Tess
I started to wake, hating that feeling of being emotionally exhausted, but my body begged me to move. I stretched then felt like someone was watching me. I jolted upright and glanced around through dry, scratchy eyes.
Empty. The room was empty. Just like me.
With all my willpower, I peeled off the bed, showered, and changed into another house uniform.
I glanced at my phone to see if the doctor had emailed or called, but there was nothing. I pushed that dark cloud aside. Couldn’t worry about something that hadn’t happened yet.
I squeezed my eyes shut and held onto the counter for support.
Don’t cry, Tess. You’re stronger than this. That terrible video played over and over in my mind. How could I face them? I wanted to scream and tear them all apart with my bare hands. How could they do that to Mags? This place had taken so much from me. How I fucking hated it.
I had to pull myself together, as I had to in the past. I forced all grief from my mind and allowed the anger to flow through me and used it to steady myself. I moved purposefully to my bedside table and slipped a cuff over my wrist, dried the tears, and eyed my knife and envisioned it slicing through his skin and into his black heart.
Fuck. I shook off the craving and headed downstairs. It wasn’t time. Soon, but not yet.
The main floor was busy, as usual. The bar was in full swing. That was Vegas for you. No sleep, just sex, booze, and endless amounts of money. I spotted Clark at a table with a young girl. I assumed it was the cocaine junkie’s new replacement. He spotted me and nodded for me to come over.
I want to carve your heart out and jam it on a stick, so everyone can see your lies.
I loathe you.
I turned away and headed in the opposite direction. I wasn’t ready to face him yet, and the odds of me losing it were high. Again, I pictured myself snapping off his balls and jamming them down his throat, and it made me feel a little better.
I noticed my mother flirting with a client in the living room, right about where she helped kill Mags, and my stomach rolled, but I reminded myself I was here for a reason. I hadn’t felt this emotional in a long time, and frankly, I despised it. Nowhere was safe. Everywhere I looked, there were liars and murderers. How was I going to do this? How could I be here?
I could slice them both up and bury them under the house. Lord knew how many bodies were already there.
I can’t do this. I can’t be here.
“Tessa?” Rachel called out, slapping me back to the present. “Can you come here, please?”
Shit. No!
“Wow, rough night?” She narrowed in on my face. I wondered if she knew the truth, and if she saw the video too. “Jesus, Tessa, what happened?”
“That’s a loaded question.” I wish I had my loaded gun.
She waved off my sarcasm, and her whole face lit up. “Well, snap out of it ’cause you have a client who requested you. Damn, you must be a freak in bed, girl.”
Jace is here? The vise around my chest loosened a notch.
“Same guy as last time, right?”
“Nope.” She pointed behind me, and I felt the vise tighten again.
Then, who?
My heart jumped into my throat when I saw him. Trigger sat in a chair, relaxed like he belonged there. His intense green eyes locked onto mine, and I felt the unforgettable hold he had on me. He slowly rose and buttoned his jacket with ease.
Jacket?
Wow. He was dressed in a dark gray three-piece suit. A navy-blue dress shirt peeked out from under his gray and black tie.
Wait…his hair was different. Shit, he looked more intense than ever.
My clit strummed to my wild heartbeat.
He strolled toward me, his broad shoulders a reminder of how large he was. He extended his hand and waited.
Breathe, Tess.
I hesitated, unsure if my body would work. Cautiously, I slipped my hand into his.
If it was possible to orgasm from a simple touch, it would be from his.
“Tess.” He nodded and squeezed my hand, but didn’t let go. “I’ve been waiting patiently for you.”
Oh, my God, what was he doing here? I started to freak the fuck out inside. I hoped to God Clark hadn’t spotted him, but he was deep in conversation with another man.
I battled with wanting to kill everyone and the fact that Trigger stood in front of me.
So many things fired off inside my head at once, I couldn’t seem to find my voice.
He leaned toward my ear, still holding my hand, and I couldn’t help but turn into him. Heat poured off his neck, and my head went light.
“Take me somewhere, Tess.”
The fog lifted.
It was like his words brought me back to a sudden clarity. I dropped his hand, stepped out of his space, and glanced at the time on the desk.
“Well, I know I’m booked today, sir, but if you can wait, I’m sure we can work something out.”
He clicked his tongue as he absorbed what I said, and then he glanced around. “I have all the time in the world to wait for you, darling. I could use a drink.”
“Tessa, dear, who is this?”
Fuck. My mother shot a fresh dose of panic through my veins. This cannot be happening.
Trigger studied her and made the connection quickly, as we are basically twins. He muttered something, but I couldn’t make it out.
My mother extended her hand limply and gave him a slutty smile. “Felicia. I’m the owner of this house.”
Trigger didn’t acknowledge her hand, just stared at her.
