This Is Me, Baby (War & Peace #5)

by K. Webster

  A threat.

  “Unbelievable,” I hiss. “How are you even cut from the same cloth as Ren?”

  At the mention of his name, she smiles sweetly at me. “Take care of my brother and I’ll take care of your father.” Then the smile melts away. “Hurt my brother and I’ll hurt you.”

  “Fuck you, crazy!” I screech. “You killed my mother!”

  She points the bat at me. “In the past, baby girl.”

  Shaking my head, I start for her but she pokes the bat in the center of my chest stopping me. “I’m sorry,” she hisses. “Okay? I didn’t know it would hurt so many people. It was an accident, kinda. Just know if I could go back, I wouldn’t do it again.”

  A flicker of deception in her gaze tells me that’s a lie.

  “Just go. I don’t ever want to see you again,” I tell her, my voice ragged. I’m exhausted from this little run in.

  She drops the bat back down to her side and once again sizes me up, her gaze lingering on my rounded stomach. “Fine. I’ll stay away. But remember what I said.”

  My brows drag together in confusion.

  “Rapists pay with their life,” she spits out. “That’s a motherfucking promise, baby girl.” She blows another bubble and then waves. When she opens the bathroom door, Ren stands on the other side with his hand poised to knock. It takes him three seconds to take in the scene before him before he’s charging inside and has his sister by the throat. I’ve never seen him so furious.

  The bat clangs to the floor as she grabs at his wrist. He walks her to the wall beside me and gets right in her face.

  “You’re not welcome here,” he snaps, his entire body quaking with rage.

  “Let her go.” Daddy’s voice from the bathroom doorway is strained. Tired even.

  My gaze flits over to him. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a black leather jacket with a dark red colored scarf around his neck that’s tucked into his jacket. His chocolate-colored hair has been tousled and styled differently than usual. It’s his weapon that scares the shit out me. Who twists barbed wire around a wooden baseball bat?

  “Hey puddin’,” Hannah chokes out. All psychopathic looks are gone. She regards my father as if he’s the sun and she wants to bask in his warmth.

  Ren releases Hannah and points at the door. “Brie, go to my room and lock the door. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  I give him a nod and start past Daddy. Before I pass him, though, I point at his costume. “Who are you supposed to be, anyway?”

  He smirks. “I am Negan.”

  “Who?”

  “The Walking Dea—”

  “Brie. Now,” Ren interrupts with a barely contained growl.

  I push past Daddy and leave Ren to deal with them. Once I slip into Ren’s room and lock the door behind me, I kick off my flats and head toward the bathroom. I finish my business, which I never even got to start because I ran into that crazy woman, and then quickly wash away my smeared makeup.

  Another shudder ripples through me as realization sets in. I was alone in the bathroom with my mother’s killer. And she was fucking terrifying. I don’t understand, after knowing Ren and Calder and then later meeting their mother, how Hannah is even a part of their family. They’re all so normal and she’s so…scary.

  I peel off the stupid cat suit until I’m in nothing but my panties. Walking over to the closet, I catch my reflection in the mirror. My hands are trembling and I’m wearing a grim expression. This whole run in with her has wiped me out. I locate a T-shirt of Ren’s from his closet—which swallows me up—before turning off the lights and crawling into his bed. Light from the cracked bathroom door streams in and doesn’t leave me totally in the dark.

  I’m distracted by my thoughts when I think I see the closet door move. Terror skitters over me like a thousand bugs on the move.

  “Who’s there?” I demand, sitting up.

  The door swings open and a blur charges toward me. I’ve barely opened my mouth to scream when a large hand clamps over it. His other hand manages to collect both my wrists and pin them to the bed. The giant man’s heavy body presses against me and his hot breaths warm my face. I start to fight my attacker, whose face is hidden by shadows until he speaks.

  “Stop freaking out,” he growls. “It’s me.”

  The familiar voice slices right through me. His voice confuses me. It’s deeper and lower than I remember. Harsher. I squint in the darkness to try and take in his features. All I can see is the outline of his head. His hair is longer than before.

  “Miss me?” The normally playful tone in his voice is gone. It feels forced.

