by Sadie Jacks
I fisted my hands. “Yeah, you need to stop worrying about him. He’s mine.”
She opened her mouth, a bitchy smile on her face.
I raised a hand. “That wasn’t a suggestion or an opinion. Say his name like that again, even in your head, I’ll tear you open so fast your brain will be dead before it registers the pain.” I leaned forward. Looked her right in the eye. I lowered my voice, put my lips to her ear. “And then I’ll dance in your blood as I hang your entrails like party streamers from my balcony.”
I eased back, put a finger under her jaw, closed it softly. “Run along now. Tell all your skanky friends that Mr. Penn is taken. From now into eternity. Even his ghost is claimed.” I spun her around, gave her a sharp tap on the ass. “Run along. Go back to the idiots who care about your welfare.”
I spun back around, glared up at Ryker. “Seriously? Skeletor was your preferred bedmate?”
His green eyes were bright and hard. “We need to find a room. And yes, before you whine about it, you get to come.” He braceleted my wrist, hauled me in a straight line across the ballroom.
My mother, who had been walking towards us, stopped. Her eyes narrowed as I waved at her. I shot her a wink.
Soon, we were out in the hall. He was trying every possible doorknob. One finally opened. He shoved me inside.
What turned out to be a cleaning closet. I snorted. “Well, at least we’ll be able to wipe up the blood.”
He snorted and backed me against the wall. He was careful not to muss up my hair. “That was the single sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m hard enough to drive nails. This is going to be hard and fast. And yes, we’ll clean up whatever blood with the supplies in here.”
He bent down, lifted the ‘hem’ of my dress. He reached up, pulled down my panties. He draped them on a broom handle.
I snickered.
He reached back up, grabbed the string of my tampon and gave a sharp yank.
My cheeks heated with embarrassment. I knew I had nothing to be embarrassed about. It wasn’t like a woman having her menses was weird. But it was weird for me.
He tossed it in the trash. He pulled a condom from his pocket. Flashed me a devilishly sexy smile. “I brought this for your sensibilities. I have no problem barebacking while you’re ragging. Up to you. But for the love of the goddess, decide fast.” His eyes widened.
I nodded. “Yes. I don’t want to…” I waved my hand awkwardly. “Just yes.”
He chuckled, unzipped his pants, rolled the condom on. His dick was rock hard. Watching him handle himself was so fucking hot. I’d never known peeping on dudes was such a turn on.
I was going to have to get up the nerve to ask him to jack off for me sometime. The whole idea got me even hotter. I got the familiar deep tingling ache deep inside me.
Grabbing him by the lapels, I pulled him towards me. His mouth attached to mine like we were opposite poles on a magnet. He thrust his tongue in my mouth as he lifted one of my legs around his hip.
Luckily my dress had a slit in it high enough to need its own altitude. He lined up and pushed deep in one swift move. We both groaned.
I thread my hands up through his hair, pulled on the strands as he started fucking me in earnest. I wasn’t sure if it was the extra sensitivity of being on my period, but everything felt bigger. Like BIGGER!
Mewling sounds came from my throat as his hands circled my hips. He pushed up inside me so fucking fast it felt like we were about to rocket to the moon. I ripped my mouth from his, my lungs desperate for air.
He hunched down, attacked my neck with his teeth. Sharp biting nips sent shives up and down my spine as my brain tried to figure out which sensation to focus on. I swore I could feel every vein in his cock as he pumped inside me.
My leg muscles strained against the pace. My pussy clenched around the invasion of his dick as I tried to keep him inside me. I needed him deeper.
With a growl, he moved a hand to my cunt. His fingers slid through the hair until he parted my sex. With a flick, he found my clit. Started playing like a maestro with his favored instrument.
His name began as a chant. It ended as a plea. “Ryker, Ryker, Ryker, Ryker.” I buried my face in his neck, bit the length of muscle there.
He bucked against me, his dick slammed up inside me so hard, I felt him bump what felt like the end of me. He reared back, did it again. “Fuck,” he growled in my ear.
