Chapter 35
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
SLOAN
Seconds, minutes, hours later, everything blended as darkness settled in every crevice of my mind. I wasn’t scared for my life. I was terrified for his family. A family I didn’t know and had never even met. A bunch of strangers meant more to me than anything I could place. I felt like I knew them through what Luke had shared with me.
I was fixated on a man I didn’t know would ever forgive me. Or could ever forgive me. Trying to distract myself from that was easier said than done.
The only hope I had was to believe that maybe it was possible. At that point, I had to pray for something even though I stopped believing in God a long time ago. Satan only ruled my world. Hell was on earth, and I’d die on that hill.
What felt like an eternity later, we were strolling through the woods as if this was suddenly the yellow brick road and we were off to see the fucking wizard.
Navarro finally made his presence known.
Of course, he had to be a dick about it. Needing to show face to thee Luke Jameson. Basically, they were about to cock sword fight, and I mentally rolled my eyes about it.
Boys will be boys.
In true Navarro Del Toro form, he came out with a blunt in his hand, ready to start swinging. It was part of his charm. My eldest brother was seven years older than me, while Xavier was four. I swear they all acted like Neanderthals, cut from the same cloth.
Cavemen at their finest.
The night had been one thing after another, and it was like I blacked out, moving in a trance-like state.
“Luke, please…” I whispered, and to my surprise, he actually did it.
Navarro didn’t let it slide. He called it out, “Huh, well, look at that. He’s already pussy-whipped.”
“Nav…” I warned him with a glare before shifting my gaze to Luke. “He’s just fucking with you.”
Nav extended his hand to shake Luke’s. “The pleasure’s all yours.”
“Jesus…” I stressed, glaring at him again. “Can you fucking chill?” Pushing him, I threw my arms around his neck, pulling his pain in the ass into a hug.
The first time I brought a guy over, my brothers threatened him within an inch of his life. It probably didn’t help that he was the son of a kingpin. You see, my brothers couldn’t protect me from my father’s demands, but they sure as shit did when it came to my personal life.
I’d never had a steady boyfriend. There had been guys I hung out with that didn’t lead to much but sex and casual conversation. Luke was the first man who ever pursued me so intently. Which was crazy, considering who he was.
The fact that he wouldn’t sleep with me unless he knew my name meant more to me than he could ever truly know. That was definitely a first.
I hadn’t seen Nav in months. This was usually where he stayed when he was in Venezuela. I saw him walking around the party earlier, so I took a chance he’d be here, and I was so glad that I did. Now I had their support, and they could help us come up with some sort of plan that involved defeating my father.
Nav slowly pulled away to grab my face between his hands. “Dad’s handiwork?”
I moved my head away. “I’m fine.”
Brushing the hair away from my face, he took a good look at me as he questioned, “You sure you’re alright?”
“You know me.” I smiled, shaking it off. “I’m like a cat. I have nine lives.”
“It doesn't mean much when you’re on your last life.”
Ignoring his response, I brought the conversation back to the issue at hand. “What were you saying?” I gestured back and forth between them. “You two have met before?”
Luke finally spoke. “Somethin’ like that.”
“Great,” I sarcastically stated. “Because that answers my question.”
“So what’s next, Bonnie and Clyde?”
I slapped Nav on his chest. “I need a shower, and I need one now.”
He motioned to his house. “What’s mine is yours.”
I grabbed Luke’s hand and led him inside, with Navarro following us close. Once we were in the foyer, he said he would warm us some food and to make ourselves at home. I took the opportunity to show Luke where we’d be sleeping.
My brother’s bachelor pad was impressive, to say the least. He loved the privacy out here. Most of his homes around the world were located in the woods like he was Yogi the fucking Bear. I led Luke to the guest room on the second floor. It had its own sitting area, balcony, and en suite bathroom.
Luke pointed at the open closet with women’s clothes. “You got clothes here?”
I shook my head. “More like my brother’s concubines leave their shit behind.”
“That’s quite a collection.”
“Yeah… tell me about it. Nav has always been a ladies’ man.”
