18. Chapter 18 - Diego
Mahogany water circles the drain before slowly transitioning to pink. Pumping a healthy portion of shampoo into my hand, I begin to scrub the fuck out of my scalp. This is the part of the night I yearn for. As savage and grueling as my job can be, and as thrilling as it feels in the moment, reality sets back in and all I want is this fucking blood and viscera off me. Where some men of the underworld wear it like a badge of honor or a goddamn trophy, I see it as another reminder of a life I can never escape.
Even if I wanted to, it runs deep in my veins, this need to end those who have wronged me or my family. To draw out their agony as they have to countless others.
And it just so happens that I’m the best in the game at it…
They don’t call me The Bone Breaker for nothing. I’ve earned that title. It’s one I’m willing to maintain—be it everything goes right with my resurrection. Everyone I’ve ever tortured and killed, deserved to die.
Mateo was no different. For his wrongdoings and plot against not only my life but my wife’s as well. Beyond that, he was just as corrupt and evil as his bastard father and my piece of shit uncle. Men like that will never make it far. Power drives them to extremes and at some point that need for power makes them sloppy. Tonight proved just how sloppy MJ had become. I mean, really ? Entering a heavily armed club? One man. No back up. What did he expect? It’s a miracle he even made it far enough to get Madison alone.
I scrub at my skin with body wash, letting the loofah scratch my skin raw, before I step under the spray. My fingers sift through my hair as pink suds drift down my body and are discarded down the drain. Eventually, the water runs clear and so does my mind.
Thoughts of my wife soothe me as I inhale a deep breath. Safe and finally asleep in Liam’s arms. It doesn’t appear the two of them had done anything sexual—considering Madison is clothed and Liam still has dried blood caked onto his skin.
Even if they had, I’m not bothered.
Liam is able to offer Madison solace during tense situations like tonight. He provides her with a type of comfort I may not always be able to.
Coddling isn’t in my name.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want to offer her it when I can. I’ve grown softer with Madison. She has access to the side of me no one other than my baby sister will ever have. A gentleness only they hold the biometric key to. In my humble opinion, not always coddling Madison has made her grow stronger. And it’s a fucking beautiful sight to bear witness to.
My cock grows hard just thinking about how she stood up to Mateo tonight. And that’s not the only thing swelling. Immense pride blooms in my chest knowing she took that asshole down all by herself.
Anxiety riddled me when I couldn’t get in touch with my little butterfly. The phone just rang and rang and kept going to voicemail. I planned on coming home regardless. I missed my woman. Whether she admitted it or not, she missed me too. But it was that nagging feeling something was off that had me boarding our jet with haste.
When Liam called me, explaining what happened, and asked for my help, a sense of reassurance slithered its way in, buffing out the sharp edges of my anxiety. Madison risked her life to come back on that yacht to help me. She stayed with me on the island even when Liam was there to save her. My incredible woman braves any challenge. That fucking fortitude of hers inspires me every time I see her in action. The second the words left Liam’s mouth, I knew she was safe. That she handled it.
Fuck . What I wouldn’t give to have seen her take him down.
On the other hand, I don’t hold that much restraint. Only when it comes to her. The second Mateo’s fingers so much as touched her perfect skin, I would have beat him until he was unrecognizable. No one touches what is mine and gets away with it—as clearly proven tonight.
Mateo paid for his sins in more than blood.
I could have drawn it out a lot longer. The mental fuckery was way more thrilling than breaking as many of his bones as I could before ending his pathetic life. The intense desire to get back and hold Madison in my arms is what ended my interrogation prematurely.
Seeing her handle my form of torture was sweet relief. She could have fled. Part of me, the fucked up part that knows she’s too good for me, wanted her to. Shock hit me when she stood her ground—even when I amped it up. I drew a line when Mateo voiced what he wanted to do to my sweet little butterfly. The red-hot anger that coursed through me warned me to get her out of there.
I wasn’t holding back.
I wasn’t dragging it out.
I was going all in.
Every blow to his body, every slice with my knife, I saw her beautiful face. I saw what is so fucking precious in my life. Never seeing her again, never hearing her beautiful laugh, or being on the receiving end of her quick-witted comments had me in a monsoon of blood.
Mateo was a dripping, mangled mess when my fury finally eased up. Had Madison seen that, she would have ran. And I would have let her. Liam was right in some ways, wanting to shield her from this side of us.
It’s selfish, really .
While I agree she absolutely should not have witnessed my savage meltdown, seeing my handiwork allowed her to form her own opinions about the monsters lurking under my skin. They may have only breached the surface while she was there, but it was enough.
She proved she can handle me.
It was the trauma she would endure from the rest of my techniques that was not necessary.
And between us— I think Liam was happy to take her away… he was looking a little green.
With one last rinse, I shut off the water and step out onto the mat. I search around for towels but come up empty. Looks like I’ll be using a hand towel next to the sink. I claim it, making quick work of drying my body before realizing I have no extra clothes in here. My suitcase is on the bench at the edge of the bed.
Eh…Fuck it.
A few lingering water droplets cling to my naked body as I parade out into the bedroom in a swirl of steam. I’m sure Liam’s view is comical at best. My cock sways between my legs as I saunter over to my luggage. Liam’s eyes bug as he cradles Madison’s sleeping body to him before shifting her back down to the mattress.
“Christ, Diego. Ya couldn’t spare me the goddamn visual?” He stands, huffing out his irritation.
I let out a boisterous laugh knowing damn well he’s comparing the size of my cock to his. Madison stirs. She moans crankily before sitting up disorientedly.
Beautiful. Stunning. Mine .
