16. Chapter 16 - Madison
Calloused fingers run over my hip, pulling me back into a firm body.
“I’m so sorry, baby.” The scent of whiskey and lavender wraps around me like a scarf and helps loosen my eyelids.
They crack open as I spin around in his arms. “Liam? What time is it?” I ask groggily.
“Just after 3 AM.” His voice is rough as his thumb skims over my still numb lip.
“Did you get what you needed from him?” My vision adjusts to the dark, taking in red-rimmed eyes and the broken skin around his knuckles.
“No. The bastard won’t break. Usually by now they would have—l don’t want to risk killing him without the information we need. So I called in reinforcements .” Resignation coats his words.
Why did he say it like that? Is Killian coming? Does he feel like he’s failing as a leader by calling in backup?
His arm curls around me, pulling me in closer. “I handled this whole night like an eejit. I’ve been walking on eggshells around you, Madison. I’m so terrified of fucking this up with you, that I am quite literally fucking this up with you. I was so damn terrified when one of my men came in to alert me of the active shooter. All I could think of was that you weren’t next to me. I couldn’t protect you. I couldn’t shield you from a fucking bullet. I may have trained you well, Madison, but you're not bulletproof. When my search came up empty after checking the restroom and then the two rooms before the one I found you in, my heart sunk. I couldn’t handle the possibility that you had been shot or killed. The moment I got to the third room and saw you laying prone there at the entrance, and that bastard on the floor behind you—I shut down. My brain just kept reminding me of what could have happened and not fully comprehending that you were safe in my arms. That you had taken him down yourself.”
“I’m okay, Liam. You trained me well,” I try to reassure him, still groggy.
His chest rumbles against mine as he lowers his forehead to mine. “I can’t lose you, Madison.”
“You didn’t,” I whisper, looking up into his worried eyes.
“No, I didn’t.” His hands cup my face before he lowers his lips to mine. He’s gentle at first, careful of my stitches. My eyes close, savoring this moment. When we break apart, I lower my head to his chest as his arms lock around me. I’m not sure how long I stay like that, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart, the calming rise and fall of his chest. Lavender and cedarwood are a deadly combination, finally bringing some peace to my racing mind.
My nails comb through his hair before I pull him closer to me. Featherlight strokes of his fingertips tickle my skin as they lift the hem of my sweatshirt. Hesitating a moment, his eyes search mine, asking silent permission to continue. I reach down and help him lift it over my head. Next to go are my sweatpants. Torturously slow, he unties the string that keeps the oversized pants clinging to my hips. I shimmy out of them, kicking them down to the bottom of the bed. I’m left naked and bare for him under these sheets.
The tips of his fingers glide down over the swells of my breasts and circle each nipple, which hardens at his touch. Each of his palms cups around them as he reacquaints himself with my body. After giving my breasts attention, he moves on to trail his hands down the curve of my waist and over my ass, squeezing it before tugging me closer. All I can feel is the heat between our bodies and the massive erection he has pressed to my center.
“These need to go,” I sigh breathlessly, tugging off his sweatpants. He kicks them to the bottom of the bed near mine.
I find my courage, gripping his cock in my palm and running it up and down. Pre-cum beads at the tip, encouraging me to rub it around the swollen head. His fingers circle my clit at the same pace I’ve set with him. Teeth nip at my neck before his lips find the base of my throat.
Two fingers slip into my throbbing entrance. I hook my leg over his hips before rolling on top of him. He continues to finger fuck me, letting me ride his fingers as I grip his cock from behind, pumping it.
A moan slips out as I toss my head back. My walls clench around his fingers as his cock twitches in my hand.
“Get the condoms. Now,” I huff out. “I need this, Liam.”
His hand slides away from my core to reach into his end table drawer. The crinkle of plastic opening shoots waves of anticipation through me.
Liam lifts his hips with me on them to sheathe himself. His hands land back on my waist, gripping it tightly as if I may disappear.
