of mercy and because this was an execution. A bullet between the eyes was a message to all those who crossed Mickey: Don’t.
I pulled the trigger and the shot rang out. Logan’s moaning stopped abruptly and I felt Madeline flinch in my arm, but she didn’t pull away. She didn’t even sob, though I sensed that she was likely crying.
That was okay. I couldn’t deny her that, too.
Next, I turned to Joshua. Part of me wished he would be conscious for this. That he would see me, the very last thing he would ever see, as I raised the gun to his head and got ready to pull the trigger.
The rest of me didn’t care. I had made him suffer, made him bleed, and that was enough. Enough only because now he would be dead. Neither he, nor Logan, could ever hurt anyone ever again.
I fired. Madeline flinched again. Then it was done, and we were left standing in the eerie, echoing silence of the place. I was aware of how much she’d been through tonight, and I commended her silently for her bravery. Lesser women would not have fared so well.
She was strong, though, and it made me cling to her all the tighter.
***
We drove back to the motel first. I was going to take her home, but acknowledged that there was cleanup to be taken care of. Mickey had guys for that, though I rarely required them. I was usually very clean, efficient, but this particular job had turned out to be messier and much more complicated than I ever could have predicted.
Madeline dozed on and off during the drive. I had the heat turned up full blast, making sure she stayed as warm and as comfortable as possible. She’d been shivering as we left the warehouse, though it was impossible to say if it was due to cold or lingering aftershocks of her endeavor. It was likely the latter, I admitted to myself.
I made a point to stop a couple of different times to allow her breaks—for the bathroom, to get drinks or snacks, or even just to walk around and stretch her legs—since we were so far from the city. She likely just wanted to go home, but there were things I had to take care of and I wanted to make sure she was comfortable anyway.
We pulled into the driveway of the Market Town Inn. As far as I could tell, nothing had changed since the last time I’d been there. I peeked into the lobby and saw the same attendant was there, but now his head was tipped back, his magazine slipping off his lap, and his mouth hanging open. He was snoring, fast asleep.
I shook my head, and ignored him. Madeline followed close behind me as I made my way down the row of doors towards Room #102 where I’d left Shawn tied up and gagged.
I had told her to wait in the car, but she’d protested. She said she didn’t want to leave me alone, but I sensed it was that she didn’t want to be left alone. She wasn’t thrilled with being in this place, and was probably even less thrilled with finding Shawn. I couldn’t blame her, and I wouldn’t tell her I’d wanted her to stay so I could put a bullet between his eyes, too.
There had been a lot of bloodshed tonight and I didn’t want her to see any more. So with her at my side, I wasn’t sure I’d go through with it, but it turned out that it didn’t matter what my decision would have been.
When we reached the room, we saw the door was hanging open again, still attached by only one hinge. I’d closed it—as best I could anyway—and the fact that it was open again meant someone had been in there. Motioning for Madeline to be quiet, I stepped into the room, searching the place.
The bathroom door was open and I could see already Shawn was gone.
The gag lay on the floor next to the cord I’d used to tie him up. I sighed a little in disappointment, but found myself not too concerned with the whole thing. He wouldn’t be back. Not ever. And if he did show up, well, I’d just kill him like I should have before.
“He’s gone,” Madeline whispered, and I couldn’t tell if there was fright or relief in her voice. Maybe she knew what my intentions had been the entire time.
I put my arms around her shoulders and held her close. “It’s all right. He won’t be back. He’ll never show his face in the city again, not so long as I’m there.”
She said nothing after that, just let me hold her.
Chapter 33
Madeline
It was only another hour’s drive back to the city, plus a little extra to get to Nikolai’s apartment. I would have maybe argued about going to his place instead of mine, but I was exhausted. It had been a long night, a long day, and a long week before that. Besides, if I were really being honest with myself, I didn’t want to argue.
I wanted to go home with him.
But as we headed towards his apartment, pulling into a lower level garage beneath the building, I found a little bit of dread and sadness working its way through me. I didn’t just want to come home with Nikolai tonight; I wanted to go home with him every night. I wanted more from him than just a one-night stand, and I was sure I had made myself pretty clear about that.