She touches her cheek, where the bruising is worsening before looking between the two of us. Half-lidded chocolate eyes widen like saucers as she takes in my now jutting cock. I’m tempted to grab it and stroke it with the look on her face. Except…that may prompt her to reenact her dream. And selfishly, I want her all to myself tonight.
Of course, Liam’s dumb ass is still standing by the bed, arms crossed looking at her like she hung the moon. Madison’s gaze volleys between the two of us until her attention lands on my chest and then gradually dips lower.
Lust courses through me, my cock twitching with a carnal need to have her. To take her right now. A delicious blush creeps up her cheeks before she crosses her legs at the ankle. Don’t think I didn’t notice the little squirm that followed.
“Diego. What the actual fuck? Why are you naked? She points her index finger my way before directing her attention back to Liam’s lingering presence. Pointing her finger his way, she asks appalled, “And what the hell are you still doing here?”
“I was just going to shower. I wanted to make sure you were okay, love. I tried to give you two… privacy when Diego came in. You clung to me like a pair of wet jeans. I couldn’t leave ya like that.”
She nods, biting her lower lip and running her tongue over the stitches at the corner. “Thanks, Liam. Please, don't let me keep you any longer.” Her nervous fingers lace together before she says, “Go get cleaned up. Sorry I kept you hostage.”
“Not a problem. Anytime. I mean it, Madison. Everything we talked about earlier. If you ever need me. I’ll be there.” He winks. A small smile tugs at his lips before he stomps out of the room like a dark cloud, clicking the door shut behind him.
Shiiiit. What’d I miss ?
I dig through my black leather bag in search of a pair of sweatpants. The heat of Madison’s stare penetrates me like a tanning bed. It takes great dedication to continue my task of pushing my feet through each leg before pulling the waistband up. Blood rushes south, tenting the crotch. My little butterfly slides off the bed, her bare feet molding to the floor as she plods over to me. Warm arms wrap around my ribs as she lays her head against my chest. Her cheek rests over the butterfly tattoo as my heart beats steadily against her face. A deep breath rattles her chest when she releases a built up sigh.
Instinctively, my arms wrap around her, pulling her flush against me. I lower my chin to rest on the top of her head.
“Want to talk about it?”
She shrugs in my arms. “Which part?”
“Any of it? All of it?” I shrug as well.
“I’m not afraid of you, Diego. And I should be. I should run…far… far …away,” she whispers.
“That’s a valid statement. I can be a scary motherfucker. Yet, here you are,” I confirm, tightening my arms around her and pressing my cheek firmly to her head.
A small giggle breaks the tension between us. A symphony to my ears, clearing out all the phantom screams. Like ghosts, they linger around after a tough assignment or interrogation session.
“Yet, here I am. Kinda hard to run when you have a loaded gun pressed to your stomach.” Her one eyebrow arches in challenge.
Mmm. Feisty. I love her like this.
I slide my hands up the curves of her body, lifting the sweatshirt she’s wearing and stripping it off her. My fingers dip into the waistband of her sweatpants, pushing them to the floor. They are Liam’s anyway. I don’t need my girl in his clothes.
A streak of desperation hits me as my hands find her face, fingers fanning out around her ears and clinging to the nape of her neck. Soft lips find mine, the prickle of stitches nudging against my skin before I even lower my head. Her hot, needy tongue glides over my lower lip before tangling with my own. The tips of her fingers press against each of my shoulder blades, digging in and pulling me tighter against her body.
I lower my head pressing kisses to her neck, over each bruise formed there. A shiver races up her spine as goosebumps spring up over her bare breasts. My greedy hands cup each one, toying with the puckered nipples. Madison releases a pleased moan, throwing her head back, giving me better access to the column of her throat.
My teeth graze over the space at the base, before my tongue licks up the gorgeous length of it. As my lips find hers once more, I pick her ass up, her legs finding their place around my hips. Her arms circle my neck as I hold her with one hand, tossing the comforter and sheets to the bottom of the bed. My knee finds the mattress before I lower us down onto it. I hover above, admiring those sparkling eyes.
“I’m not running anymore, Diego. I’m yours— only yours —if you’ll still have me. I don’t want to be anywhere else,” she confesses breathily.
Like the Grinch, my heart feels like it just grew three sizes larger.
Twice more, I kiss her, leaving the both of us breathless. “You, Mariposita , are not only etched into my skin,” I say, placing her hand on my chest, “But are etched into my very soul. Not having you would mean this erratic heart beating beneath your fingers has ceased.”
A radiant smile spreads across her face. I’d kill anyone who threatened to take it away from me. Her determined hand slides down my chest, dipping below the waistband of my sweats. I stop her, cuffing her wrists with my fingers.
“I would love nothing more than to hear my name sung from this beautiful mouth. But, I refuse to fuck my wife in her ex’s house. An ex I have come to respect.” I shift the both of us until we are vertical and drag the covers back over us. My arms drape around her center, pulling her back against my chest. “Tomorrow is a new day—and I plan on ravishing you. So sleep, beautiful. You are safe, you are mine, and you are loved. So . Fucking . Much . I love you, Mariposita .”
Her body snuggles in closer until there is nothing between us but the heat of our bodies. “I love you, Ocean Eyes. ”
It’s the first time she’s actually said it. Madison loves me back. Nothing could have prepared me for what it felt like hearing those three little words. Five, if you add in the nickname she gave me. The one that drives me wild. My wife fucking loves me back. Damn. I sit here in awe and elation knowing she’s mine in every sense of the word.
Legally, spiritually, and romantically.
A few heartbeats later, silence fills the room. Her breathing has slowed and shallowed. Just when I think she’s fallen asleep, my sassy woman says, “I’m holding you to that.”
A deep laugh rumbles my chest, shaking her and I. I place a kiss on her shoulder blade.
“Go to sleep, gorgeous. You’re going to need it.”