  Swallowing, I give a clipped nod and when he lets go of my mouth, I speak. “Ozzy, where have you been?”

  He relaxes but doesn’t release me. I squirm but he ignores the movement. “I’ve been putting out fires,” he snips out. “Fires you started.”

  I once again wriggle in his grasp. “You’re hurting me,” I lie. “Why are you holding me down?”

  He huffs. “I’m holding you down because I want to talk to you and I don’t need you running off to your little boyfriend.”

  I chew on my bottom lip. Ren will be in here at any moment. Things could get ugly quick. “He’s not my boyfriend.” Another lie. But is it? My mind squashes the thought because now is not the time to analyze me and Ren’s relationship status.

  “Sure looked like your boyfriend when you were sucking face in the kitchen earlier,” he bites out. “How long did you wait before you moved on? Was my brother’s body even cold yet, Brie?”

  I choke at his words and if my hands were free, I’d slap him.

  “Fuck you!” I screech. “Let go of me!”

  At one time, I used to enjoy Ozzy’s playfulness. How we’d cuddle up in bed and laugh. How he’d touch me as close friends often do. Nothing about the way he’s touching me now is playful.

  “Just tell me why it is you couldn’t even make sure my brother was dead first before you moved on to Ren. I thought you were my friend. Hell, I even thought he was my friend. Were you two fucking behind Duvan’s back the whole time?” he demands.

  This time, I do manage to free my hand. And as I wanted to do the first time, I smack the shit out of him. He lets out a snarl as he pins it back to the mattress.

  “Just answer the goddamned question,” he snaps.

  I spit at him. “You know that’s not the truth. I loved your brother.”

  His grip loosens and he sags against me. My angry friend chokes on his emotion. “I had to watch. Jesus Christ, I can’t get that image of Heath cutting him open out of my head.” He burrows his face against my hair and inhales me. “I missed you, Brie. Everything has gone to shit.”

  Guilt crawls its way up my spine. Oscar lost Duvan too. He’s hurting just as much as I am. This time, when my hands are released, I slide them around his back to hug him.

  “You’ve started a war,” he murmurs. “I don’t know how to fix any of it. I’m supposed to be here…I’m supposed to…” he trails off. “My father wants me to…but I just can’t. God, I’ve missed you.”

  Fear clutches at my throat. “W-What did Camilo want you to do?”

  “To come get you. So he could discuss what you did with Duvan’s territory.” He starts sniffling but true to Oscar, his hands start roaming and his mouth is on the flesh below my ear. “You’re not safe. He’ll hurt you.”

  I freeze at his words just as his hand slips under my shirt. He starts kissing my neck and when he presses his hardness against my thigh, I’m jolted to reality.

  “Oscar,” I groan, trying to push his heavy body away. “Get off me. We need to talk about this.”

  His palm grips my sore breast and I let out a yelp of surprise. I’m still ordering him to get off me when I hear a noise and then Oscar’s weight is ripped off my body. Ren’s face is positively murderous as he rears back his fist. Then, I hear a crunch. Ozzy crumples to the floor with a groan. Ren’s furious glare meets mine, assessing me for damage for a quick mom
ent, before he lunges at Oscar.

  Crunch.

  Crunch.

  Crunch.

  He gets three solid punches in on Ozzy before I snap out of my daze and scramble after him. I manage to slide my arms around Ren’s middle to pull him away.

  “I’m okay,” I tell him. “Please stop hitting him.”

  Ren is tense as hell but he allows me to pull him away from a now bloodied Oscar. We both sit on our asses on the carpet. Ren’s shoulders hunch forward as I hug him from behind.

  “He…he was…” he trails off.

  “It looked worse than it was,” I assure him. “I promise.”

  When Oscar manages to get up on his hands and knees, Ren tenses again.

  “Remember what I said,” Ozzy murmurs as he wipes his nose with the back of his hand. “You’re not safe. I just wanted to talk to you about that and about Vee—”

  “You’re never talking to her again,” Ren roars and rises to his feet, despite my clutching for him. I’m left on the floor as he towers over Ozzy who clumsily gets back on his feet.

