Chapter 8
eight
I don’t think I’ve ever been so fucking hard in my life. I shift uncomfortably, adjusting my dick, even though there’s no way to hide my reaction to her. Her sudden shift in personality, taking what she wants and commanding attention, is so fucking sexy.
“You want the truth, angel? That,” I say, pointing a sharp finger towards to screen, “That is a contract for murder for hire. Your mother is trying to have your father killed.”
Could I have said it with a little more tact?
Yeah, I could. But Magnolia is so used to everyone handling her with kid gloves.
She’s desperate for someone to treat her like an equal.
If that’s what she wants, that’s what I’ll give her.
She swallows slowly, the color draining from her face as she reads over the document again and again.
I expect a visceral reaction, even though I’m not sure she’s got anything left in her stomach to give back.
But what I get is something else entirely, something I’m not quite sure how to take.
Maniacal laughter fills the air, Magnolia bending at the waist as she laughs and cries with equal effort.
She’s finally snapped. I knew it would happen. No one wants to learn something so terrible about the person who gave them life. I step forward to console her, but she waves me off, her laughter coming in loud bursts.
“I’m…fine. Really…” she huffs out as she struggles to catch her breath. “I wish I could say I’m shocked, but I’M NOT!”
Breaker and I exchange a look, his brows furrowed in concern.
I’m not sure what to make of her outburst. Is she having a mental breakdown?
Or is her soul darker than I think it is?
Does she really find this funny? Because if I’m being honest, my first instinct was to laugh, too.
But that’s because I’m a sick fuck who finds shit like this comical.
“Angel, do you understand what this all means?” I don’t doubt her intelligence, but I want to be sure.
“Oh, yeah. You’re telling me my mother hired a hitman to kill my father so she could be free to give me to Aaron, along with a large portion of my inheritance.
It’s pretty straightforward. Honestly, I never thought my mother had the balls, but I guess I was wrong.
” She replies, shrugging. I scoff out a laugh at her summarization of the intense situation.
“Yeah, that’s about it,” I tell her, and she just nods.
“Can you tell…I mean, I don’t know how this shit works.
But can you tell if somebody actually agreed to the contract?
” She asks. I’m so distracted by the thoughts running through my mind, I barely register her question.
She is obviously so beautiful, but the idea that she has a darkness in her that rivals my own is enough to make me ache for her down to my bones.
“Well, about that. I have an idea.” Breaker suggests, and I finally look away from her perfect face. We both wait for him to explain, even though he looks conflicted. “What if I take it?”
Magnolia opens her mouth to say something, but immediately closes it. She’s thinking hard about what it really means for Break to accept the contract. This isn’t her world, but it’s too late now.
“I’m going to assume you’re suggesting that we con my mother, because obviously I would filet you alive if you even considered laying a hand on my father,” she says, and I laugh whole heartedly. My angel has a violent side that makes me want to bend her over and fuck her until she screams.
“Obviously, I would never be serious about killing your dad, Magnolia. I try to only kill people who deserve it,” Breaker smirks, impressed by her threats.
“Well, then I approve. But why you? I mean, Iris-” she says, but we both shake our heads.
“She already knows me, angel. As far as she knows, you and I are involved. She may be a fucking idiot, but she wouldn’t believe I was serious. If we want to catch her, and keep your dad safe, it has to be someone unknown to her,” I reply, and she nods.
“I’ve got at least a dozen aliases I can choose from to reach out to her without her finding any connection between me and Grovewood.
I just want you to be aware, Magnolia. Once the wheels are set in motion, whatever happens may not be easy to stop.
Your mom could end up-” Breaker says, but Magnolia cuts him off.
“She won’t survive this. One way or another, she will die for this. If she gets caught in the consequences of her own actions, so be it. If I have to pull the trigger myself, I will.” She turns, walking back upstairs without another word.
She’s not okay. That much is obvious. But I’m not sure what to say or do to make this better, to ease her pain.
“Do it. I’m taking her back to my place for now. I don’t want to risk her safety in that apartment alone. If you need me, call me,” I tell Breaker, and he nods, turning back to his computer monitor.
I find her in the kitchen, leaning against the bar with her arms crossed over her chest, her dark green eyes clouded in confusion.
