Chapter 8
The next two weeks are a blur of sex, school, and being watched like a hawk. My brother, his men, and Storm circle me at all times. William checks in once or twice a day. He mostly lets Storm watch over me.
I’m standing in the kitchen, sipping coffee from my favorite cat-shaped mug, when Storm walks into the room. Good heavens, he’s sexy.
He’s shirtless, as he often is, his gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips. My lips pause on the rim of my cup, as I stare. Storm stretches his arms over his head, yawning. Last night he spent an hour kissing my entire body, before massaging me with warm oil, and then fucking me slow and hard. I came three times.
It was so fucking intimate…to think, just over two weeks ago, I was still a virgin.
“Put some clothes on,” William snaps, scaring the fuck out of me when he walks through the front door. He has a key now… “And for fuck”s sake, cover the hickies unless you are trying to die?”
“Yes, sir,” Storm snorts, winking at my brother.
Papa arrives tonight. I assume that”s why William appears so…on edge. You know how I said William was born this way? Well, he gets it from Papa. The difference is that Papa has had years to learn how to hide it. My brother hasn’t even tried.
Storm isn’t nearly as nervous as he should be. If Papa even suspects that something is happening between us…well, Storm might be number two on his hit list.
I plan to plead for his life, and Storm said William is on his side so long as he doesn’t hurt me, but you just never know with my father.
“Papa will be here in thirty,” Will announces, and my eyebrows shoot up. Storm doesn’t seem bothered. Great.
For the next twenty minutes, we prepare for my father’s arrival. I start his favorite cup of tea after getting dressed, and Storm finally puts a shirt on.
When the front door opens, we all turn to greet my papa.
He’s tall with short salt-and-pepper hair and a matching beard. His eyes are brown and only soften when he looks at me.
“My little cub,” he says, smiling, holding his arms open for me. There’s a furrow between his brows that hasn’t gone away since the day he returned for me. I know he feels guilty. He spoils me like it”s his number one job.
“Hi, Papa,” I whisper, as I leap into his arms, and he hugs me tighter.
“I’m so sorry, little cub. I should have… I’ve made a mistake, and I will right it,” he vows, his deep, gravelly voice is soothing in a way I sometimes forget. It reminds me of being a kid, and how happy our family once was.
Mama’s death destroyed my father. I try not to think of her much. Every time I do, I break down. The pain of losing her never really fades.
“It’s okay,” I mumble, as Papa pulls away and looks at my brother first.
“He hasn’t been spotted. We have men outside–”
“I saw no men,” my father says, his frown deepening. “Fuck,” he hisses, and I look around, confused.
“He’s already here, isn’t he.” I guess.
All three men move at once. Papa and William rush the door, but Storm heads straight for me.
“Remain here,” Storm commands, and I shake my head.
“Don’t leave me here alone…” I whisper, fear taking over my heart. I want to jump on his back so he can’t get away.
“We’re going to dispose of him, but if you’re with us, we’ll all lose focus. You’re our greatest weakness.” Storm cups my cheek, staring into my eyes. “Hide,” he says, and I nibble my lip.
“I don’t want to be alone,” I say again, and he nods.
“I know. I’ll come back for you, I promise.” He kisses me, but it ends too soon, and he’s already pulling away. “I love you.”
* * *
Storm
Walking awayfrom her feels like I’m gutting myself. The fear in her eyes, the pure terror… I hate it. I hate leaving her. I hate walking away. But Eli must be here, in this building…
If it’s not him, it’s some other threat that we need to put an end to before it reaches her.
I step into the hall, knowing her father and Will went right. I go left down the hall outside her apartment and check every door. Most are locked. The other residents living in this building wouldn’t leave their doors open.
Anyone could walk in…
I don’t make it far, before I hear a loud crack and then a piercing scream rings out. I don’t hesitate, I turn and run back to her apartment.
“Roxanne!” I shout foolishly. I’m giving away my position, but panic seizes me. I have to reach her… She has to be okay.
Seconds later, a shot rings out, and Roxy screams again.
* * *
Roxanne
My door is kicked in,and I scream. Storm told me to hide, but the second he left the room, I froze. My limbs locked up, and I couldn’t move.
Now I move, I run but a shot rings through the air, and I scream again.
“Stop fucking moving!” Eli shouts, and I throw my hands up and freeze. I can’t look at him, I won’t. Hearing his voice is bad enough.
I hear the footsteps at the door behind me, but I don’t dare look. I can feel Eli getting closer as my brother and father enter the room.
“Cops will be here any minute, Eli… One of her neighbors will have called them,” Will hisses, but I close my eyes, and hold my breath.
This isn’t happening. This isn’t real.
* * *
Storm
I takeanother step closer to Roxy, but her uncle points the gun at her head shifting to the side so he can keep an eye on the three of us.
“If anyone moves, I’ll shoot her.”
Both her father and William are in front of me. They’re not close enough to get to Roxy or Eli. William moves slowly, holding his hand up behind his back. His hand is open, five fingers.
“Lower the gun, and we can talk about this,” Will says, tucking his thumb. Four fingers.
“I’m not a fucking idiot. The second I lower this weapon, I die. The only way I leave this room alive is with you three dead,” he scoffs. “The second I pull the trigger on one of you, the others will kill me.”
“Not completely stupid then.” William grins. Misha remains silent. Watching. Waiting.
Three fingers. I brace myself, ready to dive for Roxy. Eli must sense the change, because he looks at me.
“Nice necklace. Where’d you get it? Oh right, my knife.” I smirk, and his face turns red with fury. Two fingers. One…
“You fucking–” Eli says as William makes a fist, and I dive. The shot rings out, and then there”s a scuffle behind me. I land with my arms wrapped around Roxy, holding her close. Protecting her. The pain doesn’t register at first, but when it does, I groan.
“Fucking shot me.” I drop my forehead to Roxy’s.
“Oh god, Storm, oh god, are you okay?” she cries under me, and I look down to see blood dripping onto her. My blood this time.