  Ozzy shoots me a desperate look with one eye. The other one is already swelling shut. “Please…”

  “Where’s Vee?” I demand, a quiver of worry shuddering through me.

  Oscar hunches as he lets out a howl of frustration. “I don’t know for sure but…”

  Ren pulls me against his side and I’m assuming it’s because if he’s not holding me then he’ll have the urge to beat Oscar’s face in some more.

  “I think she might be with Esteban,” Oscar growls. Then his voice cracks. “Unwillingly.”

  “STOP PACING.” BRIE’S VOICE cuts through my mental anguish, and I give her a sharp look.

  “I can’t help it,” I snap. “These people just won’t leave you the fuck alone.”

  She tugs her towel from her body and starts drying her wet hair with it. After Oscar stumbled from my room, I gathered her up and took her back to her house. Where there weren’t a million people. Where I could turn on the alarm and keep her safe.

  “He didn’t hurt me,” she tells me. Her tits bounce as she towel dries her mane. I become momentarily distracted and find myself staring at them.

  She lets out a small chuckle and approaches me where I’m pacing manically at the end of her bed. Her towel drops to the floor and then she grabs for mine that’s tied around my waist. I let out a groan when she pulls it away. Then it’s just us. Naked and together.

  “Ren,” she coos. “Stop stressing out. I’m okay.”

  I frown down at her. “Camilo is out there. Diego is out there. Fucking Esteban is out there. They all want something from you. You are not okay.”

  A dark look swims across her features. “So we’ll figure it out. But I won’t live my life in fear,” she tells me with a huff.

  I slide my fingers into her wet hair and tilt her head up so I can inspect her perfect features. “You were alone in that bathroom with my whack job baseball bat wielding sister. I’m fucking afraid for you. Don’t be naïve, Brie. There are monsters everywhere.”

  Her nostrils flare and she pushes against my chest but I still have a grip on her hair. “Thinking about them twenty-four-seven solves nothing!”

  I slide one hand to the front of her throat and capture her jaw in my fingertips. My lips ghost over hers. “But burying your head in the sand won’t make it go away either,” I growl. I nip at her bottom lip.

  “You’re bossy and rude. Where’s my sweet Ren?” she huffs but then lets out a moan when I suckle on the lip I was just abusing. Her palms, which were pushing on my chest, have started to slide south where my cock is hard and at attention.

  “He died.”

  She freezes at my words, and I instantly feel like a dick.

  “I’m sorry—”

  A fierce roar escapes her as she shoves me, breaking our connection. I expect to have to chase after her. Not for her to start attacking me. Her tiny fists beat against my chest as she lets out her emotions.

  “Don’t even say shit like that to me! You’re the only person I have left who I can truly count on! I’m scared too but I’ll go mental if I stress about it all damn day!” With each hit to my chest, she pushes me farther back until my ass is against the wall. She delivers a particularly powerful blow to my stomach that has my breath hissing out. I slide my palms to her ass and lift her up before pushing my body between her thighs. I twist us around until it’s her back pressed against the wall. Another shift and my cock slides easily into her tight cunt. We both freeze for a moment.

  “I said I’m sorry,” I utter and thrust into her hard enough for her head to bounce against the wall.

  She grips at my wet hair and lets out a hiss. “Apology accepted. Now harder.”

  Our lips bump against each other as I drive into her pussy with powerful thrusts. Her angry yet needy mewls urge me on. I fuck her against the wall so fast and so hard that a picture falls off and crashes to the floor. All that can be heard is the slapping of skin, desperate sounds we’re both making, and the occasional bump of her head against the wall. When she lets out a scream that sounds like my name and rips at my hair, I lose it. Her pussy clutches my dick so hard I see stars. With a groan, I release my seed into her. My mouth seals against hers so I can breathe in her sounds of pleasure. The moment we both come down from our high, I walk her over to the bed. I lie her flat on her back and begin trailing soft kisses all over her full tits. Then, I make my way south.

  She lets out a hiss when my mouth covers her mound. I lap at our juices running out of her and taste what only our lovemaking creates. Salty and musky and us.

  “I can’t believe you’re doing that,” she murmurs, her body jolting on the bed.