“Please, Ryker. Please.” I sank my nails into the jacket of his tux.
He shuddered. “Fuck, Willow.” He pinched my clit, gave it a sharp twist.
He swallowed my scream as my world shattered into a million pieces.
I lowered my hands, dipped them under his jacket. Set them against the thinner fabric of his shirt, I dug in.
He growled against my mouth as I sucked down his own animalistic noises of completion. He thrust once more, his legs trembling slightly.
We both stood there, using the other to remain upright. He leaned his head against my chest. His billowing breaths saturated the fabric stretched over my breasts. I shivered at the contrasting temperatures.
After a minute or two, he eased back. Looked down into my face. “You okay?” He brushed my hair back from my face.
I smiled. “Better than. I might need a nap.”
He chuckled. “After we take down the monsters. You can sleep as long as you like. And, I have an engagement gift for you.” He pulled out of me slowly.
I winced, waited for the cramps to come. When they didn’t, when it felt like I was almost back to non-period normal, I could have kissed him.
“What’s that?” I asked. I turned to the shelves, searched for some paper towels.
He grabbed my chin, turned me gently to look at him. “I have the moving company getting everything from both our old homes into the new one tonight. Mom’s directing them. When we leave here, we’re going to our new home.”
Tears pushed at the back of my eyes. He was the most thoughtful man I’d ever met. He bested even Papa.
His expression collapsed. “I thought you’d be happy.”
I smiled. Blinked rapidly so the little drops of moisture wouldn’t fall and ruin my makeup. “I am. These are happy tears.” I reached up, kissed him.
His shoulder relaxed under my grip. He kissed me back. “Good. Otherwise we were going to have to stay in a hotel tonight.”
He reached over to the shelves, handed me a roll of blue towels. “Wet some of these down in that sink. I’ll get you cleaned up.”
I ripped some rectangles off the cylinder of surprisingly sticky paper. Shoved them under the faucet. I wrung them out and handed them to him.
He already had the condom off and tied off. He dumped it in the trash can that was conveniently by the door. He tucked his cock away before he squatted down. He pressed a kiss to my pubic bone.
He got me cleaned up. Tossing away the paper towels, he held me upright while I slid a new tampon in. I ditched the container, washed my hands.
He was back at my feet, my panties stretched out ready for me to step into. I used his shoulders as supports while I slid my feet into the holes. He pulled them up my legs. Snapped the elastic against my hips in a bright spark of surprise.
He laughed as he straightened. “Thank you, Mrs. Penn.”
I smiled. “So close I can almost taste it, Mr. Penn.”
He closed his eyes, groaned. “Hell yes.” He opened them again, his green eyes had lost that sparkling sharpness. Now they were soft with love and joy. “Ready?”
My smile hardened. “Let’s go take down some monsters.”
Chapter 39 – Ryker
I stuck my head out the door, looked both directions. When it was clear, I pulled her from the depths. I smiled. She was the absolute best thing that had ever happened to me. If I didn’t hate the bastard with a fiery passion in my soul, I’d probably thank Ethan Errington. But that was beyond my ability.
Escorting the sexiest woman back to the party, we ran into Je
ssa and Nico and Nik and Turo as they came in. I glanced at my watch. Raised my brows at Nico.
He rolled his eyes. “Women.”
Willow snorted. “Men,” she said it with the exact same inflection.
Jessa and Nik laughed. “You’d think it was our fault, but he had to change his tux twice so it would be the ‘same undertone’ as Jessa’s dress,” Nik said. She made air quotes around the appropriate words.
Turo nodded. “It’s disgusting. He has more clothes than most women.”
Nico stuck his nose in the air. “Can I get a drink now, please?”
I looked over the people I’d claimed as my family. Jessa and Nico were a striking couple. I couldn’t say I understood what the hell it meant about the undertones, but they looked like the complementary sections of a single band of color.
Nik and Turo were just as stunning, but in a different way. I couldn’t even put my finger on the differences, but they were subtle and startling all at the same time. After our shared dinner the other night, I hoped they’d worked some stuff out. By their stiff postures, I was going to assume that was a worthless hope.
