His Twisted Heart : Sons of Lost Souls MC Series Book Nine

by Ellie R. Hunter

  “We don’t want that, either.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “Then you should leave.”

  “Not all hole’s end in pregnancies.”

  Placing my hand on my chest, I pretend to be offended.

  “Are you saying you want to fuck me in the ass?”

  “It’s not that I want to, I’m going to.”

  “I’m not that kind of girl, Luca Jackson.”

  He takes another step closer, giving me a clear view of the raindrops dripping from the tips of his hair and rolling down his face.

  “I think you are. I think you’d try anything for me.”

  “You’re always telling me I shouldn’t think. Perhaps you should take your own advice and stop thinking, because it’s obviously leading you astray.”

  He gives me a full-blown smile, and it quite literally takes my breath away.

  He can have what he damn well pleases with that smile, but my head hasn’t been turned far enough for anal.

  “Anal is girlfriend material kind of sex,” I tease, working his angle to my advantage. “And since you haven’t claimed me...” I leave the rest of that sentence hanging in the air.

  Unbuttoning his jeans, he whips his hoodie over his head.

  Is he going to make me his girlfriend?

  The anticipation has me growing wetter with every strangled breath I take.

  “I’ll just keep you as a booty call, then. Your pussy, it is.”

  “Asshole.”

  “Yeah, I am, but not in yours.” Grabbing me around my waist, he pulls me against him. He may believe I’m his booty call, but he’s the one who drove all the way out here for me, especially while his dad’s sick.

  Sliding his hands around to my ass, the chill from outside clashes against my warmth as he squeezes. His lips are warm, as they always are, and I devour his kiss as he backs me up to my bed.

  It’s one thing to sneak around the club, but for Luca to sneak into my room while my parents sleep in the next room takes it to a whole new level of exciting. Even a little dangerous.

  “Take a picture with me.”

  Luca chooses to light a cigarette instead of pose with me. Perched on his lap, I wrap one arm around his neck and use the other to hold the old Polaroid camera up to take a selfie.

  “I know you won’t smile, but can you at least look at the camera?”

  “Only this once.”

  Of course. It’s not like I expect too much from him.

  I click the button at the same time he puts the cigarette to his lips.

  At least I’m capturing the true Luca in full asshole mode.

  Tossing the camera onto the bed, I fan the Polaroid until the image becomes clear.

  It’s not hard to see Luca is photogenic. Like, beyond what should be normal. But as I stare at the full image, I find myself thinking of how good we look together, and not just because I want us to. We really fucking do.

  Him dark, me light. Together, we’re the perfect balance.

  Swiping the picture from my hand, Luca stares at it through the cigarette smoke of his half-burnt down cigarette hanging from between his lips.

  “Can I have that back, please?”

  “I’ll keep hold of it.”

  Tucking it into the back of his pants pocket, he repositions me so I’m sitting on the bed instead of his lap.

  “I’m surprised you don’t want to be outside. It’s the first cookout we’ve had in ages. Don’t you need the sun to top up your spirit or something?”

  “I’d rather be with you.”

  He groans. It’s not in the sexual kind way, but in an I’m-annoying-the-shit-out-of-him sort of way.

  “Why do you have to be so soft?”

  “I’m not soft. I’m just saying, I’d prefer to stay here.”

  “You should go before I have to remind you that you’re not my—”

  “Girlfriend. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it.”

  I climb off the bed, not wanting my positive energy to be zapped away by him today. Like he said, the club is having its first cookout in ages, and I shouldn’t miss it. The brothers and the old ladies will be in high spirits, and that’s exactly what I need.

  I open the door, ready to leave, but not before saying, “Luca Jackson, why can’t you see that you have a life here? Your perfect little Sara is long gone. You need to let her go.”

  “Did you ever think that maybe I’m just not that into you?”

  He moves closer, his eyes shooting daggers at me.

  “My tastes in a girlfriend are quite high, and much different than my lower standards for a fuck. Pussy is pussy, Victoria, and yours is nothing special.”

  I force myself not to cry in front of him, but the tears come anyway. Shoving him in the chest to get him as far from me as I can, I run out the door.

  Only a couple of brothers are in the bar, the others choosing to bask in the sunshine. Working my way through the room, I try my best to hide my pain as I run across the lot to the main house.

  “How many times did he climb through her window?” I mutter to myself as I push open the front door.

  Mom and Bonnie’s voices trickle out from the kitchen, so I head upstairs and lock myself in the bathroom.

  “He probably climbed through her window every single night. Perfect little Sara Lancaster.”

  Kicking the side of the tub, I groan in pain from my toe and fall to the floor. Even through the pain, I can’t stop thinking of why I don’t seem good enough for him? Or even just enough?

  Fuck this. I’m not sitting around on the floor like some lovesick fool. Above all, fuck Luca Jackson. I’m going home.

  Flipping the lock over, I swing open the door too hard, and find Luca out in the hall.

  He looks over his shoulder, seeming relieved to see me. Did he come looking for me?

  “What? Was there something you forgot to say that would dig that knife in a little deeper?” I snap, wiping at my eyes.

