Chapter 2 #2
I laughed. "I should think of a good pet name for you. I'm not great at naming things. My parents got me a cat once, and I had to come up with his name. Want to know what I named him?"
"Fuck you. I want out of here, you big, dimwitted asshole."
"Orangy. He was a big orange fur ball. Everyone hated the name but it was the only one he responded to. After that I wasn't allowed to name anything. But don't worry, I'll come up with a good one for you."
"Are you an idiot?" Onyx shook his head. "No, scratch that. I know you're a fucking moron. What the hell do you want with me?"
"Everything." I winked at him. "And nothing."
"That makes no sense."
I shrugged as I maneuvered around the city. "I mean what I say. I will never lie to you."
His nails dug into my flesh, tearing away at it, but I wasn't removing my hand. His safety was more important to me than my very own life.
"We're here." I parked and turned to face him.
I anticipated the next punch and I grabbed hold of his slender wrists before he was able to pull back.
I kissed his reddened knuckles. "Careful, I don't want you hurt.
Next time, hit me with something less precious.
" I thought about it, and as much as I loved his hands on me, I didn't want him injuring himself.
His breathing was labored as he stared up at me.
There was no fear and I loved that even more about him.
People saw my size and instantly ran scared.
Onyx, on the other hand, just glared at me like he couldn't wait to slit my throat.
His eyes up close were more gray than blue, reminding me of a winter storm.
I unbuckled and was out of the car in record time.
I ran over to his side and opened the door.
Onyx's foot landed squarely in my midsection, knocking the wind out of my lungs.
I grunted as I stepped back slightly. I caught his foot and lowered it down to the ground.
His footprint would no doubt show up later that night.
He was littering my body with marks and making me the happiest man on the planet.
"Why did you bring me to a church?” Onyx asked.
Our hands were locked together as I pulled him closer.
"My mother wouldn't accept it any other way.
She is a devout Catholic." I kissed the top of his head, unable to resist any longer.
He smelled divine. I breathed him in as long as I could.
The jab to the throat made air scarce as I coughed and choked.
"A sick freak like you, I shouldn't even be surprised."
What was he talking about?
Damian and Nash came running out. Damian was only three years older than me but he acted as if he was ten years older most days.
Nash was right next to him, grimacing my way.
He'd been Damian's best friend growing up, and the day his parents had died in a car accident, he'd gone from a family friend to a brother.
Our parents had instantly adopted him. My mother and father both had come from huge families and had planned one of their own.
I had more siblings than most families. It was pure chaos at any given time but it was all I knew.
"Where the fuck have you been? And what happened to you?" Damian asked. He looked me over before glancing down at Onyx.
I stepped in front of him, shielding him from my brothers. It was Nash who stepped around me and groaned.
"You didn't," Nash said.
Onyx was surprisingly quiet; he stopped fighting the moment my brothers came out. I'd have to ask him why he stopped marking me when we were alone again.
"Is everyone here?"
Damian studied me. "You really going to go through with this? Mom is already freaking out in there. Dad had to clue her in just to get her to calm down. She's not too happy about you keeping secrets."
I nodded. There wasn't much I ever wanted. I had no real ambitions until I met Onyx. He'd gone by an alias back then but it only took money and time to find out the truth.
When it came to Mom, I couldn't let her know the moment Dad had. He'd tried talking me out of it along with my siblings.
"Are you okay?" I asked Onyx in a whisper.
"He looks fine, it's you who looks like you got hit by a car," Nash spat out.
I wasn't ever good at whispering. "Nope, these are all love marks."
He shook his head, his dirty blond hair falling forward before he shoved it back out of his face. "Lunatic."
Emir, one of the younger twins, appeared at my left. He glanced past me at Onyx and smiled at him. "Hi, you have no clue how much I've heard about you." He offered his hand.
"Don't touch," I growled, pulling Onyx back against me. My arms wrapped around his shoulders and midsection. I took the opportunity and breathed him in again. I dwarfed him with my size, nearly covering every inch of him.
Onyx still hadn't said anything, and I started to worry something happened since we got out of the car.
"Don't be selfish, he's joining the family. And I'm not into him anyway," Emir argued.
His twin sauntered over to us. "Don't argue, Emir. You know how he gets." Elia gave a cursory glance over at Onyx. "The outfit you wanted is in the back room. Better hurry it up, Mom and Dad are losing their shit." He grabbed his twin and they followed Nash back through the double doors.
Damian looked as if he wanted to say something, but instead, he turned too and followed behind our brothers.
"Sorry, they can all be a lot." I'd heard some of Damian's, Emir’s, and even Nash’s ex's say that. Even Prince, when he joined the family, had said our tight-knit group was overwhelming. He was now a part of the chaos, and I was certain, with time, Onyx would join in.
Or I could be selfish and keep him all to myself.
The thought was a constant one that looked favorable with every passing second I had Onyx in my company. I ushered us over to the door Elia had indicated and let it close behind us. There were two garment bags, one was bigger than the other, and I instantly knew the white one with Vera Wang logo.
"This one's yours." I unzipped mine, finding a tailored all black Armani suit waiting for me.
I stripped out of my shirt and tossed it to the side.
Pain flared over my back as wood splintered around me.
I rolled my shoulders and turned to look at Onyx.
He stared at the broken chair as if it had gravely insulted him.
"Save it for after our vows," I said, taking the chair out of his hand and tossing it to the side.
"Get dressed, we're already late. No doubt the Father will have a few words to say to me later.
I'll have to pay him a bit extra." I reached for the garment bag holding Onyx's outfit for the day. "I hope I got your measurements right."
