Dark Destiny (Dark Brothers Book #4)

by Botefuhr, Bec

  I run my fingers over his jaw, and a lone tear slides down his cheek. I lean forward, pressing my lips to his, breathing him in, creating a memory from this moment.

  “I don't know what to say,” he rasps.

  “Don't say anything,” I smile. “Just do, honey.”

  Jagger turns to the group, all of them are watching him with smiles on their faces. He walks over, gripping them all one by one and pulling them into his arms. I watch with a smile as they hold each other, gripping and pulling, showing their bond. When the hugging is finished, Jagger turns to the group of boys. His face is strong, determined, powerful, and yet there's a hint of comfort in there, just enough to give them hope. He walks over, stopping in front of them and when he speaks his words are firm and clear, but most of all, trusting

  “You boys ready to learn how to fight?”

  Most cry out yes, some of them stick their heads down, not quite ready to express themselves. One of the boys stands out, because he gives no reaction. He’s a tall boy, with long, dark hair and a gothic look. He looks to be about seventeen. Jagger walks over, stopping in front of him. He stretches out his large hand and the young boy looks up, his eyes weary as he reaches across, taking Jagger's hand. Jagger whispers something, something I can't hear but the boy’s face changes. He gets a look of determination on his face, that brings joy to my heart.

  This is where Jagger is meant to be.

  It’s his place in the world.

  It’s him.

  CHAPTER 12

  ONE MONTH LATER - WILLOW

  “Baby,” Jagger murmurs, thrusting deep inside me.

  I grip his back, running my nails down the taut skin as I shiver, my body coming down from a heated orgasm. His body is convulsing with his own, his skin is slick with sweat, his muscles are rippling. He looks perfect. Just, fucking, perfect. He slides his lips over mine, swiping a piece of damp hair from my eyes as he lowers me off his hips. We’re in his office at the fighting ring. He spends all his time here now, when he’s not teaching the boys, he’s running fighting classes for normal people. He quit his job, and now spends his days here.

  He’s amazing at what he does. The boys completely appreciate and respect him. They thrive on his advice and all of them have come forward in leaps and bounds. Some have gained confidence, others simply feel safer. That’s a lot for them. It’s something to hold onto. Jagger gives them hope, he gives them a reason to keep fighting. He’s not just their reason to keep fighting, he’s mine. Each day I see him growing stronger and stronger, each day he finds a little piece of himself and puts it back in place. Things are as perfect as they possibly can be, and I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful for every single day I get by his side.

  “Love you,” I whisper.

  He carries me over to his desk and places my backside down on the cool stone.

  “Love you back, Willow baby.”

  “Office sex, it rocks.”

  He grins at me and pulls up his jeans. “Lunchtime, office sex, with my wife, rocks.”

  I giggle. Each day I bring Jagger lunch and the kids and I spend a few hours here. Each day, we get it on in his office. It’s hot, it’s powerful and heck, it keeps things alive. Jagger walks around the desk, pressing himself between my legs. He tangles a hand in my hair and leans forward, kissing me deeply, letting our tongues tangle together. When he pulls away, I grip his shirt, pulling him back for more. With a chuckle, he complies.

  “Darlin’, you know I’d love to fuck you all day, but I’ve got a class in ten minutes.”

  “Fun spoiler,” I murmur against his mouth.

  “Hang around, I’ll nail you in between, don’t you doubt it.”

  I giggle again. “Did you just say you’ll nail me?”

  He grins, pressing a kiss to my head. “I did.”

  “Well, I might just hang around and let you nail me.”

  He laughs and steps back, taking hold of his boxing gloves.

  “Boxing today?” I say, slipping off the desk and adjusting myself before following him out.

  “Yeah, the kids love it.”

  “Yo boss!” Ace calls, laughing as Jonathan beats his ass with a bat. “This one has anger problems.”

  Jagger laughs. “Jonathan, what did I say about the ass? Hit him in the knee caps!”

  Jonathan laughs and goes to swing the bat at Ace’s knee caps, but he’s too quick. Ace scoops him up, throwing him over his shoulder and swinging him around. Jonathan squeals. He’s taken to Ace, he’s got one of the hardest lives out of all the kids, and yet he’s the easiest to work with. He spends most of his time here, and often helps Jagger with his normal classes.

  “Ace!” Jonathan squeals. “Playing unfair!”

  I grin and turn to Jagger. “I’ll let you get back to work, hot stuff.”

  He grips my hips, pulling me close. “Did I say thank you, today?”

  I beam and shake my head. “Not today.”

  “Well, thank you. You changed my life Willow, you stood with me through the bad shit, you taught me how to live again but most of all you believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. There will never be a day that goes past that I won’t be grateful to you, my beautiful wife.”

  I swallow and reach up, cupping his face. “I’d do it all over again for you, Mr. Black.”

  “I know you would, that’s why you’re my girl, now and forever.”

  “Is this for real this time?” I whisper.

