Chapter Twenty-Five Dare
R eclining in my office chair, I eyed the photograph before me. A sexy blonde with enormous tits and wide hips smiled invitingly for the camera. I tried ignoring the hulking man in the photo with the woman. Danill Korolova was a Bratva boss from Philadelphia.
His daughter, Annika, was my future wife.
At least that’s what the marriage contract said that my uncle Seamus had brokered.
Leaning over my shoulder, Eamon gave a low whistle. “You’re a lucky bastard to be getting that for a bride.”
It was the truth. Not only was Annika a stunner, she had a great personality and a lot of drive. She was an interior designer with a speciality in clubs and casinos. Before our marriage contract, she’d been suggested to take on my new casino project in Philadelphia.
Since the Celtic Gold was doing so well in Boston, I’d had my eye on expanding to other cities on the eastern seaboard. Because of Caterina’s brother, Leandro, we now had allies in Philly.
“Yeah, I am,” I replied, as I tucked the photo of Annika into my desk.
Eamon tilted his head at me. “Then why do you look like you’re going to your funeral?”
“You know me. I don’t want to be tied down.”
“I would happily let that fine ass woman tie me down.”
I snorted. “Then I’ll let Seamus know you’ll marry her.”
Wagging his brows, Eamon replied, “If she doesn't mind being a cougar, I’ll totally do it.”
“You’re barely twenty, and you want a marriage contract?” I asked in disbelief.
“I don’t want just any marriage contract.” He jerked his chin at the drawer where I’d put Annika’s picture. “I want one with boobs, brains, and big bucks.”
“How poetic,” I mused.
“I’m serious. If you haven’t signed the contract, I’ll take her.”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “You’re the fifth son. Since Danill wanted an heir for Annika, it took a lot to persuade him.”
Eamon shrugged. “Hey, I was just trying to make this a win/win situation for the both of us.”
“Considering I did sign the contract, it’s a done deal.”
“You’ve officially got a ball and chain,” Eamon mused.
“Not for six months.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to be an old married fart like Callum and Quinn.”
Snorting, I replied, “My marriage won’t be like theirs. Annika and I are marrying in name only.”
“Are you going to keep womanizing?”
“Damn straight.”
“She didn’t put anything in your marriage contract preventing it?
“If anything, I’m surprised she didn’t put in a clause saying we could cheat.”
Eamon’s jaw unhinged. “And you’re okay with strange dicks in your wife?”
“Annika isn’t interested in dick unless it comes in the strap on form.”
With wide eyes, Eamon said, “You’re marrying a lesbian?”
“Sometimes bisexual, but yes, a lesbian for the most part.”
“Why?”
With a shrug, I replied, “Because it benefits us and our families.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he countered, “But how the fuck does it benefit your dick?”
I laughed. “Annika is willing to sleep with me to conceive a child.”
“But you don’t want kids.”
“I still don’t, but it was her one stipulation.”
“So you’re basically a sperm donor?”
“Except I get to blow my load inside her, not in a cup.”
Eamon chuckled. “Whatever, man.”
At the knock on the door, I called, “Yes?”
James poked his head in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but there’s a woman demanding to see you.”
“I told you not to bother me while my brother was here.”
“I know, sir, but she’s pretty belligerent. She says that you will see her right now .”
Eamon chuckled. “You’ve got a live one, boyo.”
“Inform her that she will see me when I allow her to see me.”
“She wants me to tell you her name before you dismiss her again.”
“Like it will matter.”
“It’s Ava Carras.”
Every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop at the mention of that name. After four years of complete radio silence, it wasn’t possible. It had to be a dream…or a nightmare.
“What did you just say?”
“Ava Carras is here to see you.”
“Holy shit,” Eamon muttered.
“Get out,” I ordered.
For once, he didn’t have a cheeky comeback. Instead, he quickly swept out of his chair and power walked out of the room. Once I was alone, I tried to regulate the erratic beating of my heart.
Ava was in Boston.
Ava was in the Celtic Grand.
Ava was here to see me.
Fuck.
“Send her in,” I croaked.
“Yes, sir.”
Although I desperately needed a drink, I remained seated. There was a part of me that wondered if my legs would give out if I stood up. I’d never experienced a feeling like this in my life. I’d never feared anyone or anything, but I feared what was about to walk through my door. The power Ava held over me was overwhelming.
Since I’d been raised to hate weakness, I transferred that rage to Ava. She was the one emasculating me. She was the one who had left me broken four years ago.
When the door flung open, I sucked in a breath. As Ava came striding into my office, it was as if time stood still. The years and hours since we’d last seen each other melted away. Instead of that horrible last day together, all the good times we had merged into that moment.
As her gaze connected with mine, her steps momentarily faltered. My body from my head to my toes tingled like a lightning bolt had zapped me. Seconds passed before she finally continued walking.
“Hello, Dare,” she said, her usually strong voice a slight whisper.
The sound of her voice, coupled with her proximity, sent an ache through my chest. As I inhaled, I caught the scene of her perfume–the one that had been painfully etched on my memory. All these years later I’d recognize it anywhere.
