Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
THE HEATHEN
Istand in the kitchen waiting for him to start cooking, but he turns to me with a predatory glint in his eyes.
“Do you know what I think, Killer?”
I shake my head as he moves closer to me, his chest pressing against mine, and I tilt my head back to stare into his eyes. I’m trying to act strong, but end up swallowing hard because my throat is dry. He does this to me, and he knows it.
“I think you want to be degraded. Don’t you?
You don’t need a third man being nice to you all the time.
” He runs his hand up my throat, squeezing just tight enough to make my panties wet.
Whispering darkly in my ear, he says, “If you had your way, I’d force you to your knees right now, and tell you what a dirty slut you are, while slamming my cock down your throat.
You want me to hurt you. Don’t you, Killer? ”
“No,” I say, that one word coming out in a near pant.
It’s embarrassing that he winds my body up simply by speaking.
His deep voice is smooth as silk, with a hint of danger.
And I know I should run from it, but I crave it all the same.
I don’t know if I’d like the things he mentioned, but I am curious.
I can’t help but think he’d be different from his brothers.
“Little Heathen? Is everything okay?” Carter asks, and I jump as Killian releases my throat and steps back with a chuckle.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
I’m not okay. My panties are drenched, and the grin Killian is flashing me tells me he knows. My cheeks flush with embarrassment as he motions for me, and I walk over to the stove beside him.
“What’s the avocado oil for?”
“Healthy fat,” he answers as he tosses a small amount onto the asparagus, before spreading them out onto a baking sheet. He places them in the oven and arches an eyebrow.
“Wash your hands, Killer. We both know you’re a filthy girl.”
I go to the sink and pump soap on my hands as I spot Carter taking a seat at the table watching me, silently.
Turning my attention back to Killian, I ask a question I’ve been dying to know the answer to. “Why do you fight? Aren’t you worried you will get seriously hurt?”
He shakes his head like I’m an idiot, and I begin to wonder if he’ll even answer me when he finally speaks.
“I don’t know. I like it. It’s a stress reliever. Besides, we make a lot of fucking money when I fight.”
“How?” I ask.
Carter speaks up to answer my question, as I help Killian put the salmon on the grill.
“People bet on the fights. When Kill is fighting, our bets quadruple. He is our biggest draw.”
I glance at Killian with a smirk.
“Can I bet?”
He doesn’t answer my question. Instead he focuses his attention on cooking. I wait fifteen minutes, watching the clock on the wall before I repeat myself.
“Can I bet?”
He looks over his shoulder at me with an amused expression on his face.
“That depends, Killer. Are you betting for me or against me?”
I place my hands on my hips and tilt my head at him.
“That’s none of your business, sir. Can I bet or not?”
He shrugs his shoulders before taking the food off the stove, and placing it on serving dishes.
“It’s your money, Killer. One-thousand dollars is the minimum bet. I will warn you, betting against me is a losing bet.”
I can’t help but giggle.
“Last time it wasn’t, but I don’t have that kind of money anyway.”
He turns to me with a glare.
“Put the food on the table before I pull your skirt up in front of Carter and spank your ass.”
I grab the plate and scowl at him.
“He wouldn’t let you.”
Walking over to the refrigerator, he grabs a bottle of wine.
“Carter, get some glasses. Oh, and Killer, that’s another bet you’d lose.”
I roll my eyes at him and take a seat across from Carter. I’d rather sit beside him, but that’s not an option, because moving hands right next to him can cause panic attacks.
I glance between Carter and Killian as they begin eating and then at the empty seat beside me.
“Aren’t we waiting for Knox?”
Killian shakes his head.
“No, Killer. Obviously you’ve never burned a body. It takes a while. A few hours at least.”
I grab a piece of salmon and asparagus from the serving plate. I’m still undecided on the quinoa. It looks a bit like rice, but I’m not sure what it tastes like.
“It’s good, Little Heathen. Try it.”
I scoop a little on my plate, just for a taste, as Carter and Killian discuss the Snake guy that he killed.
“If he wasn’t dead from the fall, he lived through his worst fear. He had an unreal paranoia of burning.”
Carter nods in agreement.
“He was the last person I’d think of betraying us. I hope he wasn’t dead, because burning alive is a far more fitting punishment.”
Their conversation ends, and the room is quiet. The sound of silverware hitting the glass dishes causes me to cringe as I remember dinners with my family. I try to get them talking to drown out the memories of the past.
“Is there anything you guys are afraid of?”
Carter answers first.
“You know of my one and only phobia.”
I look at Killian, waiting for his response.
“Snakes. It’s not really that I’m afraid of them. I just hate the slimy fuckers.”
Gaping at him with surprise, I try to wrap my head around him being afraid of snakes. I thought for sure he’d say he wasn’t afraid of anything.
“I love snakes. They’re beautiful, and the way they move along the earth is mesmerizing. And for the record, Killian, they aren’t slimy. Their skin is dry, and covered in scales.”
He swallows his food as he points his fork at me.
“The answer is no, Killer. Don’t even fucking think about bringing one into my house.”
I smile as I pick up a bite of salmon on my fork.
“It definitely sounds like a phobia to me.”
Killian continues to glare at me as he speaks in an annoyed tone.
“Any other questions, Killer?”
I swallow hard and glance at Knox and he nods for me to ask whatever I want.
“Are you a mafia family?” I ask, my voice sounding more nervous than I’d like it to be.
Carter chuckles to himself as Knox answers me.
“No, Tesoro. I suppose we function in ways like a mafia family but no.”
Killian sighs audibly and speaks under his breath, but we can still hear him.
“If we were you’d be dead.”
I glance between Carter and Knox, ignoring the asshole across from me.
“I’ve heard the Bonetti name in reference to the mafia.”
Carter nods in between bites of his food.
“We don’t know them. They are not part of our family.”