I had told him I loved him, more than anything, and while he’d been sweet and held me—even as he killed Joshua and my brother—he hadn’t returned the sentiment. That knowledge burned inside me, twisting my insides, torturing me.
I didn’t know what I would do when he tried to let me down gently, told me that, while he clearly wanted something to do with the baby, he didn’t feel that way about me.
He parked his car and I let out a sigh of relief. I was ready to be out of the car and into bed. I closed my eyes for a moment, leaning my head back against the leather interior, just taking a moment to breathe in and out. A moment later, my door opened, Nikolai holding it and offering me his free hand.
I blinked at him, but offered a shy smile as I let him help me up out of the car. Still holding my hand, he took me to the elevator that led to his floor. On the ride up, he kept his arm around me protectively—or possessively? —until the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Then he escorted me inside.
Plopping me down on the comfortable couch, I thought I could sleep right then and there. As though sensing my thoughts, Nikolai told me, “Don’t go to sleep, not yet. We need to get you checked out, make sure you’re all right. Then you can lay down.”
Though it was difficult, I forced myself to stay seated up right, waiting for him as he headed into the bathroom. My mind flashed to when he’d taken me in the shower. I’d still been a little sore from our first time together—my first time ever—but I’d relished his touch, been eager for it even. He’d been both demanding and sweetly tender.
I didn’t know sex would feel like that, both rough and soft at the same time.
Nikolai came back with peroxide, bandages, an ice pack, and a glass of water along with two little white pills. I eyed them suspiciously, but he only smirked at me.
“Aspirin,” he explained.
I laughed a little at myself, then remembered again how my throat was sore and scratchy. I gingerly touched my neck, wincing as I imagined how bad it must look. How there were probably marks where Joshua had tried to choke me.
Nikolai’s eyes turned dark. “The aspirin will help. Here.”
He gave me the water and the pills, and I swallowed, though it was difficult going down. Still, I knew he was right.
“I’ll make you some tea in a little bit. The water’s boiling now. It’ll help with the soreness.”
Before I could tell him I was fine or even try to protest, he fixed me with a point
ed look as though letting me know that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Not on this. So, I remained silent and did as he said.
Using a cotton ball and peroxide, he cleaned up the small cuts I’d managed to get throughout the night. Mostly from my struggle with Shawn, I was sure, but I didn’t want to think about that. I looked down at my lap, my face burning. It had been a lot to take in and I wasn’t sure how I was going to cope when Nikolai was out of my life.
When he finished, putting up the peroxide and the cotton balls, the teakettle whistled. He went up to get it and I knew it was time for me to go. He’d been so kind to me, but I couldn’t take this, not his sweetness and then him breaking my heart. It would just make it hurt all the more.
So, I stood. I made it halfway to the door, telling him, “I should probably go. I’ll call a cab and—”
But in what felt like two smooth strides he was in front of me, blocking the door. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Uh, home. You’ve been really kind, but I should—”
Again, he interrupted me. “Madeline, you are home.”
My eyebrows shot up at that, my eyes widening. “You mean...?”
He let out a small sigh, but a smile tugged at his lips as he pulled me into his strong arms. “I mean I love you and I’m going to marry you, Madeline. You belong to me. I thought I told you that already.”
I bit my lip, daring to hope. Could he really? Could he love me like that? And then I remembered, the baby. Was this really about me or did he just want to be a daddy bad enough to put up with a little extra baggage like the mother?
Hesitant, not sure I wanted to know the answer, I let out a whoosh of air and asked the question that lingered on the tip of my tongue, “But…is it me you love? Or is this all just because of the baby?”
I held my breath, worried, terrified of his answer, but when his eyes darkened and he jerked me to him tightly, pressing me solidly against his chest, I released that breath and a moment later, I couldn’t breathe at all.
His lips were fused to mine, drinking me in. All the passion in the world was contained in that one kiss, fire shooting through me, embracing me, consuming me. My skin was alight with everything he was feeling—feelings that mirrored my own—and I knew without a doubt that he loved me. Loved me for me and nothing else.
I felt as though I could drown in him, consumed by passion.
This was it. Here was where I was meant to be, where I would spend the rest of my life. In Nikolai’s arms.
THE END
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Books by Zoey Parker
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The Devil’s Vow: A Motorcycle Club Romance (The Silent Havoc MC)
I swore I’d let him own me.
