13. Amorette
AMORETTE
“S o, what’s going on with you and the brothers?” Blanca cast me a side-eyed glance as a smirk played at the edges of her lips.
“Hm?” I pretended not to hear the question as we climbed the sandy bank. We’d been down at the beach for about an hour. The compound had tons of windows, but sometimes it just felt suffocating. It was built to keep people out, even though it felt like it was designed to keep me in.
Was that how Parker felt? A few days ago, when he burst into the movie room, he’d seemed wild, almost out of control, like if he didn’t get what he wanted, he would break apart at the seams.
“Come on. I know you’re fucking Grey. That’s been obvious since almost the beginning.
But what’s up with Lafe? He’s never shown any interest in women here on the island.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but I was beginning to think he was gay.
Yet, since you all came back from the warehouse, he’s been watching you.
And I’ve seen the touches.” She grinned at the ground as she picked her way over the prickly plants that dotted the ground the farther we got away from the beach.
The salty breeze was heaven on my skin as I mulled that over. Lafe had told me he was attracted to women. Willing women. Still, another thought stuck out in my head. “Are you saying that the brothers sleep with women here on the island?”
She shrugged and tried to hide her smirk. Did she think she caught me? That I was about to fly off into a jealous rage? I wasn’t. Everyone had a past, and I knew they did more than most. We were barely…I didn’t even know what we were, but it was just barely starting.
If it came to knowing all the crimes they committed or knowing they slept around and I might run into an ex-lover, I think the lovers were easier to stomach.
Sighing, I kicked at a rock. I couldn’t keep thinking that way.
I’d committed some terrible acts since I’d been here.
There was no longer a reason to separate myself from them.
Everything from the warehouse flashed through my mind: the sliding of the knife through the man’s flesh, his screams piercing my ears.
Guilt was something I’d become very familiar with since I arrived on the island. Specifically when I knocked Blanca out. On the way back from the warehouse, I almost expected myself to be inundated with a guilt so intense, I would be crippled by it.
Yet…That hadn’t happened. Not quite like that.
“Are you okay? I was just teasing you.” She pulled to a stop and canted her head as she studied me. Reaching out a hand, she touched my elbow. “Whatever you’re thinking, your face just fell. I don’t know of any women—”
“That’s not it. I was thinking about something else,” I said as I started walking again. This beach was off to the side of the compound and was a bit farther of a walk back. I loved the opportunity to just breathe.
“Are you sure? I don’t actually know of any women the brothers have slept with here. I’ve heard rumors, but those all happened off the island. I’ve just never heard any about Lafe, so I was curious…”
“I haven’t slept with him, if that’s what you’re asking.” I diverted my attention, hoping she wouldn’t catch the sudden fire in my cheeks. We hadn’t slept together. But he had kissed me at the warehouse. And he did try to snag me for some time in the movie room any chance he got.
During those times, he would plaster me on top of him, and he couldn’t hide his erection, although he never spoke of it. We pretty much pretended it didn’t happen.
Grey’s words floated through my head.
If you’re a good girl, you can also be my brothers’.
Why do you still want me if I’m with your brothers?
Because we’re attached.
I shivered. A dozen times, I’d tried to hash that conversation out with Grey. What did he mean? Were they corralling me between them on purpose? Was that their goal?
Every time I had a chance, I chickened out. I just couldn’t do it. Yet, Grey and Andre seemed like they were already on this sharing path and it didn’t bother them one bit. Where did Lafe fit into that?
The bigger question was, did I actually have feelings for them outside of animal lust?
The more I thought about it, the more I wasn’t sure I wanted to be shared.
I just couldn’t bring myself to pick the brother I wanted, and that was where the issue lay.
My inability to make a decision, so I was coasting with my head in the sand.
“You’re making that face again.” Blanca bumped her shoulder into mine. The wall came into view and a guard scanned the surrounding area behind us. That was supposed to be comforting, but right then, it felt claustrophobic.
“Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Mm-hm. And it all started when I asked you what was up with the brothers. Have you fucked around with any others? Don’t think I miss the way Andre touches you now either,” she prodded.
There went my stupid face flaming again. What the hell was happening to me? In Virginia, I was too focused to let someone ruffle my feathers. I usually did the ruffling. But here, talking about my mess of a sex life in captivity? I couldn’t keep every thought from scrolling across my face. Shit.
I glanced back at the wall, and the gate opened. Parker stepped through with his gaze glued to me like he knew exactly where I’d be. He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts as he waited for us to approach.
Blanca must have also sensed the air of intensity around him, because she didn’t try to make any more conversation as he waited on us—or me—to reach him.
His chin was tucked to his chest, giving him almost a sinister vibe.
