by K. Webster
Tears form in her eyes and her nose turns red. “I can’t do this anymore. Not after this. It’s been too hard as it is.”
I lean down and kiss her. “You’re the bravest girl I know. So fucking brave. This is almost over, Little Hoodlum, and when it finally is, nothing will stop us from being together.”
She pulls me to her for a deeper kiss. I fingerfuck her until I’m hard as hell again and she’s begging for more. Over and over again, because the birthday girl seems to love my dick as much as I love her pussy.
The condoms stay in the drawer.
Roux
I can do this.
I can do this.
I can do this.
But it’s so damn hard. Pretending to be someone I’m not. Ignoring the one I love for the one I have to be with. It’s torture.
This is almost over, Little Hoodlum.
Jordy’s words play on repeat in my mind, reminding me of my purpose and to stay strong.
“Tomorrow,” Kayden says, hugging me from behind. “I’m taking you to dinner and to a hotel. Since the snow didn’t stay and it’s warming up, maybe we can eat at that new place on the river.”
I try not to cringe and keep my voice light. “I can’t. I have plans with Roan.”
It’s the truth. With Sebban finally well enough to leave Portland, and the legalities getting straightened out, we might be able to take him home with us. It’s going to be a huge adjustment for Sebban, so Roan is going to need my help.
“Sometimes I feel like you’re stringing me along,” Kayden snaps, releasing me. “It’s fucking embarrassing.”
I whirl around, crossing my arms over my chest. “Kayden…”
The fire behind me flickers and makes his dark eyes light up like he’s the devil. A shiver trembles down my spine. Someone hollers and then laughs nearby, but my focus is on Kayden.
“You won’t drive the car I got you the other day. Even though you’re eighteen and we’ve been together for a year, you won’t fuck me. I’ve finally planned this stupid date you’ve begged for and you’re avoiding it. What the fuck is your problem, Roux?”
Panic claws at my throat, keeping words trapped there. A low whine escapes, though.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were just using me. Why, Roux? What the hell would you be using me for?”
“Hey,” I purr, finally finding my voice. “You know there’s a lot going on with my brother right now. I don’t do well with stress when it involves him. He’s my best friend and sometimes like a father to me. It’s not you. It’s that. You know I want to be with you. It’s why I asked to get back together with you.” I walk up to him and cradle his face. “Remember, baby?”
His face softens. “Yeah. You did come crawling back to me. Begging for this.” He playfully grabs his dick through his jeans. “Soon, baby.”
“Soon,” I agree, forcing a smile. I stand on my toes and kiss him. “Your friends are here. The Hoodlums are being cool. Maybe enjoy Campfire Chaos and relax. Renaldo keeps you too stressed out. Get something to drink. I’m going to check on Roan and then we can make s’mores together.”
He shoves his tongue down my throat and after a few minutes of enduring his mauling, he tears away from me. “Come find me, baby.”
I wave to him and then walk backward into the shadows, shuddering with the urge to throw up. Stopping to take a deep breath, I press into the middle of my chest for a second. I didn’t want to be here tonight, but I was told it was imperative. I do what I’m told because I have to. It’s the only way.
Once I’ve distanced myself from the party, I take a walk through the woods toward the river. At least I can breathe a little easier without Kayden all in my space. It’s too hard to be with him when Jordy’s around. Jordy keeps his expression neutral, but I know it kills him to see me lip locked with Kayden. I know this, because it kills me too.
“Still with the thug, huh?”
A deep, familiar voice has me stopping in my tracks. It’s dark in the woods, but the river is close. I can hear it rushing by. I grasp onto a tree, trying to keep my fear at bay, and whip my head around.
Wes.
“What do you want?”
“He’s a dickhead who’ll be in prison by the time he’s twenty-one,” Wes says from the shadows. “Why would you date someone like him with no future?”
“I don’t think you should be here,” I mutter. “If Kayden sees you, it won’t end well.”
“He’ll pull another gun on me?” Wes chuckles. “I’m prepared this time.”