“Has your female creation donor spied you, babe?” Jessa asked Willow.
Willow’s face bloomed with a smile. “Yes. I could practically see her nonexistent heart shrivel in disgust.” She patted a hand to her chest. “It was beautiful.” She flicked away an invisible tear.
I laughed. “And Cupcake here threatened one of my previous flings.” I patted my chest. “It was beautiful.” I flicked away an invisible tear.
We all laughed as the women high-fived each other.
“Well,” Jessa turned her arm, looked at her diamond encrusted watch. “We’ve got about twenty minutes until the big announcement. I want to go in there and find a good spot.” She smiled at me and Willow, dragged Nico into the ballroom.
Nik looked Willow up and down. “It’s official. I have to buy one of those dresses for me.”
“Hell no, you’re not,” Turo bit out almost before Nik’s sentence was finished.
She turned, looked up at the oldest Amatucci brother. She raised a brow. “And how do you intend to stop me, Mr. Amatucci?” She pushed into his personal space. Tugged on his tie before she spun on her heel and walked into the ballroom.
Turo looked at me. At Willow. “I think she’s trying to kill me.”
Willow laughed. “I have a feeling that if you wanted to get her in bed, she’d be amenable to that.”
Turo glared at his adopted sister. “Not helpful, Will.” He leaned forward, kissed her cheek. “You look distressingly good. Go rip their hearts out, sorella.” With that he walked into the ballroom after his date.
“What’s his deal?” I asked as we watched Turo walk away.
She shook her head. “I have no idea. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him hesitate with a woman. But he’s keeping Nik close. And he’s not touching her. I have no idea what his problem is.” She hooked her hand through my elbow. “Let’s go mingle, fiancé.”
“Lead the way, Future Mrs. Penn.” I gave her a slight bow.
**
The mind numbing chatter of the self-absorbed was exactly why I didn’t go to functions like this. I could only talk about fiscal year end totals so many times before I became murderous. Over and above my design to take most of these dipshits down tonight, I really just wanted to escape the inanity of an entire room of people focused only on money and success. They reminded me too much of my father to ever be comfortable in their midst.
I knew we were close to the countdown when Willow started to practically vibrate beside me. Her answers turned into grunts and ‘mhms’ that made no sense whatsoever. But I was okay that she offended people. Hell, I was a little jealous that she got to offend them.
The band finally stopped playing. Everyone turned to the dais where the MC was stepping up to the microphone. I pulled Willow into my body.
“This is it.” I pressed my lips to her hair.
She nodded. “Let’s head up there.”
I followed her as she threaded through the throngs of monsters. She held her head high. No shame or guilt clung to her under their judging glances. She’d risen far above all of them. And they didn’t even know it.
“Welcome to the annual gala of the Chase Foundation,” the MC said. “Before we get to the Celebration of Victory, we have a special announcement from our hosts. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Winslow and Beverly Chase.” The MC stepped back and started clapping.
The entire group of sheep around us clapped as well. Most of them probably had no idea what the Chase Foundation did—even outside of its more sinister activities. They were just rich and bored and wanted a chance to dress up for the evening.
Beverly and Winslow walked to the microphone. Their hands were entwined. Winslow was dressed in a classic black tuxedo complete with bowtie, Beverly was a gaudy vision in all gold. She looked like an Oscar statue.
“Thank you. And thank you all for being here tonight.” Beverly laid her hand on her chest. “It is with greatest pride that we welcome our daughter, Willow, up to the stage tonight. She’s been absent from the gala for the last two years and we are more than delighted that she joined us again.” Beverly looked at us, waved us up.
“As many of you know, Willow was previously married to Dr. Ethan Errington,” Winslow said. “Sadly, their union didn’t last.”
Willow’s steps faltered.
I caught her against me, helped her up the last two stairs. For that blow alone, I would be taking out Winslow.
“But Willow is here tonight with a new man. They have some news they’d like to share with you, their closest friends and family.” Winslow stepped back from the mic.