The low v-cut of her dress and the way she’s standing has her tits pushed up so high, it wouldn’t take much for me to pull the front of her dress down and feast on her creamy pale skin until I’ve had my fill.
But I don’t think I could ever satisfy my hunger for Magnolia.
I want her. To fuck. To protect. To cherish.
It has to be her decision. And I won’t push the issue with so much other bullshit already on her plate. But I won’t budge on the topic of her safety. She might not be happy when I float the suggestion, but this time she doesn’t have much of a choice.
“I don’t think you should go home, Magnolia.
Aaron and your mother both know where you live.
Obviously, you’ve seen what they’re capable of at this point.
It’s not safe,” I tell her and she nods, staring at the kitchen floor like she could burn a hole through it.
Rage still burns in her eyes, only now it’s a silent storm.
“I can call Kelsea. I’m sure she’ll let me stay with her and Ev,” she wipes stray tears from her eyes, biting her lip so hard I can see the individual imprints of each tooth against the skin.
I step towards her, sliding one hand into her hair and forcing her eyes to mine. My thumb traces her bottom lip, pulling it from its confines between her teeth. She closes her eyes, breathing deeply and leaning into my touch.
“You’ll stay with me, Magnolia,” I tell her, leaving no room for argument.
I know she wants to. She just doesn’t want to be the one to say it.
But the look in her eyes now, pure gratitude and longing, is all I need to see to confirm what I already know.
She wants me just as much as I want her.
She feels safe with me and there’s no greater gift in the world, in my opinion.
She slides her purse across the bar, digging through it and pulling out her keys.
“Will you drive?” Is all she asks, dropping them into my hand and walking out the front door.
Even though Saturday nights are busy for the bar, I told Megan I had an emergency to take care of.
Taking the outside steps up to my apartment, I open the door, motioning for Magnolia to walk inside first. She drops her purse on the kitchen table, kicking her sandals off and dropping onto my couch like a rag doll.
I smile, loving the way she makes herself at home here.
The lace of her white dress slides up her thighs as she throws her arms over her face. Fuck, her skin is so smooth, so soft.
“How is this real life?” She mumbles, and I scoff.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t even close to the craziest thing I’ve seen, angel.
But I am sorry you’re living through it,” I tell her, sitting on the opposite side of the couch and pulling her legs into my lap.
I press my fingers into the arches of her feet and she moans softly, the sound shooting straight to my dick.
“Dalton. Fuck meee,” she sighs and I think I might actually drop dead right here, right now.
“Feels good, angel?” I ask, clenching my jaw to keep from sliding my hands any higher.
“Mmmhm. I mean it,” Magnolia says, shifting her weight against the couch cushions.
“Mean what?” I ask, squeezing the muscles of her calves as she bites her bottom lip.
“I want you to fuck me, Dalton,” she says, propping herself up on her elbows and looking me square in the eyes. My hands still against her skin, unsure if I really just heard what I think I did.
“Uhhh…what?” I say, quirking an eyebrow. She sits up on the couch, pulling her legs from my grasp and squaring her shoulders. I see the determined look in her eyes, but this isn’t something to be taken lightly. Whether she’s confirmed it or not, I know Magnolia is a virgin.
“I’m not sure how much clearer I can spell it out,” she says, shrugging, like what she’s asking is not a big deal. “Fuck. Me. Preferably, now.”
“It’s been a long day, Mags. I think you just need to-” she cuts me off, standing abruptly.
“I’m so fucking tired of every single person in my life telling me what I need.
You’re not living in my mind, Iris. You don’t understand how utterly exhausting it is to keep this facade in place, to act like the perfect dutiful daughter, to pretend like I don’t have a goddamned brain in my head just to impress some guy who says I’m pretty, but not pretty enough.
I’m tired of feeling unworthy. I know you want me.
You know you want me. I’m telling you to take me,” she speaks with such passion, such assuredness, I don’t doubt for a second that this is what she truly wants.
“On one condition,” I reply, and her hands fall to her hips.
“Bargaining? I like it. Okay, give me your condition,” she smirks. Standing, I tangle one hand in her hair and use the other to tilt her chin back until she meets my eyes.