Chapter 16
Tatum
I needed this.
I thought we were just going to have a couple of drinks but then Vivian and Nova declared we needed new outfits and to have fun. Wanting nothing more than to keep my mind off Alex, I agreed. Vivian loaned me the dress. Nova did my hair and makeup. When I saw myself in the mirror, I couldn’t stop staring, I have never thought of myself as beautiful until now.
The guys have been awesome. The four of them refused to even have a drop of alcohol because they wanted to be alert while me and the girls drank. I admit, I have been jealous seeing Nova and Vivian with their men, it makes me miss a certain someone who I will not name because he is nothing to me.
My mind agrees with me but my body burns for a hint of his touch. Just his presence alone has me burning hot with need. Today I was blindsided by that bitch. I never expected him to show up when I called Omen for help, I thought at the very least he would text me with a name or some background information on the owner of the cars. My mind has been a mess since we left. I started to unwind after a couple of drinks, but then we went to Hell Bent and everything was great. The music was good and the drinks were going down easier than Alex’s cock sliding inside me but I had to go to the bathroom. The girls offered to come but I waved them off and went by myself.
Big mistake.
I just rounded the corner out of sight of them and the guys when I was yanked into a dark corner. I screamed but then a hand clamped over my mouth.
“Shh, it’s just me.” My eyes widened at the sound of my brother’s voice. I threw my arms around him and held him tightly. He pushed me back and looked down at me with an unreadable look in his eyes that had me feeling uneasy.
“What are you doing here?”
“Why the fuck are you with them?” he snapped.
I recoiled at his harsh tone. “They’re my friends, Nexus.”
“They are trying to kill me and ruin my life,” he argued. Guilt churned inside me. I dropped my gaze to my gold stilettos unable to meet his gaze. “You need to come with me.” When he grabbed my arm I yanked it back.
“Why?” I asked.
He shot me a scathing look that had my hackles rising. “We need to get back to the De Santis compound.”
“ De Santis ?” I hiss.
“Yes,” he growls.
I shake my head. “I met that bitch today. I’m not going anywhere near that cunt.”
“Desire is the one helping me and she will help you too if you just learn to keep your mouth and your fucking legs closed.”
I gasp, my hand itching to smack him but I refrain. “What the fuck are you saying, Nexus?” My tone is filled with ice at his insinuation.
“Stop fucking that bastard and she will let you go free but if you keep?—”
“Weren’t you the one who told me to fuck him?” I snap.
“Yeah well, things change and Desire doesn’t want you near him. I can’t keep saving your ass if you keep fucking up.”
I stare at him in shock as hurt threads its way through me. “All I have done since I found out you were my brother is save your ass. I’ve been bending over backwards to keep you safe?—”
“How is letting that cunt inside you helping me?” This time I can’t control my anger and I do slap him. We both stand here stunned at my actions. He slowly turns back to face me. My eyes are wide and my mouth is agape, unable to believe I just hit my brother.
Nexus’s eyes darken and I still as he presses in closer until my back is flush against the wall. “You made the wrong choice. All you had to do was distract him while we made our move and you couldn’t even do that because you went and caught feelings for the fucking Butcher.”
I jolt. “What are you talking about?”
A cruel smile crosses his face. “We knew he wouldn’t be able to resist you, you remind him too much of her for him to turn his back. We just needed him to fixate on you enough to get sloppy and he did. She knows everything now and it’s only a matter of time before I’m free of him and you .”
Tears prick the backs of my eyes. “What are you saying?” I whisper.
“I knew about him and the De Santis family. I know everything.” He pulls back and smiles wickedly. “I knew exactly who his sister was. All of this has been a game and you just got caught in the middle.”
Shame washes over me, everything I have been told about my brother is true, he used me. “You murdered an innocent girl, didn’t you?” My voice trembles but I don’t care.
“It was a condition of our working arrangement.” I reach out to grip the front of his hoodie.
“He’s going to kill you.” Nexus reaches up and cups my cheek. I implore him with my eyes to tell me this was all a joke and that he didn’t mean any of this. My heart is racing and I’m praying I wasn’t a fool and blinded by my need for a family so bad that I didn’t see I was getting played.
“He can try, but we’ll get to him first.” I drop my hold on him and shake my head. “You were supposed to choose me. I really do care about you, Tator Tot?—”
“Nexus, you’re my brother and I love you, please don’t do this.”
“It’s because you love me that I know you will never let him come after me even if Desire loses. You can’t sell out your own brother and that is my greatest strength and your biggest weakness.” He releases me and disappears out the fire exit without a backward glance.
After Nexus left, I started doing shots, needing to drown the pain. When some girl bumped into me I lost it and started hitting her. We were kicked out, which is why we’re now at Mint Kitty. I’m buzzing and loving how the alcohol is numbing my pain and washing away the memory of what happened. I know the girls are worried about me and want to know what has put me in a mood but I ignored them and dragged Hayze to the dance floor. Nova joins us while Vox stands off to the side keeping an eye on us. Vivian and the other two have gone to get us another round.
