8. Von
N ot wanting to answer, I refused to look at Erik as I yanked on a sports bra and then a loose-cropped burgundy T-shirt. The need to feel clothed and less vulnerable under the weight of his question drove me to head for the closet. I pulled on a zip-up hoodie with a spray-painted angry-looking teddy bear holding a knife. Most times I forgot about the scar, now all I wanted was to hide it under multiple layers of clothing.
Erik sat on the end of the bed waiting, but he jumped to his feet the second he saw me. Worry marred his expression as he started to reach out to me, then stopped. “I’m sorry, forget I even asked, you don’t have to say anything.”
“What’s the point of hiding it when you already know,” I snapped, shoving my sleeves up. “It’s not like I ever wanted kids, so don’t you dare feel sorry for me.”
“Von—” Erik started, but I snapped out a hand, halting his words.
“Just fucking drop it,” I warned, holding his gaze so he understood I wasn’t fooling around. “What’s done is done and I can’t do anything about it. The selfish bastard made damn sure his underaged mistress, turned broken doll, wouldn’t accidentally have his baby. In truth, all he did was force the surgery to happen sooner rather than later. I never wanted to bring a child into this hellish world I exist in. Now you know, and I don’t ever want it brought up again, got it?”
Erik wisely nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself.
“Good, now let's see what the hell Apollo’s been doing in my kitchen,” I muttered and yanked open the bedroom door, only to be slapped in the face with bright afternoon sunlight, which forced me to cover my eyes. “The hell?”
“Finally,” Apollo said, exasperated. “I was about to go in there and carry you down naked or not. A breakfast the likes of which I’ve made can’t be kept waiting all day.”
I managed to make out his form at the top of the stairs through my fingers as I waited for my eyes to adjust.
“Why the fuck is it so bright in here?” I demanded.
“Isn’t it lovely? I noticed there was some kind of film over the skylights. It took a little effort, but I was able to remove it. Now this space is showered in light,” Apollo shared, looking quite pleased with himself.
The way my jaw fell open at his answer, I felt like a cartoon character and wondered if I’d need to pick it up off the floor. After my brain understood the meaning of Apollo’s words, I spun on my heel, marched back into the bedroom, and grabbed the spare gun hidden near the door in a pop-out panel. Cocking back the hammer, I raised the gun so the sight was set perfectly to send a bullet between Apollo’s pretty eyes.
“Treasure, I thought we were past this point,” Apollo said as he instantly raised his hands. “Look, I’m even still wearing your gaudy collar even though it clashes with my suit.”
“You fucked with my home,” I bit out through clenched teeth. “No one fucks with my space. I had that film specially ordered and put over all the windows on purpose .”
Understanding dawned on Apollo at my words. “Ah… I see.”
Apollo whipped out his phone and typed something. “Give me five minutes to make a call and I’ll have my mistake fixed the moment we leave here to visit your family.”
Everything in me screamed to pull the trigger and save myself the grief this man was going to cause. Yet, for some God forsaken reason, I couldn’t. Erik reached out and gently pushed my hand down, giving me a reason to let this irritating bastard live juuust a little longer.
“I want it fixed, tonight,” I snapped before shoving past Apollo and stomping down the stairs.
What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve never hesitated at killing someone who fucked with my shit, so why was he different? It couldn’t simply be the fact he was a good fuck, I’ve had other good fucks but it wouldn’t keep me from killing them.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I paused as I realized something. If someone were to ask me who the top three best fucks were I’ve ever had, the list would be—Bear, Apollo, and Erik. Two of which I’ve now claimed and planned to keep.
Was that all it took for me to look past their flaws? No, that’s impossible. Bear had been chipping away at the concrete around my heart for years until I realized he loved me. Erik was a straight-up fluke. Strangely, the red-haired bastard seemed to fit in my life in a way that didn’t piss me off—which was rare. Hell, even Bear let him live after choking me out. One might call that a miracle.
“Bear,” I called out, knowing he’d be somewhere close by.
Sure enough, he appeared in front of me with a questioning look. “ Yes? ”
“Why didn’t you kill Erik?” I questioned.
“ You need him, ” Bear answered without missing a beat.
Now I was even more confused. “What? I so do not need him.”
“My goddess, you are the most important thing in existence to me. Everything I do is for your benefit. Erik is the person you need to help with your PTSD. I’ve tried but you won’t let me in like you do him, so I’ve chosen to put aside my need to keep you to myself and let Erik live, ” Bear explained as if this should have been obvious.
“You really need to stop reading those books, they're turning you all mushy and sentimental,” I grumbled and started past Bear, only for his arm to wrap around my waist, dragging me against his chest.
A deep rumble echoed in his chest as he gripped my jaw and tilted my head back so he could lean down to kiss me. I surrendered to the possessive hold on my throat as he claimed my lips in a move I’d only ever allow from him. There was no one in this world I trusted more than this man, and little by little, I wanted to show him that truth in small ways.