  “I came to say sorry. I didn’t mean any of that shit. I don’t even know why I said it.”

  And the world fucking stops.

  Luca is apologising.

  What the hell do I do with that?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Luca

  Day’s pass, and I find myself thinking that keeping Victoria happy is becoming less of a chore, and more of something I look forward to, which works out better for me. Dad’s planning our trip to Mercy, and we leave tomorrow, which makes tonight my last chance to run Lily out of town once and for all.

  Running my finger down Victoria’s arm, she rolls her head across the pillow with a sweet smile on her lips. She’s different today, not so much as her usual self.

  “I leave tomorrow for Mercy, so Lily has to leave tonight. Dad wants a fresh start by bringing Harper home, and I don’t want Lily here where Mom has to see her when we return.”

  “Are you okay with Harper now?”

  “She’s my sister. And from what I’ve seen and heard, she doesn’t seem so bad.”

  Rolling onto her side, she rests her head on her hand and asks, “So what’s the plan for tonight?”

  “Mom’s throwing a little dinner party tonight between the Jacksons and the McCarthy’s. Even Zach’s new old lady will be there.”

  “Hold on… Your mom has invited Lily to dinner? At your house?”

  Nodding, I reach for my cigarettes and light one up. Inhaling deeply, the cigarette crackles as it burns down, and I exhale the dark smoke up toward the ceiling.

  “After dinner, I’m going to offer to give her a ride home.”

  “She’ll never get in a car with you. Not after everything you’ve done to her lately.”

  “She will. I’ll make sure she does. You don’t need to worry about that.”

  “And what happens when you have her in the car?”

  “I’m going to scare the bitch so bad, she’ll never come back to this town again.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “As I’m
driving her home, I’ll swing by the club and pick you up. I’ll leave my gun here, so you’ll need to bring it with you when I come to get you.”

  “A gun?”

  She doesn’t tense, and she doesn’t seem put off, so I can’t help but wonder why she’s asking?

  “What do you plan to do with this gun?”

  “I thought you were all in with me?”

  “Oh, I am. I just want details.”

  This girl should be everything I want, yet I still can’t bring myself to let go of Sara and fall for her.

  “We’re going to scare the shit out of her until she agrees to leave. You can handle that, right?”

  Her smile is so devious and wicked, it lights up her face and makes my dick twitch. But it’s her eyes, ignited with mischief, that truly turns me on.

  “Anything you throw at me, I can handle.”

  Suddenly, her smile disappears and her eyes dull.

  “What?”

  “N-Nothing. I just remembered, I’ve got to be somewhere.”

  In less than a minute, she’s dressed and slipping out the door. The girl can be weird sometimes, but normally, she stays until I tell her to leave.

  Tossing my keys onto the small table as I walk through the door, I hear Mom moving around in the kitchen. Leaning against the doorframe, it takes her a full minute to realise I’m here.

  Spinning around to fry the onions, she jumps when she sees me.

  “When did you get here?”

  “Just now. Why are you cooking at three in the afternoon?”

  I didn’t think anyone was coming till 7:30.

  “I want to make sure everything is perfect.”

  That’s crazy. Mom’s food is always delicious.

  “Perfect for who? Are we having the queen over?”

  Her scowl does little to intimidate me.

  “You’re well aware of who’s coming over for dinner.”

  “So this is for Lily’s benefit? Or are we gonna poison her food and watch her plummet face-first onto her plate?”

  “Why do I think you’d actually like that to happen?”

  I shrug. I wouldn’t mind it. It certainly wouldn’t put me off my food.

  “Why go to all this trouble for her? You have fuck all to prove, Mom.”

  “I’m not proving anything.”

  “No?”

  Dumping the knife on the chopping board with a little more force than necessary, she turns to me and sighs.

  “I’m not competing against her or anything like that. I just… I want everyone to see I’m above the shit going on.”

  “But you’re what? Dying on the inside?”

  “Don’t be so dramatic,” she scolds, returning to chopping the peppers.

  “I don’t understand why you’re doing this for her.”

  “Then let me make it clear. Lily fucking McCarthy will not now, or ever, get the better of me. She’s nothing to me. She’s just Slade’s sister, and someone I’ll have to see around from time to time.”

  “But if you didn’t have to, you would be happier?” I hedge.

  “Since Harper married into the club, and Slade’s paying her bills, I don’t see her leaving any time soon.”

  Getting rid of Lily tonight is definitely the right thing to do, and I’m going to make sure my mom never has to lay eyes on her again.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Victoria

  I climb into the back of the car. Luca throws me a smirk over his shoulder, and Lily mutters a greeting I don’t quite catch.

  The gun is cold and hard against my skin as I lean back and pull it out of my pocket. Now’s definitely not the time to tell him I’m pregnant. After leaving him this afternoon, I took a test I found in the bathroom cabinet, and came close to screaming when it confirmed I was with child.

  Sitting forward, I ask, “Lily, can I ask you a question?”

  “Go on, then,” she replies with a sigh.

  “Are you jealous of Alannah?”

  Luca keeps his eyes on the road, but I know he’s listening intently.