Turning to the MC president was my last resort.
But one more minute with my abusive ex might have landed me in the grave.
Instead, I’ve landed in the biker’s bed.
And he vows he’s going to break me – or die trying.
KATHARINA
I’ve been a victim for so long that I don’t remember how else to be.
Why should I be the one to apologize when my ex hit me?
When he swore at me?
When he threatened to do things that no man should ever do to a woman?
I’d had enough.
I needed to get out.
But I had nowhere to go.
Nowhere…
Except a world I’d escaped a long time ago.
I’ve got biker blood in my veins.
My father once ran the Silent Havoc MC.
Maybe they’ll take me in. Keep me hidden. Keep me safe.
But everything in this world comes at a price.
And Jace Carver is not interested in bargaining down.
He wants what he wants and refuses to take no for an answer.
So when he lays out his demands, I have no choice but to agree.
I just never thought he’d make me beg like this.
JACE
She came to me in desperation.
And I’m the type of man who just can’t pass up a juicy opportunity like this.
An MC princess, begging for my protection?
It would be downright disrespectful to my fellow outlaws if I didn’t follow my desires.
And they’re telling me this:
Tie her to my bed.
Make her moan my name.
Bring her to the breaking point – over and over and over again.
She’ll hate me just as much as she loves me.
But she needs me more than anything.
Because her ex will do anything to get her back.
And nothing’s more dangerous than a psycho with nothing to lose.
He wants blood and vengeance in equal measure.
But if he thinks he’ll reclaim her, he’s got another thing coming.
She’s mine now.
My woman.
My duty.
My wife.
And that means he’ll have to pry her from my cold, dead body.
Buying My Wife: A Bad Boy Hitman Romance (Moretti Mafia)
I paid for her with blood money.
She killed my target.
Now, she’s the one with a bullseye on her back…
Not to mention on her hips, her curves, her sassy mouth.
I can’t decide what I’d rather do:
Tie up loose ends?
Or tie her to my bed and make her my toy, my woman, my wife?
I’m a mafia hitman at heart.
But she makes me want to retire my weapon and get out of this life.
There might be a future with this woman.
As long as we can get out of here alive.
Buying My Bride: A Bad Boy Motorcycle Club Romance (Wild Aces MC)
I bought her untouched. But she won’t stay that way for long.
Allison was exactly what I wanted.
A pure bride…
Mine for the right price.
She thought this was all a sick prank.
But a bad boy biker like me never jokes.
I’m deadly serious.
She’s going to be my woman.
My wife.
And soon…
The mother of my babies.
She’s too innocent for me. But that won’t stop me from taking her.
Don’t Ruin My Baby: The Predators MC
I RUINED HIM ONCE. HE’S ABOUT TO RETURN THE FAVOR.
Michael is not the boy I used to know.
Jail made him harder. Hotter. Crueler.
Gone are the days when he used to care about me.
Now that he’s back, he wants me to stay the hell away from him.
But I need him more than ever.
Some dangerous men are after my blood, and Michael’s the only one who can keep me safe.
Maybe these horrible circumstances will bring us back together.
Or maybe…
He’ll find out what I’ve been hiding from him.
And all hell will break loose.
Don’t Take My Baby: Twisted Ghosts MC
HE BEGGED ME NOT TO TAKE HIS BABY. BUT I DIDN’T LISTEN.
If my boss wants to try to screw me over, I’ll hit him where it hurts most:
By seducing his precious daughter.
I kidnap the girl and hit the road.
Everything was going to plan until the unexpected happened…
I started to fall for her.
Don’t Hurt My Baby: A Bad Boy Hitman Romance
IF THEY HURT MY BABY, I’LL BURY THEM SIX FEET DEEP.
She’s a pawn
in our twisted game.
Caught between two killers.
And we each have VERY different ideas on how to use her.
She’s better off with me than she is with the sadistic scum who owns her.
But that’s not saying much.
Because I’m a killer and a beast.
And when this beautiful prey falls in my path,
You can be damn sure I’m going to devour her.
After I’d had my fill, I thought I’d just throw her aside and get back to what I was doing:
Putting a bullet in her drug lord owner.
