Chapter 23
SHE’S NOTHING TO ME
Killian
An invisible hammer pounded against my skull, and sand filled my mouth. My eyelids felt like weights had been glued to them as they slowly opened to the dark walls of my room, the sun pouring in through the arched windows.
Only Cordelia was psycho enough to spike her own drink. I pitied the man who ended up with her.
What the hell happened?
The last thing I remembered was passing out in one of the many sitting rooms downstairs after convincing myself not to call Lorelei to relieve me of the biggest case of blue balls I’d ever had.
Lexi’s lips around my cock had felt like paradise.
Having her on her knees at my mercy while I fucked that perfect mouth almost had me falling apart.
If my stepfather hadn’t walked out, I would have shot my load down the back of her throat and watched her choke and cry as she swallowed me down. I had been mere seconds away.
I was hard as a rock now just thinking of it. I slid my hand beneath the waistband of my sweatpants and stroked my length.
“Oh, baby, let me do that for you. That’s why I’m here.”
The air catapulted out of my lungs as I whipped around to find Lorelei in my bed, naked. “What the hell are you doing here?”
I’d brought her to my room in the past for a quick fuck, but I never allowed her to spend the night.
“Don’t you remember, Kill? I took care of you last night.” She dragged her nails down my chest. “Ashleigh called and said she found you wasted last night, asking for me. I decided to forgive you for not inviting me to the alumni party and sped to the Sigma Delta house to help you.”
“To help me out of the kindness of your heart?” Sarcasm dripped from my words.
If Lorelei had a heart, it was hidden far below all that makeup, hairspray, and designer dresses.
“I care about you, Kill.” Her smile, maybe even some of the fake sweetness, faltered. “Why do you keep pushing me away?”
For a moment, she seemed almost hurt. But then I remembered, like everyone else, she only cared about the Davenport name.
“So, you took it upon yourself to help me upstairs and into my bed where you did what?” My eyebrows slammed down. “Did you screw me while I was passed out?”
Her mouth dropped open, actually offended. “I’m not a sexual predator, jerk.”
Maybe that was a little harsh. Lorelei could do some shitty things, but forcing herself on someone wasn’t in her wheelhouse. It wasn’t even in the vicinity.
“I just helped you into bed and stayed in case you needed me.” Her gaze dropped to my raging hard-on beneath the covers. “It’s a good thing I did stay because it looks like you need me now, Kill.”
The beautiful blonde pulled the covers back and straddled me, her round tits bouncing in my face. When she pulled my dick out and fisted it in her hand, my deep, ragged groan sounded through the room.
Seeing the pleasure she coaxed from me, Lorelei smiled and continued stroking my hard length. Thankfully, Axel’s side of the room was empty.
“Can’t you see how much I care about you?” She licked her lips and then lowered her mouth, her blonde locks tickling my thighs. “Let me help you relax, Killian.”
Images of Lexi sucking my dick last night flashed through my mind. No one else would ever make me feel as good as she had, drugs or not. I was supposed to ruin her, but she’d already wrecked me in more ways than one.
Like an obsession, Red completely consumed my thoughts.
“Stop,” I hissed, shoving Lorelei off. “I’m not in the mood.”
She scoffed and pointed at my erection as she stood from the bed. “Obviously, you are.”
“I’m not in the mood for you.” Again, maybe that was a little harsh, but she clearly didn’t understand subtleties anymore.
Her jaw jutted out as crimson filled her cheeks. “I don’t understand...” Tears filled her eyes. I saw it in her eyes as it hit her. “It’s that girl, isn’t it? The charity case.”
“Don’t call her that.” My nostrils flared as I yanked my pants up. “And she has nothing to do with this. She’s nothing to me.”
Lorelei’s laugh sounded unhinged as she swiped at the tears. “Yeah, right. A girl knows when her boyfriend is thinking of someone else.”
“I am not your boyfriend, Lorelei. I never have been. If you can’t grasp that, then stop coming around, throwing yourself at me.” My phone buzzed, and I snatched it off the bedside table, the screen displaying three missed calls from Stan.
My stomach dropped at the time. It was half past twelve. I was supposed to have lunch with my parents today.
I was late.
I was never fucking late.
In a panic, I bolted out of bed, startling Lorelei. And then, the realization crashed down on me, and red filled my vision.
“Did you put my phone on vibrate and shut off my alarm?” I knew I’d set one for ten to give me plenty of time; I never risked being late.
She snagged her bottom lip between her teeth. “You looked like you needed sleep.”
Rage poured through my bloodstream, and it took every bit of my control not to throw her on the bed and choke the life out of her.
“Get. Out.”
Lorelei had the nerve to pout. “But Kill, I—”
“Get out, or you will find yourself walking through this house naked.” I jammed my trembling hand through my hair. “Don’t push me right now.”
More unshed tears filled her brown eyes as she grabbed her clothes. “I do everything you ask of me, and I’m still not enough.” Once she was dressed, she scurried to my door. “I’m exactly the type of girl your father wants for you. Why can’t you see that?”
