Kairus
“Did you believe you would be able to run for forever and we wouldn’t catch you?” I glowered down at Bryant with my top lip curled. He was tied to a chair in the middle of the warehouse. If he was smart he would have left town before we got wind he was hiding out at his mother-in-law’s house. He was moving around like he had no cares in the world, not even checking his surroundings. It only pissed me off more because he took me as a joke.
“Fuck you,” he grunted and spat on the ground near my feet.
Nolan grinned, stepping forward and sending his fist across Bryant’s face. “Speaking of fucking, your baby mom is fine as shit. I might have to slide back and show her what it’s like to be with a real man.”
“Stay the fuck away from her!” he bellowed, struggling against his restraints.
“Shut up!” Nolan hit him again. I stared at him with a bored expression on my face.
“Your right hand was loyal. I have to admit you picked a solid man to be at your side. He refused to give you up.” I pulled my black leather gloves out of my back pocket and put them on. “He was loyal until the very moment I cut his tongue out for the continued disrespect.” Bryant flinched when I pulled my knife out next and flicked the blade out. He eyed it and for a second a flash of fear passed through his eyes.
“I might lose my life, but at least I know you won’t get your money,” he choked out and laughed.
“Oh you mean this money?” Nolan grabbed a book bag and brought it in front of Bryant. His eyes widened with realization.
“Where did you get that!” he shouted.
He grinned. “Your baby mom thought if she gave us the money it might spare your life. Tsk, tsk. I hope you had more for her and your kid put up somewhere.” I had already counted the money and it was all there and then some. While I took what I was owed, I let Nolan have the rest.
“Now.” I rolled my neck between my shoulders. “I wanna play a game.”
I stepped forward. Bryant eyed me warily. The once stubborn attitude he had was fading. “I’ve always wondered how long it would take for a person to bleed out as I cut his fingers off, piece by piece.”
He started shaking his head and tried to break free again. His arms were tied to the arms of the chair. He balled his hands and I grinned as if that would stop me.
“You’re one sick fuck.” Nolan laughed but I focused on Bryant. He saw me as a joke and disrespected me. For that he had to pay. His death would be slow and painful, just the way I liked.
“You’re free to go.” I told Crusher. “Go meet Rock at the warehouse for cleanup.”
“Got it, Boss.” He started the truck.
I walked to the front door of the Marks’ house and rang the doorbell. I was still riding the rush from torturing Bryant and needed to lay eyes on Azeira sooner than I expected.
The door opened and Jeremy stood on the other side. His lips pressed together tightly and his eyes narrowed.
“What are you doing here?” he questioned.
I smirked, not bothering to respond and stepping forward, pushing past him.
“Hey!” he called out after me.
“Take me to where Azeira is,” I called out over my shoulder.
“She’s with her mother. Where she belongs.” His words were tight as he spoke.
I chuckled. “Foolish man. She’s mine and belongs at my side.” I continued walking through the house.
“I need to talk to you,” Jeremy mentioned. Pausing, I turned to face him. He glared at me with deep hatred embedded in his eyes. “I’ll have your money sooner than expected. Once I give it to you, I want my daughter back and you out of our lives.”
His words sent a violent dip through my stomach that caused my blood to run cold. Narrowing my eyes, I stepped closer and glowered down at him. “In case the hospital didn’t tell you enough, I’ll make it clear. Your daughter is mine. Even if she tried to live her life as before, she’ll never forget me. I’m permanently embedded in her.” Jeremy didn’t know I meant that in the literal sense but that didn’t stop his nostrils from flaring and his eyes from growing tighter.
“I don’t know what kind of Stockholm syndrome you brainwashed into my daughter. The daughter I know would never engage in anything with you.” His voice shook slightly.
“Maybe you didn’t know your daughter as good as you thought.” I tilted my head. “Know this, Jeremy. Now that I’ve had your daughter, I’ll never let her go. Anyone who interferes will be dealt with. So you better get used to being my father-in-law .” He was steaming from the ears as I turned and walked down the hall. I followed the voices until I got to a bedroom.
Looking inside I saw Azeira and her mom laughing with one another. They didn’t notice me right away and I took the moment to study her mom. Although she was in a fragile state, she was still an attractive woman. Azeira favored her more than she did her dad and it gave me a glimpse of what to expect when she was that age.
Her mom finally took notice of me. Her eyes widened and her words stopped, causing Azeira to turn and face me.
“!” she yelped with wide eyes. “What are you doing here?” Nervousness covered her face.
“It’s time to go,” I told her.
“What? But I’m not ready. Where’s Crusher?”
“Crusher?” her mom asked.
Azeira whipped her head to her mom. “His bodyguard,” she blurted out, causing me to chuckle.
“His whereabouts are none of your concern. It’s time for us to head home so say your goodbyes.”
“Aren’t you gonna properly introduce us, Azeira?” Her mom’s eyes bored into me.