His ominous words send a chill down my spine.
“You were my friend,” I say in a calm tone. “You thought we were more.”
Wes emerges from the shadows, stepping into a pocket of moonlight. His eyes are manic and wild, his appearance disheveled. He has a gun tucked into the front of his jeans. I take a step back on instinct. His head cocks to the side.
“Don’t think about running off,” he commands. “We have a lot to discuss.”
Tears burn at my eyes, but I blink fast so I can keep him in my sights. I’m just far enough from the loud party, I’m not sure anyone would hear if I screamed. What happens if I do scream? Jordy and Kayden run to my aid and might get shot?
“What do you want to talk about?” I ask calmly. “You have more poems?”
“A fuck ton more,” he says, flashing me a handsome grin. “I can’t wait to read them to you. Like old times.”
I start to turn and run, but he tackles me to the ground. My scream threatens to escape, but his hand covers my mouth. The gun in his pants digs into my ass. I freeze when he rubs his hand up my thigh, dragging my dress up with it.
“Stop moving, Roux, or it’ll hurt. Don’t make me hurt you.”
A sob escapes me and tears rush out. My entire body trembles as he pets me like I’m something to be treasured.
“Shh, don’t cry,” he whines. “It’s just me. Wes. Your friend, but we’re going to be more, Roux. You’re so fucking smart and pretty. We had a connection, but you got spooked. I swear to God I can be better. I can keep you safe from that gangster.” He reaches between us and pulls the gun out, setting it on the ground by my face. “I love you.”
My crying becomes hysterical when he starts to tug my panties down. Wes is stronger and fucking crazy. He easily pins me down. Once my panties are at my knees, he starts undoing his pants. I start to black out, fear overwhelming me.
“What the fuck?”
The voice is familiar. Someone I know and trust. I cry out to him.
Wes is ripped from me with the force of an F-5 tornado. My savior pounces on him, pinning him to the ground. He slams punch after punch into Wes’s face. I manage to yank my panties up and pick up the gun.
“Give me that,” Cal growls, yanking it from my grip.
He shoves the barrel into Wes’s mouth and I’m dizzied by the fact that one of the Hoodlums is once again about to kill on my behalf. I cry out, yanking on Cal’s arm, but he’s too strong.
Click.
Nothing happens.
Cal yanks the gun out. He removes the magazine and roars. “It’s not even fucking loaded!” He throws the magazine and then hits Wes a few times with the gun. “Fucking rapist sick sonofabitch!”
“Cal,” I shriek. “Stop. You’re going to kill him!”
“That’s the fucking point, Roux!”
I cling to his back, pulling him away from Wes’s groaning body. Cal eventually lets sense flood in and allows me to put distance between them. He’s breathing heavily, still infused with rage.
“I need to get the boys down here so we can drag his ass down to the river,” Cal growls.
“No,” I snap. “You can’t. Jordy will kill him and go to prison again. You’ll go to prison. I can’t fucking have that. Understand?”
“I don’t fucking care,” Cal snarls. “He tried to fucking rape you!”
I sit beside Cal and take his sticky hands in my shaking ones. His are covered in Wes’s blood. Squee
zing, I meet his enraged eyes.
“Listen. You absolutely cannot breathe a word of this to anyone. It’ll ruin everything. Trust me, Cal. Please trust me. There are too many eyes and ears on us. Just let Wes go. I think he got the message loud and clear.”
“Roan will skin him alive once he finds out,” Cal says, turning his head to spit. “I’ll fucking help him too.”
“You can’t tell Roan. Jesus, Cal, listen to me. Roan is trying to get his kid. Don’t do this to him. Please.”
He frowns as he thinks. “I keep forgetting about that shit. A kid. I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it. And Roan wants him so bad. If you tell him about this, he’ll go blind in his need to protect me. You already saved me,” I say softly. “You saved me and I can’t thank you enough. I’ll do whatever I can to repay you for that. But he can’t find out.”
“Hoodlums don’t keep secrets from each other with outsiders.”
