RAIN
Chapter fifty-three
The gun tucked in the back of my jeans burns against my lower back as I scan three sets of eyes. “Any information I should know before walking in here?” I ask quietly.
“She’s handsy,” Blade says coldly, nodding to the petite, pink haired girl guarding the run-down warehouse entrance.
The woman’s hands begin sliding over Blade, disappearing beneath his coat. Taking his gun, she hands it to the man beside her.
“Anything in here?” she croons, hands sliding toward his groin.
His jaw tightens, and he snatches her hands before they reach his cock. “Nothing for you.”
Disappointment flashes in her green eyes before she pats his arms and legs. Not finding any other weapons, she moves toward me. Sliding out my gun, I hand it to her. She passes it to her acquaintance before her hands slowly begin patting me down.
“Hurry up, would you?” I snap.
“Never seen you before,” she croons, fingers grazing my chest and waist before moving toward my groin.
“Touch me there, and I’ll throw you in the fucking Thames.”
“Argh,” she groans, grazing past my groin to feel my legs. Discovering I’m clean, she motions to the door.
Blade flicks a lighter and lifts the flame to the end of his cigarette as we move down a narrow corridor. What a welcoming entrance. The brick walls are grimy, the ceiling filled with cobwebs, and a few broken fluorescent lights flicker with a threat to die at a moment’s notice.
Blade twists the handle of the splintering door at the end of the corridor. Screams pierce my ears as I follow into the dusty open area.
“Christ,” I mutter upon seeing a man strapped to a chair, seething at his captor, who stands before him, wielding a machete.
Nina Huxley.
Her black hair sways to her ass as she rounds the man cursing her out. Jared leans against a concrete pillar smoking a cigarette, ankles crossed.
They don’t represent what one would presume drug dealing gangsters look like.
Jared wears black slacks and a black button down, the sleeves rolled loosely.
Nina, a black pantsuit. They’re well-presented individuals, and from my research, they’re both highly educated.
I commend them on their loyalty to one another.
They’re all conceived from different fathers, Jared’s being of African descent, Nina’s Irish, and Xander’s British.
“Who sent you?” Nina’s calm voice echoes through the dusty warehouse.
“Fuck you, you stupid bitch!” the man screeches as Blade and I step beside Jared.
Nina smiles, stepping back in front of him. “Tell me what I need to know, and I may just spare your life.”
The man’s swollen, bloodied lip quivers, his head bowing in defeat. “Guildo Castillo.”
“Mmm,” Nina hums, lifting his head with the tip of the machete.
“No. No! NO!” His scream rings in my head as Nina slowly drives the machete into his throat.
Fucking messy.
Nina scowls and removes the bloodied weapon. “I lied. No one stabs my mother and lives to gloat about it.”
Jared’s whistles, and two men and a woman promptly move to untie the dead man and carry him away, one taking Nina’s weapon.
She turns to us with a bright smile. “Blade Wilder, my favourite psychopath.”
Grinding his cigarette on the bottom of his boot and pocketing the butt, Blade nods. “Nina.”
“How’d I do?” She struts toward him, her Louboutins somehow pristine clean.
“Not bad,” he says emotionlessly. “Lacked flare, though.”
“I would’ve let you do it, but this was personal.”
“I understand.”
Her onyx eyes slide to me. “This your brother?”
“Rain, Nina,” Blade introduces. “Nina, Rain.”
I nod once.
Jared pushes off the pillar to stand beside his sister and asks, “You have a proposal?”
My heart beats steadily as I nod. “I’ve encountered a problem with an old acquaintance. I believe your people are a better fit than those whose loyalty I currently don’t have.”
“Mmm,” Nina hums. “I’m still not hearing the payment for said protection, Rain.”
My father always taught me to never insult someone with a price. They’ll tell you, and then you negotiate.
“Whatever you see fit for four individuals who won’t make themselves known until instructed. They certainly can’t be squeamish with blood.”
They share a knowing look before nodding. “How long?” Jared asks.
“Until morning.”
“￡2000 each,” Nina negotiates.
“￡1000,” I counter, “and I’ll supply you with all the information the feds have on you, including any new information.”
Jared chuckles quietly. “That information is something we’re aware of.”
“So, you know about the RICO, then?” Jared’s stubbled jaw pulses, but Nina displays no discomfort at the new information. “I can get you every officer’s name and any undercover detective and informant. Anyone snitches, you’ll know,” I add.
Involving the Huxleys was an avenue I was incredibly reluctant to explore, but I had no choice but to confront Dad and have him somewhat compliant so the Aston girls and Rome are no longer in his scope.
Jared looks past me. “I’m not seeing Xan.”
“He’s occupied,” Blade deadpans.
Nina narrows her eyes on me before softening them on Blade. “If you want Xan’s help on this, I want specific payment for him. Otherwise, I’ll have him pulled back.”
“Which would be?” I ask.
Rage sears through me when her gaze lands on Blade’s groin. I shake my head. “No. You want money, I’ll get you money.”
“Oh, baby boy,” she croons at me. “I’ve always wanted to take a ride on Blade. He seems fun.”
“N—”
“Fine,” Blade cuts me off coldly.
I reach out snatching his arm before he can follow Nina. “Bro.”
He stares straight through me, ripping his arm away.
Fuck!
I lift my chin. “You want someone? Have me. This is my arrangement, not his.”
Nina lets out a condescending laugh.
“Blade,” I call.