Oh, shit. I hope he doesn’t lose it. Well, actually…
My mother looked at me, confused, but kept her smile plastered on her Botoxed face.
Yes, mother, it’s hard to believe, but you can’t use sex as a weapon on all men.
“So,” she came behind the desk, “who are you scheduled to see today?”
“He’s here to see Tessa,” Rachel answered for him. “He won’t see anyone else.”
“Tessa seems to be fully booked today, sir.”
Rachel pointed to the screen, and my mother’s face changed.
“My, my. Well, let me see what I can do.”
Yeah, she saw his bank account.
“I’ll just move Bret to your lunch break. Lord knows you could skip a meal here and there,” she muttered, and I felt my face flush. She cleared her throat when she realized what she had said in front of a potential customer and tried to backpedal.
“Tessa knows I joke.”
Bitch.
“Actually, we were just going to have a drink. Come this way, sir.” I pushed by her, and Trigger reached out to take my elbow. He kept a good pace as he steered us into the bar area but away from the other girls who were busy entertaining their own clients.
Clark glanced in our direction, but he didn’t seem to recognize Trigger, or at least he didn’t let on that he did. Many men like Trigger had come through our doors. As long as they had the money, they were allowed in.
Jesus. My nerves were shot. Once we were out of earshot, I forced a big smile at Trigger to keep up the facade.
“What the hell are you doing here, Trigger?” I was moments from losing my shit. My two worlds were colliding in the worst possible way. I should have known he might come after Jace filled him in. I was angry with myself as well as him.
“I needed to talk—”
“So, you thought coming here was the best idea?”
He brushed his tongue over his teeth and tugged on his tie. “What was I supposed to do? Call? Email? You’re unreachable.”
“You told me to leave, if I remember correctly.” I didn’t want to toss it in his face, but come on.
“I had to say that to you, Tess. I had my reasons. It’s part of what I need to talk to you about.”
“Hey, Tessa.” Bret popped out of fucking nowhere holding a glass of scotch. Damn, he stank.
“Get lost, man.” Trigger stood straighter.
“You can’t claim the women here.” Bret laughed. “Gotta pay for a spot.” He reached out and fingered the corset between my breasts, like always.
Die, Bret. Just die.
Trigger reached out slowly and took Bret’s hand and squeezed it so hard he had to let go, all the while holding Bret’s gaze with his cold, green eyes. “Let’s not make a scene here, but if you touch her again, I will kill you.”
“Jesus, man. I pay a lot of money for this chick to ride me, and I’ve booked her right now.”
I was about to blow. “I’m so sorry, Bret, but there was a conflict. Felicia wants to see you.”
“Mm, I just might work out a mother-daughter combo.” He sneered at Trigger.
I closed my eyes and moved the hair out of my face. I guessed my secret was out anyway. Trigger had made it quite clear he wasn’t okay with who I was back at the church, so why should I care?
“Did you sleep with him?” Trigger didn’t hide his disgust.
Oh, hell no!
“If I did?”
“Did you?”
“Un-fucking-believable.” I covered my face to take a moment to think. I needed him out of here. “What do you want, Trigger? I really don’t have a whole lot left inside me right now.”
“I told you I want to talk.”
“Now isn’t a good time.”
“When?” He crossed his arms. I tried hard to figure out something.
I looked around to see who was watching. “Look, there’s a café down the street called Brew. Meet me there at four p.m.”
“Fine.”
I waited for him to leave, but he didn’t. “Why aren’t you leaving?”
He waved the bartender over. “I think I might stay, check the place out.”
“No.”
“Whiskey, top shelf.”
“Of course.” The bartender acted quickly.
“No, Trigger, you can’t stay here.”
“Watch me.”
Fuck! Stubborn ass.
My hand landed on his arm, and he stared at it then closed his eyes. I almost forgot what it was like to be close to him. To touch him. To be the only one who could.
“There were reasons why I left, and one of those reasons is over there.” I tilted my head. “You want to talk, and so do I. Please,” I whispered. “Please don’t start anything. I don’t know how much more I can take right now.”
He followed my line of sight then turned back to me. His gaze fell to my neck, and warmth spread between my legs. My skin heated, and I knew I wanted him to do something about it, but that would have to wait.
“I have to go.” I was about to step back when his arm locked around my waist.
He leaned in and brushed his lips over my earlobe. “I’ll make you a deal.”
I could barely handle how close he was again.
“If you’re not wet, I’ll behave. If you are, it’s fair game. After all, look where we are.”
“Trigger.” I nearly panted as his free hand slid down my side, over my hip, and curled around the edge of my panties. Before I could stop him, he stroked my folds with the pads of his fingers. He chuckled and slipped his fingers inside me with ease.
“You lose.” His voice vibrated through me.
I reached out and held his shoulder for support. The fact we were in public failed to matter. Trigger knew exactly how to stroke to build me up.