  I nip at her clit and then run my tongue back down her seam to her opening. “We taste good, baby. I could spend all night licking every part of you.”

  She moans and spreads her legs further apart. “I want you to. I like your tongue on me. In me.”

  With a growl, because her sexy as hell words turn me on, I push her thighs until they’re pressed against her belly. I drag my tongue lower teasing another delicious part of her.

  “Ren…I don’t know…” she utters but doesn’t try to stop me.

  Undeterred, I spread her ass cheeks apart and run the tip of my tongue along the puckered hole. She gasps and wriggles but doesn’t tell me no. My tongue meets resistance, but I manage to breach the tight hole. I hear my name on her lips that quickly turns into a chant as I fuck her this way. While I taste her in such a foreign place, I pinch and rub her clit. It doesn’t take long for her to cry out as she comes again. Gently, I tug my tongue free from her bottom and breathe against the tender flesh.

  “I’m going to put my cock there next. Tell me no, Brie.” I bite the inside of her ass cheek and she gasps. “You’re fragile and broken and your heart is in shreds. Yet…” I groan and then press a soft kiss to her pussy. “I want to fuck and defile you. I want to see you forget it all as you lose yourself to unknown pleasure. I know it’s too much for you. You deserve gentle. You deserve love and respect. And all I want to do is fuck you raw while you chant my motherfucking name. You asked where your sweet Ren is,” I groan as I grab her hips. “Truth is, I don’t know. I don’t care either. All I care about is you. Being inside you. Taking care of you. Fucking and claiming and loving you.” Our eyes meet and her hooded eyes glimmer with emotion. My fingers dig into her hips as I roll her over onto her stomach. “I’m not the man you deserve.” I suck on my finger before teasing her asshole with it. “But I’m the man you’re going to get.” She lets out a low moan into the pillow when I push my longest digit into her ass. “Tell me no, baby. Tell me you need me to take you in there and bathe you and whisper sweet nothings in your ear.” I drive my finger in and out of her tightness.

  She reaches for her night table and yanks open the drawer. When she grabs the bottle of lube we’ve been using on occasion, my rock hard cock bounces in excitement. I let out a growl as I slip my finger
from her and take the bottle. Pouring a healthy amount on my dick, I rub it in to thoroughly lubricate it before using the excess to prime her opening.

  “Last chance. Tell me you need it sweet,” I murmur.

  On shaky arms and legs, she rises to her knees and elbows. “I need you to fuck me. Hard.”

  An animalistic sound rasps from me as I grab on to her sexy hip with one hand and use the other hand to help push the tip of my dick inside her tightest hole. She fists the blankets while simultaneously letting out a groan when I begin easing into her.

  “Say no,” I beg, my voice shaking. The pleasure is too much.

  “Claim me, Ren McPherson. Fucking claim me.”

  Her scream isn’t one of pain or horror or fear. It’s raw, carnal pleasure as I do exactly as she wishes. I drive into her without apology. My death grip on her hips will leave bruises. Her ass will be sore for days. But right now, none of that matters as I stake claim on this woman.

  “You’re mine,” I snarl, my hips bucking hard against her.

  “Yours,” she moans in agreement against the blanket. “Yours.”

  I brush my fingertips over her clit and it’s enough to send her over the edge. Her ass contracts around my cock, causing me to go blind with bliss that is only associated with Brie.

  Gabriella Rojas is mine.

  Fucking finally.

  I’m awoken in the middle of the night when I hear Brie whimper in her sleep. She calls out Duvan’s name, which makes my stomach twist into a knot. I hate that she’s having a nightmare. The way she says his name is the exact same way she called out for him when he bled out right before her eyes on that fateful day.

  “Shhh,” I murmur against her hair. “I’m here.”

  My words don’t wake her but she does calm. Her fingernails dig into my pectoral as she seems to hang on for dear life. When her breathing evens out again, I drift off thinking about one of our first dates.

  “He likes her,” I tell her and point off in the distance where Calder chases Vee down the beach.

  Brie looks up at me with a sweet smile. “She likes him.” Even though her reply is about my brother and her friend, I can’t help but wonder if there is a double meaning.