Ignoring me, he moves to sit on the chair, undoing his belt and zipper. The slap of my shoe echoes as I take an enraged step forward, but the familiar cock of a gun sounds to my left before cold metal presses to my temple, stopping me.
“He agreed,” Jared says.
“Blade,” I call again.
As though he can’t hear me, he stares blankly past Nina while she removes her pants and underwear to straddle him.
I’m the reason for all of this. Smith wants to kill me, Rome and his family are targeted because of my father, and my brother currently has his cock inside someone because he’s loyal to me. His stare is even more blank and lifeless than usual.
I’m paralysed as my gaze stays locked on the side of his face as the stupid bitch hisses and groans while adjusting to his size before riding him harder. My teeth threaten to break with how hard I’m clenching my jaw, my hands aching in their tight fists. “Blade,” I call again.
His dead eyes slowly move from their fixed position to lock on mine. Her pale ass dimples beneath his fingertips, and she winces from the brutal hold.
“He’s done enough for you!” I push harder into the gun pressed against my head.
“He’s been compensated,” Jared fires back.
“I’m sorry,” I mouth to Blade.
A cruel smile curls his lips as his hand snakes up to tighten around her translucent throat. “Hurry up,” he spits.
He increases pressure, her moans choppy.
Quickly, she’s screaming and convulsing on him.
Her eyes widen when Blade lifts her off him by her throat.
Jared doesn’t falter, not seeming to care that his sister is currently choking and slapping Blade everywhere she can.
Blade places her on her feet as he stands.
She stumbles backwards, drawing in a jagged breath before coughing violently. Doing up his zipper and belt, Blade shakes out a cigarette and lights it, looking to Nina. “You’ve had your dream cock. Try that again, and I’ll snap your fucking neck.”
Snatching her dirty pants to cover herself, she scowls. “6AM. That’s the maximum our men will protect you. Extended time will cost you another round, Wilder.”
I side eye Jared and slap my hand against the gun to push it away. “Xander will text you the address.”
The gun is snatched from my hand and replaced by my own as we move toward our car.
I hadn’t realised they’d given me the wrong one.
Taunting voices echo from every direction as I slide into the passenger seat.
“I’m sorry.” Guilt coats my whispered words. “Why did you do that? I could’ve thought of another payment. I just needed time to think I—” He snatches my nape and turns my attention on him.
“We don’t have time for your nonsensical guilt.” He rips his hand away and starts the SUV, taking off down the street as I soothe the fresh tattoo he aggravated. “I know I didn’t need to, but that bitch has always wanted a taste of me, and her cunt will be aching for hours to come.”
“You aren’t that big,” I drawl.
“Your ass sure thought so.” A mocking smirk tilts his lips. “Fuck, Blade, I won’t be able to walk tomorrow. Goddamnit, that hurts. What are you trying to do, come out of my throat?”
“We don’t talk about it.”
“Why?” He grins. “Do I still turn you on?”
“The only person who can get me hard is Rome, and trust me, you have nothing on him.”
He arches a brow and then looks between his legs. “You’re telling me that pretty boy is packing more than nine inches?” I nod. “I call bullshit.”
“I’m not lying,” I laugh.
“How much?”
“Eleven,” I answer honestly, just to get this conversation over with.
“Damn, he’s almost double your size.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m not insulting you. It’s just a fact.”
I know what he’s trying to do—distract me from what we’re about to walk into, stop my mind mulling over every scenario that could end with one of us dead. Even though I’ve planned for everything, I could still fail miserably, and Smith would continue to taunt us.
I check my watch. 11:32PM.
Graham sits on his sofa with his hands cuffed behind his back while Blade and Xander check the various guns spread on the dining table behind him.
“This isn’t going to work,” Graham utters his first sentence since Blade and I arrived a two hours ago. Xander was here to keep Graham company while we made a deal with his brother and sister.
As I look at Xander load the magazine of his Glock, I can’t help but wonder if he’s sat idly by while his sister raped men for a deal.
Who am I to judge, right? I watched Nina rape my brother.
Although, I had a gun to my head, and I don’t doubt Jared would have killed me if need be.
That’s only an excuse, isn’t it? A decent person would have risked their life to stop that happening.
If the positions were reversed, I know Blade would have stopped her raping me, even if it meant death.
When he was attacked in that stairwell, had they stayed with him to get to the apartment, he wouldn’t have opened the door.
Of course, he would’ve fought the best he could, but I know he would’ve chosen to bleed out over giving them access to me.
Blade has proven his loyalty to me countless times the past few months.
He threatened Rome, and I’m still beyond pissed about that, but when push came to shove, he didn’t do it.
Maybe I’m being na?ve in thinking he didn’t follow though because he didn’t want to risk losing me…
Wait.
I look at Blade, a scowl on my face. “You fucking asshole.” He looks up, brow arched. “I genuinely thought you might have hurt Rome.” A smile creeps onto his face, and Xander’s brows knit, creasing his balaclava. “You were pushing me to go against Dad.”
Blade smiles, clipping the magazine onto his rifle. “I wasn’t lying when I said I need you.”
“But Dad did offer you a deal for Rome?”
“He called the night we were in Manchester and said he’d give me Alexa if I kidnapped Rome and kept him in a secure location.
I knew you’d figure it out too quickly if I didn’t present a dead body.
I was on my balcony the night Smith hacked Weston I thought he’d never find out it was me.
The only upside is the police investigation it started, but none of it has been worth the pain I’ve caused the people I care for.
Still, Rome’s safe right now, and that’s all that matters to me in this moment.