42. Jasper
FORTY-TWO
JASPER
Ever since we left the mansion, Carter has an insatiable energy, a certain high about her that hasn’t calmed down, even after a few slices with the blade and a round of orgasms.
The sun has set, the hours ticking by as we wait to make our move, watching as the lights go out in the Villas one by one.
Carter’s family owns a handful of luxury condos, some rented out to tenants, others reserved for members of the Family to use whenever they please, and with the entire Cassini Family in town for the sham wedding of the century, it doubles as a hotel for made men.
My fascination with her grows every time she tells us a new tale, or drops a detail about her Family, but after our conversation the other day, I know that it wouldn’t have been this way when we first met.
As much as I believe Carter was made for me, created to be my partner in death in each lifetime, I know myself, and back then, the way I was living under my father’s thumb would’ve been the signature on her death certificate.
When I got to know her, it was inevitable that we’d be exactly the way we are, but I’m not foolish enough to believe that a different version of myself would’ve allowed her a shred of mercy if she were honest with us on day one.
Finally, Carter has let go of the past, and I promised that I would too, only looking toward our future, especially now that we’re only one day away from true freedom.
“Will he have any guards with him?” Tyson asks, breaking our silence, and disrupting Carter’s trance, which has been trained out the window since we put the car in park.
“No, not tonight. This is our one and only chance to get to him without any backup, suits, or loyal guards standing in our way,” she affirms, fidgeting with the zipper on her black hoodie, the three of us donning matching outfits – to stay undetected – but I snake a finger under her chin, forcing her baby blue eyes into mine.
“You’re getting everything you deserve, Principessina. Don’t you dare get nervous on me now,” I say, inching until my lips hover above hers, but she backs away, eyebrow raised in response.
“Nervous? I don’t get nervous, Jasper. I’m antsy. Bored. This is taking too damn long,” she whispers, biting her lower lip, her gaze darting between Tyson and I, as if she’s testing to see which one of us will fall into her trap.
Luckily for me, I’m always under her spell, no convincing needed to dance along the edges of darkness with her, and within seconds, I press my lips to hers, the kiss stealing my breath while she tangles her hands into my hair.
In a swift motion, I lift her ass off the leather seat, placing her into my lap, my hands lingering on her curves as she tips her head back, a throaty moan escaping her chest.
“Save it all for later, my bloodthirsty little devil. Business first,” I remind her, trailing my tongue along her jawline, a distinct shiver erupting from her body, while a smirk that could be seen for miles overtakes her face.
“Business first,” she repeats, returning her focus toward the Villas, but the second her gaze lands on the condos, the final light goes out, and she nearly jumps with joy.
“That’s it. That’s our cue!” She squeals, her bubbly energy bouncing off the leather seats, and without hesitating, I stash a gun in the waistband of my jeans, watching as Tyson and Carter do the same.
“All security cameras on the property are disabled for five minutes. That should be enough time to snatch him before anyone notices,” Tyson informs us, his voice dropping down to a low growl, the beast he’s buried deep within his soul desperate to come out to play, solely because of his disdain for our victim.
My brother is normally repulsed by blood, guts, and the glory that comes with the violence, but tonight, he’s chosen to get his hands dirty, too, which has only heightened the thrill Carter’s riding on.
“Come on boys! Let’s go play,” Carter says in a sing-song voice, and like the loyal soldiers we are, Tyson and I follow a step behind her, slinking together like shadows in the night.
As we approach the Villa, a familiar phenomenon creeps through my veins, the kind that makes my fingertips feel electrified, and craves a taste of the destruction we’re about to cause.
Carter takes the lead, picking the lock on the balcony door, her quiet footsteps ushering us into the room, the scent of vodka and cigar smoke immediately plaguing me as we cross the threshold.
Creeping through the pitch-black condo, we avoid the furniture, delicately stepping on the hardwood floors, and with one deep breath, Carter places her hands on the doorknob to the bedroom, squaring her shoulders as we push into the room.
Thanks to all the alcohol they had tonight, he’ll be easy to take, the drinks already causing him to crash, the snores similar to a lion’s roar echoing off the walls.
Still, we’d never show up unprepared, and before the bastard can even twitch, Tyson smushes a chloroform-soaked cloth against his nose and mouth, his eyes slowly popping open as a set of hands wrap around his throat.
With Carter’s grip, his body goes slack, and I scoop his unconscious body over my shoulder, following Tyson’s lead right back the way we came.
After months of streamlining my focus on the revenge I thought Carter deserved, I haven’t taken a victim since one of the last memories I have before Emory was destroyed – and I didn’t even get to play with the idiot from the Corazza Family.
It’s been far too long since I’ve sliced through flesh or watched as blood dripped from a still breathing body, but every nerve-ending I possess is alive, sparking like a loose wire at the chance to rip this fucker’s skin and muscle from its bones.
Once we cut across the lawn, I toss the unconscious, soon-to-be dead man, into the trunk of the car, and Tyson makes quick work of the restraints, stuffing his mouth with a gag for good measure.
According to Carter, the Cassini’s have warehouses all over town, and quite a few of them are soundproofed, exactly the kind of place we need to keep this party going.
“Carter, set the GPS,” Tyson commands, sliding into the driver’s seat, his knuckles going white as he grips onto the steering wheel for dear life.
“Holy shit,” she breathes, plugging in the address while sliding into my lap, resting her forehead against mine.
“You were amazing, Principessina. The most breathtaking, fearless, and powerful little grim reaper in all the land,” I say, snaking a finger under her chin and pressing her lips to mine in a slow, rhythmic kiss, the kind I reserve for moments like these when I’m utterly starstruck by her.
Of course, I know the strength she possesses in that petite body, but after everything we’ve learned – and been through – since rescuing her, this wasn’t the easiest abduction she’s ever pulled off.
She puts on a tough front, but facing your abuser is emotionally heavy, and as usual, Tyson and I will be right here to put those pieces of her back where they belong.
“He’s right, baby girl. I’m so proud of you,” Tyson chimes in, searching for her gaze in the rearview, something he and I have both become masters at, considering all the time we’ve spent in a car recently.
“That’s a little more hands on than you’re used to … are you alright, Tyson?” She asks, resting a hand on his shoulder, their eyes locking through the mirror as they speak in their own little language.
“I’m fine, Carter. He deserves everything we’re going to do to him,” he says through gritted teeth, a snarl slipping from his chest, something so sinister that I’d recognize it anywhere.
Our little Tyson is coming out to play.
“We?” She perks up, practically bouncing on my thigh, her sheer excitement drawing a certain reaction in my pants, the sound of her deranged laugh always enough to get me hard.
“Revenge is a powerful motivator, my little masterpiece.” I trail the tip of my tongue along the nape of her neck, wrapping an arm around her midsection until her back is flush with my front, feeling her body shiver beneath my touch.
“Business first, Jasper,” she moans, grinding her ass into my crotch, the message she’s sending very clear.
First, we bring devious, delicious, and downright devilish harm to the person who hurt her, and then, the world is ours for the taking.
Everything we’ve done has been for Carter, to help her destroy those who harmed her and whisk her away to a brand new life, giving her the normalcy she’s always craved.
Freedom is on the tip of my tongue, but first, I’ll partake in one last high, my favorite thing to chase, if only to satisfy a craving I’ll live with for the rest of my life.