Chapter Sixteen
Mackenzie
R eading over Damon’s message for the hundredth time, I smile down at my phone.
I really didn’t want to go home to my big, empty house—at least not alone. After spending the weekend surrounded by four men, I know that’s not the life I want—even if I thought I did.
Now, I don’t have to.
Clearly, Damon and I are on the same wavelength about being alone tonight.
I thought I felt alone after losing my family, but finding Parker and Damon again—only to have to walk away from them—has almost been worse. Probably because I was already keenly aware of how alone I was before they appeared back in my life.
I don’t even know what to think about this weekend.
Yes, I had fun. Yes, the sex was amazing. But sleeping with two complete strangers, plus two former lovers? It’s not something I would usually do.
Not that I think it’s a bad thing. It’s just…different.
I’m grateful for the auction in so many ways. First and foremost, it allows me to pay off my parents’ debt and keep the house I grew up in. It brought me back to Parker and Damon. It was freeing—making me realize how much I’ve put myself into a box that allowed no room for growth since I lost my best friends all those years ago.
Experimentation was off the table. Learning what I liked and wanted didn’t matter.
Hell, I didn’t even date all that much. How could I, when I compared every man I met to the lovers I lost?
Hook-ups were always with someone I knew and trusted, but could never see a future with.
I was only living half a life, and it wasn’t until this weekend that I even realized it.
This isn’t who I want to be anymore. I won’t be this person. Even if I lose both of them again, I won’t allow myself to become this shut away and not being open to new experiences again.
I ignore the tears that spring to my eyes at the thought of losing them. I always thought of myself as a strong person, but have I been fooling myself? There’s no way I was strong if I shut so much of myself off after losing them, right?
“Ugh,” I sigh, glancing out the window, I realize we’ve stopped in front of my house.
“Are you quite alright, Phoenix?” Leonard asks, and I startle. It’s not that I forgot he was there exactly but… Yeah, okay. I totally forgot he was there.
Turning toward the driver’s seat, I see him giving me a worried look. I give him a quick smile as I nod. “I am. It’s just been a long weekend, and I have more to think about than I thought I would.”
He hums, not pushing further as he climbs out of the car and moves around to open the door for me. I take his hand, allowing him to help me out before he moves behind the car to grab my bag from the trunk.
“It was my pleasure to be your driver this weekend, Phoenix. I wish you the best of luck in your thinking.” Leonard bows his head slightly as he hands me my bag.
“Thank you, Leonard.” I give him another smile before making my way up the driveway. Once I’ve unlocked the door, I turn around to wave at Leonard before pushing inside.
Suddenly exhausted, I leave my bag in the entryway and head into the living room. Flopping down, I pull out the second phone and debate whether or not to send a message.
Fuck it , I decide. That’s why I have the phone.
I made it home.
I’m so glad it was you waiting on the other side of the limo ride.
I love you.
Parker
I love you, too.
I promise, I’m already working on figuring this shit out.
I don’t want to be away from you or Damon like this.
Yeah, Damon and I are feeling your absence already.
Neither of us wanted to be alone, so he’s coming over.
Parker
Good. He’ll take care of you.
Royce and Cormac say hello.
And to message them sometime too. They think it might be a good way for you to get to know them while we’re working.
I can do that.
I miss you already.
Parker
I’m going crazy with the two of you gone. I miss you both so much.
I sigh, not sure what else to say. What else is there to say? Nothing we say is going to change what’s happening right now. There’s no way for us to fix this—or at least not me and Damon.
Speaking of Damon…
I glance at the time, and realize he should be here in thirty minutes or so. I might as well get ready for bed while I wait for him. Maybe grab a snack.
Pushing to my feet, I wrinkle my nose.
Okay, I think I need a shower. Then all the other things can happen.