  He grips my face. “It was real the day I laid eyes on you, Willow, it’s just along the way it got a little cloudy. Sun’s up now darlin’ and while I can’t promise there’ll be no more clouds, I can promise I’ll always fight for you, I can promise I’ll always have your back, and most of all, I can promise I’ll always love you.”

  “Love me forever?” I say, feeling my eyes burning.

  “’Till the fuckin’ day I die, darlin’,’ he murmurs, bringing his lips down over mine. “’Till the fuckin’ day I die.”

  And that, right there, is enough for me.

  It’s all I’ll ever need.

  It’s all I’ll ever want.

  Heck, does it get much better than that?

  THE END

  Now, here’s a bonus POV from Ace in preparation for his book, Dark Lust.

  ACE

  I stare down at the beach, and there she is, sitting by the sand. Her dark hair is whipping in the breeze and I can see by the way her body is shaking, that she’s crying. Sighing, I begin walking down, my boots crunch in the sand as I near closer. When I stop, and my shadow comes into view, she looks up at me, her eyes puffy and red. I kneel, swiping a dark lock of hair from her face. She looks pained, I know she’s still struggling with shit that went down with her and Jagger. I know she wanted the chance to deal with Mick before he was thrown out of the picture and that never happened for her.

  “Bambi,” I murmur. “What’s goin’ on?”

  I’ve called Maggie ‘Bambi’ from the day we first met. She just reminds me of something as fragile and sweet as Bambi. Not that I’ve actually watched the movie…

  “Nothing Ace, I’m ok.”

  “Shittin’ me again,” I say, swiping a tear away with my thumb.

  “I just…I just…”

  “Talk to me lady,” I prompt.

  “I don’t know where I’m at anymore. I thought being a doctor was what I wanted, I thought it completed me, but it’s not. I’m lonely, Ace. I don’t have fun. I don’t live. I don’t do anything crazy. I just go to work, live my perfect little life, and go home. I don’t know where I fit in the world anymore.”

  “You want fun Bambi? Is that what you want?”

  Her light green eyes meet mine. Those are the second prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen, Jenny’s are the first. Her’s are more emerald green, Maggie’s are a lighter, blue green. Thinking of Jenny, has my chest clenching. A break she said. The girl wanted a fuckin’ break ‘coz she didn’t know if I was right for her. I get it, I do, but she fucked me over and s
he knew I cared about her. She also knew I would fuckin’ wait. Well, that was until Maggie showed up. Now, I’m confused as all hell.

  “Yes, that’s all I want. Just to live.”

  I stand, offering her my hand. She looks up at me, with a confused but downright gorgeous expression.

  “Come on, you want fun, I’ll show you fun.”

  “I don’t know, Ace…”

  “Get up, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder.”

  Her eyes widen, and she stands. I take her hand, spinning back towards the car park. She follows without too much hesitation. When we get up to my motorcycle, she stops.

  “Oh no, I can’t get on that.”

  I pull the spare helmet off the back, turn, and plant it on her head.

  “Ace, really…” she protests.

  “Bambi, babe, shut up.”

  Her eyes widen as I adjust the helmet on her head. Then I grip mine, pulling it down over my face. I get on the bike, kick the stand up and point to the back. She hesitates again.

  “It’s the bike, or I carry you down the street over my shoulder.”

  She flushes and climbs on the bike behind me. She’s only a tiny thing, and her arms barely go around my chest. I grip her knee, making sure her legs are in the correct position before starting the bike. She makes a little squealing sound, that does wonderful things to me.

  “Hold on,” I warn.

  Then I pull out. Maggie’s screams fill my ears as we whizz down the street. I look in the mirror, to see her smiling, big, beautiful, totally heart stopping. I grin, pulling the throttle to get the bike picking up some more speed. We zoom down some side streets until we reach the freeway, then I hit the gas. Her screams become whoops of pure joy, and I can’t help the throaty laugh that escapes my mouth at the sound of her happiness.

  I ride for an hour, just taking her around the beaches, just letting her enjoy the town. When we pull up, it’s at an old lighthouse. She climbs off the bike, pulling her helmet off. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips parted, she looks truly content. She walks to the railings and peers over, admiring the view. I get off the bike, walking over to join her. We stand like that for long moments, just staring at the scenery in front of us. That’s when she reaches out and takes my hand. I can’t help the electric bolt that runs through my body.

  “Thank you, Ace. You always know how to make me smile.”

  “Anytime, Bambi.”

  She giggles, so childish, so young, so fuckin’ adorable. “I both love and hate how you call me Bambi.”

  I grin at her. “You love it, you know you do.”

  She laughs. “Ok, I do.”

  “You want happiness, fun, and good times Bambi, you call me. You hear me?”

  She looks at me, and her cheeks flush. “I hear you.”

  My phone rings then, disrupting the silence. I glance down at the screen to see it’s Jenny. Fuck. I know I’ll answer it, because I always come when she calls, because I care about her and she knows it. The problem now, is the woman standing next to me. I’m in a situation, I know it and I don’t know how to get myself out of it. All I know, is that for the moment…

  I’m fucked.