Smoke

Chapter 6

There aren’t enough curse words in the English language to express my murderous fucking rage right now. A bunch of strange men ogle me from poker tables that are spread out across my living room. But they don’t dare say a word.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” It takes me less than ten seconds to assess what’s going on, grab a beer bottle, break it, and pin Hawk against the wall. I press one of its fragmented shards against the base of his throat.

He glares down at me as if I’m the one who’s done something wrong. “Put it down and let’s go talk about this outside.”

“You’ve turned my apartment, my sacred space, into an illegal gambling den.

Now all these vile pieces of shit know what the inside of my place looks like.

They know the exits, what rooms are where, and what brand of fucking tampons I have in the bathroom,” I grit out as I dig the shard in a little deeper.

Just enough to draw a tiny droplet of blood.

“They also know who you run with and that we aren’t to be fucked with. So calm the fuck down before you give yourself an embolism.” He leans into the pressure, daring me to stab the shard straight through. No fear.

“Careful, Hawk. You remember what happened the last time I had a sharp object on you?” My gaze flits to his scar. Out of my peripheral, I can see Omen and Scarrow closing in. They’re about ten steps away from tackling me. But until then, I’m not backing down.

“I remember that it didn’t end well for you after.” Hawk wraps a hand around my wrist, applying light pressure with his thumb. He’s toying with me. Pressing any harder will force my hand open. The shard will drop to the floor and I will be the one in trouble.

“Is that what this is about? Tit for tat?” It’s the same old song and dance. We trade our licks, push each other to the edge, and then tap out before any real fucking damage ensues.

He smirks while still glaring with those cold dead eyes.

“We needed a spot to run the event tonight. That’s it.

Our place is compromised… It’s a lotta money, Cherry.

” He leans in closer, taking the jagged edge into his flesh another centimeter.

“But it’s just a dent in what you owe us,” he whispers in my ear. “It barely scratches the surface.”

I shudder as his warm breath tickles my ear.

It sends a shiver down my spine. I try not to imagine what his lips would feel like.

We came close once. Too close for my daddy’s liking.

He caught us in the game room one night, pressed up against the pool table, our faces inches away from each other…

We weren’t allowed to be alone in a room together for weeks after that.

Eventually, we cooled off and convinced him he was overreacting.

That there was nothing but stepsibling love between us.

I think he even gaslit himself at one point and chalked it up to being tired and overworked.

Like he imagined it or something. But deep down, all three of us knew that sins were being committed.

Even without a physical act, the dirty thoughts persisted… Fuck. I’m having them right now.

I take a deep breath and start to lay into him again when I’m grabbed from behind. “What the fuck?” I yell.

“You’ve had your fun. Enough is enough,” Scarrow barks. He yanks my head back and wraps another massive arm around my waist just as Hawk digs his thumb hard into the inside of my wrist, forcing me to drop the makeshift weapon as I knew he would. “Fuck you. Let me go.”

“Nah, not until you stop causing a fucking scene,” Scarrow snarls in my ear as he drags me down the hall.

“Show’s over. Get back to your events,” Omen orders. He gives me a smug look before I disappear into the back bedroom with Scarrow.

He tosses me on the bed. “You gonna behave?”

I whip around, snarling like a rabid dog on all fours. “You have no right. This is my apartment.”

He leans against the door, his arms crossed over his chest. His biceps are so fucking big they barely fold.

And my god are they sexy with all that ink…

“We got issues, you and me. Big fucking issues. I mean, are you actually fucking okay in the head?” The sarcasm drips from his tone.

“You see, you seem to forget that I helped cover up the fact that you murdered three people.”

My heart sinks. Fuck. My fingers start to tremble. Every time I think of that night. Before they got there. What those pigs did to me. “You think I killed them for fun?” I cry.

He sighs. “Fuck no. I think I have a pretty good idea of why you did it. But it was stupid, reckless, and unorganized. You were a mess then and you’re a fucking mess now. We all made sacrifices that night, Cherry. Time for you to make some.”

I slump back against the headboard. “You didn’t have to come. You could have made me deal with it myself.”

He crosses the room, his eyes darkening.

My heart skips when he climbs onto the bed and straddles me.

“No, we couldn’t. Hawk would never have forgiven himself if we let you go to jail.