I rise and line myself up, sinking slowly down onto his cock. A hiss leaves my lips at the twinge and fullness I feel. It’s been over a year since I’ve had sex. My hips move, remembering how easily we fit together. He meets my thrusts, lifting his hips as mine come down. Our sighs and moans mixed with the sound of slapping fills the room. As my pace picks up so does my blooming orgasm. Liam’s cock swells inside me—he’s close.
Eager fingers grip my hips almost bruisingly as his jaw clenches. The door to his room creaks open. Liam slams into me over and over again, ignoring whoever is there. As an orgasm is ready to tear through me, I somehow manage to force my head towards the door.
Diego is there. His shadowy figure leaning against the door, arms crossed over his chest, watching us. Amused. Turned on.
That should have been a bucket of cold water on my libido. Instead, it makes me moan out.
“You like him watching us, baby?” Liam growls as he continues slamming into me unrelentlessly. “Show him how good you are at riding my cock.”
Another moan rips up my throat as my pussy clenches around his pulsing length.
Diego comes up next to us on the bed and grips my neck, curling his fingers around my jaw. Coconut mixes with the smell of lust and lavender as he leans down to kiss me roughly. His tongue runs over the stitches. His other hand dips between my folds, circling my clit. Stars blur my vision, the edges an aurora of changing colors.
My body explodes with pleasure.
Screaming my ecstasy into his mouth.
“ Mariposita… ” he sighs.
“ Mariposita… ” Soft, minty lips brush against mine as the feeling of his fingers register around my neck. It’s not rough. He’s ever so gentle, just enough to stir me from sleep. I open my eyes to find Diego sitting at the edge of the bed.
“ Diego ? What…” I look around the room in a daze. Sweat be ads on my chest under my sweatshirt. I’m in Liam’s guest room bed. No one is here but the two of us. A very clothed Diego is looking down at me with a mixture of amusement and anger. Those ocean eyes of his have me wanting to pick up right where I left off in that dream.
A dream.
Fuck . Was any of it real? What Liam said to me. He was here, I could have sworn he was here.
Knuckles caress my cheek as his gaze drops down to my busted lip and then my neck. The muscle in his jaw pulses, taking in the bruising that has started to bloom there.
“He’s going to wish Liam ended his pathetic life once I get started on him. But first… care to tell me what you were just dreaming of?” His lips twitch and heat flares in my cheeks.
“I… uhh…was I talking?” I stammer, full of embarrassment.
“I wouldn’t say you were talking…more like moaning and some names were mentioned.” Lust coats his words, making them come out raspy. Warm fingers graze the hem of my sweatpants where the sheet sits. His thumb paints invisible circles over my exposed skin.
“Is that something you would want? The both of us at once?” His voice is like gravel, rough and full of curiosity.
“I’m… I’m not sure. I think maybe it’s just the idea of it that turns me on.”
“I may be one kinky son of a bitch, but I don’t share. For you, I would be willing to make an exception. If that’s something you would want to explore.”
He stands, throwing the sheet off me, and extends a hand.
“But first, I need you to see this, see me— The Bone Breaker. You’ll witness the worst parts of me. That way, when you decide, you will know who truly lurks under this skin.”
I place my hand in his and slip on a pair of Liam’s slides. I’m not afraid of him. We head in the direction of the backyard, I’m assuming to the shed Liam had mentioned .
“Why didn’t you answer your phone? I called you a few times. Liam rang me earlier to tell me what happened and that he needed help interrogating. I was done with my assignment early. Thank fuck for that. Had the jet ready to take me right to Connecticut.”
“My purse is back at the club. I must have dropped it during the commotion,” I rasp, my voice groggy from sleep.
“Ahh. Speaking of… I heard you took that motherfucker down, knocked his lights out.” A smile is spread across his face, revealing his straight white teeth and adorable dimple. “I’m fucking proud of you, Mariposita . So fucking proud, baby. I’m sorry you got hurt. I absolutely hate seeing you like this. But trust me, they will pay. You’ll see that,” he snarls.
It’s a promise. Without a shadow of a doubt, he’ll be serving his own version of justice.
We walk hand in hand through the woods at the back of Liam’s property. The sun is rising, the first set of rays are starting to peek through the trees.