Time had been good to her. She was just as stunning as she had been four years ago. But as I appraised her, her demeanor was different. She no longer appeared the ball buster whose sassy mouth I’d adored.
The Ava before me appeared slightly broken.
And that unnerved the hell out of me.
But I wouldn’t let her know that.
Instead, I slid on my mask. “I have to say I’m surprised to see you back in Boston.” With a shake of my head, I said, “More like I’m fucking floored.
“I, uh….” She swallowed hard. “I needed to see you.”
“You said you never wanted to see or hear from me again.”
“I realize that.”
“Ah, so you must be in town for another no inhibitions weekend.” Flashing her a shark-like smile, I added, “How kind of you to think of my cock after all this time.”
She pinched her eyes shut. “Please–”
I held up my hand. “ While I’ve missed hearing that word from your lips, save your apologies. While I’m flattered you thought of me to satiate your needs, I’m going to have to refuse.”
“I’m not here for sex,” she snapped.
Her words sent a jolt through me. There was the fire I remembered. That was the Ava I’d fallen in love with. “Pity.” I narrowed my eyes. “I like the idea of you crawling back to me.”
With a frustrated huff, she swept her hands to her hips. “Okay, I get it. You still hate me. Considering the way I left things between us, you have every right to.”
Although I should’ve been grateful to hear her acknowledge she had left badly, it didn’t help the hurt in my chest. Drawing on that pain, I replied, “To hate you would mean I actually gave a shit about you. I can assure you I do not.”
“You gave a shit about me once.” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “You even said you loved me.”
“Whatever I might’ve felt for you was many years ago. It certainly was fleeting. I can assure you I haven’t been pining away for you.”
With a mirthless laugh, I went for the jugular. “In the end, you were just one of the many, many women I fucked.”
Her body shuddered as if my words had whipped her. Her head dropped as her shoulders caved in. Jaysus, I was a bastard to do that to her.
Hurt pooled in her eyes. “This was a mistake,” she whispered. Slowly, she started to back up.
Just when I thought she might make a run for it, I shook my head. “Stop,” I commanded.
Ava jumped at the sound of my voice. To my surprise, she didn't run. Instead, she cocked her brows at me. “What?”
"You obviously had a reason to come see me.”
“I need your help.”
“It must be something pretty desperate for you to soil your presence with mine.”
“It’s your expertise that I’m interested in.”
“I’m intrigued.” Motioning to the chair in front of my desk, I said, “Have a seat.”
Nodding, Ava eased down onto the plush leather seat. “I guess I should start at the beginning.”
“And would that be right after you left me?” I inquired.
After inhaling a ragged breath, she shook her head. “Six months ago I started seeing someone–”
“Surely you didn’t come for my blessing?”
Ignoring my sarcasm, she continued on. “About two months into our relationship, we started arguing a lot. And then during one fight, he slapped me.”
At my sharp intake of breath, Ava’s eyes widened in surprise. I’m sure she was surprised I gave two shits that she’d been hurt. But I did. I wanted to make whoever hurt her bleed.
“Go on,” I gritted out.
“You know me well enough that I would never be with someone abusive. But when I tried breaking it off…” A shudder ran through her body.
“What did he do?” I demanded.
“He…um…” Ava appeared to be fighting not to cry. “Basically, what happened is I ended up in the ER with bruised ribs and multiple body lacerations.”
A growl rumbled from deep within my chest. “He hurt you that badly.”
“Yes,” she murmured.
“Tell me they locked the bastard up.” Because if he’s not in jail, I’m going to hunt him down and skin him alive. If you were afraid of the torture you witness four years ago, you can’t possibly fathom what I’m going to do this bastard.
“No,” she replied in a haunted whisper.
“Why the fuck not?”
With a shrug, she replied, “In the hospital, I filed a police report and got a restraining order. But like with so many abusers, it’s been just a piece of paper to him.”
Leaning forward in my chair, I demanded, “Tell me he hasn’t put his hands on you again.”
She flinched. “He’s resorted to other things.”
“Like what?”
“At first, it was just phone calls and texts. Even after changing my number countless times, he always manages to find it.”
“How the fuck does he keep managing to get your number?”
“I’m sure his background in cybersecurity doesn’t hurt.”
“Does he work for the police department?”
“No. He’s in private security.” With a ragged sigh, she added, “ But he has a lot of friends in the department, which is why I think he’s been getting away with so much.”
“So he’s been sending you harassing calls?”
She nodded. “This past month he started stalking me to and from work. The nights I’m at the restaurant he’s always lurking around. He’s even driven by my parents house when I’m visiting.”
“What did his buddies at the precinct say about that?”
An exasperated sigh rattled through her. “That there’s nothing they can do unless he becomes physical.”
Bringing my hand down on my desk, I snarled, “That’s fucking bullshite!”
“I agree. And that brings us to two nights ago.”
My breath hitched at the myriad of emotions in Ava’s eyes. “Go on,” I prompted.
“He broke into my house and tried to…” Tears pooled in her eyes. After swallowing hard, she whispered, “He tried to force himself on me.”
