Chapter Twenty-Five
Melina
I’m having trouble registering what Mak is telling me. “He pissed on me after drugging me?”
“Yes. Gabriella and I bathed you before putting you in bed. You smelled like piss, but I had no idea why and Moon didn’t volunteer the information.”
So many things go through my mind. “Why would he do that?”
“He marked his territory, or so Moon told me last night when he finally came to bed. Who knows why men do stupid shit. I’ll put a bullet in his dick if you say the word.”
I like the sound of it. “Where is he now?”
“He’s downstairs having breakfast. We’re leaving by the side door and you won’t be seeing him until this evening. The first round of clothing will be delivered today and we’ll have you popping so Austin knows what he’s missing when you kick his ass to the curb.”
I look down for a moment and then meet Mak’s gaze. “I don’t want to see him at all. I have nothing to say to him.”
Mak sits beside me on the bed and takes my hand. “I think you have feelings for him and it all started in the worst possible way. You’re an amazingly strong woman and this is your choice. Take the day to think about it. If you don’t want to confront him tonight, he’ll leave.”
I tighten my grip on hers. “I never want to see him again.”
“That can be arranged too. My husband is an expert at it.”
I give her a tiny smile. We both live in a world of violence and death. I will no longer be a pawn in Austin’s or my brother’s games. Somehow I need to find the willpower to resist him and I will. I just need time to think.
∞∞∞
The service is busy. I’ve dealt with two new clients, started their background checks, and booked eleven verified clients. I’m getting the hang of things even when my brain is far away from what’s happening at the front desk.
The elevator dings and I inhale sharply, hoping Austin doesn’t walk through. It’s Cori, thank God. “What’s up, chica?” she asks when she sees me.
“I’ve just booked your favorite client and he wants you for two days around the clock.” I give her a wicked grin. “Hope you can walk afterward.”
She laughs. “With all the great sex I’ve had, no man has ever kept me from walking away, honey.”
“You still think sex is great even when they pay for it?”
She shakes her head. “If you don’t like sex, this is the wrong line of work even for a receptionist.”
I shouldn’t have said anything because now my face flames and Cori’s laughter fills the room. “Please tell me you’ve had sex.”
I brush hair out of my eyes even though I want to hide behind it. “Yes, exactly twice, or if we count in the same night I think it’s three times.”
Cori looks up at the ceiling. “Lord save me. Sex three times should be a felony.” She walks through the side door and comes behind the counter where I sit and leans against the desk. “Explain to me how a woman as beautiful as you has only had sex three times.”
Over the next half hour, I tell her everything. I finish with the latest development and I’m shocked when she laughs.
“You have no idea how many times I’ve been pissed on, honey. It’s a guy thing or at least a thing to some of the guys. As far as beating you, been there done that and not my thing, but if the money’s right, I’ll do it.”
I’m stuck on the beginning of her statement. “You’ve allowed men to pee on you?”
Her laughter is longer this time and it takes her a few moments to gain control. “Your life has been shit and still you’ve been sheltered. Think of wolves marking their territory. Hell, think of a dog if you want. Most men need sex and dominance to make them feel like men. The most basic way is to mark what they want. From what you’ve told me, he marked your skin with the biggest claim I’ve ever heard of. He might not know it, but you’re his. Moon will need to kill him to keep him away. Knowing Madison, she’ll be in line to end him too. You need to claim your man or dump the asshole. Just make sure you make a decision you can live with.” She squeezes my hand and releases it. “I need to work out and then head home and prepare for my two days with Henry. He might not piss on me, but the man has some serious kinks and I get to partake for forty-eight hours. I need to shave my lady bits too. If you decide to keep the asshole, you might think about shaving yours. You never know when a kinky mood will strike.” She winks and walks away.
I’m shaved because I prefer my lady bits that way but I don’t volunteer the information. I need to sort out my feelings and a single day is not long enough. If he wants me, he’ll come after me and maybe that’s what this strange relationship is all about.
∞∞∞
I tell Mak my decision on the ride back to her home.
“You’re sure you don’t just want him dead?”
I shake my head. “Of that I’m sure. I need more time and he owes me this and a hell of a lot more if I decide to forgive him.”
Mak calls Moon and tells him to clear Austin out of the house before we arrive. I nervously listen in. She ends the call and gives me an evil grin. “Too bad we don’t get to watch. Austin is a dangerous man, but so are Moon and Gomez. They’ll handle him and give you time to think. Besides, I’ve just gotten you trained and I don’t want to lose you too quickly.”
“I love the work and I don’t want to leave.” It’s the truth.
∞∞∞
Moon greets us at the front door and wraps Mak in his arms. They kiss and I look elsewhere, which happens to be at Gomez. He has a split lip and a bruise on his swollen cheek.
“How did it go with our visitor?” Mak asks before I can. She’s still in Moon’s arms.
Moon looks to Gomez. “For some of us, it wasn’t bad. Alex didn’t appreciate some of what Austin had to say and they had words. Austin’s man wasn’t too happy, but Austin ordered him to stay out of it.”
Mak steps away from her husband and walks to Gomez, turning his head so she can see the damage. He stands still but the sour look on his face shows he’s uncomfortable. “Poor baby. Celina will make it all better. Who won?”
“Draw,” Gomez says and turns away. “You need to replace the coffee table. Gabriella took care of the blood,” he says over his shoulder before he heads to the back of the house.
“I bet that sits well,” Mak says and covers her mouth.
“He’s always wanted to tangle with Austin. He loved every minute of it. Hopefully Austin will get his man up to speed and we can leave the animals to fight it out while the calmer heads discuss things civilly.”
Mak laughs loudly. “You know you want to be in the fighting mix, so don’t deny it. The day you turn civilized could be the day I kick your ass.”
The love he feels for her shows in his eyes. “You can try.” He turns and winks at me. “How you holding up?”
“I’m sorry to cause all these problems. I don’t want anyone hurt.”
“No problem. Your man is in about the same shape as Alex. They’ll both live to fight another day.”
My brother would be up in arms and someone would be dead. If he couldn’t kill the person responsible, someone else always paid. I often wondered why men followed him. One day he treated you like a member of the family and the next day he killed you. For the first time in my life I’m safe. The biggest question is for how long.
Strike that. The biggest question is what the hell do I do about Austin?