Epilogue
Cade
The dagger in my pocket is digging into my thigh in an uncomfortable way. I really should have left it at home, but you never know when I’ll need it.
Damn Firm, always infiltrating my life. No place is really safe. Not even the gay bar downtown where all the cute twinks in tiny shorts prance around.
You never know who is here to hurt you when you’re part of my family.
I’m not supposed to be here tonight. Wylder specifically told me to stay at home. To not get into trouble.
I don’t know what his problem is. It’s not like I go looking for trouble.
Trouble just has a special way of finding me.
Like it’s my best friend, really.
“Hey there,” a sweet voice says to my left, and I turn my gaze to see the most angelic face on planet Earth. Deep blue eyes peer up at me, swollen pink lips part as his tongue sweeps out and wets that mouth. He’s the prettiest thing I’ve seen all week. A beautiful butterfly.
Seems the dagger is no longer the only hard thing in my pants.
Trouble, I almost hear Wylder whisper.
I study the stranger. He’s so delicate. I could crush him as easily as the butterfly he reminds me of. There’s no way a slip of a thing like him could lead to anything bad happening.
My trademark grin spreads across my face. “Hello.”
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asks, and I raise an eyebrow. Usually they’re asking me for drinks and then to suck my cock. But I guess this is a nice change.
“Sure.”
The twink looks nervous for a second and then nods, his blond hair falling over his eyes before he pushes it back. “I’m Ansel.”
He doesn’t extend his hand, so I don’t either. And I sure as fuck don’t give him my real name. “Brad.”
“Brad?” His eyes widen and all the blood drains from his face. “Oh. Oh shoot…”
I watch in amusement as he takes a few steps away from me. He’s muttering to himself, frantically checking something on his phone. His shoulders drop as he reads something on the screen.
Then he’s heading back my way with his shoulders squared and a determined gaze. I almost buy it too.
But there’s a tremble in his lips that wasn’t there a moment ago. A slight shake in his hands.
Curiouser and curiouser.
He stutters and then shakes his head. “I mean, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you.”
The bartender decides to interrupt at this moment and we both order our drinks. I get a whiskey, straight, and Ansel gets something cute and fruity. Just like him.
I bet he tastes as sweet as he looks.
“So, what brings you here?” I ask, and he looks slightly startled, his eyes flicking from me to the bartender.
“Oh, well, I want to get fucked.”
The blunt way he says it shows his innocent-looking mouth is not so innocent after all. Hmm. This man is a contradiction of sorts. Makes me want to unscrew him. Learn what makes him tick.
Careful. That’s definitely Wylder’s voice. I ignore it. It’s fine. I can control myself. I won’t let myself get captivated by this beautiful, contrary man.
Captivation leads to obsession. Obsession leads to distractions.
Distraction leads to death.
Just a hookup. That’s all this will be. It’s fine. Not dangerous at all. “Is that so?”
He bobs his head, his hair falling over his forehead again. I fight the urge to push it back.
“It is. After this drink, I may have the courage to go through with it.”
The way he says that has me staring at him a little too long. If he needs alcohol to get through sleeping with me then I’m not sure this is a good idea at all. “Are you sure this is something you want to do if you need liquor to get you there?”
He huffs and rolls his eyes, and I have to hide my smile. Fuck, he’s adorable. “I’m an adult. One drink isn’t going to impair my ability to consent, so don’t worry about me.”
I go to point out that that wasn’t my concern, but I shrug it off. Ansel is right. He’s just some guy in a bar. I don’t need to worry about him. If he wants me to fuck him, I’m game.
Unless I’ve misread the situation entirely. “And who do you plan on propositioning?”
Ansel huffs. “You, of course. I mean, I am buying you a drink.”
I let my predatory smirk grow. “And you think you can just buy your way to my cock?”
His gaze flicks to me and to the drink the bartender sets in front of him. “Yes. I think so.”
I snort and take my own drink, gulping it down quickly.
“Am I wrong?” he asks, his pretty lips curling around the straw.
I wink at him. “Nah. I’m easy.”
Ansel looks pleased, then gulps a little more of his drink down, and sets it on the bar top, a flutter in his hands something I put down to nerves. “Come on. We can head to the bathrooms?—”
“No, those are gross,” he interrupts quickly. “How about outside? The forest. It’s quiet and…the perfect place really.”
My eyebrows rise. It’s quiet, but also cold and full of wildlife. Especially spiders. Hate those fuckers. There’s also a good chance of dangerous assholes hanging around.
Then again, I doubt we’d come across anyone more dangerous than me. There’s a reason why my name is the one scheduled for ninety-nine percent of the wet work that The Firm undertakes.
I’m not only good at it, but I fucking enjoy it.
I’m not feeling the woods, personally, but if that’s what Ansel wants, who am I to question it?
I follow that ass outside, like a hound, watching it bounce as he walks. I can’t wait to stick my dick inside of it, lift him right off his toes and make him squeal.
We move through the parking lot, Ansel turning to look over his shoulder as if he thinks I’m going to leave. But I’m not going anywhere. This butterfly is a sure thing and if anything nefarious is going on, I’ll be able to sense it.
No, this guy couldn’t hurt a fly, and if he, for some reason, attempts it…well, I can take him down. Easily.
“There’s a good place, right here. The bark on the tree is smooth…” He starts walking more quickly, and I have to lengthen my strides to keep up. Then he turns slightly, hopping over something.
I follow him and before I can process it, something grabs on to my legs.
What the fuck?
My body is jerked upward and the world is flipped upside down. A shooting pain goes up my legs, all the way to the top of my spine.
Ansel’s face is upside down too, his wide eyes staring at me in shock.
“Shit,” I murmur, trying to gather my senses. As I do, my dagger slips from my pocket and falls to the ground next to Ansel’s feet. This must be some kind of trap for animals. Old school, but effective. “Get me down from here. Use the blade.”
Ansel picks the dagger up and turns it around in his pretty fingers. He’s not moving fast enough.
“What the fuck? Get me down,” I growl.
His eyes are sad as they meet mine. “I’m so sorry, Brad. I hope you’re not hurt. I didn’t want to do this. Are you okay?”
This is the weirdest fucking situation. Did I hit my head back in the bar or something?
On the off chance it’s real, I reach out to grab Ansel. He stumbles back before my fingers can so much as even brush him. “No. No touching. I can’t…oh god, I’m so sorry.”
I huff a small laugh and then meet his upside-down gaze. “You have no idea who you’re messing with.”
His pretty lips part in surprise and confusion. Then, just as he did in the bar, he squares his shoulders. “Listen, Brad, I don’t want to do this any more than you want to be upside down. But this is what needs to happen.”
Needs to happen? Oh yes, this angelic man is full of many captivating layers. Layers that I want to pull back and explore. I don’t even mind that he appears to have trapped me in a tree.
I just want to figure out what makes his mind tick. “So, you’re not going to let me down.”
“Not yet,” he says sadly. “I’m sorry. I’ve never hurt anyone before, but…I need this. Oh god. I really don’t mean to do this…”
He swallows hard as he clutches the dagger in his palm. The tremble in his hand has turned into a steady vibration. There’s sweat running down his face, and he’s swaying in a way that suggests he’s about to faint.
Whatever my butterfly is about to do, he’s not happy about it.
Me, on the other hand? I’m ready as fuck. I know what’s coming next. And listen, I know I’m a deviant. My dick is still hard and I’m horny as hell. I honestly can’t wait to see what this little innocent butterfly has in store for me.
How fun this will be.
That’s the final thought that slips through my mind before the butt of my dagger hits my temple.
And everything goes black.