I still don’t bother to grab my bag, not wanting to deal with it as I head up the stairs to my room. I’m still staying in my childhood room, though it’s been redecorated since then. It just doesn’t feel right to move into my parents’ room. Eventually, I will, but I’m not ready for that yet.
I grab a sleep shirt, grinning when I realize it’s the one I was wearing the day I last saw Parker and Damon. I’ve been sleeping in it for all these years, and it’s more than a little threadbare. I just couldn’t bring myself to throw it away, and now I’m glad I didn’t.
Quickly grabbing a pair of underwear, I head for my ensuite. Each of the bedrooms have their own bathrooms, something I adore about it. When I was a kid, I thought my bathroom was overkill but as an adult? I couldn’t be more thankful for the massive tub and large walk-in shower. Not to mention the towel warmers and heated floors.
Money might not be able to buy happiness, but it can certainly buy luxury.
I turn the shower on as hot as I can stand, allowing it to warm up as I get undressed. Staring at myself in the mirror, I smile at the marks on my pale skin. Yes, they’ll fade, but for now, they’ll remain as reminders of one of the best weekends of my life.
Knowing my time is limited, I step under the shower’s spray and almost moan as my muscles relax beneath the heat. While I enjoy baths, showers are my favorite. There’s just something about standing beneath the water as it cascades over my body. If I had more time, I’d stand here, letting it beat down on me for a while. But since I don’t know how long it’s going to take Damon to get here, I quickly wash myself before grabbing a towel off the warmer and drying off.
Dressing is quick and easy since I’m planning to wear so little. I brush my teeth before heading back downstairs.
The first thing I do is grab both phones, knowing I should’ve brought them upstairs with me. I don’t have any messages, so I carry them into the kitchen with me where I make a quick snack and grab a water.
Returning to the living room, I flick on the TV as I eat my cheese and crackers. Some horror movie I’ve never seen is playing, and I decide to leave it on. I do love a good horror movie—or even a bad one.
It draws me in so quickly that I jump when a knock sounds on the door. Giggles spill from my lips as I climb off the couch and throw open the door.
Damon looks just like he did when I left him a little over an hour ago. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was grabbing a few things and heading over.
“And what’s so funny?” he asks, lifting his eyebrows as he cocks his head.
I wave him inside, shutting the door behind him. “I was watching a horror movie, and it sucked me right in. I jumped when you knocked on the door like I didn’t know you were coming over. It was funny to me.”
“A horror movie, huh?” he steps into the living room, setting his bag on an end table as he looks around. “This place hasn’t changed at all.”
“Nope, and I haven’t had the heart to redo it just yet.” I shrug. “It makes me feel like I’m forgetting them or something. I’ll get around to it eventually. Just like I’ll move into my parents’ room eventually.”
Damon grins as he turns back to me. “Does that mean you’re in your old room? I’ve had so many fantasies about fucking you in that room.”
Oh. Is it hot in here, or is it just me?
Clearing my throat, I return his grin. “It’s changed quite a bit since I was a teenager. The bed’s definitely bigger.”
“Thank fuck,” he says as he saunters over to me where I’m still standing in the doorway. “Your bed was not big enough.”
“Want to come check it out?” I ask as he stops in front of me.
He chuckles. “Weren’t you in the middle of watching a movie?”
I wave off his words. “I can watch it another time. Plus, I assume you have work tomorrow. We need to get you to bed so you can get some sleep.”
“I already called out sick, and if we go to bed, there’s no way we’ll be doing any sleeping.” Rather than waiting for me to say anything else, Damon leans down and kisses me. “You know what, though? I had a lot of fantasies about you and me in this room too. Fucking quietly so your parents wouldn’t hear us—there’s quite a thrill in having sex with someone in another room.”
My eyes go wide as I smack his chest. “With my parents in the next room? I don’t think that’s the kind of thrill I would’ve been into.”
He shrugs. “Maybe not, but we can pretend, can’t we?”