“D to the N,” Shantee chimed in behind me. I pulled quickly out of his hold and pushed his hand away. Trigger looked like he might murder her. “I heard there was some new meat in the house, but no one prepared me for this.” Shantee reached out to touch Trigger, and I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.
“Shantee, meet…” I stumbled to come up with a name.
“Don’t need a name, sweetheart.” She bit her finger in an attempt to be sexy. “I just want to know what side of the road he drives on.”
Trigger downed his drink as I asked for another. “Straight, but flattered.”
I was pleasantly shocked by Trigger’s manners.
“Well, give me time.” She turned to me. “Venna is looking for you. Said you took her shift, and you need to be there now.”
“Shit, that’s right. Okay, thanks.”
Trigger eyed me sideways. “Shift?”
***
Trigger
I sat in my car outside the gate and sent off a few emails and touched base with the guys. Cooper told me my father got the package. We were waiting for what would come next. Eye for an eye, bitch. I never started this war.
Truth be told, I couldn’t watch Tess dance. I’d kill someone, and she didn’t need that right now. She had agreed to talk later, and that was enough for me.
Brick: You kill anyone yet?
Trigger: Night’s still early.
Brick: How is she?
Trigger: Guarded.
Brick: Clark’s got his claws in her, then?
Trigger: Yeah.
A flash of purple raced by the window, and it took me a moment to squint through the rain to see it was Tess. She looked to be in a hurry in her high heels and house outfit.
What the hell?
I slammed the car into drive and eased up beside her. She stopped, closed her eyes, and muttered something before she opened the door and slipped in.
I blasted the warm air and moved my bag to the back seat before I headed out into the flow of the traffic.
“What happened to your shift?” I eyed her outfit, and she covered herself with the soaking wet robe.
“Couldn’t do it.”
“Why?”
“Trigger—” She stopped herself and looked out the window. “Just forget it.”
She stayed quiet but wiped her cheeks a few times. Her damp hair made it hard to read her face, but she needed time to get over her pissed off feelings.
I pulled up to the Wynn and tossed the keys at the kid who jumped when I parked.
“Good evening, sir. Do you need any help this evening?”
“No.” I pulled the bag from the back seat and wrapped my jacket around her shoulders. I placed my hand on her back to steer her to the elevators. Once inside, she put distance between us, so I closed the gap, and again my hand was on her hip.
I pulled the key free and opened the door and waited for her to come in. She hesitated until she heard the TV. She peered inside and saw Brick as he poured a beer into his Cheerios. He looked her over as if to see if she was okay before he went back to his show.
“You look like shit, Tess.”
She rolled her eyes and came further into the room.
“Yeah, hell will wear you out.”
“How was the bitch?”
Her shaky fingers tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “She booked me solid.”
“To dance?”
“No.”
Brick flicked off the TV and turned to face her. All fun was gone. He started to approach her but thought better of it and stood back. “Tess, you didn’t.” He rubbed his head. “Please tell me you—”
“Venna is back. We made a deal that she’d take my clients, and I’d dance. She needed the money more.” She glanced at me then quickly looked away. “It wasn’t easy and took me to a dark place, but it was only temporary.”
“Temporary? Why did you even go back?”
I slammed a glass on the bar and filled it to the top with whiskey.
“He’s just pissy he had to wear a suit.” Brick waved me off. “Tess, did Clark…I mean, did he do anything?”
Her silence pulled my attention in their direction. Tess shook her head and moved over to the bar. “Pour me one of those. I’ve things to tell you, but I need a shower first.”
Brick pointed to my room. “Towels are under the sink.”
“Thanks.” She pulled my jacket off her shoulders and hung it on the back of the chair.
Brick waited for the water to start running before he joined me at the bar.
“Well?” I grew impatient.
“I’m glad we got to her when we did. It’s obvious she knows something she’s not ready to talk about.”
“Any idea?”
“My guess would be the million-dollar question why Tess stayed at the house for six years.”
I tugged the tie off and tossed it on the table and unbuttoned the shirt. I wanted to change into my cut and jeans, but Eli had advised me to dress the part of a businessman so as not to draw too much attention to the fact that we were here.
I ordered room service, and when the bellman arrived, he glanced over my shoulder and smiled. I followed his line of sight and found Tess in one of my t-shirts. A part of me was glad she didn’t choose one of the dress shirts. I liked her in my clothes.
“You like your dick?” I snapped at the bellman, who couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her.
“Sorry.” He straightened and handed me the slip. “If you could sign here.”
I signed and shoved it back at him.
He pointed to one of the covered plates. “Here is your steak with sweet potatoes and—”
“I ordered it,” I reminded him.
“Right.” He peeked at Tess again, and my temper rose. “Is there anything I can get you, miss?”
Tess came to my side and shook her head. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” He didn’t leave.