“I’m a Hoodlum too,” I remind him. “We’re protecting them. You know as well as I do that Jordy will murder him for this.”
He cocks his head to the side, assessing me. “Jordy loves you.”
I smile. “I love him too.”
“Does Roan know that?”
“No, and we’ll deal with that later.”
“This sucks,” Cal grumbles. “I hate this motherfucker for touching you.”
“Me too,” I murmur. “One day, we can go about this in a legal way, and I swear I’ll be there ready to make that happen. Trust me that it’s not the right time.”
He sighs. “When did you grow up, Little Hoodlum?”
“Same time you guys did. When life made us.”
“All right. Let’s get you back to camp. Then I’ll make sure this asshole goes home.”
“You won’t kill him?”
“Not yet.” He flashes me a sinister smile. “I’ll find a way to make his life a living hell. That much is a fucking promise.”
I stand on my toes and hug his neck. “Thank you, Cal.”
“Anytime, kiddo.”
By the time I’ve pulled myself together, over an hour has passed. I pace on the edge of the woods watching Kayden get drunker and drunker. He stumbles over to a chair and crashes into it. Once I’m sure he’s asleep, I hunt down Jordy.
I need to see him.
I need his comfort. I just need him.
He’s by his tent when I approach. Sensing my mood, he unzips the tent, looks around, and then nods. I bolt inside the tent and lie down. Tears drip from my eyes as I desperately try to hold it together. He zips it back up and then curls his large body around mine, keeping me locked in his safe embrace.
“Shh, baby,” he murmurs. “Don’t cry. Tell me what’s wrong.”
But I can’t.
I have to keep my lips sealed shut in order to protect him.
It reminds me of the way he pressed his lips together in the courtroom that day, refusing to tell the truth of what happened that night when he shot four men, in an effort to keep me and Roan safe. I’d hated him for that, but I understand it now, because I’m doing the same for him.
Love is strong like that.
“I just want all this to be over,” I sob. It’s the truth. Jordy deserves truth. “I want to be with you always.”
He brushes my hair away from my neck and kisses me there. When his hand caresses along my thigh, I don’t shiver from fear like I did with Wes. Instead, I let out a breath of relief. In Jordy’s arms is where I belong. Gently, he urges my dress up and slides his hand into my panties.
“You’re here with me now,” he murmurs. “You’re mine. Don’t forget that, Roux. When all feels fucking overwhelming, remember us.”
He rubs his finger over my clit, erasing each bad memory of tonight with simple strokes. I allow myself to forget and drown in all things Jordy. Before long, I’m whimpering as my climax takes over. He wastes no time peeling my panties off me. His massive body prowls over mine and he settles himself between my parted thighs. He reaches down to unbuckle his jeans and then pulls his dick out. We both groan when he presses against my pussy. His body slides easily into mine, claiming me. I latch my fingers into his hair, pulling him down to me for a kiss.
It’s reckless allowing him to fuck me with Kayden nearby and asleep, but after what went down with Wes, I don’t care. I need my man. I need Jordy. He fucks me hard and fast, knowing like I do that our time is limited. His hand slides between us and he rolls my clit around between his thumb and finger. I lose all sense of reality.
I beg and beg and beg.
I need him so much.
He answers my needy pleas with a nip to my throat and a growl as he floods my body with his release. I whimper out his name, thankful to have him in my arms. We remain locked for a few moments.
“Want to talk about it?”
“I just want to stay with you forever.”
“I know, Roux. I fucking know. Fuck.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too,” he murmurs as he pulls out. “Stay a little while with me. It’ll be okay.”
He hands me his shirt to clean up with and then helps me put my panties back on. Once he’s cleaned up and his jeans are back in place, he pulls me to him.
“Let me hold you, baby. You’re shaking.”
I cling to him, biting back tears. “I’m scared.”
“Me too.”
We remain locked in our lovers’ embrace until his breathing evens out. I watch him sleep until I feel like it’s too dangerous to stay in his tent any longer. With a sad sigh, I untangle myself from him and crawl away from him. Quietly, I unzip his tent and slip out.