” He pins my wrists over my head. “Omen and I swore loyalty to him. Always. We do what he says. No questions asked. That’s how deep our shit goes. ”

My chest heaves, my breath quickening as I feel his cock pulse against my belly. He’s so fucking hot, it’s all I can do not to get lost in his blue eyes and soft lips. Well, they look soft anyway. Like two pillowy, perfectly kissable—

“Are you listening to me, darlin’?”

“Yeah. Loud and clear. I ruined everything. Now you all hate me and are going to use my apartment, and my bar, until you feel like you’ve punished me enough. Did I miss anything?” It’s not that I’m ungrateful for what they did for me. I just hate being at anyone’s mercy.

He smirks. “Pretty much. You forgot one thing, though. We’re gonna use you too.” He lowers his lips to my ear. I almost black out from my own arousal as his hard chest presses against my tits. He murmurs, “I’m personally going to use your body for my own selfish desire.”

He releases one of my wrists and drags his hand down my arm till it lands on my belly. He pulls up the hem of my shirt so he can touch my skin. I draw in a sharp breath. “Don’t I get a say in that? Or are you just like those fuckers I poisoned?” Please don’t stop.

Scarrow chuckles, his lips brush my earlobe.

“You gonna tell me no? I bet every single dollar in this joint right now that you’re going to be begging me on your knees.

” He dips a finger just under the very top of my waistband, taunting me.

“You want to be used by me so fucking bad you can hardly sit still right now. You’re screaming inside your own head, praying that I touch your pussy. ”

My cheeks heat. I can’t admit that to him. Not after what I just walked into. I grit my teeth. “Get the fuck off me and get rid of all these fucking criminals. I want all of you out of my apartment. Now.”

He laughs and slides off the bed. “We’ll be out of here shortly. Until then, you’re staying in here. I’ll be right outside the door just in case you get adventurous and try to wander out.”

I scream and throw a pillow at him. “Are you fucking crazy? You can’t keep me as a prisoner in my own bedroom!”

Scarrow licks his lips. “Hey, just knock if you get bored. I’m more than happy to make you cum while we wait.”

I grunt in frustration and chase after him but he slams the door in my face. When I yank it back open, he is in fact standing in the doorway, blocking it. All six-foot-four and two hundred and fifty pounds of him.

“Move, Scar.”

“Not until the event is over.” His blue eyes sparkle with amusement.

Ugh. “You go tell Hawk I want to talk to him right fucking now.”

He shakes his head. “No can do. He’s busy. Relax on the bed. Play with your vibrator. It will help you unwind.”

Oh my god. The fucking audacity. “Go to hell.” I slam the door shut and retreat back. I pace around the room for what feels like at least an hour. He took my phone so I wouldn’t be tempted to call anyone, namely the police. I’m more insulted that they think I’d snitch. Not my style.

At least my bedroom has a bathroom attached.

Now I’m walking around making mental notes of all the things I need to add to this room for next time.

I should have a mini fridge, a wet bar, burner phone, and weapons.

A tranquilizer gun would be handy right now.

I’d love to put that giant blond, sexy-as-fuck asshole down directly on his ass.

My adrenaline crashes, my energy plummeting as I sink down onto the bed. It’s got to be close to three in the morning by now. I fight tooth and nail to keep my eyes open, but the night is catching up with me. And sleep is a demanding bitch.

I’ll just rest my eyes for a second…

I wake up with a gasp in a pitch dark room. After a few blinks, I acclimate, remembering I’m in my bedroom. I sit up too fast. Fuck. A sharp pain shoots up the back of my neck. I must have slept wrong. Or I’m already hungover. I stagger to my feet and hesitantly make my way to the door.

“Everyone’s gone.” Hawk’s voice pierces the eerie quiet, shattering my resolve.

I yelp and jump back. “Fucking hell! You scared the shit out of me. Are you just lurking in the dark watching me sleep like a fucking weirdo?”

“You’re a liability, Cherry. I had business to conduct and needed to make sure you didn’t screw it up.”

I squint in the dark and finally make out his figure sitting in a chair by the foot of my bed. “Well, maybe don’t conduct your business in my fucking apartment then. Or give me a heads up first so I’m not walking in blind. What the fuck did you expect from me?”

He bolts from the chair and is at my side faster than I can blink, towering over me. “A little fucking respect would be nice to start. And a thank you. You’ve never said those words to me. Not once.”

Still disoriented, I stumble back until my ass hits the wall.

