Chapter Thirty-One
Jill
I can’t sit in my car for much longer, and yet I can’t seem to move from this seat. My hands firmly grip the steering wheel as I stare at nothing in particular. The entire drive over to Lana’s apartment building, my head was a complete mess. The shock of my discovery threatened to break me until I was questioning if what I found was real.
I’d sat there in Gage’s office for almost an hour, just trying to process the gold bracelet in my hand. And then I stood up, put it back in its hiding place, and replaced the box on the desk like nothing had ever happened.
But something did happen.
The man I loved—the man I fucked, the man I let pull my walls down, the man I finally decided to trust—is also the man who killed my brother.
It all makes sense to me now. Gage got rid of Tommy so I would be forced to repay the massive debt to Jonas. Then he found a way to take the club and my debt from Jonas so he could own me. He wanted me where he could see me, control me, and manipulate me.
And it fucking worked.
Because he had me.
The thought has me sick to my stomach, and the waves of nausea have anger storming inside me. Climbing out of the car, I walk inside on unsteady legs. It’s a relief that no one else is in the elevator to see as I ascend to the seventh floor. As soon as the doors slide open, I’m moving again. I don’t stop walking until I see her door.
Pulling out my phone with shaking hands, I call Lana. She answers on the second ring. “I was just thinking about you. I swear we share half a brain.”
“Are you home?” I ask, praying she’s not on a date or something. I’m not supposed to be here for another few hours, but I desperately need my best friend right now.
“Yeah, I’m home.” Completely missing the anguish in my voice, she continues. “Christos has a business dinner, and I couldn’t be bothered to go to another one of his meetings. Last time, they wanted me to take my top off to prove I wasn’t wearing a wire, and Christos almost shot up the place over it. It was nuts,” she rambles. “Why?”
“Come let me in,” I state simply, stepping up to her door. A few seconds later, the door swings open, and my gorgeous best friend stands on the other side with her megawatt smile. The instant her eyes land on me, and she sees the misery in my expression and the tears streaming down my face, all happiness vanishes.
“What happened? What’s wrong?” she asks, ushering me into her apartment and closing the door. Just being in her presence, my walls start to crumble, and I fall apart. A sob escapes me, my tears streaming freely. Lana doesn’t hesitate to wrap me in her arms and hold me while I cry.
After a few minutes I pull away and allow her to lead me to the couch. Sucking in deep breaths, I start to push back the tears in an attempt to regain control.
“Babe, what is it?” Lana asks, concern written all over her face.
“Gage did it.”
“Gage did what?” She’s confused.
“Tommy,” I say through a rattled sob. “Gage did it.” It takes a second for Lana to piece together what I’m saying, but I can see when it clicks. A million emotions cross her face in the same order I felt them when I found the evidence of Gage’s betrayal. First the sheer shock of it, then the confusion and denial. Lastly, the outrage—the anger so potent you can taste it.
“Gage killed Tommy.” She’s still processing. “Fuck, Jill. Tell me everything.”
Telling her how I found Tommy’s bracelet in Gage’s office has me getting worked up all over again—this time, Lana feels it too.
“I’m going to fucking kill him.” She shakes her head, her thoughts racing. “I’m going to murder that psycho bastard, chainsaw-massacre style.”
“No, you’re not. And neither am I,” I say, putting an end to that idea. “Killing someone like Gage is too kind. I want him to live and suffer. I’m going to rip away every ounce of happiness in his life and make him drown in so much misery that he chokes on it. And I’m going to need your help.” I thought about it on my way over here, but my mind was too big of a mess to come up with a concrete plan.
“Anything, you name it.”
“Gage watches my every move, and I don’t want him to realize that I know the truth until it’s too late. I’m going to distract him, and I need you to go to my place and pack a few bags for me. You know what I’d want.”
“Done,” Lana agrees eagerly. “Where are you gonna go?”
“I need to go dark for a while,” I say, earning an understanding nod. It’s going to suck leaving Lana behind, but I need to get away from my stalker soon-to-be ex. And creating a plan on how I’m gonna lose him and stay gone for however long is going to take some strategy. Luckily, Lana and I are both as smart as we are pretty.
“Are you still going on Christos’ yacht next week?”
Lana nods. “We leave Friday.”
“I need to borrow your arms dealer.”
The sound of the front door slamming shut is followed closely by the metallic click of the lock. I stay in place, sitting back on my knees in the center of the bed, watching the bedroom door. The sound of heavy boots striding with a purpose grows closer, sending a thrill through me.
Gage is about to walk in here to find me basically naked and waiting for him in his bed. He’s going to fuck me and tell me how much he loves me. And I’m going to let him. Not only will I let him, I’m going to enjoy it.
This sex is about to be the best sex of my life. I’m going to use every inch of Gage’s body to wreck me, tear me in two, then put me back together. His skilled fingers, starved tongue, and big, desperate cock are going to destroy every inch of my body until I’m a breath away from death and ready to be reborn.
Then I’m going to rise up from the ashes and scorch the very earth Gage walks on.
I’m going to smile as Gage tells me how much he adores me. Every time I tell him I love him, I’m going to picture a new way to make him wish he’d never laid eyes on me. Each orgasm will come with the thought of severing our soul ties as brutally as possible.
“Holy fuck, you’re a goddamn vision.” Gage stands in the doorway, his large frame filling the space. His eyes move over me so slowly and meticulously that I can feel them touching every inch of my bare skin.
Showtime.
The lingerie set I put on just for him is in full effect, and his erection is already pressing against his jeans. The bows on each of my hips beg for his teeth to tug away the string thong, the underwire of my cup-less bra lifting my bare breasts to offer my hardened nipples to him. The black thigh-high stockings attached to my garter belt cut into my thick thighs, calling for Gage’s hands and lips.
The lust pouring through me gathers between my thighs until I’m soaking a spot on the comforter. Anticipation grows inside me until my chest is heaving with breathless pants. When Gage steps towards me, I smile at him with thoughts of everything I have planned.
Gage Lawless doesn’t know what’s coming for him.
Me.