“ Don’t fear, my dark goddess, men will still beg for a swift death when they see me coming because the only one who will ever know my weakness is you and you alone, ” Bear shared before releasing me. “ Now you’re going to sit and eat, there’s too much going on for you to go hungry. ”
I laughed. “You mean there are too many people I can’t kill, and my trigger finger gets extra itchy when I’m hangry.”
Bear didn’t respond, he simply placed a hand on my back and urged me toward the kitchen where the island was covered in food. Apollo hadn’t simply made breakfast, he’d made a fucking feast that could feed an entire army. There was fresh fruit, cheese, baked goods, a soufflé, waffles, scrambled eggs drowned in cheese, sausage links not patties, thick sliced ham, as well as crispy bacon. I didn’t even know where to start since pretty much everything Apollo made was on my favorite foods list.
“What the actual fuck,” I blurted.
Apollo slid across the floor until he stood before me, then threw his arms open wide in a “ta-dah” motion. “It’s everything you love, at least for breakfast. I thought about adding a few items that would lean more into the realm of lunch, but I wasn’t sure so I played it safe.”
My gaze slowly shifted to him. “This is you playing it safe?”
“Yes…?” Apollo answered hesitantly. “Dammit, I knew I should have risked grilling the steaks, you can have steak with any meal.”
Something about the whole situation had me bursting into maniacal laughter. This was absolute chaos in a way I never thought possible. I grabbed a plate, filled it to the point of overflowing, plopped down on the giant leather ottoman, and shoved the first forkful into my mouth. Each bite was orgasmic, and I couldn’t stop moaning as I sampled all the different options. Franzi would always have a job with me, but fuck if I wasn’t about to admit Apollo might be a better cook than her.
Of course, I would never give Apollo the satisfaction of ever hearing me say it out loud. The guys filled their plates and settled around the room watching me with bemused faces.
“Whaa?” I finally demanded, my mouth still full of food. “Never seen a woman eat before?”
“Eating, is that what you’re calling it?” Erik asked, shaking his head. “Siren, what you’re doing isn’t eating, in fact whatever you call it, would be illegal in most countries.”
“Don’t tease her,” Apollo snapped, whipping his cloth napkin in Erik’s direction. “I love listening to my treasure as she has mouth-gasms due to the food I’ve made her.”
I froze upon hearing his interpretation of the moment I was having with this meal. Shit, I guess the cat’s out of the bag on how good his cooking is.
“Enjoy it, Chef Boyardee, it’s the only kind of gasm you’ll be giving me,” I warned, jabbing my fork at him.
Apollo simply sipped his coffee, eyes shimmering with excitement as if I’d given him a challenge to overcome. I resumed eating and managed to keep the rest of my meal somewhat silent as I finished my plate. No one commented when I went back for more, choosing instead to follow my lead. Only Bear went the extra mile and handed me a massive mug filled with coffee just the way I liked it.
“It’s for moments like this I keep you around, Bear,” I praised, taking the cup with both hands.
“ I told you, my reason for living is to take care of you, ” Bear reminded me, then smirked as his eyes became heated as they drifted over my body. “ And I plan to make sure all your needs are met, my goddess. ”
His words had my pussy clenching and my nipples hardening. This beast of a man had a literal chokehold on my pussy, and I wasn’t mad at it one bit. The sound of someone clearing their throat had me frowning as my gaze landed on Apollo.
“So sorry to interrupt, but I wanted you to know that your windows will be fixed before sunset today,” Apollo shared, not looking at all apologetic.
“When the hell did you find the time to fuck with the windows in the first place?” I asked before I could think better of it.
Apollo’s eyes lit up as he sat on the couch beside me like an excited puppy. “Since you asked…”
“Which I’m now regretting,” I muttered, and leaned back to sip on my coffee hoping it would keep me from gouging out the man’s eyes.
Apollo just waved off my snark and charged forward. “I knew I wanted to make breakfast so I went shopping. While I was out, I collected my things from the club, since I knew we’d be traveling back to your home before finding my twin.”
I almost asked another question but bit my lip to keep the damn words from spilling out as Apollo gestured to the two suitcases near the front door.
“It wasn’t until I was working on the soufflé that I noticed it was sunrise, but your apartment was still so dark. You see, my soufflé needed ideal conditions or it would simply collapse into ruin. I knew this particular soufflé would require pure morning sunlight, so I investigated,” Apollo explained, his hands fluttering about as he talked. “Truthfully, I should’ve known better. You, my treasure, are a creature of the night, a mistress of mystery, a stalker of shadows, death in the darkness. Of course, sunlight is the last thing you’d welcome in your lair.”
Wondering if I was truly awake or possibly stuck in a fever dream, I looked over at Erik. The confused and pained expression on his handsomely rugged face told me this was really happening.