Azeira’s shoulders stiffened for a second before she sighed and they fell forward.
“Mom, this is my boss . , my mom Ruby.”
Her mom’s eyes narrowed. “ Navarro, right?” I nodded silently. “And my daughter works for you?”
“For now. It’s ending soon.” Her dad stepped in the room. I cut my eyes at him.
The tension around us could be cut with a knife. Azeira’s eyes bounced between me and her dad. It was clear she was uneasy.
Jeremy walked to his wife and kissed her forehead. “Maybe it’s best if you two leave. Your mom is due for her meds and needs to rest,” he said, not bothering to glance at his daughter.
Ruby’s eyes cut to her husband. She was trying to put the pieces together, it was written all over her face. “I’m fine,” she stated.
Azeira stared at her dad for a second. Sadness fell onto her face. My hands balled at my sides. Jeremy was walking on very thin ice with his behavior toward Azeira. “No, it’s okay, Mom. Dad’s right, I should get going.”
She stood and leaned over, kissing her mom on the cheek. “I’ll call you later, okay?” Her mom looked like she wanted to say more but instead she faced me.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I can smell bullshit a mile away. I know who you are and what you do. I’m not sure how my daughter is connected to you, but something seems funny.” I smirked.
“Mommy,” Azeira gasped.
“Your mom’s a smart woman,” I said. Jeremy glared at me.
When Azeira got close enough, I pulled her into my side. She tensed for a second before melting into me. It was comical because I didn’t think she even realized it. Her dad watched us with a frown on his face.
Wanting to push him further, I grabbed her chin, tilted it up, and lowered my lips against hers. She easily submitted to me, melting into my touch and sighing. Her lips parted, inviting my tongue in. Blood rushed south to my dick, making it stir. It knew when Azeira was near and always seemed to crave her.
“Say goodbye to your mom so we can go,” I said against her lips before licking them.
Her cheeks flushed and her eyes widened, remembering where we were. She shot her eyes to her parents. A surprised expression was displayed on her mom’s face. The hatred in her dad’s eyes intensified.
“Uh, bye Mom and Dad,” she stammered, her cheeks growing redder. I knew her dad hated the effect I had on his daughter. He hated that she had succumbed to the situation he put her in. It didn’t matter to me. However, his regrets were my guilty pleasure.
Currently I was locked in my music room where I had been for the past hour, on my piano. The stress of today had long faded away as I got lost in the keys and visualized the notes.
Most people didn’t know my love for music. The joy I got from learning a new instrument always brought a calm over me that I couldn’t explain. My father loved disturbing the peace my instruments brought me. He wanted to create a monster.
I hit the keys harder, thinking about the time he slammed my guitar against the wall when I refused to stop to help him run through some numbers. Each day my hatred for him grew. The day my mother took their lives freed me from the shackles I had been caught in since birth. I wasn’t allowed to be like other kids, wasn’t allowed to enjoy my childhood like kids my age were.
My veins vibrated as I continued to play. My music room had become my solace, the quiet in the raging storm that was my life. It was the only thing that brought me peace, until her.
Azeira’s face appeared. Memories of the day I showed her my safe space played over in my head. The protective, possessive nature I had for her only grew each day she stayed. Her dad’s words of taking her back caused a volcano of fury to erupt inside me. The thought of her leaving my side made me want to chain her to the bed and keep her hidden from anyone who dared threaten to take her away from me. I hadn’t used the room in my basement since I first took her, but I was tempted to lock her away in there.
My fingers moved quicker.
No one was taking her away from me.
No one.
My eyes shot open feeling someone enter my room. I glanced over, seeing Azeira trudge close to my bed.
Neither of us spoke as she pulled back the cover and slid under it.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
I’d never slept next to another person before. Normally I fucked and left, leaving no questions when it came to any kind of intimacy.
“You were in your music room for a long time,” she whispered, turning to face me. The whites of her eyes shone brightly.
My eyes adjusted to the darkness and bounced around her face. “I was worried something was wrong.” Her hand lifted and brushed over my cheek.
Something in my chest flared. My pulse pounded in my ears.
“My dad said something to upset you, didn’t he?” She spoke lowly, moving in and pecking my lips.
I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath. Her scent invaded my nose, causing my heart to thunder wildly inside me.
Flaring my nostrils and pushing out a heavy breath, I shifted so I was on top of her, forcing her onto her back.
“He thinks he can take you from me.” Her body shook as I lowered my head and licked her lips. They parted as she panted softly. “But he can’t, can he?” I nipped her bottom lip with my teeth.
My hand went under the thin shirt she had on and ran up her side, brushing across my name. Electrical currents flooded my veins and sparked my blood. I sank my teeth into her bottom lip and gripped her hip tightly. My thumb went across the tattoo.
Some people were addicted to drugs. Others to alcohol. Me, however, I was addicted to the twisted beauty lying under me.