“Thank you, Ocean Eyes. I’ll be alright. It’s only a few stitches,” I say, attempting to pacify him by downplaying my injuries.
“It’s five. And your neck? Does it hurt? I’m sure it brought back some unpleasant memories.”
“It did—briefly—but then I remembered what you told me. To not let my fears control me by spiraling out of control. This wasn’t Geraldo. I wasn’t back in that cell.”
His arm tightens around my waist as he kisses my temple. “It’s okay to have felt that way. That doesn’t make you weak, baby. I just wish I was here. Coming down from an adrenaline spike is rough. You feeling okay now?” he asks, rubbing his palm up and down my arm.
“Yeah. I actually feel much better.”
“You’re welcome,” he teases smugly.
I elbow him in the ribs. “Cocky, bastard. ”
A deep laugh echoes through the woods as we approach the opening to a field. A decent sized shed sits there. It’s more like an old stable than a shed. Conor and Ryan are guarding the front. Liam is sitting by the door in a folding chair. Blood is caked all over his fingers as he sits there smoking a cigarette. His head snaps up at our approach.
“Why is she here, Diego?” he snarls.
“She’s here because she needs to see this. She needs to see what we are all capable of. Stop shielding her from it. Let her get the full picture so she can decide what she wants.”
Liam’s eyes widen at Diego’s suggestion–well, I wouldn’t call it that. We all know Diego isn't asking for Liam’s permission. His eyes drift over to me.
“You sure you’re okay with this?” His eyebrows come together in confusion. Understandably . I was just sleeping after having a major panic attack, and now I’m here, about to witness torture and death.
I straighten my spine. “I’m sure.”
The man who attacked me is chained to a chair in the middle of the room. All sorts of tools and knives are hung throughout. The only thing missing is the horror music . Liam is leaning against the door, arms crossed over his chest and wearing an angry sneer directed at Diego.
Diego could give two shits, his back is to Liam anyway. The Bone Breaker is inspecting all the tools dangling from hooks along the wall, getting familiar with the inventory. Already, he has shifted into the man the underworld fears. Even his body language screams run the fuck away .
It’s slow. Calculated. Lethal.
Every step he takes makes the semi-conscious man twitch .
“I assume you know who I am?” Diego states casually, continuing to check his inventory.
The man’s mouth is bound. He doesn’t speak regardless. Those eyes however, scream with recognition. I noticed that the second Diego sauntered in.
Clinking fills the space as the man I married collects his tool of choice. It’s some sort of plier. Oh, God. Like a predator playing with his prey, he circles the man, repeatedly throwing the plier in the air and catching it.
Then suddenly, like a snake, he darts out, leaning over the chair and getting face to face with my attacker. “Who are you working for?” he barks.
Silence.
“Can you hear me?” he bellows, cupping his hand over his mouth like a megaphone. When the man doesn’t even blink, let alone respond, Diego continues his mental fuckery. Shrugging he says, “If you aren’t going to listen, I guess we won’t be needing these…”
Gripping the tip of the man’s ear with the pliers, he tugs while pulling a sharp knife from the back pocket of his jeans and slicing his ear clean off. My attacker screams behind the gag. Tears drip down his face and onto his bloodied torn shirt.
It hits the floor and I feel light headed.
Jesus Christ.
Liam takes a step towards me. The heat of him registers at my back.
Diego circles again before leaning over and lowering his voice to a whisper. “Luckily, you have two…Can you hear me now?” he teases into the man’s remaining ear. When the guy nods vehemently, Diego laughs to himself. “Good.” Cleaning his knife on the man’s shirt, he places it back in his pocket.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot.” The Bone Breaker slams his boot down onto one of them. A crunching noise fills the space along with a groan of agony .
“Again, good thing you have two…” Diego chuckles cryptically. “You see the trend here, Mateo? Or would you prefer I call you MJ? Hmm… maybe just Junior .”
Mateo? Junior? As in Mateo—Geraldo’s right-hand man…This must be his son…
“Fuck you,” Mateo seethes behind the gag.