“Treasure,” Apollo crooned as he placed a single finger under my chin drawing my focus back to him. “I know he’s pretty to look at, but I’ve given you all morning to be with them, now all I ask is for a sliver of your attention. I’m more than willing to tolerate them because they make you happy, but in return, I will be selfish and protective of my time with you.”
Stunned at his candor and boldness, I could only blink. When the audacity of what he’d just said clicked, my anger sparked to life. “Excuse me?”
Apollo leaned in until I could feel his warm breath on my skin and the depths of his blue-green eyes. “I’m not the jealous sort, but like you, my perfect treasure, I’m goddamn possessive. I’ve waited for this chance with you and plan to make the most of it while I’m still alive.”
Swept up in the magic this man seemed to possess over me, I didn’t pull away when he kissed me. In fact, I leaned into the touch of his soft, tantalizing lips. Apollo took the coffee mug out of my hands without ever breaking the kiss. Hands now free, I fisted his shirt and dragged him closer, but he was careful not to smother me with the weight of his body. Apollo nipped harshly at my bottom lip, causing me to gasp and allowing him the chance to deepen the kiss. Just as I was starting to pull at his clothes, Apollo’s entire body went stiff with a grunt of pain. Then he dropped to the floor swearing as he clawed at his neck.
“Motherfuckingsonofabitch,” Apollo rasped, flopping onto his back, chest heaving as he caught his breath.
I sat up and then looked over at Erik who was holding my phone with a shit-eating grin on his face. Erik caught me watching him, so I raised a questioning brow.
He just shrugged and flashed me the screen of my phone. “Oops.”
Then I caught Bear’s shoulders shaking in silent laughter as he watched Apollo pick himself up off the floor. The only way Erik could have gotten into my phone, let alone know what app to use, was with Bear’s help.
Could it be possible that Bear might actually be making a friend in Erik? God, why was everything getting so weird and complicated?
“Uh Von…” Erik said as he walked over to hand me my phone. “I think you’re gonna want to see this.”
Mamba:
We need to talk. Alone. Don’t bring anyone else if you value my business.
It was rather unlike Mamba to be so succinct. He rather liked showing off how well-educated and suave he was. Plus, he didn’t even call me Wolfie.
Von:
Wow not even a please? Damn, Mamba.
Von:
You know talking like that I might think you’re mad at me, and I don’t respond well to angry demands.
Mamba:
If you want to hear what I learned about The Lady, I suggest you get over it and meet me at The Parlor in an hour.
Mamba:
Alone.
Mamba:
Please.
My eyes narrowed as I read his response. Something was wrong, like really fucking wrong and this suspicion was causing my heart rate to speed up. If I was right and this wasn’t really Mamba texting me, someone had gotten to him or infiltrated his ranks. Either way was bad news for me.
“We need to go,” I announced, shoving to my feet. “ Now guys . We need to go right the fuck now.”
Bear and Erik snapped to attention, and within a minute, were racing to grab whatever they needed. I looked down at my phone and decided it was better to be safe than sorry. Nothing important was ever saved to my phone since I needed to be able to drop it at a moment's notice. I yanked open the microwave, tossed the phone in, and hit start. Two seconds later, sparks were flying and then… BAM… the phone exploded, blasting the microwave door open.
With the phone destroyed, I headed for the safe I’d installed under the kitchen sink cabinet. No one would bother to move all the cleaning supplies to look for a secret panel covering the hidden safe. Inside I found two encrypted burner phones, cash, a gun, extra ammo, and a detonator switch. The whole building was rigged to blow if I needed to get rid of evidence. However, I didn’t think we’d reached that point just yet.
“Do you think your phone got tapped, little siren?” Erik asked.
“I don’t know,” I answered as I covered up the safe and got to my feet. “What I do know is I’ve stayed alive this long by assuming the worst. It’s possible they hacked Mamba’s phone, and piggybacked off it to make it look like the messages were sent from him. Either way, whoever sent the messages knows too much and I don’t fucking like it.”
Erik leaned against the kitchen counter with a backpack slung over his shoulder ready for whatever was next. Bear jogged down the stairs and joined us flashing me a set of keys, to which I nodded. Apollo was near the door, hand grasping his chin as he looked at the suitcases he’d brought.
He must have felt my gaze on him since he half-turned to meet my gaze. “What’s your rule on personal baggage?”
“That I’ve got more than enough of my own and don’t need yours,” I quipped.
Apollo’s lips ticked up in a small smile. “I will keep that in mind, however, I was referring to luggage such as these suitcases.”
“It’s your shit to lug around, take whatever you want. Just make sure you don’t slow us down,” I answered.
“Understood,” Apollo said with a slight nod, then gestured toward the door. “Shall we go?”
I signaled to Bear who took the lead, and the four of us piled into the elevator with our stuff. I punched the button for the second of the lower levels where we kept our spare vehicles. My team used most of them to deliver the goods, but a few were for my use only. One could never be too prepared, especially those of us who had a bounty on our head and struggled with keeping a low profile. What could I say, I really fucking hated to be bored.