We stepped into the literal spotlight. It was fucking showtime.
Chapter 40 – Willow
I swallowed as I blinked against the glaring lights. “Hi. I’m Willow.” She gave a little wave.
The crowd chuckled. Called out, “Hi Willow” like we were on some kind of ridiculous Saturday morning kids’ show.
She chuckled. “Winslow and Beverly are correct. I’ve a new man, and, boy, do we have some news to share. Buckle your seatbelts.”
The lights dimmed dramatically.
“As Winslow stated, I was married to Ethan Errington. Winslow and Beverly actually set us up.”
The crowd gave a joint ‘ah.’ Fuckers.
My smile was brittle. “What I recently found out was that they paid him ten million dollars to do it.”
The crowd didn’t laugh or give any cutesy little audience participation lines.
“Willow, what in heaven’s name are you talking about?” Beverly said, motherly shame sharp in her voice.
I smiled out at the crowd. That was Nik’s cue. The screen behind me went live. I blocked out the sound of Ethan’s voice as he himself declared that my creation donors had paid him.
Turo, Rafe, Mas, and Nico joined us on stage. They grabbed both Beverly and Winslow before they could flee from the stage.
“Oh, Beverly, Winslow. The show’s just starting. You’re definitely going to want to stick around for this,” I called. Another spotlight shone on them. “You see, all those years ago when I came running to my parents that Ethan was killing women and children in some kind of twisted medical experiment, you all laughed it off.” I looked out into the crowd.
They started shifting in awkward, damned silence.
“You said I was imagining things. Going a little crazy pants with the stress.” I looked out into the crowd. Nodded.
Ethan spoke on the video. Admitted to his experiments.
The screen went pure white.
“Could we get the house lights up, please?” I called.
Jerrod stood in the back with Nik as the lights flared brighter.
I exhaled a sigh of relief.
Ryker came up behind me. “You’re all monsters. Most of you either had some idea of what was happening and chose to stick your head in the sand or you actively partic
ipated. For those of you who have no idea what we’re talking about, we’re about to enlighten you.”
I swallowed. “For the last three years, Beverly and Winslow Chase have been involved in human trafficking. We have evidence.” The laugh blurted out of me. “Provided by their previous son-in-law, that super catchy Dr. Errington, no less.”
“In the course of getting free of Errington, I was witness to no less than fifty-nine murders. Women and girls who had done nothing wrong. Errington killed no fewer than seventy-three females. Of those seventy-three, Winslow and Beverly were personally responsible for twenty-two.”
“You little bitch!” Winslow yelled.
Mas kneecapped him. Slapped some duct tape over his mouth as the crowd gasped collectively.
I turned back to the crowd. “Yes, so shocking. Would you like me to name the other names of the people involved? Through the upright and charitable Chase Foundation. Your donations have not been going to helping the poverty-stricken or abused people of New Trenadie. No, your donations have been going to the transportation, selling, and profiteering of humans.”
“She’s telling the truth,” a man said from the back of the room. Everett Cavendish raised his glass. “My father admitted to me—right before I killed him—that he planned to sell me to Antonia de Silva. That her contact here in New Trenadie was getting ready to give her a big shipment. I found emails between my father and Winslow Chase setting up the deal.” Everett slammed his alcohol back. “What’s even worse? I could name no fewer than fifty men and women in this room tonight who were part of the whole thing in some way, shape, or form.”
From the back of the room, Jerrod motioned for two officers to take Everett into custody. He pointed at me. Pointed at his watch.
I nodded. “That wasn’t on my agenda for the evening, but it’s always nice to have backup, am I right?”
The room was silent. Tough crowd now that their sins were being shoved in their faces. Oh well. It was going to get a lot worse.
“Since the rich and entitled of New Trenadie can’t be bothered to follow the law, we’ve brought the law to you. And just so you know who you’re going to jail for, we’ve created a different presentation. Every year you all stand around and congratulate yourself for your generosity to the Chase Foundation through the Celebration of Victory presentation. Tonight, we have a different Celebration of Victory, and it’s certainly not yours.”