Diego’s fist flies out, plowing into the man’s jaw. Blood sprays all over him and Diego. Normally, blood doesn’t bother me—or gore, for that matter.
Right now, I feel like gagging. I turn my head away from the gruesome scene unfolding before me.
“Hmm.. now what would Mateo’s son want with Madison? Revenge… That’s why you’re here. I’ll ask one more time. Are you working alone?”
When Mateo continues with his silent act, Diego strolls over to the tools and claims a sawzall. My heart beats harder in my chest wondering what he’ll do with it.
I can’t turn away, needing to see this through.
Unintentionally, I step back, feeling Liam’s rigid body press against mine. Whether he knows it or not, he’s giving me the strength I need to continue standing here.
“My bad. Here, let me help you with this,” Diego says like a bro.
The saw clicks on. As the serrated blade pulses, Mateo’s eyes widen, registering just how much pain he’s about to experience. The Bone Breaker slices through the fabric of his bindings and further down his lip until he reaches the bottom of his chin. Excruciating screams echo through the small space, encouraging me to close my eyes and lean further into Liam.
“That’s much better.” Diego drops the saw to the floor, prompting me to open them again. He’s leaning over Mateo, gripping his face between his clenched fingers. Blood pours over them and runs down Mateo’s chin and neck. Crimson stains his shirt and the floor below them .
“My wife needed stitches to close the wound to her lip. The wound you gave her. Was only fair to repay the favor. But they don’t call me The Bone Breaker for nothing, Mateo. I’ve actually taken quite an interest in teeth these days. Perhaps I should become a dentist. My wife told me comedy was out. Apparently, she doesn’t like my jokes.” He looks at me and winks before turning back. “Better stick to what I know.”
Shoving the pliers into Mateo’s mouth, he wiggles it around until he starts gagging on his own blood. “For every stitch my wife needed, you will lose a tooth. And I hate to break it to you, asere , but she needed five.” After another strangled scream pierces the air, Diego leans back to admire a molar clasped in the plier.
“I’m working alone. You killed my father and cousins. That bitch had you switching teams so fast. It wasn’t until she showed up that you let a little pussy get in the way of your duty. My father had big plans. She ruined it all,” Mateo mutters malevolently over a mouthful of blood, before hanging his head and sobbing through the pain.
Diego slams his fist into Mateo’s ribcage, making his head jerk back. The sound of cracking assaults my ears. I inhale sharply. Liam’s hand comes up to my shoulder to grip it firmly.
“We can go. You don’t need to see the rest, sweetheart,” Liam whispers urgently.
I should run the fuck away.
Update: I don’t.
Diego issues a vicious kick to Mateo’s chest causing the chair to collapse backwards from the force. His head slams against the metal frame, causing more blood to pool on the floor beneath them.
Surprisingly, he’s still conscious.
Leaning over him, Diego pulls the pliers back out. One by one he rips the remaining teeth out through agonizing screams.
My breathing has intensified and shallowed. Liam rubs up and down both my arms now as my body shakes under his touch. “ Madison… ” he begs for me to leave.
“What plans did he have, Mateo ?” Diego growls, his voice deep and menacing.
“ I was going to be leader. My father was going to eliminate both you and Geraldo. But then this pretty little puta came along and disrupted those plans. I was going to enjoy your wife and make you watch as I claimed her and your kingdom. For what you did to my father and cousins.” Mateo laughs and coughs, spitting buckets of blood onto the floor next to him.
Diego goes deathly still.
Only his fingers twitch.
“Liam, take her out of here, please. I’m afraid Madison will never look at me again after what I am about to do.” He says it so calmly and with so much conviction, it leaves no room for negotiation.
Anxious anticipation ripples through my body in the same way it has to be zipping through Mateo’s.
“Come on, love. Let’s go.” Liam tugs at my waist, trying to get me to move, but my feet literally can’t. It’s impossible at the moment to get my brain to get my goddamn feet to move. I just stare at the man I’m married to.
I’m not afraid of him.
And I really fucking should be.