I pulled out my gun and checked the clip. It was full. The man cleared his throat then turned and left quickly.
She sighed. “That was rude.”
“He was staring at you.”
“So do you,” she challenged.
“That’s different.”
“How?” She propped her hands on her hips and lifted her chin.
“You’re mine.”
For a split second, I saw her flinch, but she kept it together.
“Was,” she corrected before she turned back to the bedroom.
“Where the hell are you going?”
“Bed.”
“You need to eat, and we need to talk.”
She glanced back at me from the doorway. “I do appreciate you ordering it, but I’m not hungry. I’m also super tired, Trigger. I need to sleep.”
Fine.
Later that night, the rain turned into a storm and lit up the entire place. Tess took Brick’s room, and he slept on the couch in the other room.
My head was chaos. The demons wouldn’t sleep, so I drank to keep them quiet. I lit a joint and kicked my feet up on the rail of the balcony. Whenever the rain blew, I got sprayed, but the cold felt good on my throbbing head.
It was a habit to sit in the far corner of a space, so no one could sneak up behind me. Plus, fewer people would interact with the lurker in the shadows.
I wasn’t a fan of Vegas. Too many fights held here, too many desperate women looking to trap a man into marriage.
My dick twitched when I saw Tess step out onto the balcony with her phone to her ear. I strained to listen over the storm.
“I’m sorry, Ven. I just needed to step back for the night.” She sounded exhausted. She paused to listen then dropped her head. “Yeah, he’s just someone from my past.”
Just? I didn’t like that word.
“Clark will be fine. No, I don’t want to talk to him. Tell him I’ll be back tomorrow.” She rubbed her head. “Thanks, girl. I’ll make it up to you somehow.” She hung up and ran her hand through her hair before she caught me out of the corner of her eye. I drew back the smoke and let it coat my lungs, taking in her body under my shirt.
“Jesus, Trigger.” She held her chest. “Miss your pickup much?”
I smiled at her comment; she had a point. I did. I liked how I could blend in the shadows in the back of my truck.
The wind blew her shirt back, outlining her body. Her nipples grew hard, and so did my erection.
“What are you doing out here?”
I flicked the joint then handed it to her. She thought for a moment before she stepped up and was careful not to make skin to skin contact.
She sat on the footstool and crossed her legs, hiking the shirt up further.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
She blew out the smoke and nodded. “Understand that one.” She jumped when a clap of thunder burst above us. “I like your hair.”
I was pleased she liked it and took that moment to lean over and pull her stool between my legs. Her hands landed on my shoulders to stabilize herself.
“You need to be closer.”
“Why?”
I pointed to my head.
“It’s all mental, Trigger. You can override that shit.”
I leaned closer, using my size to prove my point. “No, Tess, only you can.” My lips were close to hers, and I smelled her arousal lingering in the heavy mist around us. I wanted to attack her, dominate her, but I didn’t yet. The Clark thing hung between us. He was too close and had sunk his claws in too deep.
She dipped her head to block my access. “We should talk first.”
“Then, talk.” I moved her legs apart and slid my hands up her smooth, cool thighs. I suddenly became thirsty for her taste, my tongue begging to lap at her skin.
Her hands landed on mine, but it didn’t stop me. She moved out of my hold and stood at the balcony. I covered her back with my front and slipped my hand into her wet panties. I parted her smooth folds and slipped two fingers inside.
Her head flopped back onto my shoulder, but I felt her desire to fight me. My mouth latched onto her neck and drew in her intoxicating taste. My erection was painful, so with a free hand, I let it out and lined up with her. Before she could protest, I dove in until I hit my base.
She screamed and arched her back. I held her tightly and sucked harder.
I could barely think as her walls adjusted to my size. I hiked her leg up on the chair and leaned back to get a different angle. I drew out to my tip and slammed back in. She screamed my name and clawed at my arm around her stomach.
“Harder.” She reached back inside my pants and cupped my balls. My switch was dangerously close to flipping. She drove me wild as her nails dug my flesh.
“Tess,” I warned through a locked jaw, “careful.”
“Careful?” she bit out and pulled away so I’d slip out. The loss of contact made me instantly angry. “Careful of what? Because you’ve lost your shit on me before? Or are you saying careful, like you might throw it in my face that I’m a whore?”
What the fuck?
“I never called you a whore, Tess.”
“You may not have said the word.” She stepped back when I came near her.
“Don’t walk away from me.” I saw red, and my dick grew hot.
“You screw anyone while I was gone, Trigger?”
I hated the head games, but I hated to be questioned more.
“I can fuck whoever I want.” I marched up and backed her into the corner. “When I want.”
Her hand rested on my chest, and her head dropped, but not before I saw the sadness in her eyes. “Then you don’t need me.”
That stopped me in my tracks and held me in place, and she slipped around me and disappeared inside.
I hated my fucking ego.