“You’re right. Thank you Hawk. I’m so sorry I never showed you enough gratitude for cleaning up my blood bath.

I must’ve been too distracted trying to cope with the fact that I just murdered three boys after they took turns violating me. ”

He flips on the light switch, illuminating both our faces. “I want you to see the look in my eyes, Cherry. Is this sufficient for you? Do you not see the pure fucking psychotic rage I have for what they did to you?”

I want to wrap my arms around him. To bury my head in his neck and weep for the innocence I lost. But I hold back.

Always. Because I can’t trust this. He warned me years ago that he would break my heart.

So I don’t let him have it to begin with.

“No, it isn’t. You brush it off like you do everything else. ”

He grunts in frustration and shakes his head. “Whatever, Cherry. I give up trying to understand you. But I am back for good. And whether you like it or not, you’re going to do what I say. So get used to it. Things are going to be different around here. Starting with this apartment and this bar.”

“Mine, asshole. My bar and my apartment. I worked my ass off for this. Not for you to just swoop in and claim it like you do everything else. I’m not one of your fucking lackeys, Hawk.

Go play gangster somewhere else,” I bark.

He’s dangerous, cunning, and deadly. But I’m not afraid of him like everyone else is.

I grew up with this man. I know his fears and his weaknesses.

He pinches my chin between his fingers, tilting my face up so I have to look him dead in the eye.

“You never thanked me for going to prison for you. That’s what I’ve been waiting for all these years.

A simple fucking thank you for taking the blame after you crashed my car with that piece of shit you were whoring yourself out to. ”

“I told you I was sorry, Hawk. But I never asked you to take the fall!” Tears stream down my cheeks. My chest heaves. I feel like I’m drowning and never coming up for air again.

“You think I would let you?” He kisses my cheek.

“I will never let anything happen to you, Cherry. You know this. But you push my limits every fucking time.” His breath hitches as he places another soft kiss on my cheek.

“I don’t want your apologies. I don’t even expect you to thank me. Just don’t fucking disobey me.”

I’m shaking, crumbling against him like I did that night after I came back from summer camp. When he lied and told my daddy that those were his drugs he’d found out back by the shed. He knew my daddy would go easy on him out of guilt over his momma dying.

I still remember the weight of his arms as he held me, pinning me against the metal door of the shed, professing his undying loyalty to me.

But he wanted something in return. He wanted to watch.

He was too scared to touch. And it destroyed me every time.

Because all I wanted was for him to stop treating me like I was his dirty little secret. If he had just touched me back…

I bite my lip and choke back a sob. “I can’t go through this again with you, Hawk. I can’t. I can’t. I…”

He pulls me to the bed. “Lay down and let me watch.” He kisses my cheek again.

I try to kiss his mouth but he pulls away. “You owe me,” he whispers against my lips. He coaxes me down and pulls off my pajama pants before nestling into my side. “It’s been a long time. You used to love letting me watch.”

I gurgle back another cry as my lust for him rears its vile head. I can’t say no to him. He’s the only man on the planet that I would let this happen with. But it’s a sick obsession. A filthy fucking game that we still haven’t outgrown.

I slide my panties to the side and swirl two fingers around my clit. “Please touch me, Hawk,” I whine. I beg and plead over and over again as I finger myself in front of him.

But he won’t. He will jerk himself off while he watches but he will never allow either of us the satisfaction of touch. It’s a sin.

“Oh, fuck.” I arch my back and let out a raspy moan as my orgasm crests.

A fierce tingling reverberates out from my clit to deep inside my pussy.

I grind my hips in a circle and fuck my own hand while he soaks my belly with his cum.

He pumps his fist back and forth, releasing himself on my heated flesh.

And how is this not a sin? How have we convinced ourselves that this is somehow better?

We lay quiet in the dark for a while, clutching our trembling hands to our sides. Until I can’t take the silence any longer. It’s more agonizing than his restraint.

“How long am I going to owe you, Hawk?” I ask breathlessly.

He shrugs. “Don’t know. Maybe forever. Now go back to sleep, Cherry. We’ll iron out all the details in the morning.”

I groan and roll over to stare at the wall, mesmerized by the way the moonlight casts these little, splotchy spots on the wood paneling. I let his cum drip down my belly. I punish myself by not wiping it off. “I hate you.”

It’s a whisper but I know he hears me by the way he slams the door behind him when he leaves.