After having gotten ready in record time, while still making sure I met the standards my stepfather held me to, I hurried through the restaurant, bumping into a few tables and rattling the crystal glasses and silverware shining on the white linens. Stan frowned when he saw me.
“You know how I feel about punctuality, Killian.” He motioned his glass of water toward Bass. “Even your brother managed to make it before you.”
I hugged my mother before taking a seat. “My alarm never went off and I...” Making excuses wouldn’t help my case. “I apologize. It won’t happen again.”
My mother patted my hand, her brow furrowed. “Are you okay, honey? You look a little pale.” She touched my cheek and then felt my forehead like only mothers did.
“Maybe little brother just had a wild night.” Bass smirked. “I saw Lorelei come to the house late last night.”
“Lorelei Battenberg?” Stan waved the waiter down as he passed. “She’s a good option.”
If Stan knew she’d silenced my ringer and killed my alarm so I’d stay in bed with her, he wouldn’t continue to sing her praises.
“In fact, I heard her father is searching for a good match—”
“Lorelei’s just a friend,” I interjected after the server took our orders and left.
My mother sighed, shaking her perfect sheet of ebony hair behind her thin shoulders. The woman was still a knockout and more beautiful than most of the younger wives in my stepfather’s circle. “I wish you’d find someone who makes you happy.”
“Not everyone is as sickeningly in love as you two, Daphne, even after five years.” Bass winked at my mother. “You two are so annoying.”
She playfully swatted at him while Stan chuckled. “We did get lucky, but I’m sure each of you boys will find the right one.” Her green eyes, just like mine, saddened as she studied me. “I used to think that... never mind.”
My throat tightened, and I averted my gaze to the pristine white tablecloth. My mother always thought Lexi and I would end up together. So had I—until Red wrecked everything.
“Killian, come with me.” Stan stood from the table, and I followed his command, my heart pounding.
I hated to disappoint him. Stan could rip all this power I’d gained right out of my grasp. And then I’d be a nobody once again. This world he’d brought me into was corrupt as fuck, but being a part of it was better than being crushed by it.
And my mom would be heartbroken to see me kicked out of the Davenport family. She might even pick my side over Stan’s, and I couldn’t bear to see her lose this nice, easy life.
My mom deserved everything, and my stepfather could give it to her.
Anxiety poured through my veins like a drug, and a cold sweat slinked down my spine. The restaurant spun as a heavy weight rested on my shoulders.
One wrong move could cost me everything.
Stan leaned against the gleaming mahogany bar and folded his arms over his chest. “What’s going on with you, Killian? This isn’t like you, and neither was that show on the porch last night. You have the Davenport name. You can’t be careless and do as you wish without considering the consequences.”
“Yes, sir. I’m so sorry.” I hid my trembling hands behind my back and tried to regulate my breathing before I passed out.
I couldn’t fuck up.
If I did, Stan could rip all this power I’d gained right out of my grasp. And then I’d be a nobody once again. And my mom would be heartbroken to see me kicked out of the Davenport family.
He absentmindedly smoothed his silk tie and smiled as a pretty female server walked by. “Even Sebastian wouldn’t be that bold. He knows how to do things without getting caught.”
My jaw clenched against the words threatening to fall from my tongue. His precious son didn’t get caught because he had people like me to clean up his messes.
“I wasn’t myself last night, sir. It won’t happen again.” I swallowed hard and ignored the images of Lexi on her knees that bombarded my mind.
Stan gave a half smile and patted my shoulder. “Relax, Killian. I’m all for having fun. There’s just a time and a place for that. Understood?”
I breathed a sigh of relief as my stepfather motioned us back to the table where an older woman in casual jeans and an oversized sweater held a picture out to Bass and my mother.
“Are you sure you haven’t seen her?”
Bass shook his head. “No. I’m sorry.”
As I took my seat, the woman shoved the picture in my face. “Have you seen Alicia Montgomery? My daughter went missing from Stonewall University a few weeks ago.”
Arctic air wrapped my lungs at the familiar girl whose body I buried in Gertrude Farleigh’s grave. I choked down the acid collecting in the back of my throat.
“Sorry,” I muttered, looking everywhere but at the woman and her picture. “I haven’t seen her.”
Bass smoothed back his blonde hair, completely unruffled. Did he have no conscience, or did he not even remember what the girl looked like?
A police officer hurried in our direction, stopping the woman from going to Stan. “Mrs. Montgomery, you’ve already been asked to leave. You can’t keep doing this.”
Her chin lifted even as tears burned in her eyes. “My daughter is missing. She would never run away.”
The young deputy’s lips thinned. “Your daughter left a note and took her belongings. The Copper Cove Police Department has done everything it can.”
“She’s not the first person to go missing from Stonewall University.” She stepped out of the deputy’s reach as he tried to grab her arm. “There is something rotten going on here, and I’m not letting this go.”
The deputy sighed and followed the woman as she marched to the door just as Micah strolled in, looking like he hadn’t slept all night. My jaw clenched, and I hid my fisted hands beneath the table.
Soon, one more person would turn up missing in Copper Cove—because Micah was a dead man if he didn’t complete his task.
And if he attempted to hurt what was mine, I’d make him wish for death.