Red criss crossed before my vision as I rocketed out of his chair. As I rounded the side of my desk, I demanded, “He raped you?”
“He tried. But we were…”
After trailing off, a faraway expression came over her. A few seconds passed. “Ava?” I questioned softly.
After meeting my expectant gaze, she finally found her voice again, “A neighbor called the cops.”
“Was he arrested?”
“No. He got away.”
When it appeared she was holding something back, I prompted, “And?”
“He hasn’t shown up at his house or work since then.”
“Fuck!” I started maniacally pacing in front of Ava’s chair. “Let me guess. They don’t even have an arrest warrant out on him because there wasn’t any physical evidence.”
With a defeated nod, she replied, “He was smart enough to scramble the security cameras on the house.”
“Bastard.”
A mirthless laugh tumbled from her lips. “Yes, he is an unimaginable bastard.”
“And he’s just out there waiting to strike again,” I remarked.
“That’s why I came to see you.”
As I stared into her eyes, I could see the desperation and panic. Even without her saying the words, I knew what she needed from me. Leaning back against my desk, I cocked my head at her. “It’s ironic, isn’t it?”
“Excuse me?”
“The very reason why you broke up with me is what’s brought you back.”
“I know,” she murmured.
“A monster for a monster, eh?” I mused.
“You were never a monster,” she said in a hushed tone.
“I’m pretty sure you thought that four years ago.”
A ragged sigh escaped her lips. “I would be lying if I said that your actions that night didn’t shatter me. Even after what happened with Preston, I could’ve handled you cheating better than I could have with what I saw.”
“I wish you’d never had to see that side of me.”
“The truth is it really wasn’t you that scared me–it was your world. Every possible fear I could’ve ever had converged on that one moment. I just couldn’t believe that if I stayed, I would be safe.”
With my anger resurging, I countered, “It seems your judgement is questionable since you tossed aside someone who would never lay a finger on you to align with a safe choice who hurt you.”
“Dare–”
“And you can only handle that side of me now because it benefits you,” I spat.
“Please.”
“Answer the fucking question.”
“Unfortunately yes.”
I cocked my brows at her. “Unfortunately?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah. Unfortunately, I do.”
“Look, despite how I broke things off and despite how you feel about me, I need your help.”
“What exactly would you have me to do, Ava?”
“Must I say it?”
I nodded. “Considering what you’re asking of me, I think you owe me that much.”
As her gaze spun around the office, I shook my head. “Don’t worry. No one’s listening. I have the entire casino swept for bugs.” Flashing her a shark-like smile, I added, “No one is going to hear you asking me to whack your ex.”
At Ava’s horrified gasp, I laughed. “Come on now. We both know that’s why you’re here.”
“Yes, but–”
“Let me guess. It’s easy to imagine in your mind, but it’s not to say.”
“No. It certainly isn’t.”
Leaning forward, I held my hands out in front of her. “Tell me you want the hands that gave you such pleasure to beat the life from his body.”
Her eyes flared. “I didn’t say anything about torturing him.”
“So you want me to let him off easy? Put a bullet in his head?”
“I didn’t say he wouldn’t deserve torture. I just want something clean and easy that doesn’t send any blowback on you or your family.
Tapping my chin, I then said, “You’re right. Considering your aversion to blood, slitting his throat is totally out.”
The horror on her face egged me on. “You haven’t seen a mess until you slit someone’s throat. Like if you go deep enough to hit the carotid artery, it spews like a geyser. Trust me, if you don’t know what you’re doing, the force will take you by surprise. Of course, all that blood has to go somewhere. Usually it’s all over the floors and walls.”
Pinching her eyes shut, Ava murmured, “Please, don’t.”
“Of course, a bullet in the head isn’t exactly easy. Sure, it’s quick, but it isn’t ‘clean’ as you say. The blowback splatters blood and brains everywhere. Sometimes you might even get dinged with a piece of fractured skull. You stand close enough and use the right ammunition, and you can take a man’s head off.”
“Stop!” she cried.
“I’m sorry. Is this getting too much for you?”
Ava’s eyes snapped open. “What will it take for you to do it?”
“If you’re ordering a hit on a man, then you should at least be able to handle the unpleasant details it entails.
“Do you want me to beg? Because if that’s what it will take, I’ll do it.”
Cocking my brows, I said, “The bastard inside of me would give anything to see you on your knees for me again.”
“I’m sure he would,” she snapped.
Damn, there was that delicious fire again. Stoking it into a fiery blaze was what possessed me to say, “Of course, I would prefer it only if your lips were wrapped around my cock as I fucked your delicious mouth.”
Heat flooded Ava’s cheeks as venom flashed in her eyes. I expected her to slap me. To verbally annihilate me for degrading her so.
Instead, she pulled her shoulders back and said, “If that’s what it will take, I’ll do it.”
I blinked at her in disbelief. Before I could tell her I would never expect that, she eased out of her chair and onto her knees. As I stared down at her, the angel and devil on my shoulders met in a battle of wills.