Just as I start to let loose and spin around, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I know he’s here. I don’t bother looking for him because I know he’ll find me, he’s proven there is nowhere I can run or hide where he won’t catch me. I continue dancing with Hayze but the second his gaze snaps above my head a small smirk crosses his lips. I know he can see him. Hayze steps back and shoots me a wink, then moves toward Nova as an arm wraps around me from behind. I close my eyes and inhale. His scent engulfs me and I hate how just his smell and presence can ease the ache in my chest. I shouldn’t want him like this, even with all the alcohol in my system it still doesn’t dull how my body reacts to him.
He bends down and brushes his lips against the shell of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. I don’t bother trying to mask it, he already knows the effect he has on me.
“It’s time to go home, Bambi.” I close my eyes and melt into him and allow myself a minute to relish in the feeling of him holding me. When I open them again, I see Nova, Vox and Hayze all staring at me with looks of concern. I smile reassuringly before turning in Alex’s hold and looking up at him. He searches my eyes and whatever he sees in them has him clenching his jaw. “Who hurt you?”
I shake my head. “Why are you here?” I ask, avoiding his question.
He reaches out with his free hand and grips the back of my neck. “I’m here for you.” The honesty in his tone floors me. “You can either walk out of here on your own or I’ll throw you over my shoulder, but either way, Tatum, you are leaving here with me.”
The fucking balls on this guy!
“Ah, no. I’m staying here with my friends,” I rebuke. He sighs tiredly and nods. I smirk triumphantly until he reaches his arm out to the side as if he’s Thor calling Mjohir . Not a second later a jacket sails through the air. I follow where it came from and see Omen standing there with a smirk. I frown but then Alex wraps the jacket around my waist. I’m about to protest but the fucker bends down and launches me over his shoulder.
“Put me the fuck down!” I scream as I begin punching his back. I look up to see my friends all standing there smiling. I spot Vivian who mouths sorry —boss or not I flip her off, then go back to punching Alex’s back and kicking my legs.
“Unless you want to give everyone a view of my pussy stop fucking kicking!” he snaps, then lands a swift smack to my ass that has me yelping.
“It’s my pussy, asshole!” I scream. When I hear laughter, I look up to see his four asshole friends following behind us.
“Wrong. It’s mine and it's time you start admitting that shit to yourself.”
“Like fuck, Butcher,” I growl, then clamp my mouth closed when a wave of dizziness washes over me and I start feeling nauseous. I swallow the bile I feel rushing up my throat. “Alex, I don’t feel good,” I groan when he steps outside of the club.
“Fuck,” he curses, then carefully sets me on my feet. I sway. He grabs my waist and keeps me steady. I try to focus on his face but suddenly all the drinks I inhaled have finally caught up to me. “You’re going to be rethinking your life choices when you wake up tomorrow.”
I pout and flop forward against him, resting my head against his chest. His arms band around me like armor.
“I’m rethinking them now,” I mutter. A deep baritone laugh escapes him and I realize I love the sound of his laugh and want to hear it more.
“We need to move,” I hear Halo say and shake my head. Alex sighs and lifts me but this time it’s bridal style. He slides into the back of his car but doesn’t release me, he keeps me on his lap as the others climb in. I find I don’t mind being this close to him and snuggle in closer.
“Airport?” Vatican asks.
“Yeah, the plane’s waiting,” Alex answers. A yawn escapes me and when he starts running his fingers through my hair, my eyes close and a moan escapes me. I feel him tense beneath me but say nothing.
“If you two start getting handsy I’m pulling over and you can catch a fucking Uber,” Pope barks. I smile tiredly feeling utterly content.
“Just fucking drive, Pope, the quicker we get to the plane the faster we get the fuck out of here,” Alex snaps.
“My feet hurt,” I groan. I don’t open my eyes when I feel someone removing my shoes, I just sigh and melt into Alex further.
“Shit, I just got a text from Sean,” Vatican growls.
“What happened?” I think it’s Omen who spoke but I can’t be sure because I’m slowly drifting off to sleep. I’m grateful because my head is spinning and if I open my eyes I’m going to throw up.
“Desire stopped their plane from taking off, some of the guys have been arrested.” My eyes snap open at Vatican’s mention of that bitch. Instantly I regret opening them when my stomach churns. I swivel on Alex’s lap and roll the window down. He tries to hold me but I shove him away and pop my head out the window just in time for me to empty the contents of my stomach.
“Oh, that is fucking classy,” I hear one of the guys mutter.
“Shut the fuck up!” Alex roars as I continue dry heaving. He gathers my hair in his hand and holds it back from whipping my face. The car doesn’t slow, if anything our speed picks up. When I’m sure I have nothing left to throw up, I flop back inside the car. Alex instantly locks his arms around me and secures me to his front. He pulls the jacket from my waist and wipes my mouth. I admit, that move makes me swoon a tiny little bit.
I sit up straighter and look beside us to see Halo staring at me with a look of disgust. I roll my eyes. “Oh, but a girl choking on your dick is hot?” I bite out. The little shit just smirks at me.
“Ask any guy, they would agree?—”
I cut him off before he could finish. “Can you track my phone?” Halo cuts a glance to Alex before focusing back on me. I almost kiss him when he hands me a breath mint. I smile my thanks and shove it in my mouth.