Once again, he doesn’t wait for me to answer, lifting me into his arms and carrying me over to the couch. He sits down and rearranges me until I’m straddling his lap. As soon as my core settles against his hard cock, I grind against him.
“That, I might be able to do.” Leaning in, I kiss him as his hands land on my hips to help guide my now rocking hips. How can I be so ready to fuck him already after the weekend I had? I was filled with four cocks numerous times—and sometimes more than one at a time. But here I am, acting like a hussy who hasn’t gotten laid in years.
“As much as I like free shows, it’s probably best if you stop.”
The unfamiliar voice has me jolting in Damon’s arms. When I attempt to turn around to see who the fuck is inside my house, Damon lifts me off his lap and sets me beside him. He jumps to his feet and moves to stand in front of me.
“Who the fuck are you, and what the fuck are you doing here?” Damon’s body is completely rigid.
Even though I know better, I can’t help peering around him to see who he’s talking to.
Yup. Definitely shouldn’t have looked.
The man is older and not half bad looking, but the gun glinting in his hand doesn’t do it for me.
“My name is Carlos Alvarez. I’m part of the Santiago Cartel.”
My eyes widen, something Carlos catches as he nods. “So you’ve heard of us.”
Ducking back behind Damon, I fight to keep my breathing regulated. Adrenaline spikes inside of me. This man is from the cartel is the one searching for Parker.
How did he find us? What does he want from us? How the hell did he get in my house?
I voice none of these questions, Damon instead asking him what the hell he’s doing here once more. Trying not to be completely obvious, I glance at the couch on either side of me. I don’t see either of my phones. They probably slipped behind the cushions. This couch is known for eating phones.
Slipping my hand behind me, I push it into the opening and feel around for the phones. I find one and bring it out slowly, almost breathing a sigh of relief when I notice it’s the one I need. Keeping it beside me, I unlock it and click on the contacts, calling the first name that appears—making sure to silence it so when they answer, this man won’t hear them.
“I’m here because it seems we have a friend in common—Parker Hilton. We’ve been looking for him for a long time. This is the first time we’ve gotten close, but by the time I made it to the hotel, they were already gone. Luckily, I’d sent some of my men to follow Royce and then the two of you. It seems like you might be important to him—important enough to get him to come out of hiding.”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Damon states calmly, his voice flat. “If you’re talking about the men from the hotel this weekend, the two of us were purchased at an auction. We were brought to the hotel for sex—that’s it. You’ve got this all wrong.”
Carlos scoffs. “I would’ve believed that if one of my men hadn’t found these photos. They’re old, but it’s clearly the two of you and Hilton.”
Fuck. The photos in my office.
Damon shakes his head but doesn’t say anything.
“Nothing to say to that? No more lies you want to tell?” Carlos laughs.
“What do you want from us?” I ask, poking my head around Damon once more.
Do I want to talk to the man holding a gun? Absolutely not, but I’m hoping to get information for Parker, Royce, and Cormac. Because something tells me they’re the only way we’re getting out of this.
“I don’t really want anything from you, but I can use you to get what I want—Hilton.” Carlos’s gun is still pointed at Damon, but his eyes are on me. “I’d say I’m sorry about this, but I’m really not.”
Before I can ask him what he’s talking about, arms close around me and yank me over the back of the couch. A scream rips from me, causing Damon to spin around. The horror in his eyes is clear as a needle slides into my neck. Tears fill my eyes as I’m held immobile. I don’t know what they injected into me, but it can’t be anything good.
Something that’s confirmed when my head begins to spin, my vision graying on the edges.
Damon roars, attempting to launch himself over the couch, but someone grabs him from behind and drags him to the ground. I can’t see what’s going on, but I can hear the struggle as I try to stay awake.
“Go to sleep, girl. You don’t want to see this,” a voice whispers in my ear.
I don’t want to listen to him, but I can’t seem to keep my eyes open as blackness overwhelms me, and I fall unconscious.