"My what?" Onyx's head was tilted to the side, a look of pure confusion on his face.
He looked over to the bag, his mouth opening the moment he pulled the one of a kind dress out.
One of the few good things that had come from waiting to have him was I got him a custom-made wedding dress.
The top was sheer and adorned with Swarovski crystals.
The bottom was thick tulle that gave off princess vibes.
The dress was overall simple but elegant.
"How likely are chances I'll make it out of here alive after I kill you?" he asked seriously.
"No, I wouldn’t dare hurt you, and I won't let them either." Just the thought made me see red. The way my fingers curled in and the urge to punch something radiated over me.
Onyx waved me off. "With your entire family here, how likely?"
I shrugged. "They'd kill you before I drew in my last breath. I wouldn't be surprised if Nash isn't outside the door waiting." They were all protective like that. "But don't worry, I won't let anyone touch you."
"That's not reassuring." He stared at the dress. "And if I say no to this?"
A pang rang out in the middle of my chest, making it feel hollow. "I'm fine with dating, but I can't promise my family won't get in the way."
"You know who I am?" Onyx looked skeptical asking again.
"Yes, but I want to know more things that no one else in the world knows about you."
"Then you know why I'm after you."
No fucking clue.
I said nothing, not willing to admit that I had no idea why there was a new hit out on me.
But the moment I found out he was the one who'd taken the job, I'd jumped at the opportunity.
I'd like to woo him first, and then one day present him with the dress I'd had made for him, but this worked for me. Shit, it was better.
"I won't stop trying to end your life."
A grin broke out over my face. "Okay, and I promise to make you the happiest man on this earth."
"What—" Onyx put his hand up as if he wasn't really asking. His slender fingers wove through his hair before he tugged on the soft strands. "Your death will make me happy."
I thought about it, but then I'd be missing out on my time with him. It was a hard choice but I was pretty certain I had to deny him. It physically pained me to do so. My chest felt as if it was clenching and my stomach rolled.
"Sorry, I'd die for you, but I can't right now. I want to spend more time with you."
Onyx looked more perplexed than before. A knock at the door had whatever he was about to say die off.
"Hurry it up in there. Mom is now forced to pacify nonna Teresa." It sounded like Emir but it could have been Elia trying to sound sweet. They weren't above mimicking each other to fool others.
"Ready?"
"Fuck, no. I have no idea what's happening, but if given the chance to snuff your life out then I'll take it."
I laughed, a full belly chuckle. We were going to be a great married couple. "You will have plenty. Once we're married, we will look for a place and will be able to move out of the family house." I started to get dressed trying, but not succeeding, in not watching Onyx do the same.
Every exposed inch of his pale skin made my mouth water.
"I can feel you watching me." He turned around, only wearing a lacy pair of panties.
I tried for all of five seconds before my eyes dipped and I looked him up and down.
His pink nipples, tight waist, and lean muscles, all of it called to me.
Distracted, he punched me in the throat.
Oxygen and saliva became my enemy as I choked.
It felt like I couldn't get enough air in, and anytime I got some, spit ran down the wrong pipe and made it impossible to get a lungful of air in.
Onyx's arm wrapped around my throat and he tugged me further down to his level.
"The moment I get a chance, I will kill you. I hate men like you."
It didn't escape my notice that Onyx wasn't his flirty docile self that he'd shown to clients.
The rumors about him were far and wide. He was sweet and alluring until he got his prey to drop their guard.
Then the real him would appear and go in for the kill.
I was lucky enough to get the real him now.
He was more rambunctious; it only made me love him more.
"Hate me all you need to. I will take anything you give me." I broke free of his hold and kissed the tip of his nose, barely pulling back in time as his teeth snapped in my face.
Feisty.
Onyx slapped my hands. "Putain d'imbécile."
I made a mental note to really try and learn French.
The idea made my head hurt but I'd suffer through it for him.
When Onyx was dressed, I dropped down on my knees and held one of the heels in my hand.
I lifted his foot and got kicked for it.
I tried again, and this time, Onyx let me as I slipped the shoe on.
My fingers skimmed over the top of his foot and to his ankle.
A visible shiver raced over Onyx, and I couldn't help but want to see it again.
I put the other shoe on before standing up and offering my hand.
The door opened and Damian stood there with a gun in hand, aimed down. At least he was smart enough to know not to aim it at Onyx. He was my brother, but I wasn't sure what I would have done if he'd placed Onyx in harm's way.
"You two were taking so long."
I smiled. "We're ready."
Onyx, unlike before, finally spoke up. "Sorry, we were a bit busy is all." His smile was sweet and sultry.
My own grin dimmed just slightly. Why was he being sweet to my brother?
"Whatever." He put the gun away. "Anything happens to Lucero and know we will annihilate anyone you remotely care about along with you."
"Don't threaten him," I growled.
Damian didn't look my way, and that only further annoyed me. Onyx was mine and none of them could have him. I stepped toward my brother but he turned away.
"Is the whole family corrupted pieces of shit?"
A shrug was all I could muster as we headed out to the sanctuary.
We were criminals, so yeah. The moment we walked through the doors, and upon seeing my face, the small orchestra began to play music.
I knew nothing about music but I'd had Emir help me with that.
Just like Elia had assisted with getting the outfits together.
Without the twins, I would have fumbled hard but I was willing to owe them favors just so Onyx had the best day of his life.
I would have been happy with a wedding under a cardboard box, as long as it was to him.
We stepped down the aisle. My mom's eyes were wide but she smiled at me, unlike my dad. He looked warily at Onyx but didn't say anything as we stepped past them.
Finally, the day had come.