He was six-four with a huge muscular build, completely covered in tattoos, and had bright green eyes that appeared to be staring into your soul every time he simply looked at you. And trust me, he used it to his advantage.
I sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at Luke. “We could crash here tonight.”
He nodded, closing the door behind him to lean against it with his arms crossed.
“What are we doin’ here?”
I shrugged. “I’m not entirely sure. This was the only choice I had.”
Gesturing to me, he snapped, “I hate to break this to you, but I trust your brother even less than I trust you.”
I leaned back on my hands, trying to relax. “You got any other choices because I’m all ears.”
“I don’t like this.” He firmly shook his head. “I don’t like this one fuckin’ bit. If your brothers haven’t been able to help you for the past seventeen years, what the hell makes you think they’re goin’ to help you now?”
I fell forward, yanking back my hair. “Well, at least we can get some sleep.”
He pushed off the door. “Speak for yourself.”
He was right, and I hated admitting that. I stood, making my way to the bathroom, but I turned and stopped by the door.
“I don’t have the right or wrong answers for you, Luke. All I know is that four heads are better than one, ya feel me?”
He narrowed his murderous stare at me.
“If you’re going to continue to look at me like you want to kill me, then I can’t stop you. What I can do, is take a shower. If you’d like to join me, you’re welcome to.”
“You think you can fix this by throwin’ your pussy at me? I’m not your father.”
I winced. I couldn’t help it. Feeling hurt, I argued, “How many more times are you planning on calling me a whore? Because I’d rather get it out of the way now.”
With a jarring gaze, he mocked, “You’re givin’ me lip?”
“What do you expect?” I reasoned. “Just because you know the truth about me, I’m suddenly supposed to be someone I’m not?” Leaning against the doorframe, I pointed at myself. “Listen, I’ll make this really fucking easy for you. I’m well aware that I’ve spread my legs for more men than you’ve probably fucked women.”
“Sloan…” he accentuated my name in a menacing demeanor, and I enjoyed getting through to him.
“I’m just calling a spade a spade. It’s the truth.” Wanting to truly piss him off, I vindictively added, “How do you think I learned how to deep throat your cock?”
He growled from deep within his chest and lunged at me, trying to grip my throat. I didn’t hesitate to use his own momentum against him by grabbing his hand and flipping it over so his arm was twisted.
“I’m not tied up anymore,” I sassed, smiling.
With that, I went to side kick him in the face just to prove my point, but at the last second, not only did he catch my attack but he was also able to pick me up under my leg and ass and slam my body onto the bed. He quickly gripped my wrists, locking them above my head.
In one quick movement, he snarled in my ear, “Don’t fuck with me.”
I was panting, fuming that I was suddenly under him. He blocked my assault on my knee in his balls.
Feeling beyond frustrated, I exclaimed, “I could scream, and Nav would have a gun to your head.”
“Not before I’d have one to yours.”
“This is how it’s going to be between us now?”
“I can only deal with your father right now,” he gritted out. “So you’re the least of my concerns.”
Glaring, I bit, “Sticks and stones, Luke.”
“Says the woman who’s tryin’ to get me killed by her brothers.”
“You think that’s what I’m trying to do?”
“I don’t know, but what I do know is this is the last place I should be.”
“Fine,” I clipped. “I’ll shower, and we can go wherever the hell you want.”
“’Cause your brother is gonna let you walk out that door with me, right?”
“I guess there’s only one way to find out. Now are you going to let me shower, or do I need a babysitter for that too?”
He reluctantly backed away, and I instantly missed his heat. There was nothing left to say. He slammed the door on his way out of the room, making me jump. I shut my eyes for a few minutes, wanting to get lost in the softness of the sheets.
I was exhausted.
I’d barely been sleeping. My father just let me out of my cage the morning of the party. I spent the past three days in there. The last thing I could do was fall asleep to the sounds of people being tortured. Every time I did, I’d wake up to the most horrifying screams, or there’d be a rat crawling over my head since I slept on a disgusting blanket on a concrete floor that smelled like shit.
The thought alone made my skin shiver, and I shuddered hard.
Scared.
Confused.
Lost in hell.
Except at least this time…I wasn’t by myself.