My heart started to pound as I searched for some kind of sign in his black eyes of why he was there.
They weren’t as cold as I had thought the first day I met him, but when there was such a determined expression on his face, they still unsettled me.
“Little Love,” he purred when I was within a few feet of him. I stopped, facing him. He still never removed his gaze from my face, even when Blanca quietly excused herself and made her escape.
“Parker,” I returned.
“You’re looking delicious today.” He dropped his gaze down to sweep over the short see-through wrap I’d donned over my bathing suit.
At some point, someone, I was assuming Grey, had delivered clothing in my size to his room.
All tailored perfectly and even in a similar style to what I would choose for myself.
It was uncanny.
“Did you need something?” I pulled the wrap tighter around my body as tingles started to spread from my lower back up my spine.
“Walk with me?” he asked as he held out his hand.
I stared at it for a few seconds. His hand was twice the size of mine, but that wasn’t hard to do with my small stature.
His skin was lightly tanned, not as much as Andre, but definitely darker than Lafe's. He had artist’s hands, long fingers and neatly trimmed nails.
Yet I knew if he needed to, those hands could deliver death just as efficiently as Grey’s. Maybe he’d even enjoy it just as much.
Slipping my palm over his, I curled my fingers around his hand. He was warm and solid, reminding me of the day he’d pressed me into the wall.
“What’s the matter, Little Love? Cat got your tongue?” He grinned as he started to move us down the side of the wall. There wasn’t really a trail, yet it was open enough not to be an issue.
“Where are we going?” I glanced up at him under my lashes, trying not to make it obvious—that I was looking at him or that I was uncomfortable.
“The path to the town is up here. Has anyone taken you there?” he asked idly as his thumb stroked the back of my hand. Chills erupted over my skin.
I’d been around Parker a dozen times, and none of them felt like this. Something was different. He was different. After his argument with Andre in the movie room, I wasn’t sure whether this was a good thing.
Wait, was he going to take me to the town? I glanced up in surprise, and he warmly gazed down at me. It was…odd from Parker.
“I didn’t realize I was allowed to go there.” Although, I was extremely curious about it. Blanca had told me a few things here and there, but it was all so normal to her, so she hadn’t been interested in discussing it.
He smirked. “Allowed? I didn’t realize we had tamed you so much.”
I glared. “Is that what you think has happened? That I’ve been dick-whipped into submission?
Despite what you four believe, I don’t want to cause trouble.
I don’t enjoy it. I just want my freedom and my old life back.
” I sucked in a breath. “I realize that ship has mostly sailed, but I don’t make a habit of doing stupid things just to cause problems.”
Chuckling, he turned forward. “I think that’s a lie. I think, Little Love, that you and I both have a habit of causing trouble. It’s just unintentional most of the time.”
That shut me up. Was he…relating to me?
“I have something for you.” He brought my hand closer to his chest and pulled something out of his pocket using his free hand. I caught the glistening reflection right before he slipped it on my right-hand ring finger.
A large sapphire ring with either a platinum or white gold band. I wasn’t sure; jewelry had never been my thing. “What…what is this?” I had the sudden urge to slide it off and fling it at him, even as his grip tightened on my fingers.
“One of the treasures I gained over the years and decided to keep to myself. This particular ring has a fascinating story attached to it,” he murmured, stroking the skin just underneath it.
“It’s stolen.” My voice was devoid of any emotion.
He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Little Love, remember where you are. Who we are. This is my business.”
“I can’t accept this.” I tried to tug my hand back, but he wouldn’t let go. “Helping you is one thing, but I can’t in good conscience wear this. It’s a representation of everything—” I shut my mouth.
Shit. This was what I didn’t want to do. I was trying. I was trying so damn hard to make a place for myself. Only how could I when they kept catching me off guard? I needed more time to settle, and, quite frankly, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to accept this kind of gift.
I pulled again, and this time, he let go. Without wasting another second, I pulled the ring off and held it out to him. His jaw clenched as he glowered at my outstretched hand. “This is your life now, Amorette. You can’t accept a simple gift that I’ve had in my possession for years?”
Shaking my head, I nudged it toward him again. “This… I can’t…Why? Why did you want to give this to me? I was forced into your lives and you didn’t get much choice in the matter, not unless you wanted to kill me or turn me back over to the Gallery. I don’t understand you, Parker.”
“We might not have had a choice, but I’m not sorry for it. I want to give you things that mean something to me.” He stopped abruptly. “You know what. Never fucking mind.” He nodded like this was exactly what he expected.
Holding out his hand, I dropped the beautiful yet tainted ring in his hand.
“You can go to the town if you would like. No one will harm you there. I’m heading back into the compound,” he said without looking at me. Then he walked away.
What the hell had just happened?