“Uh, Alex will just get you a new one,” he says.
I roll my eyes and instantly regret it when my stomach rolls. “I don’t give a shit about the phone, you idiot.” I ignore him then tilt my head back to look at Alex who is staring at me with a weird look. I suck in a deep breath and woman up, blood or not, what he did was fucking wrong. “I’m assuming since you kidnapped me again, you collected my belongings?” Alex’s brows furrow.
“If you plan to punch my balls I would rethink that option,” he grits out.
“The thought hadn’t crossed my mind but now I am thinking about your balls...” Heat enters his green eyes, I would blame the alcohol for me reaching up and stroking his beard but that was all me.
“Someone switch fucking seats with me!” Halo shouts, pulling me from thoughts of Alex’s dick.
I shake my head trying to get my drunk brain to focus. “Did you get my stuff or not?” I push. His lips pinch and I narrow my eyes which has him nodding stiffly. “I need my laptop.”
“Why?” Vatican asks.
I hold Alex’s gaze as I answer. “I need to track my phone,” I say quietly.
Alex’s green eyes burn with an intense look that has me swallowing audibly. His hand grips the front of my throat tight enough to warn me to tread carefully but not enough to restrict my breathing.
“Why?” he grits out through clenched teeth.
I dart my tongue out to moisten my lips. His eyes track the movement but I force myself not to get distracted. “Nexus came to me.” No sooner have the words left my mouth does the car skid to a stop. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me but I ignore them as I keep my focus on Alex who is vibrating with rage. He says nothing but I can see it in his eyes that he is warring for control over his emotions.
“Butcher,” Omen says in a tone that is filled with lead and dominance. “Let her go before you hurt her.” I see it now.
He isn’t the Alex I know right now, he’s the Butcher. The man who thirsts for blood and destruction. A hint of fear works its way through me as his hold on me tightens slightly.
“Butch, you need to let her go before you do something you will regret.” The urgency in Pope’s tone tells me I need to do something before he really does snap my fucking neck. I suck in a steadying breath then turn in his hold so I can straddle his lap. He keeps his hold on my neck and I don’t dare try to pry myself free. Instead, I cup his face and brush my thumbs along his cheeks letting my touch soothe the monster inside him.
I’m fucking praying my touch helps and doesn’t push him over the edge.
When he starts blinking rapidly I hold my breath, hoping that he will be able to win the war against his rage and bloodlust. When his green eyes slowly focus on me again I push on.
“He came to me and tried to get me to leave with him.” His hold drops from my throat to grip my waist in a bruising hold.
“You’re mine, Bambi.” His tone is filled with gravel and promise. The way in which he says that has need pulsing inside me and my thong grows damp with my arousal.
“I’m right here, Alex,” I say reassuringly. I’ve always been the girl who would roll her eyes at parts like this in movies or books, when the guy would go all caveman and declare the woman his like she is property to be owned. Yet here the fuck I am, getting turned on by the prospect of this killer wanting me for himself.
“What did he want, Tate?” Halo asks. Alex snaps his head toward him and shoots him a look like he would peel the skin from a lesser man. Halo doesn’t cower, just raises his hands, he knows his friend is on the verge of losing control to the beast inside him. This is my first real encounter with the real Alex and rather than running away in fear, I find myself wanting to bring back the Alex I know.
“He’s working with Desire. She’s been helping him and he told me he is at their compound. She's been helping him hide I think.”
Alex’s gaze bores into mine. “What else?” His tone is low and deadly.
I swallow and exhale a whoosh of air. “He said if I kept my legs closed and stopped fucking you, she would help me too.” Alex’s eyes darken as he slowly trails his hand down my body to grip the tops of my thighs.
“Planning on shutting me out are you, Bambi?” he asks in a seductive tone that has my core clenching when he pushes his hands higher and brushes his thumb over my lace covered pussy. I gasp and thank God it's dark in here so the guys can’t see what he’s doing. I squirm when he applies a small amount of pressure to my clit and bite down on my lip to keep the moan that’s lodged in the back of my throat from breaking free.
I shake my head. “No,” I answer.
“Hmmm, what else did he have to say?” he purrs as he leans forward and runs his nose along the column of my neck, making sure to scrape his beard against my skin. He fucking knows I love the feeling of that shit, and like a puppet I tilt my head giving him better access. “Answer me, Bambi,” he says quietly, then places an open mouth kiss to my neck.
“I…um…huh?” I breathe out.
“Alex!” Omen snaps, breaking the spell I was under. My eyes widen in horror when I realize I forgot all about them being in the car with us. Horror fills me when I realize I’m grinding against him. I freeze and shove against his chest, pushing him back. The son of a bitch just smirks like a cocky bastard.
“What else did your cunt of a brother have to say?” Alex asks. I take a second to compose myself which is a lot harder now thanks to him! My pussy is fluttering and clenching on air. The self-satisfied look he shoots me tells me he knows exactly what he just did to me and doesn’t give a fuck. This motherfucker and his need to stake his claim is annoying and hot, which frustrates me more because I hate it but I also love it.
Fuck! He is a mind fuck.