  “What do I have to be jealous about?”

  “That she’s had Cas all these years. He was a dad to her boys, and she hasn’t had to worry about money or putting food on the table. She had it all, and still has his love.”

  She looks to Luca and snaps, “Just get me home. The two of you give me a headache.”

  Luca swings the car to the side of the road and brakes sharply, jolting us all forward.

  Reaching his hand back, I pass him the gun.

  Lily immediately goes for the door, but Luca’s faster. As soon as he locks her in, she starts screaming.

  Seeing her fear take over, I tell myself Luca promised she wouldn’t actually be hurt, and I keep my mouth shut.

  Luca’s hand shoots out and slams over her mouth. There’s no one around to hear her, anyway.

  “Shut up,” he snarls. “I’ve tried warning you, but you never listened. Tonight is your last chance to leave, or I will fucking shoot you and get rid of you myself.” His hand slips down her chin and he brings the gun up, resting the barrel against her lips.

  “Open your mouth,” he instructs.

  I’m not sure if it’s out of fear, or if she doesn’t know she’s doing it, but her mouth opens, and he slides the tip of the gun inside. Her body trembles, she’s so terrified. I turn my attention to Luca, and I see no hesitation, nor a flicker of remorse in his eyes. Only the violent desire to run this woman out of town.

  “I told you not to underestimate me, and you thought you knew better. This is your fault. Now, are you going to listen to me, or do I have to put a bullet in your skull and spend my night digging your grave before I go make nice with my shiny new sister?”

  She bobs her head up and down repeatedly. When he’s satisfied with her response, he pulls the gun out of her mouth, bringing with it a string of her saliva.

  “Now apologise to me.”

  “W-What?”

  “You fucking heard me. Apologise to me.”

  “For what?”

  “For making me do that. For making my mom cry when you’re a worthless nobody. For fucking existing.”

  “I-I’m s-sorry.”

  “I don’t think you mean it, but it’ll have to do.”

  I rub my hand over my stomach. The thought of telling Luca I’m pregnant tonight makes me more nauseous than the morning sickness I’ve had to endure over the last couple of days.

  There’s no way I can tell him I’m pregnant while he’s in this mood. Even after Lily has left, he’s going to be riding high on his success of getting rid of her for a long while. What if he turns on me? It’s not like we’re old enough to have a baby. It’s not even like he’s in love with me, or that we’d be one big happy family. This is all so messed up.

  Luca starts the car and pulls away from the side of the road, pushing the gas until I’m forced back in my seat.

  “Where am I supposed to go?” Lily whimpers, her eyes wide as she stares over at Luca.

  “I don’t care. It’s not my problem.”

  “I don’t have any money. I won’t get far.”

  “Open the glove compartment. You’ll find an envelope with enough to start over.”

  I watch her remove the envelope and open it up.

  “Ten thousand dollars. Anymore just makes you a greedy bitch, as well as a liar.”

  Luca turns onto Lily’s street and idles outside her house.

  “You have one hour. If you’re not gone by then, you won’t live to see another sunrise, I promise you that.”

  I hope she fucking listens and takes heed of his threat.

  “I swear to God, the moment you step one foot into this town again, I’ll blow your fucking head off.”

  “Slade—”

  “Slade doesn’t scare me, nor does anyone at the club. Underestimate that, and you’ll find your death faster than you will another man to slide between your legs.”

  Flinging the door open, she jumps from the ca
r and runs into the house. I climb into the front seat and wish I hadn’t. A puddle of wetness soaks through my skirt and I shriek.

  “She pissed herself! It’s all over me!”

  Luca’s reaction is to laugh. However, I do not find it funny in the slightest.

  Pushing my skirt down my legs, I leave it in a heap in the footwell and climb into the back again.

  That’s absolutely disgusting, but under the circumstances, it’s understandable.

  “If she pissed herself, that means she believed me.”

  “You forced a gun into her mouth, Luca. Anyone would believe you. Anyway, what are we going to do now?”

  “We’re going to wait and make sure she leaves. Hold on…”

  I look in the direction he’s smiling in to see Lily running out of the house with a suitcase so hastily, she doesn’t lock the door behind her.

  Stopping at her gate, she looks at us and quickly turns, making her way up the street as fast as her legs will carry her.

  She catches the last bus out of town, and it’s only then that Luca closes his eyes and leans back against the headrest.

  “You have a beautiful face, Luca—the face of an angel. But you have the soul of the devil. You’re going to have to find the balance before you cross a line you can’t come back from.”

  “Who says I’d want to come back from it?”

  Leaning forward, I rest my chin on the edge of his seat. Running my finger down his arm, he keeps his eyes on the road.

  “One day, Luca, you might find you have regrets, and you’ll have no choice but to live with them, never being able to outrun them.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  I check the clock above Mom’s head as she cooks breakfast. Luca and the Jacksons were leaving early this morning for their trip to Mercy. They should be at least a couple of hours away by now.

  Powering up my phone, I scroll through my messages and click on the thread for Luca. I know he deletes my messages, but I’ve kept every one of his. I like to read through them from time to time.