I smooth out my hair and straighten my dress, my eyes skimming the campfire area. I press my fingers to my chest, sucking in a steadying breath. Kayden isn’t in his seat. A cold sense of dread washes over me. Slowly, I turn around. Kayden is leaned against a tree, watching me as he takes a drag of his cigarette.
“Have fun in there?” His tone is deadly.
“It’s not what you think,” I breathe. “We were just talking.”
He tosses his cigarette and stomps on it. “Talking.” He shakes his head. “Now that I am watching you lie to my fucking face, it’s easy to see that our entire fucking relationship was a lie.”
“Kayden,” I plead, stepping closer to him. “It wasn’t a lie.”
His eyes turn hard. “Walk with me.”
Fear has my feet planted firmly in place.
“Roux, so help me, I said let’s take a goddamn walk.”
“Kayden, I’m scared.”
Someone strong grabs me from behind, slapping a palm over my mouth.
“You should be, little girl. You should be pissing your cum-soaked panties right now.”
Renaldo.
Oh God.
“Time to go,” he growls.
I scream and kick to no avail.
Oh God.
Oh God.
Oh my fucking God.
Jordy
Buzz.
Buzz.
Buzz.
I wake in the dark, confused by my surroundings at first. Fumbling around, I manage to find my phone under the shirt that’s still wet from my cum. Loss hollows me out. I hate that she had to leave me. Squinting, I read the texts I missed, hoping they’re from Roux.
Renaldo: Wake up, bitch.
Renaldo: We have your cheating whore.
Renaldo: Meet me at the shop.
No.
Fucking no!
I yank another shirt out of my bag, throw on my shoes, and grab my keys within seconds before tearing out of the tent.
“Roan!” I bellow, scaring some people who’d passed out by the fire. “Hollis!”
They rush out of the cabin, both of them in their boxers, eyes wild with alarm.
“They fucking took her,” I choke out. “They fucking took her.”
Roan’s expression falls from worry to dread as he understands my meaning. He launches himself back into the cabin,
Hollis on his heels. Terrence jolts awake from his chair on the porch.
“What’s happening?” he grumbles, his voice thick with sleep.
“It’s going down,” I rasp out, trembling with a mixture of anger and terror.
“Fuck,” he hisses. “Cal, bro, we gotta go! Cal!”
Cal stumbles out of a tent looking like hell. His hands are bloody and his hair is sticking up. He sobers up quickly when he realizes we’re flipping our shit and snags his shoes before rushing over to me.
Hollis bolts from the cabin, fully dressed, and runs to his car. He peels out, not even taking time to look back at us. Roan flies out, a baseball bat in his hand.
Terrence shakes his head and plucks it from his grip. “I’ll take that.”
“Where’d the rat go?” I demand as we all start running to the cars.
“I don’t want him anywhere near this shit,” Roan grinds out. “It’s bad enough you guys are involved.”
Guilt bangs around inside my heart and I wish it were just me dealing with this shit. But family isn’t like that. The Hoodlums are family and family sticks together. I’d tried once before to do things on my own, and it ended badly. Now, I’ve got all of these assholes on my team. As much as it stresses me out, I’m thankful. I’m not sure I could hold my shit together on my own.
“I’m headed to the shop,” I tell Roan.
“We got your back.” Roan slaps my shoulder and bounds off after Terrence and Cal. The three of them climb into Cal’s truck and I hop into my car.
I peel out ahead of them and turn onto the road toward Juno’s shop. They head in the opposite direction. The entire drive there, I plan out all the ways I’d love to kill Renaldo. My favorite scenario is burning him alive.
When I arrive at the shop, I find several thugs waiting on me. Not Renaldo or Kayden. That’s okay. I anticipated this. Quickly, I shoot off a text and then shove my phone into my pocket.
Juno emerges from the shop as I climb out of the car. He rushes me, slamming his fist into my face.
